Cricket 1886

MARCH 25, 1886. CEICKET: A WEEKLY EECORD OF THE GAME. 45 C R IC K E T IN A U S T R A L IA . INTER-COLONIAL MATCH. VICTORIA v. NEW SOUTH WALES. Rain effectually spoiled the return match between New SouthWales and Victoria, begun at Sydney on Saturday, January 23rd, and concluded on the following Thursday. At the outset long odds would have been laid on Victoria, and at the end of the first day their chances were very hopeful. They had then scored 51 for the loss of only one wicket against a total of 215, and this they had in­ creased to 160 at a cost of seven more batsmen when play ceased on the second day. The remainder of the game though was all in favour of New South Wales, and the Victorians with all the worst of the wicket were ulti­ mately defeated by 150 runs. The attendance on the whole was very large, and it is said that the proceeds of the match amounted to ^1,500. Lord Carrington, the Governor of New South Wales, was present on more than one of the five days, and took great interest in the game. The following remarks on the play are from the pen of “ Felix,” the cricket contributor to the Australasian newspaper of Melbourne. The result of the thirty-sixth intercolonial match between New South Wales and Victoria is another and very striking exemplification of the oft-repeated saying that cricket is a game of surprises. How many are there who, before the match started, thought that New South Wales would win. I venture to say not one judge of cricket in twenty was of opinion that Victoria would sustain defeat. Any person who knew the game and the merits of the players would, on analysing the two teams, immediately set Victoria down as having far the better side. How then came it to pass that New South Wales won, and by the large majority of 150 runs? The answer is easy. New South Wales had first innings in beauti­ ful weather on a good wicket. Victoria had to bat on a wicket that was not only bad itself, but was rendered worse by wet weather. The pitch was dry while Bruce and Scott were bat­ ting on the first day, and even then the bowl­ ing bumped and cut about a good deal. Then on Monday, the second day, when 6 wickets fell, it was caky and treacherous, except when the rain fell during a portion of the partner­ ship between Walters and Palmer. On the third day the remaining four Victorians had to bat on a pitch that was all in favour of the bowler. Under the circumstances the total of 187 was first-class. In their second innings the New South Welshmen were fortunate in having a wicket which was sticky only on the inorning of the fourth day, when 196 had been contributed towards the 232. As has been said the Victorians had a bad wicket in the first innings, but the climax of bad treacherous wickets was attained before the fall of the sixth wicket in the second innings. But though Victoria had all the worst ofjthe luck with regard to the condition °f wicket and weather, it must not for a mo­ ment be supposed that to this alone is due the decisive victory gained by New South Wales. The victors played a grand game from start to finish. Evans and Garrett bowled superbly; Moses, Bonnor, Jones, Evans, and Marr batted like any number of books, and the fielding for the most part was first-rate. Undoubtedly the feature of the first innings of New South Wales was the batting of Moses. It is true he was badly missed by Spofforth off his own bowling when he had made 9, and later on Spofforth, if he had been a bit smart­ ish, might have caught him at point off Bruce. But despite these mistakes Moses deserves the highest praise. His off play was quite a treat to look at, and his graceful style commended itself to all. He made one or two capital leg hits, and his cutting was neat and effective. Garrett’s 45 was the outcome of sterling and vigorous cricket, and the dash he infused into his play was pleasant to witness. Seven 4’s are included in his contribution, and two or three of them were beautifully sweet and clean cuts. Evans played a capital defensive game for 22, and he was given out by Phillips through an error of judgment. The veteran bowler, however, had a slice of luck in being adjudged not out when he was actually caught at the wickets by Blackham before he had made a double. C. Bannerman played a sound game for 14, and Bonnor rattled up 10 by three really good strokes. In the second innings of New South Wales the brilliant stand made by Bonnor and Jones merits especial attention. Theirs was un­ doubtedly a great and highly interesting dis­ play. Five wickets were down for 82 when the partnership was initiated, and at 6 o’clock it was still undissolved, with the score standing at 196. Next day Bonnor was unable to take his place with Jones owing to the sinews of his left hand having been badly hurt by a blow received on the preceding day. Later on, how­ ever, he was induced to go in, and the spec­ tators applauded him lustily as he successfully negotiated Spofforth and Palmer with one hand. One-handed the giant made 6, two- handed he made 78 (not out). His hitting for the latter compilation was quite up to his best form. One grand hit to long-on off Palmer, clean over the boundary fence and well up on the terrace, was greeted with loud and hearty acclamation, and Lord Carrington joined in this acknowledgment of theBonnorian strength. One 5 and five 4’s are credited to the giant. Hitters, as a rule, give chances. Bonnor was no exception, for he gave six or seven; but two or three of them were very difficult; once he was caught at the wickets by Blackham off M‘Shane, and given “ not out.” Bruce and Worrall should have held him easily ; but Walters, Blackham, Horan, and Houston had extremely difficult chances. Indeed, Houston and Horan’s could hardly be termed chances at all. Though Bonnor made so many mis­ takes, his display must be set down as highly meritorious. Jones’s innings of 67 was the best of the match. He made only one mistake, a difficult chance to Scott at short-leg off Bruce. Throughout his long stay at the wickets he took no liberties, showed inex­ haustible patience and impregnable defence, and hit well when he had a chance. Spofforth and Palmer sent down some splendid overs, but Sam was equal to their very best efforts. The way he watched the ball, and kept down the bumpy ones, was worth looking at. He seemed just as much at home on the bad wicket as on a good one. Marr’s score of 24 was very well obtained, and he made no mis­ takes. He had to bat, too, when the wicket favoured the bowlers. Turner’s 22 contained some good strokes, but he did not seem to play with much confidence when opposed to Spof­ forth. The latter bowled him with a fast ball, but as the umpire had called “ no ball” Turner went on his batting career rejoicing. Among Victorian batsmen Walters, Palmer, Bruce, Blackham, Trumble, Houston, Scott, M’Shane, andWorrall secured doubles. Walters for his 36 played a splendid defensive game on a wicket which at first was extremely bad. He watched the ball capitally, kept down numerous bumpy ones, showed any amount of patience, and hit in fine style to leg, in which direction he obtained about five 4’s. Palmer shaped admirably for 28 and 21, and unmis­ takably made manifest that even on a sticky wicket he is all there as agraceful and finished batsman. Blackham, as is customary with him under adverse circumstances, exhibited much spirit and pluck, and deserves nothing but the warmest praise for his two contribu­ tions of 20 and 23. Bruce made his 28 on the dry wicket, but he had a large number of high- kicking balls to negotiate for all that. Some of his strokes were streaky, but some were made in a free, wristy, and attractive style. Trumble in the second innings demonstrated that it is a mistake to jump to the conclusion that he cannot bat well on a bad wicket. His play was of the highest order from first to last, and he watched the ball almost as well as Sam Jones did. Trumble’s fiver was agrand hit off Garrett clean over the bowler’s head and out of bounds. Nothing pleased me more than did the first-class game played by Houston, the Hotham colt, for 24. No mistakes were made by him-; no haphazard strokes. All his cricket was clean, scientific and true, and now and then he played on the bad wicket with a vigour and confidence which is rarely wit­ nessed on a first appearance in these time- honoured contests, for, be it remembered, this is Houston’s maiden essay in the intercolonial contests with New South Wales. Scott was not in his best form for his 16, M‘Shane played briskly and well for 11, and Worrall hit reso­ lutely for his modest 10. In bowling Evans and Garrett carried off the honours for New SouthWales. The former never bowled better, and he had very bad luck in the first innings. He maintained a fine length throughout, and at times, on the diffi­ cult pitch, had the batsmen completely in a knot. In the first innings he secured 4wickets for 70 off 200 balls, and in the second innings his record was three for 31 off 148 balls. Gar­ rett once more proved himself a first-class trundler; 6 for 55 and 6 for 56 are figures good enough to satisfy anyone.- But though Garrett was more successful than Evans, the Vic­ torians found the latter harder to negotiate. For Victoria Spofforth, Palmer, M‘Shane, Bruce, and Trumble did most of the work, Worrall and Horan bowling only a few overs each. Spofforth got 4 for 72 and 4 for 73, and Palmer 1 for 43 and 2 for 91. Bruce, who was rather erratic, got 2 for 44 and none for 26. M‘Shane bowled capitally each innings, and in the second secured 2 wickets for 12 runs. The fielding along the ground was excellent in the majority of instances on both sides, but altogether more than a dozen chances were missed. The slippery grass and wet ball may in some measure be held accountable for these numerous laches. Evans, Marr, Moses, Gar­ rett, M‘Donnell, Bonnor, and Jones appeared to conspicuous advantage on the New South Wales side, especially Evans, who never fielded better. Burton kept wicket very well, and he had some exceedingly nasty balls to take. M‘Donnell deserves a special line for the ex­ cellent catch which got rid of Horan. For Victoria, Houston, Bruce, Horan, M‘Shane, Scott, and Worrall did fine work, but Bruce and Worrall discounted their brilliant ground fielding by each missing Bonnor twice. Black­ ham kept wicket very well indeed, and had bad luck in having two or three verdicts given against him when the men were actually out. The stumping of Bonnor on the leg side on the stroke of 6 on the third day was as brilliant a piece of wicket-keeping as has ever been witnessed or recorded. Unfortunately for Blackham, the umpire’s fiat was against him. N e w S o u t h W a x e s . First Innings. Second Innings. P. S. M'Donnell, run out 6 b Spofforth ...... 1 S. P. Jones, b Spofforth ... 9 lbw, b M’Shane 67 H. Moses, c Trumble, b B ru ce ...............................74 G. J. Bonnor,b Palmer J. Mather, run out ... C.Bannerman, b Spofforth 14 T. W. Garrett, run out ... 45 C. Turner, b Spofforth ... 7 E. Evans, lbw,b Spofforth 22 P. Marr,c Palmer, b Bruce 5 F. Burton, not out .......... 5 B 8,1 b 2, n-b7, w l... 18 Total .................215 First Innings. V ic t o r ia . H. J. H. Scott, b Evans ... 16 W. Bruce, c M‘Donnell, b Garrett ........................28 T. Horan, c M'Donnell, b Garrett ........................ 8 J. M. Blackham, b Garrett 20 F. Walters, b Garrett ...36 G.E.Palmer.c and b Evans 28 •T. W. Trumble, b Garrett 3 P. G. M‘Shane, c Bonnor, b Evans ........................11 R. Houston, not out.......... 4 F. R. Spofforth, c Garrett, b Evans ........................ 0 J. Worrall, b Garrett ... 10 B 11, lb 12 .................23 Total ..187 st Blackham, b Palmer .......... 5 run out ..........84 " c Worrall, b Spofforth ... 0 b Spofforth ... 4 c Trumble, b Spofforth ... 4 cBruce.bPalmer 22 not out .......... 2 run out ..........24 c Walters, b M'Shane ... 0 B 6, lb 4, nb9 19 Total ...232 . Second Innings, c Burton,b Evans 0 c M'Donnell, b Garrett ... 2 cGarrett.bEvans 2 b G arrett..........23 c Marr, b Evans 4 b G arrett..........21 b Jones ..........30 c Tones,b Garrett cMarr, b Garrett not out .......... 0 cMather,bGarrett 0 Extras.......... 4 Total ...110 Next Issue April 15.