Cricket 1883

FEB. 16,1883. CRICKET;' A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 13 of Palmer, and asBoyle was not in good batting form, and his bowling was not considered as likely to prove effective on a fast wicket, he was also left out. Murdoch—as had so frequently proved the case in England—won the toss, and it is almost needless to say that, on a fast wicket, he elected to bat, Shortly after twelve o’clock Massie and Bannerman went in to the bowling of C. T. Studd and Barnes, the former opening at the Railway end with a maiden to Bannerman. The last of Barnes over Massie got away to square-leg for 4. Bannerman started with a single off Studd’s next, but narrowly escaped being run out, owing to a piece of smart fielding on the part of Bates at inid-on. Studd’s following over was productive of fatal results to Massie, who drove the sail hard back to the bowler—a neat catch being effected. Murdoch, who followed, and Banner­ man played with extreme caution, and owing to the excellence of the wicket, but little work could be got on the bowling, pitch and precision having to be relied on to keep down the runs. Bannerman at length cut Baines to the chains for 4, which with singles added, brought 20 on theboard, after thirty-seven minutes’ play. Steel shortly afterwards relieved Barnes, and Barlow took the place of C. T. Studd with the score at 37. Runs, however, continued to come, and a further change was deemed desirable, W. W. Read going on with slow lobs, vice Steel, at the Pavilion end. The rapid changes in the bowl­ ing were, however, without effect, and at the adjournment for lunch the score stood at 46— Bannerman with 19 (not out) to his credit, and Murdoch (not'out) 23. Upon resuming C. T. Studd and Read again took the ball, and the latter got severely punished, several runs being got from one over. Bates relieved the Surrey amateur, and again the scoring became exceed­ ingly slow, a long succession of maidens to each bowler following. Bannerman now had a second narrow escape of being run out through smart fielding on the part of G. B. Studd. The 70 being hoisted was the signal for Leslie to replace C. T. Studd, his low round-arm fast being con­ sidered as likely to effect a separation. The change proved effective, for, with 11 additional runs on the score-sheet, Murdoch neglected to play straight at one of Leslie’s which was well up, and was clean bowled, having scored 48, not in by any means his best style. Horan took the vacancy, but the first ball from Leslie he put up into the slips, where it was safely held by Barlow. Three wickets were down for 81 as M’Donnell took the vacancy. This batsman com­ menced in his usual free style, hitting Leslie grandly along the carpet to the chains for 4. At 96 Bannerman played out to one of Leslie's and was very smartly stumped by Tylecote. This batsman’s score of 30 was compiled in his usual careful manner. Giffen now joined M’Donnell, and three singles, followed by 2 to the latter off Leslie, brought the century up amidst considerable applause. At 110 Steel relieved Bates, and Studd was again substituted for Leslie. Without any additional runs being scored Tylecote, through slipping, missed an easy chance of stumping Giffen off Steel, the batsman having gone out for a hit. The miss proved an expensive one, for 42 runs were afterwards added before a separation came about. Both batsmen now commenced to score freely, and with 130 up Barlow went on at the Pavilion end [vice Steel. At. this stage both bowling and fielding were good, and runs came slowly, principally in singles, until 140 ap­ peared. Giffen then hit a magnificent straight 4 off Studd, the ball bounding over the heads of the front row of spectators. After a short ad­ journment, Steel and Bates relieved Barlow and Studd. At 150 M’Donnell gave Read a hot chance at mid-on, which was declined. Scoring after this became rapid, several 4’s being recorded, until at 162 M’Donnell tried to pull a straight one from Bates to square leg, and paid the penalty of being clean bowled, having, with the exception of this one mistake, played fairly well for his score of 43. Giffen meanwhile had been showing the best cricket of the day. His batting was clean, well-timed, and along the carpet, the chance to Tylecote at the wickets being his only mistake. He was now joined by Bonnor, and some exceedingly rapid scoring followed, principally owing to the tall hitting of the latter. Leslie was again substituted for Bates, his style being thought more likely to curb Bonnor's hitting propensities. After scoring 7, Bonnor hit one off Steel up to the Pavilion fence—a possible chance to Barlow close to the boundary, the fieldsman touching tke ball in its flight. The next ball he landed safely into the Pavilion reserve for 5, bringing 180 up. A tall hit by Bonnor into the reserve off Steel for 5 brought up 190, and then Giffen was smartly stumped by Tylecote off Steel after scor­ ing 36 by good all-round play. Blackham was next to appear, and Bonnor hit one of Steel’s up to the boundary, which was badly missed by Read, 2 runs resulting. Off Bates’s next over Bonnor scored his third 5 by putting him over the heads of the spectators, and the second century was shortly posted. At 214 Steel gave place to Read’s under­ hand “ lobs,” and Bonnor got his fourth 5 by lifting one of the new bowler’s into the pavilion reserve, which, had it not struck a pine tree, would have gone over the outer fence for 6. At 237 C. T. Studd took the ball from Barnes, and 14 runs were added when Blackham, who had scored 25, was caught at the wickets by Tyle­ cote off Studd. (Seven for 251 runs). Spofforth, the next to appear, cut Studd to cover-point— the easiest of easy chances to A. G. Steel, who allowed the ball to drop through his fingers. The stumps were then drawn for the day, with the total 258 for seven wickets, Bonnor having obtained 60 (not out) by an exhibition of good cricket, very much mixed with reckless hitting, Spofforth having 1 (not out), the total being 258 for seven wickets. The fielding of England was not at all up to the usual standard, several runs being thrown away, as well as chances missed in the field. It is only fair to say, how­ ever, that, although the wicket played exceed­ ingly well, the out-fielding ground was decidedly rough. This may, with justice, plead a sufficient excuse for occasional misfielding, but it cannot justify the non-holding of several chances given. The dark foliage of the trees which surround the Melbourne Cricket Ground is no doubt answer- able for the missing of many a catch, for when the ball drops in a line with any of these trees it is most difficult to keep in view. The match was continued on New Year's Day, and a very large concourse of spectators as­ sembled to witness the cricket. During the interval between Saturday and Monday an entire change had taken place in the condition of the weather; the fine, bright sunshine which had enlivened the opening day of the match, and rendered batting more a pleasure thian a diffi­ culty. had given place to violent squalls, accompained by heavy showers of rain, and the luck which had attended the Australians in England in the matter of winning the toss on so many occasions, and thereby securing the best of the wickets, had certainly not deserted them on this occasion. Upon inspecting the wicket on Monday it at once became apparent that, if not absolutely wet, it was still in that state which “ gladdeneth not” the heart of a batsman. Shortly before twelve o’clock the sun shone out, and being extremely powerful at this period of the year, quickly dried the surface of the wicket, making it altogether very bad for the batsmen. The attendance at the hour of commencement numbered 10,000, and steadily increased during the day,until at 4.30 p.m. it reached itsmaximum. There could not have been less than 20,000, spectators present, every available place of vantage from which a view of the game could be obtained being fully occupied. The immense crowd was a most orderly one, and fairly applauded eve-y piece of good cricket, whether emanating from Englishmen or Australians. Barnes and Barlow were entrusted with the bowling, the former opening to Spofforth from the Pavilion end. Bonnor hit one up to mid- off, the ball going a few inches too high for Bates, and 270 wa3 posted shortly afterwards. The wicket at this stage became very treacher­ ous, especially at the railway end, where Barnes was getting up considerably. Spofforth hit a very uppish one over the head of mid-off, for which 2 runs were obtained, and immediately afterwards gave Barlow a possible chance in the slips, followed by another, off a very bumpy ball to Tylecote at the wickets,all off Barnes. In Barlow’s next over Bonnor got him away for two successive 4’s to the chains, and Steel replaced Barlow. At 287 Spofforth put one up off Barnes to mid-off, which was secured by Steel, and without any addition to the score. Garrett, who followed, was caught by C. T. Studd at mid-off off Steel. With 4 more added Bonnor was caught in the slips by Barlow off Barnes, and the innings closed for a total of 291, Palmer, who was not out, having failed to score. The wicket having been rolled, the Austra­ lian Eleven took the field at one o’clock, the first English representatives being the Hon. Ivo Bligh and Barlow. Spofforth started the bowl­ ing at the Pavilion end to Barlow, Palmer occupying the other end .Bligh soon played Palmer {on, and had to retire; and Leslie, who followed, had scored but 4, when he hit Palmer up to the off, and was caught by Garrett. At the adjournment for lunch, which then took place, two wickets were down for 7 runs. The game was resumed at a quarter-past two o’clock. C. T. Studd joined Barlow, but only one run had been added when the former was clean bowled by a tremend­ ous break-back from Spofforth. A. G. Steel filled the vacancy, and considerable life was infused into the game, mainly through the vigor­ ous batting of Steel, who administered consider­ able punishment to Spofforth. At 30, Barlow, who had played a patient innings, went forward to one of Palmer’s, which he missed and was very smartly stumped by Blackham. W. W . Read followed. With 45 on the board, Steel, who had played a dashing innings for 27, was clean bowled by Palmer. Bates followed, and the scoring became much faster, both batsmen playing with confidence, and hitting 4’s in rapid succession. At 58 Garrett replaced Spofforth, who had been punished to a considerable ex­ tent. The runs, however, continued to come, and when 86 was reached M‘Donnell missed an easy catch from Bates at forward cover-point off Garrett. In Palmer’s next Bates hit him clean out of the ground for 5, but the bowler almost immediately had his revenge by bowling Read, who had played a good, steady innings for 19, the score then standing at 96. Tylecote followed, and the hoisting of the “ century ” was a notice for Bates to retire, caught off Garrett by Bannerman at mid-off. The rain now caused an adjournment, and upon resuming Tylecote was joined by G. B. Stndd. At 116 Tylecote hit Garrett to the off, and the run was safely negotiated; this batsman then called Studd for a second, which probably could have been made, but Studd declined to run, and both batsmen were at the same wicket. The ball meanwhile was secured by Blackham, who, running down to the other end displaced the bails, G. B. Studd having with considerable self-sacrifice stepped out from his crease, and allowed Tylecote to keep possession. Eight wickets were down for 117, when Barnes filled the vacancy, and runs came quickly. At 134 Spofforth took the ball from Garrett, but the change had no immediate effect, for the tens mounted rapidly. At 156 Bonnor missed Tylecote in the slips, and, though the catch was both fast and low, it should never-