118 THE BADMINTON MAGAZINE in the habit of re-stocking the river with O.U.C.C. was properly organised. Prior various kinds of fish, and has worked to that year the club had been hard to put down the netting and other “ managed ” by three treasurers, who forms of poaching that formerly- had the right, regardless of their form, to prevailed. play in the eleven; and no definite Although there is plenty of good club captain was even appointed. How cricket to be found within the borders casually things had been carried on may of Oxfordshire, the county has played be gathered from the following extract only a very small part in the history of which appeared in the report of a the game, and it has never approached committee appointed in the spring of first-class distinction. When the Minor 1862 to enquire into the condition of the Counties Championship was started in club:—“ There is frequently an un­ 1895, Oxfordshire entered the competi­ certainty as to whose business it is to tion, and after dropping out in 1897, collect the eleven; there are often two returned in 1900 ; but no success of note captains directing the field or changing was achieved, and the team finally the bowling ; to say nothing of the more disappeared from the contest in 1906. important fact that the choice of the Moreover, as is the case with most eleven is not always satisfactory.” counties that cannot raise a first-class Drastic changes, made as the result of side, some of the best players bom in the this report, led to a rapid improvement shire have migrated to more prominent in Oxford cricket. counties. Of these may be instanced The next most important event in the W. C. Smith, the Surrey slow bowler. club's history occurred in 1881, when a But if Oxfordshire can point to little move was made from the Magdalen distinctive cricket of its very own, the ground, where most of the home matches county enjoys a kind of reflected glory had been played since the formation of arising from the presence of Oxford the club, to the University Parks, in the University, with its long line of great north of the city. This ground is still players, extending back to the earliest the headquarters of Oxford’s cricket. days, and its long record of historic There were several reasons for the change matches with Cambridge. It is worthy of quarters, among them being the some­ of note that five of the Inter-’Varsity what primitive arrangements on the matches have been played at Oxford, Magdalen ground, which compared very whereas none has taken place at badly with those of Fenner's, the ground Cambridge. Every other game has been of the sister University. In addition, decided at Lord’s. the Parks ground has the advantage of Oxford played Cambridge for the first being more central, and it is now time in 1827. The meeting was at Lord’s, surrounded by grounds belonging to and bad weather prevented a definite the various colleges. f result. Two years passed before the Oxford has beaten Cambridge thirty- second match, which Oxford won on four times in eighty matches, of which their own ground by 115 runs. The third eight have been left drawn. The fortunes game was not played until 1836, and this of the two Universities have fluctuated was followed by a further lapse of two greatly. Cambridge enj oyed a long period seasons, but the Universities have met of triumph from 1839 to 1845, winning the every year without exception since 1838. first five matches off the reel, drawing in In the early years a considerable 1844, and winning again in the following amount of slackness was present in the season ; and on two other occasions matches, and on several occasions one they were victorious in four consecutive side or the other was a man short. years. Oxford have also twice won the Indeed, it was not until 1862 that the match four seasons running; but on