Cricket 1888

82 CBICKET: A WEEKLY BECOED OF THE GAME. A PE IL 26, 1888. estimated. In strictly eleven-a-side contests Att«well has a distinct advantage, but in all mat ’-hes Peel proved more successful. Altogether, as will be seen, he took 222 wickets at an average cost of just under seven and a half runs. The briefest glance at the other bowling figures Jwill effectually demonstrate the extent of the assistance he rendered to his side. In the earlier matches he was singularly successful with the bat, and in eleven-a-side matches he is only behind Mr. Read with a most creditable average of over 39 runs. His highest score was one of 119 against Eighteen of Tasmania, his most remarkable feat with the ball against Twenty-two of Sale, when he got fourteen wickets at a cost of only sixteer. Attewell proved himself one of the most valuable all-round cricketers of the team. In eleven-a-side matches he had a useful average of over seventeen for twelve innings, and this he increased to over twenty-ope for thirty completed innings on tbe whole tour, maiuly hrough a fine score of 122 against Twenty-Two of North-West Tasmania. His display on this occasion proved what a good bat he really is, and, indeed, he was generally useful. In the field, toe, lie*vfts .always smart and safe, and his bowling, particularly in the liter fixtures, was of the highest class. As already stated, he is able to show the best figures iu repre­ sentative matches, and his average, under 11 runs for the series, is very good. In the last two engagements, against the Sixth Australian Team and Victoria respectively, he was in sin­ gularly brilliant form, and ou these two occasions he took 23 wickets at a cost of 106 runs. Abel proved the same reliable cheery little player that he h is always shown himself to be in Surrey cricket. He was rarely dismissed without a respectable score, and the consistent character of his batting will be gathered from the averages, in which he ranks fourth oelow Messrs. Stoddart and Read arid Peel. The Bame ill luck which has generally followed him in England in the matter of three figures attended him during the tour. Twice he got well into the ninety, and on one of these occasions, against Twenty -two of Coota- mundra, he carried his bat through the innings. He fielded well, too, at slip, and, altogether, confirmed the reputation he has gained in England as an all-round cricketer. Bates, owing to his accident, had hardly time to get into form ; and the same may be said of Lord Hawke, who had to return home after figuring in ten innings. Though his highest score in eleven-a-side contests was one of 45, Mr. O’Brien was very useful as a batsman. In the matches against odds his hitting was, at times, of the greatest value, and' the statistics show that he was fifth in the order of averages as a batsman. In addition, his out-fielding was quite up to the general standard of the team, which, it may be added, was exceptionally good. Mr. Newton, taken out rather On account of his wicket-keeping tfian for his batting, was at times of the greatest assistance in the latter department. On more than one impor­ tant occasion his batting was of a distinctly high class. Twice, in particular, at Ch ristmas, against the Combined Tuam, at Sydney, where he got 77, and, later on, against the Sixth Aus­ tralian Team, where he was credited with 64, he made runs at a time when they were most valuable. His play at the crisis was invalu­ able. In the field, too, he was always smart. Mr. Vernon had to take command of the team when Lord Hawke returned to England, and in that capacity acquitted himself most satisfactorily. While he was always reliable in the field, his batting, once at least, helped the side materially. His 50 against the Combined Team, at Melbourne, at the end of last year, was a most timely and valuable score. Mr. Bowden, who was second string as a wicket keeper, kept during the latter part of the tour very creditably. His ba&t score was one of 44, but his average of the whole tour wgts over fifteen, not a bad re6ujt, Though in the better matches Beaumont’s bowling was expensive, his figures on the whole were above the ordinary. In all he was credited with a hundred wickets at an average cost of just under twelve runs, so that he did good service on the whole and fairly justified his place. He delivered in all over four thousand balls, so that he did quite his share of the work. Otherwise he was hardly a success. Rawlin was not of much use as a bowler, and in the field was not up to the high standard of the team generally. As a batsman at ti mes, though, he shaped well, and his score of 78 not out against Combined Australia at Melbourne was a capital display. Another really good bowler would have been invaluable. Such an addition would have reme­ died the one weak point of the team, though it. must be remembered that they were at an early period of their campaign deprived of the help of Bates, who is generally of uteasa change and has always performed well on Colonial grounds. At times there was a lack of reliable change, and on three occasions the team had to field out forjover four hundred runs. The Fifteen of Tasmania, in particular, got the full measure of their bowling, and their score of 405 for thirteen wickets is the largest recorded in an innings against any English team in Aus­ tralia. In both batting and fielding the team were particularly strong. The absence of Lord Hawke and Bates prevented those left from having much of a rest in the later fix­ tures, and if only for this reason the two Yorkshiremen were sadly missed. Still, as it was, the batting was throughout con­ sistently good, and scoring was probable even to the end. Beaumout, indeed, was the only batsman who failed to get an average of double figures. A t times the scoring was distinctly out of the common, and in proof of this it may be remarked that the total exceeded three hundred no less than seven times. On the other hand it should be mentioned that the side were dismissed for scores of over a hundred. But, after all, it was perhaps in fielding that the team were seen to the best advantage. There were ex­ ceptions, of course, to the general brilliance, but they were very few, and it is open to question whether a better fielding side has ever visited Australia. So much for our own opinions. We venture to add those of one of the most practical writers in Australia, “ Felix,” of the Austra­ lasian newspaper, feeling sure that they Wjli be read with interest on this side :— From start to finish they have proved them­ selves very capable exponents of the game in every department. Though weakened by the unavoidable absence of Lord Hawke, who had to return to England in consequence of his father’s death, and still further weakened by the very regrettable accident to that sterling all-round player, W . Bates, the Englishmen have time after time come smiling to the field, and by their capital play have won the plaudits of all who have had the good fortune to be present in the various matches of their prosperous campaign. In uphill fights —and they played more than one—they stiffei ed their sinews, and fought with un­ daunted pluck and resolution to the very last. In no match did they appear to greater advantage than in that against a Combined Eleven on the M.C.C. Ground on December 81 and following days, when Rawlin, Mr. Newton, and Mr. Vernon, by really admirable batting, turned what promised to be a collapse into a tine total of 292, and a brilliant victory by an innings and 78. In batting Mr. W. W . Read takes the pride of place in the leading, that is eleven a-side, matches. Though out of form at first, he came aldng splendidly as the tour progressed, and closes with the fine average of 65.77 for 11 innings, twice not out. His highest score was 183 against South Australia It was a magnificent innings, and his 119 in S 3 ’dney and his final score of 142 not out made manifest that he is iu every sense the great batsman which critics in England consider hjm to be. PeeJ, w h o is second in eleven &- side matches, well deserves his place. The natty little Yorkshireman, by his frank, open, and manly bearing, has become a general favourite. His batting at times *as been in­ valuable to his side, and when his bowling and dexterous and accurate fielding qualifications are added, it must be admitted on all sides that as an all-round man he is hard to surpass. Mr Stoddart’s batting pleased me very much. His play is brilliaut, and no one that I have seen excels him on the leg side. He has the record for highest individual score-during the tour with 285 against the Juniors on the M.C.C. ground. 1 saw his display on that occasion, and highly appreciated it. Mr Stoddart has certainly made his mark on Australian grounds, aud from numerous remarks I have Leard he was the batsman the public most li ted to see, consequent on his dash, verve, and rapid run- getting power. He has the highest average in all matches with 38.3, and Mr. Read is second with 37.7. Mr. Newton has pleased everybody by his sterling and vigorous batting. He was chosen specially for his wicket keeping, and Mr. Vernon informs me that he regarded him as about twelfth man in batting when the team left home. The constant piactrice on fast wickets brought him out, and in the end he was looked upon ns one of the best batsmen on the side. Mr. T. C. O’Brien has fine punishing power, but is rather uncertain, and, though he figured well in several contests, the bowlers who were opposed to him never felt the slightest apprehension that he would scop long enough to r ach three figures, even on the most perfect wicket. Mr. Bowden, though he has a most taking style, did not perform very well. His highest innings is only 44. Abel fully established his batting ability in more than one instance, and Attewell acquitted himself satisfactorily, especia'ly in matches against odds, iii one of which he scored a brilliant 122. In bowling Attewell carries off the palm with consummate ease in eleven a-sHe matches (which are the true test) with the first-class figures of 11.05 runs per innings. He bowled 3,050 balls for 533 runs, 463 maidens, and 53 wickets. Those who have perused my recent notes on his bowling wilt perceive that I consider Attewell second to no bowler living, and I think his results n >t o 1/ here but in England amply support my opinion. The wide gap between him and th.-) second man, Peel, marks with sufficient pro­ minence Attewell’s unmistakable superiority over the other bowlers of the team. Peel, al­ though a long way behind Attevvel’, bo aled very well, but Beaumont, Mr. Vernon inform j me, has never been at his best during the tour. According to W. G. Grace, in Land and Water, Beaumont is the best fast bowler in England, and though ho has a very poor average in eleven a-side matches, viz., 30 36, he has more than once dissolved a long partnership when no one else could do so. In fielding the team has been first-class on nearly all occasions. I give the palm to Peel, but Messrs. Stoddart, W. W . Read, and Newton, Attewell, and Mr. O’Brien have all done artistic and very smart work. Mr. Bow­ den at the wickets was a decided success, and pleased everybody by his easy, graceful, and effective style, totally devoid of anv trace of embroidery. Mr. Newton, as has been said, was the original wicket-keeper, but falling out of form, he gave way to Mr. Bowden, with the happiest results. It is greatly to beregretted that the English­ men never met a representative Australian team, but that most certainly was not their fault. They were very desirous of such a match, and even now regret that no such match took place. Wherever they have gone, the members of the team, without exception, have won golden opinions by their courtesy, engaging manners, agreeable conversation, and willingness at all times to impart information of interest to the cricket public. They cannot find words to adequately convey their deep sense of the kindness and hospitality shown them in town and country, or in that beautiful island across the straits, where they spent a.delightful three