Cricket 1883

10 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. f e b . ie, isss. T he fo llow in g a n n ou n cem en t w ill be read w ith interest b y cricketers. Steel—Collier.—At St. Michael’s-in-tha-Ham- let, near Liverpool, Douglas Q., son of the late Mr. Joseph St6el, of South-hill-grove, Liverpool, and of Kirkwood, Dumfriesshire, to Maud E., daughter of Mr. John F. Collier, Judge of the County Court, Liverpool, February 1st. Every one will wish them good luck. B y the way, the finish of the match between the Englishmen and Victoria was in its way unique. Barlow and Mr. G. B , Studd went in to maka four runs to win, and the only ball de­ livered went like lightning to the chains to the tune of four byes. Can any one recall an occurrence in which two bats­ men have gone in with runs to make and won the match without getting a strike ? ---------- I t is refreshing to notice the pleasing courtesies of some of our leading pro­ fessional cricketers. “ Mr. Lockwood, Yorkshire County eleven, has read Mr. Barlow’s Book, and fully endorses all that is said.” This is Ephraim’s pithy testimonial to tho excellence of a little treatise recently issued by the Lancashire S t o n e w a l le r .---------- T he Rev. Charles Strong, whoever ho may be, says, according to the Aus­ tralasian, “ it is a poor thing for a youth to boast of that he can play cricket or kick a football, good as this is in its own place. If he has no higher^tastes, and knows nothing of the pleasure to be de­ rived from the knowledge of our grand English masters.” Why, cert’nly. E v a n s , t h e C kack A u str a lia n B o w l e s . —The following description of E. Evans, who is generally regarded (as the best all­ round cricketer in the Colonies, by the cor­ respondent of the Sportsman, will be read with interest:—Standing well over 6ft., and considerably broader and thicker about the shoulders than most Australians are, Evans looks to the merest novice powerfully built. He is, too, a much better man than a casual glance would make him, and a keen judge can trace, in a certain indifferent carriage he has, indication of that combination of looseness of limb and great muscular power possessed by a few, but only a very few, really fine athletes. Either for sculling or throwing a cricket ball he is per­ fectly built, and when “ peeled” is much bigger than in his clothes, while every ounce of his weight (13st) is muscle or bone. A s will be seen from the account of the play, Evans did good service. Of late he lias practised batting so little that he is not expected to make runs as he used, but his fielding cannot be bettered, and his bowling must be very difficult on any­ thing but a perfect wicket. When ,delivering the ball he most affects rather slower than medium; he has typical Australian overhead action, but he varies his pace, style, and the angle of the arm, so that sometimes the hand is, when the ball leaves it, a little wide of the shoulder. Always wonderfully sure and dashing in the field, the crack Australian is perhaps never seen to greater advantage than when fielding his own bowling, a business in which his enormous reach tells. Among the other members of the side Evans’s class asserted itself most unmistakably, and none could see him without marking him as a first-rate cricketer. ENG L ISH TEAM IN A U S T R A L IA . Continued. good fortune to win the toss, of course elected to go in. The -wicket was rather dead, owing to the quantity of rain which had fallen on the two previous days, but perfectly true. The in­ nings was particularly noteworthy for the batting of Marr, Powell, and Moses, who all showed good form. The wicket-keeping of the English captain and the bowling of A. G. Steel were particularly effective. The fielding of the visitors was very good, though one or two difficult chances were missed. The members of the Australian team who had just returned from England, and who usually play for this colony, did not take part in this match, owing to an engagement to play at Adelaide. This, of course, considerably weakened the team. Mr. Bligh’s hand still prevented him playing. The New South Wales captain first sent in Geary and Davis to oppose the bowling of Morley and Barlow, the latter having a strong wind to work against. Davis, soon after the start, received a very nasty blow from Morley, which forced him to discontinue play for a few moments. On recommencing, as both batsmen began to get set, Tylecote deputed Steel to take the ball from Motley, who had not been bowling up to his form, and the change had the desired effect; Davis, in running in to a high delivery of the slow bowler, being well stumped by Tylecote. (One for 24). Moses now joined Geary, and the English captain thought it desirable to put on C. T. Studd (who is very difficult to left-hand batsmen) in the place of Steel. In Barlow’s ■next over Geary was missed by Bates at mid-off, and in the same bowler’s next over, he gave another very difficult chance in the slips, which also was. not accepted by Barnes. This good fortune, though did not help him much, for shortly afterwards, owing to amistake of Moses, E'ewas run out. (Two for 26). Allen now joined Moses, and both played good cricket for scmie time. Barnes and Steel resumed, and the latter had the desired effect, enticing Allen oiit of’his ground with his high curly ball, which is so well known, so that he was stumped very cleverly by Tylecote. (Three for 87). After luncheon, Hiddleston and Moses raised the score slowly up to 54, when the former was well taken at the wicket by Tylecote—a fine catch. Moses was now.joined by Powell, theNew South Wales eaptain, and some slow cricket followed, till Moses, who had been very lucky letting out at one of Steel’s, gave a very easy chance to Bates at mid-off, whicB was accepted, Marr now joined Powell, and with great luck they stayed until 100 was reached. Three runs later, Powell was clean bowled by Barlow with a slow “ 'yorker,” which tho batsman might have made a full pitch. (Sii for 103). Turner was clean bowled with a “ yorker” at 115, and Evans came in. The new comer, who is a great and popular favourite, was greeted with a round of applause as he came in and joined Marr, who was playing good cricket, though at times rather lucky. These batsmen played with great care, and several good hits were well stopped by the Englishmen, whose fielding at this time was perfect. Steel here took the ball from Bates, and his first delivery Marr out very neatly to the Grand stand railings for four, and Evans, in Barlow’s next over played him to the<off for two, but in the amateur’s next over Marr fell a victim to Barnes in the slips. The outgoing batsman, though at times lucky, had made 34 runs by really good cricket, his off-driving being particularly well-timed. Eight for 134. Evans was now joined by Wearne, but the former was well taken by Tylecote at the wicket off Steel, when Wearne was caught at mid-off by Steel off Studd and the innings closed for 152. The English captain sent in G. B. Studd and Barlow to face the bowling of the well-known and popular colonial, Evans (medium right- l ; ;-------- hand), and Wearne (medium left-hand). It looked as if the batsmen were likely to give some trouble, but Wearne dissolved the partnership by clean bowling the Middlesex amateur. (One for 16). Leslie now joined Barlon, and soon drove Wearne grandly to the off for 4. Here the New South Wales captain thought a change was desirable, and Turner, .who’ bowled so well against Shaw’s- team at Bathurst last season, relieved Wearne, .Leslie, who was playing with great confidence, hitting his first delivery finely for four. Barlow, who is well known not to be a fast scorer, wTas, owing to the quick­ ness of the ground, making runs much faster than usual. As no wicket was 'orbtained, Marr relieved Evans, and in his first over the Oxford batsman gave a very hard chance to sliortleg, but Davis failed to hold it. When stumps were drawn for the day, the English had scored 39 ffir one wicket, Barlow being (not out) 17 and Leslie (not out) 15. On Saturday, December 2nd, at noon the overnight not - outs faced the bowling of Turner and E van s. Despite change^ .in the bowling, runs’ came ^rapidly; Leslie treat­ ing all the bowling in the same way, con­ tinued to increase his score, and the “ hundred’ was hoisted at seventeen minutes to one, tlie batsmen having made 71 runs in forty minutes. Evans during this time had been bowling par­ ticularly well, varying his pace and pitch with great judgment. He did not seem in the least degree tired, and it was plain that New South Wales without him must have been' in a very poor plight. Change after change was tried, but to no avail, and the two batsmen wero still together at half-past one, when the bell mug for lunch, having put on 141 runs in about an hour and a half’s cricket, Leslie being (not out) 108 and Barlow (not out) 60. When play was resumed, the New South Wales team played up with much more spirit. At the samff time they were unable to stop the run getting. The amateur here ^had a little slice of luck, as he snicked a very good ball from Tu/ner through the slips for 4, and gave half a chance to Wearne in the long-field, which was not accepted. This batsman had up to this time played a mos{ brilliant innings, not having given a shadow of a chance, except the one mentioned on Friday evening, which was an extremely difficult one. At last the desired separation came, as Leslie, who had made 144, in driving Ev'ans to t.hB.on, lifted the ball, and it was well caught by Moses. It was certainly an innings of the highest merit, and one which cannot possibly bo too highly praised. His figures were a 6, twenty- one 4’s, three 3’s, ten 2’s, and singles. (Two for 238.) C. T. Studd now joined the Lancashire professional, but the latter in trying to pull a ball from Evans,was clean bowled. He had made 80 in his usual patient style, though his hits were at times slightly uppish. (Three for 240.) Bates now joined C. T. Studd, and the latter having made 23, not in his best form, was clean bowled. (Four,.for .280.) Bates after helping to raise the score to 314 was magnifi­ cently caught and bowled, having made 30 in his best form. Steel and Read now became associated, and several changes of the bowling were tried without success, and the score rose steadily, mainly from the bat of the Surrey amateur. Wearne now took the ball from Evans, but the latter soon ^resumed, and with success, Bead being caught and bowled in his third over. The outgoing batsman had made 46—a good innings. (Six for 355.) The English captain came next, and runs came at a great pace, and 400 was cleared but seventeen runs later. Evans, who had been trundling extremely well, was again rewarded by clean bowling A. G. Steel, who jumped out to drive. Steel’s 52 was a very excellent performance. (Seven for 417-) Barnes came next, and soon after the English captain had the misfortune to draw a ball into his wieket, having scored 26. (Eight for 429).