Cricket 1885

4 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Jan. 29 . ms TH E E N G L ISH C R IC K E T E R S IN A U S T R A L IA . [B y O ne of th e T eam .] ■Reproduced from the Sporting Life, by special permission. T H E T H I R D M A T C H . ENGLAND v. VICTORIA. F irst D ay , N ov . 14. The opening day of the first big match at Melbourne (Nov. 14) was a complete failure, in regard to weather and attendance. A warm north wind blew during the early part of the morning, but towards noon threatening clouds began to roll up, and slight rain commenced to fall just before the time of starting, ceasing about half-past twelve, when the game was begun. Shaw and Lillywhite stood out. Shrewsbury, who was skipper for England, beat Horan for choice of innings, and on a rare wicket of course elected, to bat, Scotton with Shrewsbury first going to the wickets to oppose the bowling of Bruce and Trumble, two youngsters who have already made a name for themselves in Colonial cricket. Bruce is a left-hand, rather slow bowler, with great break both ways, similar to Peate, and the ball, at times, has a tremendous curl. Like all bowlers, though, who at­ tempt so much work, he bowls a lot of bad balls, while at times he is almost unplayable. Trumble is a bowler more after the style of Boyle, and though he has so much spin, bowls a good length ball, and is very straight. Scotton received the first ball from Bruce, and should have been stumped. This let-off, though, mattered little, as the next over, before he had scored, he was clean bowled by one breaking across from bis legs. In­ deed, he seemed to have no idea of playing Bruce, and admitted it. Ulyett came next, and immediately let out at a very bad ball from Bruce, hitting it into the hands of long-leg, who allowed it to drop. The next over he made a huge drive to the off for 4, but with the score at 12, rain again fell, and the players scampered for shelter. Ulyett had then made 7 and Shrewsbury 5, the latter having had a life at the wicket. No more play took place before luncheon, when Mr. F, G. Smith, president of the Melbourne Club, most cordially welcomed the English team to Victoria. Lillywhite acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the Englishmen. The rain having ceased, play was resumed at. a quarter-past two, and before another run was made Ulyett was easily caught at mid-on in trying to drive Bruce. Some excuse can be made for him, as in hitting his foot slipped, and what would have probably been four proved the loss of one of England’s best men. Two for 12 was not a rosy start, but on Barnes joining Shrews­ bury things mended, and a fine off drive by Shrewsbury for 4 sent up 20, quickly followed by 30, and then 40. A change of bowling was then tried, but the score was rapidly hit to 61, when rain again fell, this time so heavily that it was four o’clock before another start could be made. Then, what with the greasy ball and the top of the ground being wet, the batsmen had a regular picnic. Runs came anyhow, almost from every ball, and the 100 quickly appeared. Changes of bowling only made matters worse, and the 120 soon followed. The sun had now been shining brilliantly for some time, and what had been such a treat to the batsmen became in ten minutes quite the opposite. It took a considerable time to score the next 10 runs, then Shrewsbury, who seemed tired of playing maidens, let out at Robertson, hitting the two first balls to leg for 4 each. The third he snicked through the slips for 2, but the last, in attempting to drive, he missed, and was sharply stumped for a good innings of 80. With the exception of the chance at the wicket mentioned above, and a bad hit to­ wards cover-point, which would have ended his career at 53 had Horan not slipped and fallen, his innings was in every way worthy of his reputation. The third wieket fell for 141, no less than 129 runs having been added since the last fall. Flowers, who followed, after seeing Barnes add a single, was caught at point the first ball he received. Bates, who was received with cheers by the few spectators present, as usual, commenced hitting. After making 6, though, he was well taken at long-on from a big drive, being a victim to his own rashness. Read made a cut for 3, and was then clean bowled. Briggs and Barnes played out time, the total being 168 for six wickets, Briggs 8, and Barnes 61. Barnes was twice missed at short-leg, but played in his very best form, defending his wicket admirably —more particularly the last half-hour, when the ground became very difficult, and the light bad. It was, indeed, hard luck for Flowers, Bates, and Read to have to b it under such difficulties. Not more than 1,000 persons could have been on the ground. S econd D a y , Nov. 15. Rain again fell, but soon after midnight a strong northerly gale began to blow, and it was one of the very worst days possible to imagine for cricket. The dust blew in thick clouds in Melbourne, and even in the well- sheltered cricket ground it was at times very unpleasant. Although heavy masses of dark clouds were continually sailing by over­ head, the force of the gale scattered them, and kept the rain away till about half-past five o’clock. The wind had then dried the wicket, but though it was again hard and true after being rolled, the remaining English batsmen, with the exception of Briggs, did nothing. Briggs soon hit Bruce to leg for 4, and altogether he had made 8 when Barnes was clean bowled without having added to his previous day’s score. Attewell returned the second ball he received gently to Bruce. Peel stayed while Briggs hit away merrily. He twice hit Brace to leg for 4, but in cutting at one from Trumble soon after this he was caught at the wicket for a capital 33, having made 25 out of the 29 runs made during the morning. Hunter whipped in, and the doubts about making the 200 were soon dispelled by Peel cracking a full pitch from Bruce to leg for 4. Hunter then made his first run in Australia, and Peel was directly afterwards clean bowled by Trumble, who took three wickets for 10 runs. He bowled against the wind, which blew straight down the wicket, and appeared very nasty to time. Bruce, who bowled with the wind, was very easy to play. The innings closed for 292, and as the wicket was now all in favour of batting, it was thought the Victorians W'Ould head this score. At a quarter-past one Bruce and Trinnick opened the innings for Victoria, to the bowling of Attewell (with the wind), and Peel (against the wind). Three maidens were sent down, and the only notable hit was a four by Trinnick to square leg from Peel, the last ball bowled before lunch. At a quarter-past two the game was resumed, when the tactics of the Englishmen were altered. Ulyett was deputed to bowl with the wind, and Barnes against it. In Ulyett’s third over Brace cut him for 4, but the first ball of that bowler’s next delivery—a very fast one—scattered his wicket. One for 12. Barnes clean bowled Trinnick for 5, and the state of the game wai then exactly the same as in the English innings, two wickets being down for 12 runs. Horan and Lewis were now together, but not for long, as another feaifully fast ball from Ulyett bowled Lewis. Three for 12. The hopes of the Victorians had now fallen considerably, but on Trumble joining Horan matters improved for them, and it was by the downright steady defence of these men that a much better complexion was put on the game. Many overs were sent down for a very few runs, and Ulyett, who is not in good condition through having to take a long rest for his sprained foot, began to tire. The score had reached 36 when Attewell bowled for Ulyett. Runs now came somewhat faster, though before it had taken just one hour to make 28 runs. After luncheon the score was hit to 50, when Peel went on for Barnes, who had bowled ex­ tremely well against the wind. Horan next snicked Attewell for four, which Hunter should have taken. He next hit a ball to Peel very hard, which was beautifully fielded. Trumble started for the run, and, Horan not moving, both batsmen were at one end. Peel, however, threw the ball in wildly at the wrong end, and Trumble managed to scramble home again to the delight of the spectators. At 63 Bates re­ lieved Attewell, but the parting came from the other end, Horan pulling a wide ball of Peel’s into his wicket. Horan had played very steadily for 33. Walters followed, and some tediously slow play ensued, five runs only being made ill twenty-five minutes. Then Peel clean bowled Trumble for 20, (Five for 72.) M ‘Shane next appeared, and things became more lively. Ulyett again bowled instead of Bates, but had lost all the steam from his first attempt. Walters should now have been run out many yards but Hunter allowed him to escape. He then hit Ulyett twice to leg for four from succes­ sive balls, and Bates again tried his hand. At five o’clock the 100 went up, and at 104 Attewell bowled at Peel’s end. The wind had now calmed down considerably, heavy cloud3 were massed together, and it was evident rain was at hand, whilst the light was wretchedly bad. At 110 M'Shane was easily taken at mid-off from Attewell for 21. Smith having joined Walters, princi­ pally by singles, the score was raised to 118, when the batsmen very fairly objected to the light, and, as the umpires decided it was not fit to play, the stumps were drawn. Therewere about 5,000 present, the wretched weather no doubt keeping thousands away. The batting of the Victorians showed sound defence, but nearly all of them seemed frightened to hit. It will be seen how slow the cricket must have been when it is said that they occupied three hours and twenty- five minutes in making 118 runs, and this, too, when for the last hour or more the Eng­ lish bowling was very moderate. T hikd D a y , N ov . 17. Though heavy showers of rain fell at fre- uent intervals during the whole of Sun- ay, and the Monday morning broke dull and showery, about eleven o’clock the showers ceased. Upon inspecting the ground at noon, however, it was found much worse than anticipated, and it was decided to have lun­ cheon early, and commence at two o’clock. Next issue of Cricket Feb- 26-