Cricket 1887

FEB. 24, 1887 CRICKET: A "WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 27 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 . Continued from Page 23, THIRTEENTH MATCH—v. MELBOURNE CLUB AUSTRALIAN TEAM. On Saturday, January 1, the second match betweentheMelbourne Club Australian Eleven and the English team was commenced on the Melbourne ground. Trott once more took the place of Giffen. A magnificent dav greeted the players, and Garrett, who had beaten Shrews­ bury for choice of innings, sent in Palmer and I ruce on asuperbwickettoopposethe bowling of Briggs and Bates: When only four singles had beenmade Lohmann, who was napping, missed Bruce at slip, but a chance by Palmer to Barnes two overs later in the same position was gratefully accepted. (One for 6.) Jones, who appeared next, when he had made a single, gave a very difficult chance to Briggs at cover-point, which the latter could hardly reach to fairly hold it. Bruce now began to get busy, but a splendid catch by Bates, high up with one hand from his own bowling, sent him to the Pavilion for 15. (Two for 21.) Trumble here partnered Jones, and matters became lively, the new-comer hitting Bates to leg for 4, while Jones punished Briggs for 4 and 3 from following balls. In attempting a second run Trumble should have been run out, but Briggs allowed the ball to pass him, although nicely thrown in, and the batsman escaped. At 42 Lohmann relieved Bates, and at 50 Barlow relieved Barnes, but no wicket fell, Jones 20 and Trumble 14 (total 52) being the state of the poll when the adjourn­ ment for luncheon took place. After fifty minutes’ interval,the samemenre-startedbowi- ing, andTrumble once more escaped being run out. When Jones had made 25 lie gave a hot chance to Shrewsbury at point, which the latter could not hold. Bates relieved the Surrey man at 69, and Jones next hit Barlow finely to the off for 4, while 8 runs came from one over from Bates. At 88 a double change in the bowling took place, Flowers deposing Barlow and Barnes Bates. Some splendid fielding by Briggs was now heartily cheered. Once more Trumble blundered in running, but this time he was not so fortunate, and he had to retire for a well-played 28. (Three for 93.) Jarvis followed, and was nearly caught from abad hit at long-slip. Jones, who, barring two or three bad stokes at starting, had played first-class for his 48, was now magnificently caught by Lohmann at slip close to the ground. (Four for 98.) M’llwraith made his appear­ ance, and a couple of singles brought up the 100, amidst the usual applause. The last comer next hit Flowers to the off for 4, which, with several singles, brought up 110, when Bates again bowled. M’llwraith hit him twice to leg for 4, but at 120 theYorkshireman had his revenge by clean bowling the crack South Australian wicket-keeper. This made way for Blackham, on whose appearance runs came more freely. At 136 MTlwraith should have been run out, but Sherwin allowed him toescape, and directly afterwards the English­ man again let him off in a similar manner. Briggs now relieved Flowers, and for the third time, from a wild throw-in, M’llwraith escaped being run out. Barlow took the ball from Bates, as 150 was hoisted on the telegraph board, but runs continued to come till the total had reached 166, when M’llwraith at last accomplished what he had long been trying for, a smart return from short-leg by Loh­ mann running him out. Trott was caught at slip from the first ball he received. Garrett, who came next, snicked Barlow for 4, and Lohmann took up the bowling in place of ■^riggs. Blackham hit the new bowler for 4, all run; and as seven were made from one over of Lohmann, that bowler handed the-ball to Flowers. Garrett next hit Barlow beauti­ fully to the off for 4, and a couple from a bit of misfielding by Briggs followed. A snick by Garrett for a brace from Flowers sent up 200 amidst great cheering. Barnes now bowled in place of Barlow, but runs still came, Flowers catching it to the tune of 12 from one over. At length Garrett was smartly run out by Maurice Read for a dashing 31. Spofforth, with Blackham, played out time, the total being 223 for eight wickets, Blackham not out 50. Never, perhaps, was such an exhibi­ tion of ridiculous running between the wickets seen in a match of importance. The Austra­ lians, who had played together now without a break for nearly twelve months, appeared to know very little more when to go and when not to go than a child ; three were run out, and twice as many more chances given, which the English team neglected to take advantage of, through bad fielding or over anxiety. The English fielding was very inferior at times, but at others most brilliant, some very smart things taking place. The bowling was fairly good, but with such per­ fection in the wicket of course all the trundlers were severely handicapped, and the bowler who could induce a batsman to make a bad stroke was the most likely man to succeed in getting wickets. The attendance numbered about 7,000, including many ladies. The match was continued on Monday, Jan. 13, and as the weather was again superb, there were about 7,000 spectators present. At five minutes past eleven Spofforth and Blackham took up their positions, Briggs and Batesbowling. 16 runs had been added, when Spofforth hit across at Bates and was bowled. Evans made 4, when a fine catch at slip by Barnes sent back Blackham for 63, the high­ est score on his side, and made just when badly wanted. (Total, 246.) Bates was the most successful bowler, taking five wickets for 72 runs. Shrewsbury, in stopping a hard hit at jjoint on Saturday, hurt his finger, and, not being able to hold the bat properly, the order of going in was changed, Barnes and Barlow being the first representatives. Spofforth and Trott opposed them. Though the former put his field deep and fine in the slips, and bowled with all his might, Barnes ot his second ball, nevertheless, through his eld to the fence for 4. Three singles followed, and then the “ Demon” sent Barlow’s leg- stump flying. Read, who followed, opened with a couple of singles and then hit Trott to leg for 4. Spofforth next gave Barnes anasty blow on the hip, but the Notts man hit his next three balls for 8 runs—a cut for 4 and 2 to leg twice. A single by Read brought him in front of the demon, who sent his middle stump out of the ground. (Two for 23.) Scotton joined Barnes, and, as might be expected, some slow play ensued. Still runs came, and at 38 a double change was effected, Garrett and Trumble going on, Barnes having been missed at short-leg just previously by Trott from Spofforth. Scotton snicked Trumble for 4, and Barnes made a couple of 2’s from Garrett. At 50 Bruce relieved Garrett, and Scotton, after playing him to leg for 2, put a no-ball in front of point. The run was easy, but Barnes, seeing only one could be made, declined to move. Scotton, however, persisted in going so far down the wdcket that he could not get back, and was foolishly run out just as he was well set. Gunn came next, while Trott took the ball from Bruce. Barnes hit his first ball to square-leg for 4. The next he drove for 2, and at 65 Palmer tried. Spofforth also again took up the leather, Gunn hitting him beautifully to the off for 4. At 75 Jones relieved the Demon, who had rapidly tired. Gunn hit Palmer to leg for 4, and drove him to the off for a similar number from successive balls. Jones next bowled a wide, and at lunch-time the score was 86—Barnes 43, and Gunn 16. After the interval runs came slowly for a time, the Demon and Palmer being the bowlers. At length a cut for 3 from Spofforth sent up the 100, and as the latter was net successful Garrett relieved him, after three singles. Barnes snicked Garrett to leg for 3 and Gunn drove the next delivery for 4, repeating it the first ball of the next oyer. At 123 Evans relieved Palmer, and with the addition of 9 Trott again tried. Each batsman hit the latter for 4, and at 148 Bruce bowled, Barnes hit the new bowler to leg for 3, and Gunn in the same direction for a brace, but Bruce had his revenge in bowling Gunn off his legs for a capital 48. 101 runs had been added since the fall of the last wicket. Bates followed, and immediately hit Bruce to leg for 4, besides driving him for 3. A couple from Trumble followed, and then the Yorkshireman once more drove Bruce for 3. Spofforth, who resumed, started with a wide, but the parting came from Bruce, Bates being caught at extra mid-off from a bad hit. (Five for 180.) After an interval for refreshments, Lohmann, who joined Barnes, hit the Demon to leg for 4and 2. Singles, with a cut for 3 from Bruce by Lohmann brought up 200. Palmer here relieved Spofforth and Lohmann signalised his appearance by hitting him finely to leg for 4. Barnes, who had been playing carefully for some time now, though he saw a chance of getting nearer his century, but hit the ball straight to extra mid-off. (Six for 206.) The out-goer had played in his best form, and it was hard luck, after getting so near, not to make his 100. Briggs, who followed, cut Bruce for 4, and six byes were run. Lohmann, getting his leg in front, retired with 24 to his credit, and Briggs followed, clean bowled by Palmer. Shrewsbury and Flowers were now together, but after the former had hit Palmer to leg for 4 Bruce bowled his partner. (Nine for 227.) Sherwin whipped in, as usual, and soon hit Palmer to leg for 4, while Shrewsbury also sent Bruce for a like amount. A few sharp singles fol­ lowed, before Sherwin hit Palmer to leg for 4, this hit putting the Englishmen in front of the Colonial total. The two Notts men had not done yet, though as Shrewsbury hit Bruce to leg for 4, which, with 2’s and singles, advanced the score to 261. At this figure Jones rnd Evans were tried, and just before time Trott delivered another over, which pro­ duced a four to Sherwin. At six o’clock the score was nine wickets for 272 — (Shrews­ bury 29 and Sherwin 20), 45 runs having been added for the last wicket, with both men still in. All the English players think Shrewsbury made a mistake in not going in earlier, if only to keep up his wicket, and it might probably have saved the rapid downfall of several good men. The wicket was perfection, and the English batsmen should certainly have made more runs. Several of them, though, were out of all form, and a straight ball seemed quite good enough to dismiss them. The Australian fielding was better than usual, hardly amistake being made all day. Bruce shone most con­ spicuously, and he was also most successful with the ball, though several others bowled in good form, but with little luck. At forty minutespastten Sherwin and Shrewsbury faced the bowling of Spofforth and Evans. 4 runs only were added when Shrewsbury was bowled by Evans for 31, Sherwin getting 22 not out —total, 276. With 30 runs to the good the English team took the field just after eleven o’clock, and shortly after a thunderstorm drove the players in for shelter. The downpour, though, only lasted for two or three minutes, and the rain was not sufficient to damage the wicket. Bruce and Palmer, as in the first innings, led off for the Colonials, and runs came pretty freely, although Barlow at point should have caught Palmer from the bowling of Bates when he had only scored 1. Palmer cut the next ball for 4, while Bruce hit the same bowler for 4, and again for 5, all run. The same batsman alsocracked Briggs for4, and had quickly knocked up 20 when he tried to pull a straight one from Bates, and was out leg before. Jones followed and runs came pretty freely for a time, although Flowers relieved Briggs. After this theplay becamewretchedly slow, and indeed, Palmer did not add to his Next Issue March 31