Cricket 1885

74 CRICKET; A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. *apbilsr,isss. time. The occasion of liis departure from Sydney was Utilised by his comrades of the Carlton Club to give him a farewell" banquet, and at tliib festive gathering on Feb. 25 he was presented with a handsome watch and chain, in appreciation of the great services he has rendered to the CarL- tonians. Mr, Nunn, who, if I mistake not, is an Inter Colonial player, is, I have reason to believe, desirous of having some cricket during his stay here, and I am sure his wishes will be gratified. E veryone here will be gratified to see that Maurice Read and Flowers, who were both of them very unlucky in run-getting in the earlier fixtures oif Shaw’s team in Australia, have been doing really good work for the Englishmen in the matches, details of which have come to hand. The Surrey professional seems to have had, some compensation for his previous mis­ fortunes in New South Wales, and his last four innings which have reached us give him an aggregate of 148, with one not out. His score of 52 not out against Eighteen Juniors in Sydney, is described by the special correspondent of the Sporting Life accompanying the team, as having been made in “ rattling good form.” His brilliant stand, in conjunction with Flowers, too, nearly won that most exciting match against the Combined Eleven of Aus­ tralia, when the Colonists won with only six runs to spare, one less, by the way, than England were beaten by at the Oval in 1882. C ritical comments on this match from the Australasian and Sydney Mail are reproduced in another part of this paper, and as the match is an histor­ ical one these cannot fail to be read with interest. A few words, though, with reference to the performance of Flowers and Read, from the pen of “ Felix,” who, as many know, is a very prominent Victorian cricketer, in the Australasian, will not be out of place here. Flowers and Bead were tlie lions of the hour. They were (i.e. at the close of the game) heartily applauded again and again, and they deserved it all. Their joint achieve­ ment was something to be remembered. 102 runs were made during their partnership, and it seemed as if they would win the match themselves, so pluckily, so resolutely, and so excellently did they play. Bead’s 56 included nine fours, and he made some very hard and clean strokes. The demon came in [for severe- punishment from Read and i'Flowers, but the great bowler had the satis)- faction of getting rid of both in the long run!. .Their play, under adverse circumstances, was simply splendid, and will be looked back to as’ oner'of the best displays ever witnessed ■ either in Australia or in England. Floweri was once actually caught at the wickets off :Spofforth by Jarvis. He also, it is curious to note, played Trumble hard on the bails; which, however, remained in the groove. Fon some time past the bitter cry of Sydney cricketers has been the scarcity of suitable grounds. While Melbourne has been well supplied in this way, Sydney has been a great sufferer from the lack of accommodaj tion. While in most of the other nietropohtan cities of Australia tli4 authorities have provided cricket grounds in almost every suburb, New South Wales has had only one what may be termed representative enclosure, the Association ground at Sydney. W hile every possible encourage; ment has been given by the State in otherparts for the provision of cricket grounds, the authorities in New South Wales have been singularly passive in the matter. The new ground at Ash- field, a suburb of Sydney, oh which the English team receutly played eighteen Juniors, marks, therefore, a new idea in the cricket of the colony. T he new ground, according to the Sydney Mail, Is situated about a mile from the station, and not more than 200 yards from the Parra­ matta road. It is a beautiful spot, and the surrounding neighbourhood is occupied by villa residences. The ground is enclosed by a substantial corrugated iron fence, about 10 feet high; while on the outside the directors have made a footpath, which they have, at considerable expense, kerbed and channelled. The playing ground is exactly a quarter of a mile in circumference, and it is intended to lay down a cinder track for cycling and pedestrianism. The main entrance is on the east side, viz., Frederick-street, and a fine road approaches the ground from two sides. Though,the buildings are yet in an unfinished state, sufficient can be seen to show that the Ashfield Recreation Ground will be one of themost perfect cricket arenasin the colonies. The pavilion even now in its unfinished stage will be a great ornament to the ground, and a joy to the ladies,for whom special accommo­ dation has been provided. About 300 persons can be accommodated in the pavilion and en­ closure. There will also be a.billiard-Toom with two tables in the main bliilding, while at the north side there will be a spacious skittle alley and a bowling green and quoit ground. The stand will be a really fine structure. It dimensions are 114 feet long by 20 feet broad, and it is estimated it will provide sitting-room for 1,000 persons. It is altogether a solid-looking structure, and being 12 feet elevated, a splendid view of the game can be obtained. In front of the stand is a spacious lawn for a ladies’ promenade. M®. • A rthur H aygarth , to whose untiring industry the cricket world owes the valuable work known as “ Scores and Biographies,” writes to me, pointing out two errors which occurred in last week’s paper. I in­ advertently stated that the Rev. Walter Fellows, who captained the Clergy v. Bar recently at Melbourne, was the elder, instead 0 f the younger brother of Mr. Harvey Fellows. He also points out that the late Mr. T. C. Goodrich played. ..first at Lord’s on July 25,. 1851, and not in 1867 as stated by his biographer. I am much indebted to Mr, Haygartli for his kind letter, and have much pleasure in making the necessary corrections. T he report o f the match between the English team and a combined eleven of Australia which appeared in last week’s C ricket , contained no mention of an incident which, reflecting as it does gravely on one of our most prominent professional players, should not pass unnoticed. I refer to the refusal of Barnes to bowl when called "upon by Shrews­ bury, the Captain of the team, to try his hand. I had seen no notice of the occur­ rence when I wrote last week, or I should have considered it my un­ pleasant duty to comment upon it. According to the Australasian, Barnes was deputed to bowl when Garrett and Evans made their unexpected stand at the very close of the first inn­ ings of Australia, but refused, as also in the second inning3 when again requested. There was possibly some misunderstanding between Shrewsbury and Barnes, but, as everyone knows,, the hearty co-operation of an eleven is the great essential to success on the cricket field. Perfect discipline is absolutely necessary to the satisfactory working of a side, and to the credit of pro­ fessional players, be it said, such a case as that to which I am now referring is altogether unknown. Nevertheless, this unsportsmanlike, to say the least of it, behaviour of Barnes should not be overlooked. It does not affect the principle at issue at all, but as far as I can judge from the reports his bowling in the match in question would, in all probability, have been of