Page:Jubilee Book of Cricket (Second edition, 1897).djvu/308

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286
PUBLIC SCHOOL CRICKET.

time to the bowling of the professionals. On half-holidays there is a "Big-Side" game for the best players, provided there is no foreign match, while the rest of the school play "form-matches," arranged as far as is practicable so as to bring boys of similar size and age together. In addition to these are house "pick-ups" of an evening, besides practice at the house-nets; but the system seems to lack real method, and while form-matches excite no great keenness, there is also a tendency to overcrowd the house-nets. Nor is there any special and regular accommodation for "colts," though occasionally a special net, under the supervision of masters, has been set aside for the purpose. Still, whether the system is good or not, and whether all the best talent is brought to the fore or not, Clifton has produced, and does produce, so many sterling players that she can hold up her head among the best. The only question is whether, with her large numbers and fine ground, she might not hold it still higher as the result of more complete organisation.

The chief match of the year is with Cheltenham, and Clifton still holds a commanding lead. The match with Sherborne was abandoned in 1887, at which time Clifton had won 14 and lost 4, 3 being drawn. Other matches are with Liverpool, the Incogniti, Clifton Club, and the M.C.C.

Among the names of famous Cliftonians stand out E. F. S. Tylecote, H. G. Tylecote, W. H. Brain, J. Hi Brain, H. Fowler, S. H. Evershed, T. W, Lang, C. L. Townsend, A. H. Evans, K. J. Key, E. Smith, W. Fairbanks, C. W. Boyle. The "Old Cliftonian Club" plays a series of matches in August.