Cricket 1887

“ Toge ther joined in cricket’s m an ly toil.”— Byron. Registered ta^ranamSafon^bro&d. THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1887. PR ICE 2d. M R , CH A R L E S TH OM A S B IA SS TU R N E R . T he predictions of those who ventured to foretell the decline of Australian cricket on the ground that there was an absence, or in any case a scarcity, of young players of suf­ ficient merit to satisfactorily fill the places of those who have done so much to uphold the reputation of colonial cricketers when their time came to retire from active pursuit of the game, do not appear, to judge from the experience of the last season in New South Wales at least, to have been so far fulfilled. On the contrary, the fine all round play shown by the eleven which represented the senior colony of Australia during the winter has given renewed hopes to those who were beginning to feel, perhaps, a little apprehensive of amaintenance of the high character of Australian cricket on the retirement of some of the veterans whose names are house­ hold words in the Old Country, as well as in .Greater Britain. And among youngsters who have done so much to revive the hopes of the well- wishers of our national game in Aus­ tralia, none has done better service than the promising all-round player whose portrait, through the kindness of one of the leaders of cricket in New South Wales, we are able to give this week. Mr. Charles Thomas Biass Turner first saw the light at Bathurst in New South Wales, which can also claim the distinction of being the birthplace of another famous Australian cricketer, none other than Mr. G. J. Bonnor, of hitting renown. Bom on Nov. 16, 1862, Mr. Turner is now well into his twenty-fifth year. Educated at the Grammar ana Commercial School at Bathurst, it was not till later in his career that he began to show any proficiency as a cricketer. As a boy, indeed, he did not take much to the game, and was never in fact able to secure a place in the School eleven. On the close of his school career he became identified with the local club at Bathurst, and it was in that connection that he made his first appearance in an important match. His introduction to English oricketers was in 1879, when he was only seventeen years of age. He was chosen one of the Twenty-two of Bathurst to oppose Lord Harris’s English Team during their visit to Australia in the winter of 1879, but was not successful with either bat or ball. Two years later, though, he was more fortunate under similar circum­ stances. His bowling for the Twenty-two of Bathurst against the first English Team taken out to the Colonies under the auspices of Shawand Shrewsburyatthe end of 1881, in fact, set the seal on his reputation. His success on that occasion was remarkable, as will be seen on reference to the figures which follow, although we may call special attention to the most notoworthy feature of the performance, his taking all the ten wickets in the second innings of the Englishmen. Balls. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. 1st innings. 105 ... 9 ... 33 ... 7 2nd innings ... 116 ... 10 ... 36 ... 10 He continued to play with the Bathurst Club, and was, indeed, considered the best all-round cricketer in the district until the year 1883, when circumstances necessitated his migra­ tion to the Capital of New South Wales. On his arrival in Sydney he became identified with the Carlton Club, of which Mr. C. W. Beal, the manager of the Third Australian team,hasbeen a leading spirit for many years. His connection with the Carlton Club has remained uninterrupted, and the value of his services to the Carltonians can be estimated when it is stated that he has twice won the bowling average of the Club besides being always well up with the bat. He formed one of the Fifteen jof New South Wales who opposed the Hon. Ivo Bligh’s team during the Australian season of 1882-83, but on that occasion had no oppor­ tunity of bowling: His first Inter­ colonial match was for New South Wales v. Victoria in 1885, and though he has taken part in every Inter­ colonial since, his first appearance was not a very successful one. Though frequent mention has been made of his extraordinary performances with the ball last season, the following table will bear reproduction here:— N. S. Wales- lst match Balls. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. f 106 ... 14 ... 20 ... 6 t 153 ... 23 ... 34 ... 7 J 281 .... 39 .... 77 ... 7 1 7 ... — .... 3 ... 1 ) 134 ... 14 ... 32 ... 8 ) 117 ... 13 . 27 ... 6 il (Melbourne)— j. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. ... 37 ... 93 ... 4 ... 18 ... 42 ... 6 ... 10 ... 25 ... 4 ... 10 ... 24 ... 4 f 72 .,,. 11 ... 15 .. . 6 U78 ., 22 ... 53 .. . 2 f 212 ... 29 ... 41 ..,. 5 \ 257 ... 33 .. . 52 .... 4 sason’s form Turner was 2nd match j 3rd match 1 320 1144 Sydney— ( 84 1 80 Combined— 1st match 2nd match beyond a doubt the best bowler in Australia. Only recently we published the opinion of W. L. Murdoch, the great Australian cricketer, than whom, we need hardly say, no better judge of the game. “ He was a bit of a tearaway bowler,” said Murdoch, “ in those days,”—that is, when he last met Turner—“ but now he uses his paoe, keeps a good length, and on a wicket that suits him, I fancy, he has no superior he comes back at such a pace, you know.” T,Horan, who writes underthe nom-de-plume