Cricket 1886

APRIL 29,1886. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 88 TH E F I F T H A U S T R A L IA N T E AM FIRST MATCH.—v. FIFTEEN OF AUSTRALIA. T he Fifth Australian Eleven began their first match oh the Adelaide Oval, on March 18. It was originally intended that the team should try conclusions with a combined team of Aus­ tralia in Sydney, but owing to a dispute about some money matters that match fell through, and it was arranged that the Eleven should inaugurate their tour with a match against Australia in Adelaide. There was hardly enough cricketing talent available to test the M.C.C. Eleven’s capabilities even-handed, however, and so the authorities resolved to pit fifteen against the Australians. Before lunch there was a fair sprinkling of spectators, and in the afternoon the Stand was filled, and there was a good attendance in the shilling part of the ground. The Government recog­ nised the occasion by closing the offices at 1 o’clock, and the Prince Alfred College boys were given a half-holiday. His Excellency the Governor drove to the ground at 4 o’clock and stayed till a_quarter to 6. The weather was decidedly warm, but just the sort of day cricketers like. Scott, the Australian Eleven Captain, won the toss from Gooden, who was in charge of the Fifteen, and of course he elected to bat. The wicket was in perfect order, and the Australians did not fail to make the most of it. Scott only made 13, but Jones and BruCe were not separated until 125, when Bruce was bowled by Musgrove. Jones con­ tinued to show fine form unt 1 h ) had made 76, and chen he was run out. Giffen was in a very steady humour, and took a Ion" time to make 37, but Bonnor soon rattled up 34. Every one was waiting to see Bonnor hit, but unfortunately he got out before the time for makingsensationalhits arrived. Palmercopied Giffen’s style, and played very steadily, but the spectators got a man to their fancy when Jarvis went to the wickets. His play was exceptionally brilliant* and in a very short time he became responsible for 52. When time was called the Eleven had made 319'for six wickets, and as far as could be judged by the day’s play their batting is good enough for anything. Jones is not familiar to the Adelaide public, and his faultless style was very much admired. Musgrore was more successful* than the other bowlers tried, but both Lyons and Jones did fairly well. The fielding at first was somewhat loose, but after Bruce retired the Fifteen settled down and did fairly well. Harcus and Blinman did a lot of good work, and Trott, Noel, Houston and Ross were very good in their places. Lewis kept wickets pretty well. To add to the attractions of the cricket the management secured the presence of the Military Band. The weather was very warm again when play was resumed on Friday, March 19* but still there was a fair attendance, consider­ ing that it was an off day. S!x bowlers were tried while the Fifteen were batting, and none of them could.make much impression on the batting. The Eleven continued their innings at a quarter-past 12 o’clock, and at lunch nine wickets were down, but the score had been advanced to 400. Palmer brought his total to 58, and Mcllwraith made 38, but the play was slow- Blackham livened things up a bit, and remained not out with 37 to his credit, but both Garrett and JJvans failed to reach double figures. Pliillipsgot three of the wickets, and the fourth fell to Trott. The fielding of the Fifteen was very good. The wickets having been rolled Lyons and Houston started batting for the Fifteen. A sharp catch at the wickets settled Lyons before he had scored, but on Blinman joining Houston it became evident that the Eleven would find it difficult to get their men out on such a perfect wioket. Jarvis missed a difficult chance of stumping Blinman when he had made 20, but he brought about Houston’8 downfall at 47. Then Lewis went in, and a fine stand was made, Blinman especially showing capital form. Several changes were tried, but the batsmen remained masters of the situation until 110, when Blin­ man was bowled for a remarkably well-made 59. The little man was liberally applauded, both by the Eleven and tlie spectators, when he retired. Noel was unlucky, as after making 2 he played Giffen hard on the ground and the ball rebounded on to his wicket. Lewis hit very freely on being joined by Harcus, and the pair seemed like playing out time, but just before 6 Harcus was caught at point. Lewis remained not out with 64 to his credit. He played a fine free game, and made some splendid strokes. The fielding of the Eleven was patchy, Scott, Bruce, Jones, and Giffen being very smart, while some of the others were faulty at times. The third day, March 20, was characterised by oppressive heat, but notwithstanding this between three and four thousand people were present to witness the play. The pavilion was again largely patronised, the fair sex mustering in great force, and ail round the chains were stationed spectators. His Excellency the Governor drove down to the ground* and watched the proceedings for some time. It was thought that the wicket was crumbling b ’ lly on the previous evening, but this suppositi u was dispelled by the stand afterwards male on it. The play was very slow, the feebl** resistance of the tail end of the fifteen robbing the match of considerable of its interest. In their follow-on, however, the combined men commenced well. Lewis failed to add more than 4 to his score when he was clean bowled, but on Trott and Jones becoming associated the total was raised from 174 to 194. The Hindmarsh man opened in a streaky manner, but afterwards did some nice leg hitting. Trott also obtained his runs by sound cricket, and the consistency of this player’s scoring during the carnival has caused him to be much admired here. Ross again failed, but Darling, after being missed badly at point by Evans off the first ball he received, made 16 in a fair manner. At times he shaped some­ what awkwardly at Palmer, but his off driving was hard and ciean. The stand made by the college boy was evidently appreciated by his schoolmates, who applauded vociferously every hit of any importance ho made. Bruce was shaping nicely when Evans snapped him up, and J. Stow’s 13 was the result of careful batting. Both Palmer and Giffen were roughly treated on Friday, but their Saturday’s performances considerably im­ proved their averages. Towards the end of the game the South Australian was almost unplayable, his record reading 32 balls, 4runs, 6 maidens, 3 wickets. Evans, however, came out with the best average, his three wickets only costing 28 runs. After clean bowling Lewis the Welshman was too unwell to con­ tinue trundling, and had subsequently to leave the field, his place being filled by Trumble, who was very brilliant at third man. Jarvis’s wicket-keeping on Saturday was very fine, although he missed a chance of stumping Trott off Giffen. With 177 to the bad the combined team had to follow on, Houston and Lyons again taking the initiative in the batting. Both men batted freely, and runs came at a good pace. With 35 signalled, however, the Norwood made his dan­ gerous forward cut, and had to retire. Lyons should try and get out of this stroke, as in nine matches out of ten he falls a victim to it. Blinman followed, but the little man scored very slowly at first, owing to the grand fielding of the eleven. After lunch, however, he was more successful, and with Houston hard at work the score quickly mounted up. Blinman’s downfall was again brought about by the ball glancing off his pad, and the spectators heartily shared with the feeling which prompted the Norwood man to dash the end of his bat violently on the ground when retiring. Blinman put Giffen up slightly on the off on two occasions, but his clean hard hitting all round the wicket oalled forth the encomiums of both the spectators and the eleven. Houston was splendidly caught by Jones, after making 55. From the first the Melbourne man appeared at home with the bowling, but he has an ugly style of gently patting the ball instead of laying the wood on. Lewis has again commenced well, and several of his strokes on Saturday were very brilliant. As long, however, as he continues to play for­ ward at short pitched balls his batting cannot be considered pretty. Harcus was credited with 19 not out, but his style was very disap­ pointing. Time after time Palmer ciean beat him, and the Norwood man has to thank th© soundness of the wickets for his bails not having been removed at an early stage of his career. A u stralian E leven . J. Mcllwraith, b Phil­ lips ........................38 J. McC. Blackham, not out .................37 T. Garrett, b Phillips 8 E. Evans, b Phillips 9 B 8 ,lb 3 ,w l,n b 2 14 Total. W. Bruce, b Musgrove 45 H J. H. Scott, c Trott, b Musgrove ............14 S. P. Jones, runout... 76 G. Giffen, b Lyons ... 37 (J. J. Bonnor, c Phib- lips, b Musgrove ... 34 G. E . Palmer, c and b Tiott ..................58 A. H. *»arvis, c Mus­ grove, b Jones ... 5*2 C om bined F ifte en . First Innings. ' Second Innings. R. Houston, st Jarvis, b Palmer ........................18 c Jones, b Giffen i J Lyons, c Jarvis, b J Palmer ........................ 0cGiffen.bGarretfc H. Blinman, b Evans ... 59 b Giffen ..........1 I’. Lewis, b Evans ..........69 notout ,.. .... J. Noel, b Giffen................. 2 F. T. Harcus, c Scott, b E vans............................... 11 not out ... ... H.Trott,c Giffen, b Palmer 16 W. Jones, b Palmer ..........16 C. Ross, c Palmer, b Giffen 0 J. Darling, c Jarvis, b Palmer ................. ... 16 R.Bruce.c Evans,b Palmer 3 T. W. Stow, b Giffen..........13 J. E. Gooden, b Giffen ... 4 J. Phillips, not out .......... 3 J. Musgrove, c Garrett, b G iffen ............................... 0 B 8,1 b 2, n b 5 ..........15 B 4,lb5 ,n b2 ...422 Total 245 Total 163. Trott Musgrove Phillips Noel BOWLING ANALYSIS. A ustralian E l e v e n . B. R. M. W. B. R. M. \V. 176 86 15 1 228 123 15 3 157 73 8 3 72 41 2 0 Jones 108 29 II 1’ Lyons 136.34 17’ I* Houstn 20 16 0 0i Bruce 16 6 1^*0 C om bined F if te e n . . First Innings. Second Innings. B. R. M. W. B. R. M. W; Giffen 208 8-4 19 5 Palmer 228 90 21 6 Garrett 44 14 5 0 I Evans 88 28 12 3 A | ‘ Jones 16 11 0 0 (j» W > r Bonnor 43 0 0 A rW « V V * * On Friday evening, March 19, the Fifth Aus-, tralian Eleven were accorded a public demon­ stration on the Adelaide Oval Mr. J. Creswell, the energetic secretary of the S.A. Cricket Association, determined to make the formal farewell to the Eleven a success, and with that end in view arranged a variety of attractions. The military band were engaged to give one of their popular concerts, and they played several selections,in their customary finished style: The Adelaide Quartet-Verein sang several choruses with good taste, and gained the loud applause of the audience, which must have numbered nearly 3,000. In addition a procession of bicycles was arranged, and over forty wheelmen made a circuit of the Oval, each cyclist bearing a gaily coloured lantern. About nine o’clock his Worship the Mayor re­ ceived the Australian Eleven in the pavilion. Mr. E. T. Smith, amidst loud cheers, expressed the satisfaction the South Australian public felt in being able to welcome such aredoubtable bandof cricketers to Adelaide as the Fifth Aus­ tralian Eleven were. The Australian teams previously sent home had upheld the honour of the colonies; and he was sure Capt. Scott