Cricket 1891

490 CRIOKET: A WEEKLY EECORD OP THE GAME. DEC. 81, 1891 LOBD SHEFFIELD ’S TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. R e p r in t e d fr o m t h e SportingLife*BY p e r ­ m ission . The English cricketers who are touring the Australian Colonies under the auspices of that noble patron of cricket, the Earl of Sheffield, brilliantly won the first match of their Colonial programme by an innings and 62 runs. Before I deal with the match I will tellyour readers what a fine time the voyageurs are having. There were ten full days to spare before the match was to commence, and the prospect might not have seemed alluring when the men new to Australia cast their eyes round the quiet streets of Adelaide. The capital of South Australia, with its population of 20 , 000 , is a very sleepy hollow, just such another town as Cheltenham or Scarborough compared with busy Manchester or Sheffield, to say nothing of London. But then the people are generous entertainers, and when they have guests they leave nothing undone to make a stay in their City of Churches enjoyable. From the highest to the lowest everyone here has combined to make the sojourn of the Englishmen enjoy­ able. First of all the Governor, the Earl of Kintore, invited the Earl of Sheffield to stay with him at Government House, but the old bachelor earl preferred to live with the amateur members of his party and his other friends at the Botanic Hotel, where Mr. Charlie Kelly made them very comfortable. His Excellency, 'not to be denied, contrived all sorts of amusements to make the cricketers enjoy themselves. He had the Earl of Shef­ field, Mr. Harcourt, Major Dorien, and the amateurs at a garden party, and then on the (lay before the match took all the members of the team to his charming country residence in the hills adjacent to Adelaide; and didn’t they make merry ! Everyone slept as sound as a top that night, and set a solid foundation for the morrow’s struggle. Meanwhile amidst all the festivity no chance was lost of practising. Every morning the cricketers put in three hours on the Adelaide Oval. When the Arcadia arrived the weather was warm; but during the next six days it gradually got warmer and warmer, until on the Sunday the thermometer registered only 157 deg. in the sun and 100 deg. in the shade. Think of that, ye Britishers, who find the weather unseasonable when it (the mercury) hovers about 90 deg. in the shade. The first Sunday in Australia was a scorcher, and M’ Gregor, Radcliffe, and the other new chums had their first experience of an Australian snowstorm. The wind blew from the arid Northern plains asj a blast from a furnace, fetching along with it clouds of fine dust, which at times almost obscured the vision. Two or three players went to church, but most of them visited the public baths, and floundered about in the cool water for^an hour or two. FIRST MATCH—v. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, November 20, 21, and 23. The day before the match was to be started nearly everyone thought the game would be spoilt by heavy rain, which fell about thirty hours before the hour announced for the com­ mencement of play. The showers, however, cleared away, and though ominous-looking clouds hovered about all the morning, no more rain fell to perpetuate the damage done to the wicket, so that by noon it was quite fit for play. It was, however, not quite dry, and for the first afternoon at any rate was likely to make all sorts of paces. The local men were exceedingly anxious to win the toss, so that they might get the Englishmen in first. Every one realised that in them doing this lay the only chance of the game being close. If one searches for an augury for the success of the tour there is no need to go far, for in the first match the Englishmen not only had the luck of the wicket, but the luck of the weather to boot. There is no more severe time for English cricketers than to have to bat, bowl, or field on a baked Australian ground under a broiling sun, whereas under these conditions Australians are in their element. Throughout the Adelaide match, however, the weather was cool and pleasant, and there was never that glare from above which English batsmen do not appreciate, but the light was oftener dull. Then W . G. won the toss, and sent his opponents to bat on a wicket which was sure to be safe for a few hours. There was a fair attendance when the Englishmen took the field, and the applause was general and enthusiastic. The two men left out in the first match were Messrs. Radcliffe and Philipson. As tho wicket was slow, and likely to improve, the South Australian skip­ per sent two of his tail-in batsmen to the wickets first, the idea being to keep himself and Lyons till later on, when the wicket had improved. Briggs and Lohmann were the first bowlers. Scrymgour opened in capital style, but Delaney, before he had soored, was missed by "W. G. , into whose hands the ball went softly without finding a resting place. Then the batsmen for nearly two hours defied all the efforts of the bowlers, another instance of the tail wagging the dog. Delaney stayed at the wickets more by good fortune than good play, but his comrade batted soundly. Still, in the hour and a half before luncheon only 41 runs were scored. At the luncheon the Earl of Kintore was supported on his right hand by the Earl of Sheffield, and on his left by Dr. W . G. Grace. After the substantials had been disposed of there was some speechifying. His Excellency opened the ball by proposing “ The Queen.” Then he rose and proposed “ The Health of the Earl of Sheffield and the English Cricketers.” South Australians offered them a most hearty welcome. They appreciated to the full Lord Sheffield’ s enthu­ siasm which led him to bring his team to Australia. He hoped the best team would win. If the Englishmen won they could say they had defeated the best team any Austra­ lian colony could furnish, and if the South Australians won they could congratulate themselves on having beaten the strongest eleven they had ever faced. The toast was drunk with accompaniment of three times three cheers. The Earl of Sheffield, who was received with prolonged applause, said he responded with feelings of unbounded pleasure to the toast which had been proposed in such a flattering manner, and had been received in a manner so peculiarly gratifying. For whatever he had done in any way to deserve such flattering reference to himself as His Exceliencv had made, he was amply repaid at that moment by the fulfilment of one of the dearest wishes of his life, which was to stand up to return thanks for an English team in Australia. It would be impossible for his team to have been more kindly received than they had been. They would never forget that memor­ able walk from the gates of the Oval to the Pavilion, when they received the acclamations of the thousands assembled. Since then they had received nothing but kindness, and he took the opportunity of returning to His E x­ cellency, and through him to Lady Kintore, the sense of gratitude felt by the members of his team for unremitting kindness, and they were also extremely thankful forthe thousand and one civilities and courtesies heaped upon them from the moment they set foot in Australia. Whatever might be their recep­ tion in other parts of Australia, they would always treasure tbe reception now being given them, the cordial warmth of which would be one of the most cherished recollections of their Australian visit. He had great pleasure now in proposing the health of their friends the enemy, coupled with the name of Mr. George Giffen. Of course he would like his side to win, but he set as high avalue upon the friendly feeling and cordial relations between English and Australian cricketers as upon the achieve­ ment of a victory. The toast he proposed was a sign and symboi cf that feeling which he knew was reciprocated by the South Australian team. He added to the toast the name of Mr. Giffen, whose performances were as gratifying to Englishmen as they must be to all Austra­ lians. (Loud applause.) Mr. G. Giffen returned sincere thanks on behalf of the South Australian team and himself. He would not forget the many pleasures he had had at Sheffield Park. (Lord Sheffield: “ You must come again.” ) He only hoped the Earl and his party would have a pleasant tour through Australia. He concluded by pro­ posing 41 Dr. W. G. Grace,” a toast which was accorded musical honours. Dr. Grace, having returned thanks, gave the toast of “ The Chairman,” to which his Excellency responded. On resuming, after lunch, the two young batsmen began to grow bolder. They, how­ ever, had the wrong bowler to deal with in Attewell, who was now on, though he was only the third change tried: He clean bowled Scrymgour when the total was only 63, and directly afterwards Delaney was got rid of. The “ tail ” continued to lash vigor­ ously, however, Fred Jarvis (a brother of the famous wicket-keeper) playing capital cricket for 28. Lyons got out from a big hit, which would have gone out of the playing area at Lord’s, and three wickets were down for 90. Then came collapse and disaster. None of the men could play Attewell, who found the drying wicket just to his liking. A. H. Jarvis batted nicely but carefully, while George Giffen was at the wickets for two hours and a half for 27. Great batsmen cannot always make big scores, and this was not his day out. Great was the delight of the Englishmen when Graoe caught Giffen atpoint. The South Australian innings ultimately closed for 163, which was at least 50 or 60 more than was anticipated. The Englishmen fielded splendidly, although Mr. M‘ Gregor was not in his best form, and Attewell bowled re­ markably well, as a glance at his analysis will show. It took the South Australians nearly all the afternoon to make their 163, so that the Englishmen only had time to make 2 runs off one over before stumps were drawn. Saturday, Nov. 21, was a lovely day for cricket, and in the anticipation of seeing some lively batting with old W. G. in the van, there was a large and fashionable attendance, in­ cluding the Viceregal family and other shining lights from the upper circles. A fair start was made, Johnny Briggs cracking the ball to the chains all round, and making 23 in half-a- dozen hits. Bean, who found the wicket very quick, did not play his best, and with 40 up allowed a fast, good pitched ball to break through his defence. Cheer after cheer from spectators and players greeted the champion as he walked to the wickets. When he arrived Grace was very much on the big side, but hard practice in a heavy sweater on warm days has got rid of a pound or two of super­ fluous flesh. Anyhow, after playing cau­ tiously at half-a-dozen balls the fancied him­ self a young man again, and essayed to lift a ball over the chains. Instead he only skied it, and Reedman, running in from deep square- leg at the very least thirty yards, put out his left hand—a pretty big one—and, clutching the ball as it came straight down, made the most wonderful catch ever seen on the ground. In fact, though there was the element of luck in it, W. G. admitted that it was one of the most remarkable catches he had ever seen. Thus the Master, having missed an easy catch and made 2 runs in his first attempt, did not make a very promising start on his second trip in Australia. Mr. Stoddart joined Briggs, and a long stand was made, 142 runs being added for this, the third wicket. Briggs steadied down, and played carefully most of the while, though there were occasional flashes of brilliance. The Middlesex amateur opened in brilliant fashion, and 28 out of his first 31 came from boundary hits, mostly from splen­ did strokes to leg. Giffen pegged away from one end, and had Briggs in trouble all along, though Stoddart found the medium pace leg- breaks to his liking, and made splendid leg- NEXT ISSUE JANUARY 28