Cricket 1885

6 8 CRICKET* A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. APEIL 23, 1885. interfered. Like Kelly, he excelled at close fielding, and his dexterity at short slip as captain of the first Australian Eleven, is remembered by many good English batsmen. CEOYDON CLUB. April 18, at Croydon, Married v. Single April 25, at Croydon, Captain v. Secretary May 2, at Croydon, v. Hampstead Nondescripts May 2, at Kenley, v. Kenley May 9, at Croydon, v. Stoics May 9, at Blackheath, v. Lyncombe May 16, at North End, Croydon, v. Whitgifc School May 16, at Croydon, v. South Norwood May 16, at Norwood, v. South Norwood May 20, at Croydon, v. Clapton May 28, at Croydon, v. Heathfield May 28, at Wandsworth, v. Heathfield May 25, at Addiscombe, v. Addiscombe May 25, at Croydon, v. Addiscombe May 30, at Croydon, v. Granville May 30, at Lee, v. Granville June 6, at Sutton, v. Sutton June 6, at Croydon, v. Fairfield June 6, at Tooting, v. Fairfield June 13, at Croydon, v. City Ramblers June 13, at North End, Croydon, v. Whitgift School June 18, at N< rth Park, Croydon, v. Carlton June 17, at Dorking, v. Dorking June 20, at Croydon, v. Hampstead Nondescripts Juno 20, at Penge, v. Penge June 22, at Eastbourne, v. Devonshire Park June 27, at Norwood, v. South Norwood June 27, at Croydon, v. Lyncomtee July 2, at Clapton, y, Clapton July 4, at Willesden Green, v. Law July 4, at Croydon, v. Heathfield July 8, at Acton, v. Pallingswick Jnly 11, at Mitcham, v. Mitcham July 11, at Croydon, v. Kenley July 11, at Beddington, v. Beddingfcon Choir July 15, at Plaistow, Kent, v. Plaigtow July 18, at Croydon, v. City Ramblers July 18, at Addiscombe, v. Addiscombe July 22, at Croydon, v. Lausanne July 25, at Lee, v. Granville July 25, at Croydon, v. Granville July 27, at Croydon, v. Stygians July 28, at Croydon, v. Addiscombe July 59, at Croydon, v. Burlington July 30, at Croydon, v. Surrey C. and G, July 81, at Croydon, v. Dorking Aug. 1, at Croydon, v. Sutton Aug. 1, at Dulwich, v. Lausanne Aug. 3, at Crovdon, v. Stoics Aug. 3, at Tooting, v. Fa'rfield Aug. 8, at Croydon, v. Law Aug. 8, at North Paxk, Croydon, v. Carlton Aug. 15, at Croydon, v, Whitgift Wandererg Aug. 19, at Croydon, v. Plaistow Aug. 22, at Croydon, v. Burlington Aug. 22, at Blackheath, v. New Cross Wanderers Aug. 29, at Croydon, v. Fairfield Sept. 2, at Croydon, v. Pallingswiek Sept. 5, at Croydon, v. Penge LEEDS CLAEENDON CLUB. April 11, at Armley, v. Arraley April 18, at Saltaire, v. Saltaire April 25, at Wakefield, v. Wakefield May 2, at Burmantofts, v. Hope Foundry *May 4, at Wakefield, v. Hodeson and 8impson’s May 9, at Home, v. Holbeck Recreation May 16, at Home, v. Bingl y May 23, at Otley, v. O ley *May 25, atHuddersfi-dd, v. Huddersfield *May 23, at Home, v. Wighill Park *May 27, 28, at Home, v. Scarbro’ May 30, at Home, v. Saltaire *June 1, at Home, v. Hodgson and Simpson’s June 6, at Home, v. Yeadon June 13, at Home, v. Harrogate June 20, at Home, v. Wakefield June 27, at Home, v. Holbeck July 4, at Home, v. Hunslet July 11, at Home, v. Leeds Moorland *July 13,14, at York, v. Yorkshire Gentlemen ♦July 15, at Malton, v. Malton *July 16, at Helmsley, v. Duncombe Park ♦July 17,18, at Scarbro’, v Scarbro’ July 25, at Home, v. Armley Aug. 1, at Home, v, Leamington *Aug. 8, at Horae, v. Huddersfield Aug. 8, at Holbeck, v. Holbeck *Aug. 11, at Wighill. v. Wighill Park Aug. 15, at Home, v. Hope Foundry Aug. 22, at Bingley, v. Biogley Aug. 29, at Mill Green, v. Leamington Sept. 5, at Hunslet, v. Hunslet Sept. 12, at Holbeck, v. Holbeck Recreation Sept. 19, at Yeadon,v.Yeadon Sept. 26, at Harrogate, v. Harrogate T H E E N G L I S H T E A M v. COM B IN ED A U S T R A L IA . The following comments on the match played at Sydney on Feb. 14 and following days, and won by Australia with only six runs to spare, are reproduced from the Sydney Mail and Australasian. The contest between the English eleven and the combined Australian team,concluded on Tuesday last, was of the most exciting and sensational character. The fluctuations during the four days’ play were of the most startling and perplexing kind, fortune at one time inclining to the side of the visitors and then to the Australians. The last day’s play furnished some grand betting, and brought about a gloriously close and exciting finish. Turfites may talk of the excitement caused by a neck- and-neck race up the straight, but I know of none so keen and absorbing as a well- contested cricket match which is won by a few runs. Those few thousand people who had the privilege of witnessing the splendid BtruggleforsupremacyonTuesdaylastbetween two fine elevens will not readily forget the exciting occasion. As the two last English batsmen were in and slowly making the few runs required to win the suspense was pain­ ful. When the ever-watohful Evans at point snapped up the chance whioh Flowers gave him there was a feeling of relief, even in the minds of the English partisans, that it was all over. A few moments’ reflection caused the onlookers to realise what a grand match it had been, and to contemplate upon the “ glorious uncertainty ” of the game. The Australians were fortunate enough to win the toss, which slice of good fortune gave them the choice of wickets. A hailstorm, however, swept the ground about 2 o’clock on the first day and damaged the turf. The result of the day’s play is that the Australians lost eight wickets for 97 runs. Nearly every­ one voted the match a foregone conclusion for the Englishmen. The next day, however, placed quite a different complexion on the face of affairs. Spofforth, the next man, did not stay long; but Garrett and Evans, the “ tail-enders,” established themselves so firmly at the wickets that the Englishmen were unable to effect a separation between them until the score had been augmented by about 80 runs. This stand was made with the turf in a very treacherous condition, and had the English captain changed his bowling oftener there is little doubt the partnership would not have been of so long duration. Both batsmen played well, but Garrett gave Barnes at slip a very easy chance, when the score stood at 106. That was a very expensive miss. It lost the match for the Englishmen. With the turf treacherous no bowler in the English eleven is so dangerous as Barnes. He has pace, and with his high delivery the ball rises very quickly from the pitch. Flowers’ pace was altogether too slow for the dead turf, the batsman being enabled to pull him when he pitched the ball short. Against Garrett’s chance it may be urged that Evans was given out by mistake, as he states he never touched the ball which the English wicketkeeper caught. Though analysing the chances and errors, it may be said “ they are all in the game.” The batting of the colonial eleven in the first innings was far from being first-class, if Jones, Evans, and Garrett are excepted. A. Bannerman was stilted. Bonnor, in com­ piling his 18 runs, gave three or four chances, and Trumble’s play lacked vigour. If the batting form of the Australians was poor, that of the Englishmen in their first innings was infinitely worse. Scotton, Shrewsbury, and Flowers shaped better than the rest of their comrades, and the first-named had to retire on a very questionable decision, he being given out caught at the wickets when the ball glanced off his pad. Most of the batsmen survived the first over or two and got a fair sight of the ball, when they went in for fast scoring. Some of the visitors appear to think that when they have made about 15 they have done well enough ; and, on arriving at that stage, they begin to slog and are very soon on their way to the pavilion. Ulyett lashed out wildly at a yorker from Spofforth, and down went his stumps ; and Barnes blundered out of his crease in trying to negotiate one from “ the Demon,” and was stumped. Allround, the batting of the Australians in the second innings showed much improvement; but, seeing that the turf was in better condition for batting than at any time during the match, their total (165) was surprisingly small. So strong a batting team were worth at least 200 runs. Beliable Tommy Horan headed the list with one of his well-played innings, thus adding to his reputation as the most consistent batsman in the colonies in big matches. Trumble also played remarkablygood cricket, hitting at times to the off in the most spirited fashion. He certainly is one of the best young cricketers the sister colony has turned out for years. With the possession of won­ derful patience and confidence, his long reach and upright bat make him a very sturdy defender. Moreover, he is a capital change bowler of the medium pace order, with a very high delivery and a slight off break. An Australian eleven could scarcely be chosen without his inclusion. Jones again showed sterling form, while Massie gave the spectators a taste of that dash and brilliancy which the onlookers so dearly like to see. When he began to lay about him the Britishers were as anxious as they were pleased when they saw his form retreating to the pavilion. Both Bonnor and Banner­ man also played w ell; but Scott disappointed his friends, who know what good cricket he is capable of displaying. The last two men, Evans and Garrett, made 84 runs between them in the first innings ; but the last four men, including the above-named, in the second innings, scored but three between them, thus furnishing an illustration of the ups and downs of cricket. With a score of 214 to face, and on a wieket which had stood the work of two innings, the Englishmen had no easy task before them when they commenced their second innings between 5 and 6 o’clock the third day. Before the stumps were drawn that evening Spofiorth had sent the patient Scotton away lamenting with a brace to his name, and Ulyett was run out through attempting a short run. It is a very foolish proceeding to risk a wicket for a run at that stage, and when it wanted but a few minutes to 6 o’clock. The English captain would have been wise had he sent one of his “ tail-end men ” in at that time instead of Ulyett. The loss of two of their best men for 29 runs suggested an easy victory for the colonial team. How remote must have been considered the chances of the visitors winning when the opening event of the first day’s play was the summary dismissal of Barnes, the stoutest batsman in the eleven. Bates and Shrewsbury began to improve matters considerably, when Spofforth sent the latter away ; but gloom overspread the Englishmen’s faces when Briggs’ middle stump was disturbed by the same destroying