Cricket 1888

“ Together jo ined in cricket’s m a n ly to il.”— Byron. Registered^orTrmsmfsBio? Abroad. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1888 P R IC E 2 d. M R . J O H N J A M E S L Y O N S . T h e extraordinary development of cricket in the group of islands which constitute Austra­ lasia since H. H. Stephenson and his following of English professionals gave in 1862 the first illustration by experts of the science of the game, has been one of the most remarkable incidents in the history of athletic sport during thp last quarter of a century. In apportioning the credit for this same-^advancement of the game in the Land of the Southern Cross, a fair share must in justice be awarded to those who have been chiefly instrumental for the conduct of cricket affairs in South Australia. Of late years the central of the threeAustralian colonies has played a by no means unimportant part in the extension of cricket throughout Greater Britain. English players have recently had substantial proof of the quality of the native talent of the colony. George Giffen, the best all-round cricketer of Australia, and the burly wicket-keeper, A. H. Jarvis, have furnished conspicuous instances of the excellence of the material which South Australia can produce. It is, we believe, now certain, too, that Adelaide will supply a third member of the Australian team which is to leave the colonies next month for England in the person of the good all-round cricketer whose portrait, through the courtesy of Mr. W . 0. Whit- bridge, the selector of South Aus­ tralian teams, we are able to publish in this number. Among those who have, during the last three or four years, established for themselves reputations in Australia by reason of general excellence on the cricket field, Mr. .John James Lyons is fairly entitled to a conspicuous position. Born at Gawler, near Adelaide, on May 21, 1863, Mr. Lyons is a South Australian by birth as well as residence. W ith Walter Giffen, who has also figured prominently in colonial cricket, he has, it may be stated, been closely associated since their schooldays, and the pair have grown up side by side mates on, as well as off, the cricket -field. First known as a junior in connection with the Royal Park Club, Mr. Lyons sub­ sequently joined the Norwood Club, the most influential cricket organisation in Adelaide of late years. His introduction to senior cricket in 1882 was attended with distinct success, and his average for his first seasonwas 23 runs for nine innings. Though the records do not indicate that he was utilised at all as a bowler at that time, the following summer found him not only batting, but also bowling with success for the Norwoods. The South Australian Cricketer’s Guide, published at the end of the season of 1884 and 1885, describes him as one of the most capable batsmen in the Colony, and his value to the Norwood Club is shown by the fact that he had a batting average of twenty for eight innings, and a bowling average of twelve for 490 balls. Even by this time he had won a name among Australian cricketers, and his reputation was increased by two creditable performances in the early part of 1885, the first two well-got scores of eleven and twenty-one in the Intercolonial match with Victoria, the second a capital innings of thirty againstthe team of English professionals touring in Australia under the management of Shaw, Shrewsbury and Lillywhite. During the following season he continued to show a marked improvement in club cricket, besides being seen to advantage in more than one of the representative fixtures. In the Intercolonial match with Victoria, in March, 1886, he played two useful innings of 29 and 23, and a little later also batted well against the Melbourne Club Australian eleven, then pre­ paring for their visit to England. His best all-round show, though, during that year was in November, 1886, against Shaw’s English team. On that occasion he proved his excellence as an all-round cricketer unmistakeably,andin addition to two scores of 27 and 43, he was credited with six English wickets at a cost of 98 runs. During the season of 1886-7 his record in club cricket was exceptionally brilliant. Owing to the absence of his mate, G. Giffen, the bulk of the bowling for the Norwoods devolved on him, and he acquitted himself with credit, de­ livering altogether 1,062 balls for an average of twelve runs per wicket. In batting, too; he was equally suc­ cessful. Though his best score was . one of 158 he was fortunate enough to get over a hundred runs on two other occasions, and the seven innings -in which he took part furnished him with an aggregate of>357 and an average of just over 66 . During the Australian season now in progress he has thoroughly upheld his reputation as a good all- round cricketer. In the first match played by Mr.Yernon’s team in the- colonies he did good service for South Australia with bat as well as ball. In each innings he showed good cricket for his runs (29 and 20), but in addition he bowled with suc­ cess,taking two wickets for nineteen in the first and five for seventy-five in the second innings. Mr. Lyons is an especially fast scorer against anything like loose bowling. Against junior teams he has scored over ninety runs five times in a season, and on one occasion he made 158 in a little over an hour, thirty-two of them from six con­ secutive balls. He bowls medium pace, and as his delivery is high and he makes fu‘l use of his height he is oft e .1 veiy effective. Ho is moreover a good field, and South Australians