Cricket 1885

SEPT. 24, 1885. CRICKET; A W EEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 431 THE F IFTH AU STRAL IAN TEAM . “ C ensor ” of the Sydney Mail writes thusly respecting the proposed trip:— In regard to the invitation received by the Melbourne Club to undertake the formation of an Australian eleven to visit England there is one very serious difficulty. It has been generally assented to by the majority of cricketers in the three colonies which would furnish the players, that the organization of all future elevens should be left to the associations of the three leading cricketing colonies, and that those bodies should select the players, undertake the management of the venture, pay all expenses incurred over the trip, and receive the profits which would be expended for the promotion of the game. This is certainly the idea which is entertained in this colony, and not long since the South Australian Cricketing Association communicated with our association with the view of arriving at some such understanding. I f the associa­ tions abandon the idea the MelbourneClub would certainly be a most reputable and worthy body to organise and carry out the affair; but if the Australians are to play as amateurs, as is suggested, and the enormous profits of such a campaign are to go into the coffers of any English club, the players would do well to demand that a reasonable share of the profits be re­ served for the benefit of Australian cricket. In England, tho fact of our men making money out of their visits to the old oountryseems te be obnoxious; yet the clubs —the Surrey Club for instance—of the old country are not averse to making large profits from the attraction caused by the presence of the Australians on their ground. It is well known in Eng­ land that the Australians “ draw” the multitude, and if the English clubs do not wish to be enriched by the visit of the colonial cricketers—their supreme desire being to witness their wonderful profi­ ciency at the game—surely they can have no objections for a reasonable share of the profits to be forwarded to the antipodes for the formation of cricket grounds, &c. The question to be asked is, What will become of the money taken at the gate over and above that which is necessary for the payment of the actual expenses of such an undertaking ? That there will be a large surplus no one can doubt, but will some of it come southward, or will it be devoted to the building of pavilions and grands upon English cricket grounds? The whole matter will be discussed at the annual general meeting of the Melbourne Cricket Club to be held next month; and no doubt that at the annual general meeting of our own association the sub­ ject will be brought under notice. It is certain, however, that the associations of the colonies would be standing in their own light if they allowed the organisa­ tion of future Australian teams to be taken out of their hands. From what can be gleaned from the Melbourne press, the invitation from the leading cricketers of England to the Melbourne Club to undertake the forma­ tion of an Australian eleven to visit England during the next cricket season, is likely to be attended with difficulty. Spofforth has notified that he will not join the combination; and, as none of the other members of the last Australian eleven will be invited to go, it is thought that a team worthy to uphold the prestige of Australia cannot be banded together. Moreover, the formation of a colonial team should, it is generally con­ sidered, be undertaken jointly by the cricket associations of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. “ Umpire,” of the Federal Australian, a practical critic, deprecates, and with considerable force, the assumption that there are no cricketers in Australia oapable of filling the places of several of the most prominent of those who have visited England with the previous teams. I would like to express an opinion on a subject which appears to have obtained a firm hold on the minds of many lovers of the gome throughout these colonies, viz., that the play exhibited by the greater number of those Australian cricketers who have visited England during the seasons 1878, ’80, '82, and ’84 was phenomenal, and that for a century to come we may never look upon their equals again. Xhovc who make such sweeping assertions cannot possibly be cricketers themselves, or they would have taken the trouble to review the play of the Australians prior to their having visited England the first time. If that were done, what would we find ? Why, nothing what­ ever phenomenal in their play, and nothing half so good as that of youngsters of the present day who are now rising into notice. I have in a previous issue of The Ftderal Australian analysed the play of Australian cricketers prior to their first visit to England, so will not weary my readers by traversing the same ground again, but will simply select one as an example, and the rule, if worked out, will apply to nearly every member of the team. Mr. W- L. Murdoch, prior to his first tour with an Australian Eleven, was a somewhat indifferent field, a good wicket-keeper, but with no reputation as a batsman. His selection to visit Eng­ land was due entirely to his wicket-keeping, and failing that, he would certainly never have been thought of. With constant play, however, week after week in good company, and being possessed of the proper material from which to build up a cricketer, he ultimately became the finished batsman he has undoubtedly proved himself to be. We have dozens of young cricketers of the pre­ sent day showing better form than Murdoch ever did prior to 1879, and who only require similar opportunities to develope into high- class cricketers. Playing week after week against the best bawling in England must improve both style and form in a batsman, while by performing constantly before a crowd that nervousness whioh is the bete noir of all young cricketers, quickly wears off, for habit becomes second nature. I have no fear for the future Australian cricket, and feel certain that the prestige of the game will not suffer at the hands of our young and rising players. LANCASHIRE (WITH ULYETT) v. HASLINGDEN. This match, for W. Robinson’s benefit, was played on Saturday afternoon at Haslingden. Ulyett and Mr. Thomber assisted Mr. Hornby’s side. Going in first, Haslingden made 108, Crossland taking three wickets for six runs, Ulyett three for 28, and Briggs four for 46. Watson was punished for 24 without getting a wicket. Lanca­ shire started with Mr. Hornby and Ulyett. The latter was bowled without scoring, and when Robinson went on he bowled Mr. Hornby in the first over, after the Lanca­ shire skipper had made 31. At the call of “ Time,” the eleven had made 96 for eight wickets, Whittaker having secured five wickets for 36 runs, and Robinson three for 36. Score— L ancashire . Mr. A . N. Hornby, Bobinion .. Ulyett, b Whittaker Briggs, b Robinson "Watson, e Smith, Whittaker................... Mr. E. B. Bowley, b Whittaker.................. Mr. C. G. Hu ton, o Smith, b Whittaker h ,. 31 . 0 . 21 b Mr. H. Thornber, o Barrett, b Whittaker 7 Crossland, b Bobinson 1 Littlewood, not out .. 10 Extras.................. 3 Total .. .. 96 H aslingden , D. Whittaker, b Ulyett 0 3. Bennett, st Little- wood, b Briggs .. 36 J. T. Pinder, c Briggs, b U ly e tt.................. 8 H. Eastwood, c Briggs, b U ly e tt..................10 Robinson, st Little­ wood, b Briggs.. .. 23 A. Mercer, b Crossland 5 J. W. Vine, b Crossland 10 J. H. Anderton, b Crossland.. .. .. 7 J. Eastwood, not out 5 T. Smith, st Little- wood, b BriggB . . 0 G. Whittle, c Hornby, b Briggs.................. 0 Extras .. .. .. 4 Total..................108 THE BROTHERS CHRISTOPHERSON y . AN ELEVEN OF BLACKHEATH. This annual match was played at Black­ heath on Saturday last. ~ Blackheath, going in to bat *bn a sticky and difficult wicket after rain, were all dis­ missed for 25. The Christopheraons then made 52, thus winning |by 27 runs on the first innings. B lackheath . J. B. Lewis, b St. Christopherson .. 11 W. H. Ornu.rod, b St. Cbristopherson .. 0 H. Brooke, c St., b Sid, Christopherson 1 E. B. Woodman, b St. Christopherson 0 T. W . Watney, b St. Christopherson .. 8 A. North, c,St., b Sid, Cbristopherson .. 1 E. Parsons, run out .. W. Livingstone, b St. Christopherson .. E. North, b Sid. Christopherson A. Ftgan, o D., b St. Christopherson A. B. Fox, not out .. L b .......................... Total 1 o 2 25 St. Christopherson, st Lewis, b Brooke .. 10 Sid. Christopherson, o E.North, b Ormerod 11 K. Christopherson, o E. North,b Ormerod 7 P. Chrifltt-pher 8 on,b E. North ..................14 C. Christopherson, b Brooke.................. 0 D. Christopherson, b Brooke .................. 1 C hristophersons . M.Christopherson, not out ..........................3 H. Christopherson, c North, b Woodman 2 D.Christopherson,tert , b Woodman .. .. 0 D.Chri 9 topherson.jun., absent .................. 0 B 3,1 b 1 .. .. 4 Total 5J T h e L e ice ste rsh ire C h a lle n g e Cup.— This season’s competition for the silver challenge cup given by the directors of the Leicestershire Cricket Ground Company, was concluded on Saturday. The final match, which was between the Town and South End Clubs, terminated in favour of the former by 65 runs. The Town scored 153 and 62, Southend 81 and 69. For the winners E. Hill contributed 55 and 11. Pougher took six of the Town wickets in their second innings. Next Issue Ootober 29.