Cricket 1892

JAN. 28, 1892 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME, During the lunoheon hour the Earl himself appeared on the ground. As the noble mail steamer, Ballarat, steamed up the Bar to Mel­ bourne, she was met by a special steam launch conveying the President, Vice-President, and Sec. of the Victorian Cricketers’ Association. The nobleman was transferred to the speedy little launch, and thence by the train, was soon run up to Melbourne. At the cricket ground a great reception awaited him. Cheer after cheer rent the air, and as the Earl walked out to inspect the wicket the band appropriately struck up the strain of “ A fine old English gentleman.” Immediately on resuming play after luncheon a smart one-hand catcii got rid of Morris, and Trott, after raising the hopes of the spectators by making a fine four hit, was caught in the slips off a bumpy ball. The burly Harry had batted very laboriously for 15, and his play was of the stamp which justified the remark made to an interviewer that the Australian batting (as seen at Adelaide) is too lifeless. Blackham and Wor- rall soon came to grief, but Carlton, the emergency man of the eleven, began to hit a bit vigorously. Then W. G. let off Trumble, his right hand failing to hold the ball. This mistake made very little difference, and as no one could stay with Carlton, the innings ended for the miserable total of 73. The English again fielded splendidly, although M’ Gregor has not yet got into form with the gloves. The two first English batsmen were Grace and Abel, and they at once set to work to upset the off theories of Trumble and Kemp. The Surrey midget eschewed stonewalling, and made some fine drives, while W .G. seems to have made up his mind, and making runs on Australian wickets is easier than running up hundreds for the second-rate Thornbury Club. He does not^attempt to watch the ball so closely as he has had toon English wickets during the last year or two, and he is quite right, for he knows that it will come along all right, and that is more than he rely on on the average English ground. When he had reached 14 he should have been caught off Kemp,but Morris, usually an active fieldsman, was caught napping, and “ mussed” the ball. Grace, by beautifully placed back cuts and draws to leg, and Abel, by pretty square cuts, made things hum. Then in succcssion Carl­ ton, Worrall, and Bruce were tried with the ball. The Victorian score being passed, pace- making continued merrily, until at 91 Abel drew a ball on to his wicket. He had practi­ cally made a third of the runs in faultless style. G. Lohmann began vigorously, as he usually does, and his fine driving knocked off the medium pace bowlers, Ross and Bruce with fast deliveries taking their places. Trott could not hold a hot smack from Lohmann, who in a little over half an hour had made 39 out of 70, got while he was batting. Barrett and Bruce were now the bowlers—one slow and tricky, the other fast and straight. Barrett does not often bowl in big matches, but this time he came off. Stoddart first of all made a high cut, which an ordinary-sized man could not have reached without the aid of a step ladder, but which Trumble caught easily, and then Bean was snapped up at point. The latter is not in any sort of [form yet. Meanwhile W. G. had completed his century amidst tremendous applause. He played in his very finest masterly style. The total when stumps were drawn was 185 for four wickets—W . G. 102, and Read 1. S e c o n d D ay — S a tu r d a y , N o v e m b e r 28. Saturday was an ideal day so far as the weather was concerned, and there was an ideal crowd. No less than 17,000 people were on the ground, which means that, given fine weather, when All-Australia meet the English­ men on New Year’ s Day, there will be at least 25,000 shillings taken at the gates of the M,C.C. The Earl of Sheffield will not at these rates lose money on his undertaking. When W.G. resumed his innings the band struck up the strains of “ See the Conquering Hero Comes.” W.G. looked naive and innocent, but the crowd noticed the well-deserved compliment, cheer­ ing heartily. The bowlers were Trumble and Barrett. It was not Maurice Read’ s day out, and a splendid catch got rid of him when ho had only made 5. Briggs followed, and danced round the wicket awhile without getting settled down, and at 222 was beaten by a good length ball. Radcliffe joined his captain, and shaped well enough until his score reached the unlucky 13, and then Trumble’s immense height again did good service to his side. The last three men were not in a dangerous mood, and the innings closed for 284. The “ Master ” carried his bat through the innings for 159. It was a masterly innings and worthy his great reputa­ tion. He only gave the one chance, when he had made 14. Throughout he timed and placed the ball in his own inimitable style. There were ten boundary hits in his innings, and he made one grand square leg hit over the chains, the hit that he tried, and didn’t succeed in making at Adelaide. The wicket did not play perfectly, and the great merit in the Doctor’s performance ismade more notice­ able when we see that ten other men only made 125. Abel showed the best form of these men. Barrett bowled best, while the fielding was excellent, Blackham taking wickets bril­ liantly. There is co need to describe the innings of the Victorians. Only four men showed any form at all against the grand bowling and fielding. Bruce, Ross, and Blackham hit well, but the rest of the batting was very spiritless. V icto r ia , First Innings. R. Houston, b Sharpe ... 6 W. Bruce, b Attewell ... 5 H. Trott, c Lobmann, b Sharpe ........................15 b Attewell... J. E. Barrett, c Attewe 1, b Sharpe ......................... 6 C. H. Ross, b Sharpe ... 1 S. Morris, c W. G. Grace, b S h a rp e........................ 7 bL ohm inn H. Trumble, c Briggs, b Attcwell ........................ 8 J. Worra’I, b Sharpe........ 0 J. M'C. Blackham, c and b Attewell........................ 5 J. Carlton, not out ........... 17 C. Kemp, c M'Gregor, b Attewell ........................ 2 B ............................... 1 Second Innings. b Attewell.......... 4 lbw, b Attewell 25 c M’Gregor, b Attewell......... 1 c Briggs, b Loh­ mann ..........25 Total ..........73 E n g la n d . st M’Gregor, b Lobmann ... G lbw, b Attewell 0 not out .......... 20 c Sbarpe, b Lohmann ... 10 b Lohmann ... 0 B ................. 4 Total ...104 W. G. Grace, not out 159 R. Abel, b Worrall... 29 G. A. Lohmann, c Worrall, b Bruce ... 39 A. E. Stoddart, c Trumble, b Barrett 10 G. Bean, c Trott, b Barrett ................. 0 J. M. Read, c Wor­ rall, b Tiumble ... 5 J. Briggs, b Barrett 16 O. G. Radcliffe, c Trumble, b Wor­ rall ........................ 13 W. Attewell, b Trott G. M‘Gregor, b Trott J.W. Sharpe, c Hous­ ton, b Barrett B 4, n b 2 .......... Total ...284 BOWLING ANALYSIS. V ictoria . First Innings. Second Innings. B.M. R. W. B. M. R. W. Attewell ...163 17 26 4 ................... 126 6 41 5 Sbarpe ... 150 9 40 6 ................... 36 2 18 0 Briggs ... 12 0 6 0 Lobmann 86 1 41 5 Altcwcll bowled one no-ball. E n gland . Trumble , Kemp... Carlton T rott... Worrall B. M. R. W. , 114 6 51 1 , 30 0 28 0 . 30 0 20 0 . 48 2 15 2 114 6 41 2 B. M. R. W. Barrett 162 8 51 4 Morris 60 1 24 0 R oss... 20 0 19 0 Bruce 30 0 29 1 Trumble bowled two no-balls. C R IC K E T E R S -B est <- GCB« G oods City Agents — b e a r th is M a r k . —Advts. P a r to n & L e s t e r , 94, Q u een St., C h e a p m d e . The following notes on the match have been kindly furnished me by Mr. David Ssott, “ the Almanac ” :— Victoria won the toss and decided on going in. The wicket was slightly dead at the start, as several showers had fallen during the morning. The wicket was not bad, but the ball bit for about half an hour, but after that it was all right, which is more than I can say about our fellows with the exception of T. Carlton,whohit out manfully,the others played a spiritless game and were all disposed of for 73. It was a wretched performance, and they should have made at least 150. Sharpe bowled splendidly, taking 6 wickets for 40, and even good as this average was it should have been better as several chances were missed off him. Dr. Grace and Bobby Abel started for Eng­ land and scored rapidly, the Doctor especially forcing the scoring, and 91 was up before the first wicket fell, Abel, b Worrall 29. Lohmann took his place and by dashing cricket soon ran up 39, when he retired, caught Worrall, b Bruce. Stoddarfe then came in and soon got to work, scoring 10 rapidly, when he was splendidly caught by Trumble off Dr. Barrett. Bean, the pride of Sussex, joined the Doctor, and everyone was looking forward to a good exhibition of batting, when he was snapped up by Trott at point, and retired for nought. Maurice Read then came in and play shortly after ceased for the day, Dr. Grace being 102 not out. He played with great vigour and his placing of the ball seemed just as perfect as ever, and everyone was pleased to see the champion doing so well. He gave one chance when he was 14 but otherwise his innings was perfect. Next day the game was resumed, when the scoring was much slower, the bowling and fielding being much improved, Trumble especially sending down some fine balls. Read was not comfort­ able and letting out at Trumble he was well caught by Worrall at mid-off for 5. Briggs rattled up 16 when Barrett bowled him, and Radcliffe joined the Doctor. He made 13 in his own peculiar style when he was magnificently caught by Trumble high up iu the slips off Worrall. Luncheon was then partaken of, Dr. Grace 140 not out. This was a good thing for the attendance, as tho people flocked down to the ground to see him bat. Attewell made 6 when Trott bowled him and repeated the dose to McGregor in the same over. Sharpe stayed while Grace made some more runs,including a grand hit for5,clean out of the playing ground, when Sharpe was caught in the long field off Barrett for 1, and the innings closed for 284, Dr.Grace carrying his bat right throughforl59. The hero of a thousand matches received an ovation from all parts of the ground on his return to the pavilion, and lie must have felt proud of the halo of cheers ho received. I shortly after saw Lord Sheffield and congratulated him on the Doctor’s grand exhibition, and he said, “ Just fancy what a state of mind the Doctor must be in after making such a grand score and receiving such an ovation.” I said, “ I think the Doctor would like the same sort of feeling under the same circumstances every match.” Victoria once more held possession of the wickets, which were in splendid condition and 300 or 400 runs might have been made on them. A good start was made but was not kept up, and tLie innings closed for 104 runs, Bruce 25, Ross 25, and Blackham 20, not out, playing well for their runs, Attewell and Lohmann taking five wickets each. England won by an innings and 107 runs. I make no excuse for our defeat, except like the man that had a prize dog in a fight, he would have won if the other man’s dog had not been so good. Our men played with want of dash, and though I never expected to beat such a team, I certainly was disappointed at the exhibition they made. I am looking forward with great interest to the meeting of All Australia and England, and then, all things being equal, I fancy there will be a great tussle. I was delighted to see the grand reception that was given to Lord Sheffield from 20,000 people, and I know that his Lordship thoroughly appreciated the NEXT ISSUE FEBRUARY 25