Cricket 1887

FEB. 24,1887. CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME, 21 TH E E N G L ISH C R IC K E T E R S IN A U S T R A L IA . B y O ne of th e T eam . From the Sporting Life. Reprinted by permission. TENTH MATCH— y . MELBOURNE CLUB AUSTRALIAN TEAM. The Australian Eleven arrived in Sydney from Auckland on Monday, Dec. 13. Black­ ham, M’llwraith, Trumble, Bruce, Palmer, and Jarvis left the same day for Melbourne; while Spofforth, Garrett, Evans, Jones, and Giffen followed on the Wednesday. The last- named player was not well enough to play in New Zealand, and was not sufficiently recovered even then to attempt to play. The English contingent arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday, Dec. 15, except Shrewshury, who travelled a day later. Winds and rain prevailed in Melbourne for a whole week, ceasing on Wednesday. On Friday, Dec. 17, the first of three matches against the returned Colonial team was com­ menced on the ground of the Melbourne Club. Trott, a very promising young Victorian, took the place of Giffen. Garrett beat Shrewsbury for choice of inn­ ings, and elected to bat on what turned out a gem of a wicket. Jones and Palmer faced the bowling of Lohmann and Briggs. The little Lancashire man was in rare form, and the first half-dozen overs only realised a single. A brace and a couple of 3’s came from Loh­ mann, before a single was made from Briggs’ eighth over, the first made from him. Very slow play followed, the first 15 runs occupying fifty minutes. The score advanced to 24, when Palmer was clean bowled for 14 by Briggs, whose analysis up till then showed nineteen overs for 7 runs and a wicket. Trumble came next and Jones cemented the partnership by hitting a full pitch of Lohmann’s to leg for 4. At luncheon time—half-past one—the score stood at 37. On resuming, runs came slowly till 50 appeared, when Flowers relieved Lohmann. A couple from Flowers and four byes followed, and at 63 Barnes deposed Briggs. Trumble next sent Flowers clean over the first fence for 5—a fine straight drive, while J ones cut Barnes for 4 and 2 in one over. Trumble then tried to pull a straight one, and was bowled for a well-made 26. Jarvis, who followed, narrowly escaped being bowled, but snicked the ball for 2. Jones was now badly knocked over by a ball from Barnes, and a few minutes’ delay occurred. On resuming nearly all the scoring was done by Jarvis, and after Barlow had relieved Flowers, Briggs went on again at 97. At 110 an adjournment was made for refresh­ ments. On continuing, Jarvis hit Barlow twice for 2, and the next over drove him for 3 more. With the total at 125 Bates replaced Briggs, Jarvis hitting his second ball for a brace. Lohmann now took the ball from Barlow, and Jones was caught at extra slip from him for an excellent 46 got without a chance, although by very slow cricket. He had been at the wickets over three and a half hours. Bruce, who followed, immediately lost Jarvis, who played a full toss back into the hands of Bates. (Three and four for 131.) Trott opened with a couple off Lohmann and followed it up by cutting the same bowler for 3, while Bruce opened his account by cutting Lohmann beautifully for 4. Sherwin now had a difficult chance of stumping Trott. Runs came faster, each batsman hitting Loh­ mann for 3, and Bates twice for 2. Another 3 by Trott from Lohmann followed, but this was his last chance, as in attempting a second run for a drive of Bruce’s he was run out. Sf.fg for !62.) Blackham, who came next, nit Bates for 2, and the next over sent the i?y^er *or ^ and 3. Flowers now took *ine ball from Lohmann, while Bates also gave place to Barnes. Blackham hit Flowers to leg for 4, Bruce turning his attention to both bowlers to the tune of 6. No wicket falling, Briggs tried at the opposite end from which he started, and Blackham hitting him for 3, 200was hoisted amidst great applause. Bruce cut Barnes for 3, and after three byes had been added, as six o’clock had arrived, the stumps were drawn, Bruce being not out 37, and Blackham not out 24. The cricket al day was very slow, the last half-hour being far the most lively part of it. The bowling was wonderfully good, but the perfect wicket was all against bowlers. The fielding was smart and correct during the whole day. The weather was perfect for cricket, but there could have hardly been 2,000 people on the ground. Saturday morning (Dec. 18) came, but, alas ! what a contrast to the previous day. A hot northerly wind blew and Melbourne was filled with dust, which penetrated everywhere, though the nuisance was not felt so much on the cricket ground, which is greatly sheltered by buildings and trees. The creditable display made by the returned Colonials on the first day had caused increased interest in the game, and the morning attendance gave evidence that a large crowd would assemble. Soon after noon, though, heavy clouds rolled up from the west, and at half-past one the rain began to fall in torrents, continuing till four o’clock, and keeping the whole of the large attendance expected away. At five o’clock the umpires (both of whom were Mel­ bourne ground men), on inspecting the wicket, decided it was fit for play. This decision the Englishmen, on going into the field, considered wrong, as the ground at one end was nothing but slush, while the mud flew from the pitch over the shirts and faces of both batsman and wicket-keeper. At a few minutes past twelve the English team took the field, quickly followed by Bruce and Blackham. Briggs and Lohmann bowled, and by singles and 2’s the score advanced to 220. Blackham then hit Lohmann for 4, but Bruce, after mak­ ing a couple of 2’s from Briggs, was'caught the next over at the wicket for 48—the best inn­ ings yet played on his side. After M’llwraith appeared a dust storm swept over the ground, causing a few minutes’ delay. Blackham snicked Briggs to leg, and in attempting a second run for the hit lost his wicket. He had played a lively game for 32. (Seven for 234.) Garrett now came in, and M’llwraith made three 2’s in succession. Garrett was next caught at the wicket, but to the chagrin of Sherwin the verdict was “ not out,” a decision the umpire afterwards admitted was wrong. The score advanced slowly to 248, when rain stopped the play, and the beautiful wicket was soon settled. At five o’clock the game was continued, under the circumstances named above, but the batsmen did not force the game, and take advantage of their opportunity. 34 runs were added when M’llwraith played a yorker from Lohmann with his foot instead of his bat, and was out leg-before for 27. Eight for 282. The stumps were then drawn. The attendance numbered about 800, which with a fine day would have read thousands. Sunday, Dec. 19, was fine, although in the afternoon there was a blinding dust storm for two hours. Fine weather attended the third day of the match, Dec. 20, and the attendance numbered about 2,500. Considerable interest was felt by most of the members of the two teams how the wicket would play after Satur­ day’s rain. On inspection it was seen that most damage had been done by the play which took place when the ground was in such a sloppy condition, though, except in a few places, the ground rolled out hard and good, and batsmen were well satisfied. The great drawback was the marvellously rapid growth of the grass, which was not allowed to be cut. Many hits that would have counted four resulted in singles and twos, an«l the English score should have been at least 240. Garrett, the not out of Saturday, was joined by Evans, who drove Lohmann for 2, and played him to leg for 2 more. He also made a single from either bowler, when Briggs clean bowled him. Spofforth was smartly run out, and the innings closed for 294— Garrett not out 24. Shrewsbury and Barlow commenced the first innings for England, Spofforth and Palmer bowling. Shrewsbury played the first ball delivered from Spofforth for 2, and Barlow drove the first delivery of Palmer for 3. A splendid leg-hit for 4 by Shrewsbury from Spofforth brought on Gar­ rett, who was immediately hit to square-leg for 4 by the English captain. Soon after this Barlow was canght at the wicket for 19. (One for 38.) Barnes appeared next, but with the addition of 6 runs the players adjourned for luncheon. After the interval the play was very slow, and in half an hour only 14 runs had been scored, when Barnes was well caught at the wicket by Jarvis. Maurice Read jumped in to drive Trott, who had taken the ball from Palmer, and was caught at cover-point from a miss-hit. (Three for 58.) Gunn, who opened with a single, soon after hit Trott to the off for 4, while 3 to leg by Shrewsbury and singles brought up 70. Gunn was then missed at slip by Trott from Garrett, whom he immediately hit for a brace of 2’s. The score advanced to 82, when Shrewsbury was out leg-before for a perfect innings of 38. This was a serious blow for the English side, as he appeared set for the day. Scotton now came in, and remained for the rest of the day. The score slowly advanced till Palmer took the ball from Garrett, which prove « fatal to Gunn—clean bowled for 26. (Five for 108. After a short interval for refreshments, the favourite English batsman with the, public of Australia (Bates) joined Scotton, and hit Palmer for 2. Bruce relieved Trott, but Bates evidently relished the change, hit­ ting him clean into the Grand Stand for 5—a splendid drive. Runs came very fast now, as they always do with the lively Yorkshireman. Jones just managed to stop a hard drive with his foot, and from the following ball missed Bates at long-on—a difficult catch. Trott again bowled instead of Bruce, Bates hitting him to leg for 4 and 3. Several singles followed, when Bates drove Palmer very hard straight for 4. Evans now came on, and Scotton made a brace of 2’s from his second over. Bates next let out at Evans, and was smartly caught at mid-on by Palmer for a dashing 36. Briggs, after making 7, was caught at cover-point. Flowers fell a victim to Spofforth, who had gone on in place of Trott, clean bowled. Lohmann hit each bowler for 3, and though Garrett again tried no other wicket fell, Scotton having 39 to his credit. The Australian bowling and fielding were good throughout. Trott, who bowled with a great break from leg, at times seemed to greatly puzzle the batsmen, who all, except Bates, played him very tamely. Wishing to play the game out by Wed­ nesday evening, a start was made on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at half-past eleven. Scotton and Loh - mann were soon parted. The Notts man played on without increasing his score, and Lohmann, after quickly adding 9, was well caught at long-on from a fine drive. The innings closed for 201. Evans, who took three wickets for 26 runs, was the most successful bowler, Trott coming next with three for 55. Being 93 behind, the English team of course followed on, and Shrewsbury and Barlow again opened the innings well. Evans and Trott began the attack. The scoring com­ menced with three singles from either bowler, when Barlow brought up 10 by hitting Trott to square-leg for 4. With the score at 17 Spofforth deposed T rott; a change which appeared to suit Shrewsbury, who hit the new bowler for 2 and 4 in one over. Evans, who had sent down 48 balls for 1 run, was now hib twice for 2, the long grass saving each hit from going to the fence. At 35 Evans gave way to Palmer, who opened with a no-ball, Shrewsbury hit Spofforth to leg for 3, and a Next Issue March 31