Cricket 1889

464 CRICKET: A WEEKLY BECORD OF THE GAME. NOV. 28, 1889 CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA. [ F r o m O u r S y d n e y C o r r e s p o n d e n t .] S e p t . 25. Last summer we had weather which reminded the exiled Britisher of his parental cockney home. Every Saturday it rained or 6 lse it threatened in such bad language that it funked everybody into staying at home. Now it seems we are to have a repetition of last season’s climatic outrages. Rain is always falling just when and where we don’t want it; Ned Gregory has invented his sprinkler and will never use .it; and the observatory folk tell us that it must rain hard for the next two or three months, or else they will be made to lie—under a delusion—which in government officials mustn’t be. All last week it rained till Friday, when it blew, and Saturday, when it did both, and so no one bowled a ball till half-past three o’clock. There were only three matches worth men­ tioning. The first was S y d n e y v . I v a n h o e . The latter won the toss, and sent their opponents into the mud. But nothing was done of any great merit, although O’Brien made 25 by careering half-way down the wickets before he was stumped. Seventy-four for four wickets was the total. S u r r y U n it e d v . A l b e r t B o h e m ia n s was another second-rate match, and though the Surry skipper won the toss and himself made 28 by free and taking cricket, the whole side were out for 83, a poor show con­ sidering the wet ball, greasy fielding and dry matting. O r ie n t a l v . M a n s f ie l d was the third and last, but the former were too strong. F. Luland made an excellent score of 69 not out, one hit being a sixer. He was well backed up by W. Camphin, who was not bowled till he had put together 48. Eight wickets were down for 161, but this, as the previous matches, resulted in a draw, as they were arranged for one day only. A young: cricketer named Wade made 73 for his club on Saturday. It is reported that South Africa wants an Australian eleven to visit that Colony. More leave and more half-pay. O c t o b e r 10. The terrible lack of interest which is now being evidenced in N.S.W. is well exemplified by the fact that the annual meeting of the Association has not been held, though it should have taken place a week ago. I have seen within the last few years an attendance of over two hundred cricketers, long earnest debates, some genuine honest fighting, and meetings sometimes adjourned from time to time to allow battles to be fairly fought out. Now a very small room suffices to meet all de­ mands, there are few if any contests, and yet the battle which was commenced some years ago is not half won. The Association is not yet in possession of its own ground, and the Trustees rule as of yore—although it must be admitted their government is not so auto­ cratic as in times gone by. The issue of the annual meeting will be announced in my next. A very pleasant series of social matches have been arranged by courtesy of the trustees. On the first Monday of each month, the “ old buffers ” have the use of the ground. We- I say “ w e” advisedly—played our first match last Monday. The fielding was a treat to the spectators, and the lunch to the players. The Melbourne Association have been play- ingAncient Pistol to the Fluellen of the M.C.C. —in other words the Association is being made to eat the leek. The first step was the rescission of the resolution of January 1889, which was to the following effect—“ That as the M.C.C. had, by its action in arranging matches with New South Wales, acted hostile to the wishes of the Association, the clubs represented in this Association for the future Bhould decline to meet the M.C.C. in the cricket-field.” Thus the boycott is formally removed, though in reality it never existed. The next step is that the Victorian Association must metaphorically go on its knees to the New South Wales Association and to the M.C.C. and ask for the re-establishment of Inter-Colonial matches on the old basis. There will be no difficulty about the matter, at least I anticipate now, and by mutual con­ sent M.C.C. will retire. The N.S.W. season opened last Saturday, with a match Carlton v. Warwick. There was a time when these two clubs played with even fortune, but Warwick has fallen to pieces of late, and the team it now sends into the field is anything but first-class. Dickings and A. Bannerman went to the wickets for Carlton, but the former gave the bowlers little trouble, being bowled for 13. 1—13—17. Cowper then followed. Last year the season opened with the same match. Cowper then scored 127, and on this occasion it seemed likely that he would emulate his previous per­ formance. The century quickly appeared despite all changes,Alick playing in his old safe style, but Cowper was eventually clean bowled by M’Grath for 5 2 . “ The Terror ” joined his colleague of the English Eleven, and played a terribly forcing game, in one over making three fours and a single from consecutive balls, Nearly the whole eleven hung on the fenoe to catch him, but despite two chances—and hard ones too—at 70 and 84 he kept up his wicket till the call of time, when he had put together 92 with Bannerman 114, both notout, and the score standing at 293 for two wickets. For Warwick eight bowlers were tried, but I refrain from giving their averages. On the Domain, Albert faced Belvidere for a two days’ match. Bonnor is supposed to have joined the latter club but did not play, neither did Harry Moses, who now usually declines to play anywhere except on the Association ground. Albert went first to the wickets but were all put out for 83, Iredale taking five wickets for 20 and Charlton three for 33. Beatson, a new importation into senior cricket, made top score with 20. Bel­ videre fared a little better and made 73 for five wickets, the highest scorer being W. Richard­ son,who played a not out innings for 31, show­ ing very fair form. On the same day a scratch team played the officers of the Parramatta Asylum, usually a strong eleven. This time they were out­ matched altogether. S. R. Walford, who played for Parramatta against most of the recent English elevens, made 123 out of 219, but he had a little luck. Rice, another man whom our English friends will remember, made but 4. In Melbourne, Carlton played East Mel­ bourne, and going in first put together 122 , but a contribution of 30 from Browning was the best score. East Melbourne replied with 34for one wicket, and the match was drawn. M.C.C. opened the season with a match— 1st Eleven v. Next Seventeen. The Seven­ teen scored 159, and the Eleven made 88 for 4 wickets, but the match was tame and devoid of interest. For the Eleven Marrion took ten wickets for 76 and Edwards, whom you will remember, made 31 not out. South Melbourne did much better in their first essay with Essendon, which, however, is only a junior team. With the weak bowling, Trott rattled up 23 before he was bowled, but S. Morris’ score of 90 was a fine display of cricket. All scored double figures except three, the total being 275. Essendon could make no headway against Kemp and Trott, who took respectively 4 for 15 and 3 for 12, and they lost seven wickets for 28. On Monday last, a public holiday, there were several matches. The Carlton C.C. sent a scratch team to Maitland to play the Albions. Carlton made 85 and 104, but Albion could only put together 55, Turner taking eight wickets for 30. For Carlton Turneralso made 24, Camphin notout 38, and Callaway 25. M’Glinchey, who played against the English team, made 26 for Albion before being bowled by Turner. The Coates C.C. played Verona. There was nothing remarkable in the match except a splendid innings by H. Tunks, who made 94, despite two chances. For the same side Spears made 64, and Andrews took three wickets for 7. The total was 204, against which Verona made 72 for five wickets. Belvidere played Sydney on the University Oval. For the former Charlton 23, Crane 49, Aitken 22, and Fairfax 21 did most to raisethe score to 156. Sydney, the champions of last year lost four wickets for 196, Mac­ kenzie, a most improving bat, making 66 ,Rob­ inson 35, and S. Gregory and Searle both not out respectively 31 and 34. O c t o b e r 1 3 . We are nowwithin a few days of the regular opening of the season, but everything is most remarkably quiet. No one shows any enthu­ siasm, and it is very doubtful if the annual meeting of the Association will not prove a failure. It is to be held within a very few days and will form the subject of my next letter, together with the first day of the open­ ing match next Saturday, which is to be Carlton v. Warwick. Three Saturdays are to be devoted to each match, so it is probable they will be played out. But we do not look forward to a very brilliant season. “ Billy” Murdoch is to play for this colony, but he is quite out of form. The report that he will remain in England is, I am able to state on the authority of his brother, quite without foundation. He intends to return to New South Wales and settle in Sydney, where his many friends will give him a good practice. Last Saturday, Surry United made 149 at the expense of a Waverley team, but the bat­ ting was very rough, though Hillier made 43 before being run out. The best player wasthe Waverley umpire, whose ideas of c and b and lbw, would be a lesson even to the evergreen Thoms. Ivanhoe put up 93 against 79 for five wickets by Oriental, the best innings being 35 by Bennett, which was full of promise. Dar­ lington v. Verona was a bowlers’ match, the scores being 45 and 37. For Darlington, Bar­ ton took four for 12 and McGrath five for 13. The recent wet weather has given Ned Gregory a good chance to get the ground into first - class order. Neither time, money, nor labour has been spared, and good wickets are looked for. Sydney Fairland is still at his post as secretary to the trustees, and is direct­ ing many improvements for the benefit of mem­ bers. O c t o b e r 17. With 293 on the board (Bannerman 114, and Turner 92), Carlton continued the match with Warwick. The wicket was not quite so good as on the previous Saturday, owing to the rain that had fallen. At 96 Charlie Turner put one back to Poole, who missed it, and the bowling being all to-leg, the “ Rat ” scooped them round to a pretty tune. However, the longest day Gome's to an end. The Terror hit a ball from Toby, which was working to the off, and he was secured by Poole at third man. He had made 119, acid had played throughout very safely, but with great vigour. Camphin followed, but retired first ball, and Callaway was caught in the slips almost directly after, Toby thus securing 3 wickets for 1 run. Alick then let go at a leg ball, which he put into the air, and was well caught by Wales fielding as a substitute (6-138-345). Downes followed with 19, Leary hit splendidly for 30, including a fiver, and Wales wound up the team with 12, the total soore being 431. Warwick could do nothing against Turner on, the wioket just moist enough to bite well, and the whole team succumbed for 45, of which Gregory made23 by spirited play, being eventually caught in the on field almost on the fence. Turner’s average of 5 for 14 is worthy of his reputation. Warwick followed on, and lost 4 wickets for 29. and the light being too bad for further play, the match was concluded by the retirement of Warwick. Albert v. Belvidere was continued on the Domain, the former having scored 8 3 , and NEXT ISSUE, DECEMBER 27.