Cricket 1887

JAN. 27, 1887. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 11 TH E EN G L IS H C R IC K E T E R S IN A U S T R A L IA . By O ne of t h e T e am . From the Sporting Life. Reprinted by permission. FOURTH MATCH—v. NEW SOUTH WALES. Fine weather prevailed in Sydney till early on Nov. 19, when a steady downpour began, which lasted several hours, clearing up soon after ten o’clock. On reaching the Asso­ ciation ground the thirsty soil had swallowed u ) all signs of rain, and hopes were enter­ tained that the wicket would be fairly good. Unfortunately, though, owing to apparently remote chances of wet, the playing portion of the ground had been well watered over­ night according tr> the usual custom when line weather prevails, and it was much heavier than it actually looked. Throughout the day it played in a most treacherous manner, and in less than five hours’ play the third iniiings of the match had begun. Shrewsbury beat M’Donnell for choice of innings, and in the uncertain state of the weather, decided to bat, amistake, as matters turned out, though at the time he seemed justified in his decision. Very few of the New South Wales team had ever taken part in so important a match, and there were only three old stagers in M’Donnell, Bannerman, and Moses, although some few of the obher 3 had met former English teams in country matches. Turner (who proved the bowling hero of this match) had once before distinguished himself, in 1881 at Bathurst, by getting the whole of the wickets in the second innings, although from that time till the present match, in spite of several trials in the Inter-Colonial contests between N.S.W. and Victoria, he had failed to come off. Another bowler far above the average, and very young, namid Ferris, also bowled magnificently. Although the wicket w*s all in favour of bowling, it was still a big perform­ ance to get such a strong batting side out twice for 172 runs, and on these two men rests the honour of winning the game for N.S.W. On each day the English team had somewhat the worst of the wicket, but it was not good at any time, and certainly none of the English bowlers could be classed with the Colonials, either for precision of pitch, break, or deceit of delivery. Shrewsbury and Scotton opened the innings, and four maidens were sent down, before the English captain h t Ferris to leg for 4. After he had got that bowler again in the same direction for a couple, Scotton scored 2 to the on from Turner. Then the first disaster occurred. Shrewsbury, in trying to pull a shortball to leg, skied it to mid-on, and Barnes had no sooner joined Scotton, than the left­ hander was clean bowled by Turner. Barlow, who came next, soon lost Barnes, also clean bowled by Turner. Barlow, after hitting Ferris twice to leg for 4, sent one straight back, which was held. (Four for 28.) Read and Gunn were now together, and no other wicket fell up to luncheon time, when the total was 45. On resuming, Gunn hit Ferris to leg for 4, but from the first delivery from the other end, Read was well caught at short- slip. He made way for Bates, butthe new-comer wafr all abroad, and in playing forward to a short one was clean bowled by Ferris. Flowers came next, and a dozen runs were slowly added, when a beautiful catch by M’Donnell at slip got rid of Gunn, who had shown good form on the difficult wicket. The innings now soon came to a close. Briggs was bowled by a yorker, and Flowers quickly sent back by a trimmer, as was Lohmann. The last man was out at 74, Turner taking six wickets for 20 runs. Tlie usual rule on the Sydney ground in great matches is to have two wickets, and the second having been chosen, the English team entered the field, quickly followed by Bannerman and M’Donnell. Lohmann and Barnes were entrusted with the bowling. It soon became evident that M’Donnell was in form. He commenced by hitting Lohmann uppishly for 2, and after cracking him to square- leg for 4, next turned his attention to Barnes, whom he sent clean over the fence which surrounds the playing ground. Bannerman also hit Barnes for 4. M’Donnell next smote Lohmann tremendously to the on, among the spectators, for 5, and the following over sent the same to the off for 4 more. He had altogether made 32, by the most dashing cricket, when Barnes bowled him with a ball which kept rather low. Moses, a left-handed batsman with stubborn defence, came next, but immediately lost the company of Bannerman, caught at point from a bumper for a careful 7. Mather hitting vigorously brought on Briggs for Barnes, and then had to retire, Sherwin doing a smart bit of stumping. After Barlow had relieved Lohmann, Turner was caught at slip from Briggs, Barlow bowled Gregory, and Marr after making 9 was splendidly caught by Sherwin. Moses, who all this time had been playing with great care, began to hit, getting Barlow away twice for 4. Whiting ran him­ self out, and Flowers taking Barlow’s place the innings quickly came to a close for 111, Flowers getting the last three wickets for4runs. Moses carried out his bat for 31, well made. Being 37 runs behind, Barlow and Shrews­ bury just before six o’clock began the second innings of the English team. Only three overs had been bowled when Barlow hit Turner to leg for 4, andthen ‘ ‘ Time!’’was called, His Excellency aud Lady Carrington watched the game with interest, the 4,000 spectators cheering their loudest at every effort of the players most impartially. The day was cold, cloudy, and windy, and the wicket drying fast towards the finish began to improve greatly. Hopes were therefore expressed that a good wicket would make amends on the morrow for the wretched pitch of the first day. Rain, however fell heavily nearly all night, and although it cleared about ten o’clock, and turned out a glorious day, the game was again played under very difficult conditions for the batsmen. Though under a hot sun the ground gradually improved as the day advanced, ii never was at any time easy— as can be imagined when I say that it took from twelve o’clock till twenty minutes past six to score 156 runs, or allowing fifty minutes for luncheon, five hours’ and a half play. Barlow and Shrewsbury resumed their positions at the wickets punctually at twelve o’clock on Saturday morning, Nov. 20, Turner and Ferris again bowling. The latter bowler is left-handed, while Turner bowls right- handed well over the shoulder. Great caution was necessary, as the ball flew about in a most dangerous manner. The score had reached 22 when Barlow, who had played well for 16, was caught at slipfrom a bumpy one. Barnes, who followed, cut Ferris for 4, but soon after agreat blow was dealt to the English side by the dismissal of Shrewsbury, who was caught from a rising ball from which he could not get away. Barnes quickly followed, out leg before. (Three for 29.) Scotton and Read were now partners, and matters improved. The score rose to 50, when a change was tried, but without avail, the total at lunch-time being 65, or 28 on for three wickets. Though on con­ tinuing, the score was hit to 74, from that point the play became very monotonous, as the re­ maining24ruusmade took seventy-fiveminutes, and cost the English team seven wickets. Scot­ ton was caught at point, and Read pulled one on for 21 and 24 respectively. Gunn, who stayed a long time for 8, lost Bates, who played forward at a short one, as well as Briggs, who was bowled the first ball by a yorker for nothing. Flowers stayed some time, but at 90 Gunn was clean bowled by the irresistible Turner. Lohmann made a single before lie was stumped, and when Sherwin was bowled by Turner, the innings closed, Flowers being not out 12— Total 98. With 62 to win Bannerman and M’Donnell commenced the second innings, Barnes and Lohmann bowling. In Lolimann’s second over M’Donnell let out, and sent the leather flying away to long-on, where Gunn was stationed.' The latter was equal to the occasion, the crack hitter of N.S.W. retiring with the unenviable egg attached to his name. Great anxiety was now evinced by the spectators as to how Moses and Bannerman would play the bowling. It was considered that if these two went etrly the Englishmen would win; but they were equal to the occasion, never taking a liberty. It took half an hour to make the first 5 runs, and the next 15 came mostly from Lohmann, who was shunted for Bates, while Briggs relieved Barnes. Still no x>arting came, and Barlow came on for Briggs and Flowers for Bates. As these changes were unproductive, Loh­ mann again tried at the opposite end, but the separation came from Flowers, Bannerman being cleverly caught at the wicket by Sher­ win. (Two for 51.) Mather, who followed, skied one from Flowers, and was well caught by Lohmann. Marr was then clean bowled, but Turner and Moses made the number required, and the New South Welshmen won by six wickets. Great praise must be awarded Moses for his stubborn defence in each innings, and he possibly saved his side from a rot. Bannerman, too,must not be forgotten, and to these two, assisted by the dashing 32 from M’Donnell in the first innings, and the splendid bowling of Ferris and Turner, belong all the honours of victory. Lord and Lady Carrington were again pre­ sent, and watched the game till its close with keen interest. Upwards of 14,000 persons were on the ground, the Grand Stand being filled principally by ladies. The crowd was a most orderly one, and the roar of satisfaction which followed the winning hit was a thing long to be remembered. The result of the match was the biggest surprise experienced over cricket in Sydney for a long time. 5 to 1 was always an offer, and in many cases 10 to 1 was laid on the losers. Even money, too. was offered that they won in an innings. Still I am pleased to say betting on cricket is on the down line in Sydney, though with such a bet­ ting-loving people it can hardly be expected that it will cease altogether. Rain again fell in torrents on Saturday evening, and a terrible thunderstorm of an hour’s, duration passed over Sydney on Monday evening, the light­ ning being magnificent and the thunder appalling. S h a w ’ s T e am . Sccond Innings W . Scotton, b.Turner First Innings. A. Shrewsbury, c Mathers, b Ferris .......................... 6 c M ’Donnell, b Turner ........... 4 2 c Gregory, b Turner ...........21 R. G. Barlow , c and b F e rris .................................. 11 c M ’Donneil, b Turner ...........16 W. Barnes, b Turner ... 4 1 b w, b Turner 7 M. Read, c M ’Donnell, b Turner .......................... 13 b Ferris .........24 W. Bates, b Ferris ........... 2 b Turner ........... 0 W. Gunn, c M’D onnell, b Turner .......................... 18 b Turner ........... 8 W. Flow ers, b Ferris ... 11 not out ......... 12 J. Briggs, b Turner ........... 2 b Turner ........... 0 G .Lohm ann, b Turner ... 0 st Burton, b Ferris ........... 1 M.-Sherwin, n o t o u t........... 2 b Turner ... . 1 B .................................. 3 B2, l b 2 ... 4 Total 74 N e w S o uth W First Innings. P. S. M ’Donnell, b Barnes 32 A. Bannerm an, c Barlow, b Barnes .......................... 7 Moses, not out ...................31 Mather, st Sherwin, b Briggs ........................... 14 Marr, c Sherwin, b Barlow 9 Turner, c Lohm ann, b B riggs.................................. 4 A. Gregory, b Barlow ... 2 W hiting, run out ........... 5 B urton,cBarnes.bFlow ers 0 O gilvy.c Barlow,b Flow ers 0 Ferris, b Flow ers ........... 0 B ........................... 7 Total ... 98 ALES. Second Innings, c Gunn, b L oh ­ m ann ........... 0 c Sherwin, b F low ers...........26 not out ...........30 c Lohm ann, b F low ers........... 1 b Lohm ann ... 0 not out ........... 4 Total ............I l l L b ........... 1 Total ... 62 Next Issue Febraary 24