The New York herald., 1874-08-03
CRICKET.
The Great English Matches.


Never, in the history Of England's national game,
did 1t flourish to the extent 1t does now. The
London telegraph, In commenting on this fact,
says
Cricket, whether deservedly or not is certainly
OF all English games the most popular and uni
ever likely to be disputed. Its conditions, 1t is
true, are somewhat altered since the Introduction
rules which regulated the height OF the delivery.
Day oy day our quick bowlers appear to grow
quicker, and season after season pads and gloves
have to be more and more carefully constructed,
The bowling, too, in It's turn has reacted upon the
batting and our champion batsmen now hit harder
than ever, and are seldom to be trusted
to play up to their real mark, unless matched
against delivery so fierce and accurate
men, again, have improved the Quality Of the fieid
ing, and altogether the game has altered that
the champions OF half century ago would now
hnd 1t somewhat dlfhcult to hold their own in an
ordinary county match. What India rubber cush-
ions and the side sIroke have been for billiards
national game; and the result is that whereas in
the good old times everybody played cricket more
not only quick eve and a steady hand, but also
considerable courage and nerve and very long and
continuous practice. Yet. notwithstanding this
process OF specialization, its Old supremacy re-
mains ndisputable, ana, SO far from showing any
symptom of dying out, the game has, on the con-
trary, definitely established ltself-not perhaps
IN America where base ball" has nearly sup
planted 1t, but at any rate in all the English col
OnieS and even under the tropical skies OF India
Ceyon and China.
Nearly half century has elapsed since the first
contest took place between the cricket elevens OF
the celebrated English schools OF Eton and Har.
row. and never from the time the first annual
match became the leading cricket event of the
season has so large an attendance been seen as at
Lords Grounds, London, July 10, over fifteen
thousand people being present. and that, too, with
the entrance lee raised from a shilling to half q
crown, to lessen the crowd. Belts Life, in CON-
ment1ng on the match, says:-
The increased tariff however had no effect on
those who affect this match and they came in
thousands ON both days Notwithstanding. To give
a description Oi the scene which presented itself
on the opening day. at four O'Clock in the alter
noon, would only be a repetition Of what has so
often been done before 1t was nearly the same as
fashion mad stepped IN and done its work, dress,
perhaps, never being seen to greater advantage.
Tne grand stand was crowded with ladies' prlnc1-
paly so was the temporary stand, close by, and
the new terrace in Dark's corner Altogether the
scene was charming in the extreme, and we did
not hear OF the slightest accident or unpleasant.
ness, excepting the rain OF the second day, to mar
gathering iraught with so many pleasant asso-
Clatl0ns and so much interest TO the higher class
OF cricket admirers.
The result of the contest was the success OF the
EtOn eleven, who scored 143 and 159 against l55
and l45, Elton then having five wickets to ial The
first match was played in 1905 Harrow has won
twenty games and Eton twenty-iour Mr.. A. ].
Webbes "a and so were the best scores on the Har-
row side, and Mr.. +. Whitmore's "a and 81 mot
Out the best Tor EtOn Mr. Ii. h. Meek and Mr.
". +. Forbes bore of the pain in bowling.
Previous to this match the two contests between
the "Gentlemenn and the "Players'' took place.
the hrst at the oval and the second at Lords At
the first place the Gentlemen won by 4s runs, their
scores being l65 and 256 against 1l5 and 258, +.
Iownsend's so being the best score on the part Of
the Gentlemen and Lockwood's 81. not out, the
best Tor the Players In the match at Lords which
followed the Players won with two wlckets 10 all
by scores OF 1856 and 161 against 23l and ia. Mr..
Hornby's 63 was the best score en- the Gent.emen's
side, and that of LockwOod-79-on the other.
on July Ii the county elevens of Yorkshire and
sussex met at Sheneld. the scores being 121 and
154 for Yorkshire and 1870 and as Tor Sussex Lock
wood led the Yorkshire score with co and Phillips
that OF sussex with As
In the grand county match OF July Is, Noting
hamshire vs.. Middesex, Nottingham won by 32l to
2g9, A. Shaws 90 being the best score