Cricket 1886

484 tifctciiET: a W eek ly R ecord oi- i ’ he game . DEC. 30,3 TH E EN G L ISH C R IC K E T E R S IN A U S T R A L IA . From the Sporting Life. Reprinted by permission. After a delay of ten hours at Aden, spent partly on shore by about half the team, during the disagreeable process of coaling, we started at 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 7, for the last long run to Adelaide, a distance of 6,135 miles. Gentle breezes from the south favoured us till passing into the Southern Hemisphere, a little before noon on Tuesday, October 12. The next day, a long, rolling sea from dead ahead warned us that we should soon be in the south­ east tradejwinds. This was an accomplishedfact the next day, and it continued to blow trongly till Wednesday, October 20, severa of the runs only just exceeding 200 miles. 1 Many were again sick from the ceaseless knocking about, Gunn being absent from meals for several days. Bates and Briggs were also very poorly. The trade winds falling light on Thurs­ day, sports, which had been arranged some time, were commenced,causinggreatinterestthrough­ out the ship The cricketers monopolised most of the prizes, Gunn gettingthe hop, stride, and jump, high jump, long jump, and hurdle race, Sherwin the trial of strength, Barlow the five minu tes go-as-you-please, Briggs the potato race, S herwin and Barlow the tourna­ ment, and Ba tes and Barlow the three-legged race. On the second day the ship rolled con­ siderably, and Bates and Read had nasty falls, fortunately, though, only sustaining bruises, which Jacob’s Oil soon cured. On Tuesday, October 26, a fancy dress ball took place, the cricketers going in their war paint. Rough weather somewhat marred the proceedings, and although some nasty falls occurred,dancing was kept up till midnight. The next evening a minstrel entertainment wasgiven, which was a great success. Eight of the English team took part in it, Gunn and Sherwin being the corner men. The programme was as follows:— Part I.—Opening Chorus; “ Sweet Chiming Bells,” Scotton ; •“Pull Away,” Briggs ; “ Willie Montrose,” Sherwin; “ Thy voice is near,” Barlow; “ Little Sweetheart,” Chris­ tian ; “ Her front name was Hannah,” Gunn ; „ Yorkshire Lass,” Bates; “ Good Old Jeff,” Shaw; “ Kitty Malone,” Bruce. Part II.—“ The corn is waving,” Scotton; “ LittleEmpty Cradle,” Barlow; “ The Powder Monkey,” Briggs ; “ Dot and Carry One,” Gunn; “ The Midshipmite,” Bruce; “ Rocked in the Cradle,” Christian; “ Oh, dem golden slippers,” Sherwin. “ God save the Queen.’, Sherwin and Gunn were encored. After the concert the captain invited the English team and a few others into his cabin to partake of some champagne, when success to us during our tour was heartily drunk. Early on Friday we passed along Kangaroo Island, and about five p.m. anchored, the voyage having lasted forty-one days. Mr. Cresswell, the secretary of the Adelaide Cricket Association, was soon on board, and informed us that the match v. Fifteen of South Australia was to commence the next day. This was sharp work, but all seemed ready and willing, being glad of anything for a change after so many days at sea. Through not reaching Adelaide till so late in the evening a formal welcome at the Town Hall by the Mayor, which had been arranged, was abandoned. All the men were well, and on Saturday were practising soon after ten o’clock. The day was a lovely one for cricket, a cool breeze blowing from the west. On examining the wioket it was plain to see it would add ad­ ditional proofs to all who have a doubt on that subject, that the Adelaide wickets are undoubtedly the very best in the world. Of course, through the unavoidable absence of G. Giffen and Jarvis, the South Australians were greatly weakened. Two others who had been chosen also fell out of the team, having gone to the goldfields just discovered here. On the other hand, the Englishmen had a great disadvantage in having to play without practice, and only the superb state of the ground can account for the splendid stand made. So ridiculously easy was the wicket that when in any difficulty it was only necessary to play forward to insure meeting the ball, which in nineteen cases out of twenty got up about half stump high. Most of the Colonial bowlers were straight, with high deliveries, but no break could be got on by any of them. On winning the toss the opinions of the English team were equally divided, some wishing to field, others to bat. However the fear of rain falling befoite Mon­ day decided the point, and they elected to go in. Small interest appeared to be taken in this match by the general public, very little over a thousand being present, although on Saturday (the general half-holiday) Barnes played wonderfully well, not giving the slightest chance in getting 84. Shrewsbury should have been caught twice before getting 20, but made the last 60 runs of his 100 in good form, and it must be accounted a grand performance to score a century the day after landing from a six weeks’ voyage. Maurice Read had his usual Adelaide luck, being caught at short mid-on the first ball. Barlow was in fair form, as was Gunn. Scotton was all abroad for some time, having some very narrow escapes, and just as he appeared settled into form he played at a slow ball before it pitched, and was bowled middle stump. The game commenced at aquarter to twelve, the two Notts men, Shrewsbury and Scotton, first defending the wickets. Shrewsbury reached double figures before Scotton started, and it took thirty minutes to make the first 20 runs. This rate of scoring continued till lunch-time (one o’clock), when the total was 51—Shrewsbury, 30, Scotton, 19. Both men had been let off; Shrewsbury twice, as before mentioned—once at cover point, and again at extra deep mid-off, and Scotton at the wicket. The Mayor, who took the chair at luncheon, proposed the health of the Englishmen, giv­ ing them a hearty welcome to Australia. Lillywhite returned thanks. The game was resumed at ten minutes to two. The same slow play continued, forty minutes being occupied in getting the next 25 runs, when Scotton, to the delight of the spectators, was bowled for 27, which had taken him one hour and fifty-five minutes. (One for 76.)^ Barnes came next, and runs soon came more freely. The 100 appeared at 2.55. Barnes then hit both bowlers for 4, and directly afterwards made a fine square-leg hit over the chains, for which five runs were allowed. In spite of several changes of bowling the score rose rapidly, Shrewsburyhittingthree fours in quick succession. At four o’clock ten minutes for refreshment were allowed, the total being 173, of which Shrewsbury had then made 91. On starting again, the 9 runs required by Shrews­ bury to complete his century had just been obtained, when he was caught at cover-point. (Two for 185.) Barlow joined Barnes, who again made a square leg hit over the chains for 5. The score had reached 226 when Barnes was out leg beforo for 84, and Read appeared, only to be immediately caught. Gunn, who made his debut on Australian soil, was loudly cheered. The score was hit to 241, when Barlow was out leg before. Bates and Gunn played out time, the total standing at 255 for five wickets. On Monday, November 1, in fine and very warm weather, the match was resumed. Although the sun shone brilliantly on Sunday and with great power on Monday, the wicket was as good as ever, but the attendance did not number more than 500. The remaining English batsmen only added 74, Flowers show­ ing the best form, although Gunn was playing well when he was run out. Lohmann was clean bowled for nothing, thus keeping company with his fellow-countyman, Maurice Read. Bates hit awaymerrily for 21, w hen he was well caught at long-on, aplace where his career has been stopped so many times ; in fact, anyone who knows him on asking how he was out concludes by saying, “ Caught at the same old place, I suppose?” Lyons was by far the most successful bowler, getting six r/ickets for 98 runs; the fielding was smart all round. The batting of the Australians was terribly slow. Three hours and twenty-five minutes were occupied in getting 99 runs, Slight being in three hours for 24. Lohmann bowled well, but Barlow was most successful in getting wickets. The fielding, with one or two excep­ tions, was very good. At 11.35 Gunn (19) and Bates (6), the not outs of Saturday, took possession of the wickets. Bates was soon busy, and made the first dozen, but with the addition of 20, was well caught. Briggs followed, but the little man, although he received many nice balls to. hit, could not time them, and was eventually caught at mid-off from a miss-hit for a dozen. In the meantime Gunn had been run out through a misunderstanding, and when Loh­ mann was bowled, nine wickets had fallen for 302. Flowers and Sherwin stayed some time. The former, after being missed at the wicket hit vigorously, and the total had reached 329, when a very smart catch at short mid-off settled Sherwin. Havring partaken of luncheon, the English team took the field at twenty-five minutes past two, Lyons and Slight representing the Colonials. Lohmann and Briggs opened the bowling. Briggs was punished from the start, and at 29 Flowers took his place. Sherwin missed Lyons off Lohmann, but soon after made amends by stumping him. (One for 38.) W. Giffen (brother to George, so well known in England, whom he very much resembles) joined Slight, and the play became very monotonous, an hour being occupied in making 14runs. In the meantime Barlow had relieved Lohmann, and at last bowled Giffen for 12. (Two for 56.) Knill, who followed, played more freely, but could not get the ball through. At 67 Barnes relieved Flowers, and 8 had been made very slowly, when Slight was caught at mid-off. Kemp, who followed, was clean bowled. (Four for 77.) Davenport added 4, when he was secured by Gunn at cover-slip, and Knill followed caught at point. (Six for 87.) Gooden and Waldron were now together, and Bates took up the bowling for Barnes. Gooden made a tremendous hit to cover-point, which was grandly fielded by Briggs, and soon after Bates clean bowled Waldron. (Seven for 94.) Stephens, a young beginner in firet- class cricket, joined his captain, and finished the day’s play by cutting Barlow beautifully for 4, seven wickets being down for 99 runs. On Tuesday, Nov.2, the game was continued? the weather again being glorious. Little interest was shown, as a draw was almost certain. The same slow play was continued by the Colonials, who for the last seven v ickets added but 33 runs, which took them nearly an hour and a half to get. Barlow got six wickets for 30 runs, and Bates four for 16. On follow­ ing on some lively play w as shown by Lyons, who made 43. The resf, though, played the same spiritless pame as in the first innings, and at the end of the day had made 127 for tne loss of eight wickets. Seven English bowlers were tried, Read, Barnes, and Bates beingmost destructive, in the order named. The match ended in a draw. About 300 persons witnessed the play, which was very disappointing. E n g lish E l e v e n . A .Shrew sbury,cStow , b W aldron ............100 W . S cotton , b L yon s 27 W . Barnes, l b w , b L yon s ....................84 R. G. B arlow , lbw , b L yon s ....................13 M aurice R e a d ,c W a l­ dron, b L yon s ... 0 W . Gunn, run ou t ... 26 W . Bates, c P hillips, b L y o n s .................... 21 J. B riggs, c Stow , b W ilkinson .. ... 12 W . F low ers, n ot out 28 G .L oh m an n .b L yons 0 M S herw in,cStephens, b W ilk in so n ............ 7 B 9, lb 2 ............11 Total ...329 Next Issue Jannary 27