Cricket 1892

12 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF GAME; j a n . 28, 1892 kindly feeling towards him. I have had two or three chats with him, but there has been so many wishing to speak to him that we did not get much time together. However, when he returns from Sydney later on he will be longer in Melbourne and then we can have a chat about the game he loves and supports so well. As I said before, there were 20,000 people at the match on Saturday, and as it was a glorious sunny day with a refreshing breeze and a clear blue sky it was not to be wondered at that the ladies turned out in large numbers, which, with their beautiful coloured costumes, made as pleasant a scene as one could wish to see. I have not seen so many of the fair sex at a cricket match for over ten years. THIRD M A TCH -v. NEW SOUTH WALES Sydney, December 4, 5 & 7. F ir s t D a y .— F r id a y , D e c e m b e r 4. Having finished the game with Victoria two days earlier than they anticipated, Dr. Grace and his fellow travellers had a day or two to spare to look round Melbourne. The metro­ polis of Australia, which title Victorians claim for their city, has not many picturesque points of attraction, so it was small wonder that the cricketers preferred to knock about the cricket grounds, while Johnny Briggs and Sharpe accepted an invitation to play with a team of Wanderers. Both played well, and each got five wickets, while the Lancas­ trian in addition rattled up 33. Marching orders were given on Tuesday, and away the jolly Englishmen hied to Sydney. Another long and tedious railway journey confronted them. Twenty hours of it, and 600 miles to be covered. The ride becomes miserably monotonous although the scenery in places is fine. Before leaving Victoria some mountainous country is passed, and the rough-looking range is pointed out where the famous Kelly gang of bushrangers defied the whole police force of Victoria for months and months. Again the River Murray is crossed, and then night is ushered in. Next morning the train speeds along a gully between two high and thickly timbered hills. Refreshing to the eye at first, these trees—the everlasting eucalyptus of Australia—become very mono­ tonous before Sydney is reached at noon. The ride is more wearisome even than that from Adelaide, and all the Englishmen were unfeignedly glad to get to the end of it, even though that meant being taken in hand and having champagne and biscuits forced down to a place which was hungering for a good substantial dish of roast beef and a pint of bitter. The spirit which prompts these recep­ tions is appreciable, but one does get tired of the everlasting praise, and gush, and drink, and soft tack. It is worse than sitting in a smoking carriage, grouped round Bobby Abel, with him leading the rest in part songs. The singing of the Englishmen, that is the professionals, is quite famous in the Colonies. No sooner is Sydney reached than the differ­ ence in the climate is felt, and it is hot, and yet muggy and close and moist, quite unlike the fine dry heat of Adelaide, and much less easily tolerated. Then Sydney has its com­ pensating advantages. It has a harbour. That harbour is one of the loveliest in the world, and while not excelled by Rio, has only to play a good second fiddle to the Bay of Naples. English cricketers who have toured through Australia like Sydney, not, however, because of the loveliness of its harbour, nor, of course, because of its sultry atmosphere, but because the wickets are more like those in England. English folk who have not been to Australia can have no adequate conception of what an Adelaide or a Melbourne wicket is. For a fortnight before the match it is rolled and watered, and rolled and watered, while the grass is literally shaved off, and when the match is commenced the pitch is much like a patch of asphalte. It is as level as a billiard table and almost as slippery as glass, and while it makes a batsman’s paradise, the bowlers are at a great disadvantage. It is difficult to turn the ball at all, and old George Ulyett when first put on to bowl on an Adelaide wicket said. “ Ugh, think I can bowl on glass.” In Sydney the weather is more uncertain than in the two other cities, and the wicket cannot be prepared for the same length of time, and, moreover, more grass is left on the ground, so that the pitch is more like those of England, and does not last perfectly for four or five days like an Adelaide wicket. Notwithstanding the severe drubbings the Englishmen inflicted on the South Australians and Victorians, the New South Welshmen were expected to make a much better show. They have the best all­ round team in the colonies. A game between New South Wales and South Australia would be interesting; but inasmuch as the latter depend a great deal on two men—George Giffen and Lyons—New South Wales has several really first-class players. Still it was too much to hope that they would take down the formidable Britishers without having an undue proportion of Dame Fortune’s smiles showered upon them. No team but the picked eleven of Australia can expect to haye any chance of doing that. The third match of the tour, against New South Wales, was begun in Sydney on Friday, December 4. Heavy rain fell and made the wicket sodden, and all the afternoon rain threatened, while one more shower actually fell. Still there was a splendid attendance for a Friday, quite 6,000 people being present. The start of the match was delayed for nearly an hour owing to an objection raised by the Australians to the English umpire. The cause of the dis­ pleasure was D. Cotter, a Melbourne pro­ fessional, who in past inter-colonial matches has given great dissatisfaction to the Sydney fellows. They have openly accused him of partiality, or, to put it mildly, inability to see straight. Dr. Grace, of course, stoutly defended the umpire, but Moses, the Sydney captain, was obdurate, and eventually the Englishmen gave way, and Alfred Shaw went in to call the game. The wicket when play was started was slow and sticky, but inclined to become better, so W. G., winning the toss, sent his oppo­ nents to bat without any hesitation. The first batsmen were the little veteran Stonewaller Alick Bannerman and Sammy Jones, who was quite reinvigorated by his sea trip from Eng­ land, and who has been scoring heavily in local matches this season. Bannerman started off with a single and 4, and then Jones drove a ball back to Lohmann. Turner, of course, was sent in thus early to have a bang, and he did, but it was not his day, for a big hit was well caught by Stoddart away out by the fence. At one o’clock a heavy shower fell, and play was impossible until after luncheon, when for awnile the wicket was a little easier. Donnan and Bannerman made a sturdy resistance, and the score was added to principally by singles, the result of the first eighty minutes being a modest 26. At 26 the first change in the attack was made, Briggs relieving Attewell. He got a wicket right away, Donnan being caugnt by the wicket-keeper. Moses (the captain) and Iredale (a promising batsman) did not get going, and at 43 Bannerman, who had played an exceedingly valuable innings without giving a chance, was caught at short-slip. Gregory made matters lively, but he was lucky. First of all George Lohmann, prince of slips, badly missed him, and M‘ Gregor followed suit a moment later. Charlton was not a success, but Gregory drove Lohmann for 4 and a couple of 2’s in quick succession. At 69 Attewell came on again vice Lohmann, and off his fourth ball little Sid was caught at point. Newell and Wales were soon got rid of, but Callaway shaped very well for his dozen. The Englishmen, taken all lound, fielded magnifi­ cently. Briggs obtained a wonderful bowling average, in fact, he was well nigh unplayable. A fresh wicket having been prepared, as is the custom in Sydney, Grace and Abel began the Englishmen’s batting to the bowling of Turner and Callaway, the latter, like Turner, being a fast bowler. The old man turned round and hit Turner to leg for 4, and repeated the dose on Callaway. W ith the total at 11, he smacked one into the hands of Callaway at point, and out it came again. Four more had been added when Turner heaped coals of fire on Callaway’s head by catching W. G. just as Callaway had missed him. Stoddart joined Abel, and runs came slowly. At 22 Abel hit one into the air, and Jones, at long-on, distinguished himself by missing it. Stoddart drove one from Turner pretttily for 4, but a fine catch at square-leg dismissed him off the next ball. Abel was let off again, this time by Iredale, and then he gave a safe fieldsman a show and had to retire. Read and Bean played out time when the former, who hit splendidly, had 16. Bean had 2, and the total was 47 for four wickets, leaving the match in an interesting condition. S econd D a y —S a tu r d a y , D e c e m b e r 5. The weather on Saturday was unpleasantly warm. By the time play was to be commenced the sun was just broiling hot, while, after the rain of the previous day, the atmosphere was muggy and oppressive. There was an enor­ mous attendance, numbering every one of 20,000. Of course the wicket was caked by the sun, and early in the day it did not play well, the ball bumping badly. Play resumed, Maurice Read was soon got rid of, the wicket­ keeper chasing a glance to leg by Bean and throwing the wicket down. Lohmann made 7 in three or four hits before he was caught in the slips, and neither Peel nor Attewell broke his egg. M’Gregor stayed the disaster momentarily, but Bean, who had played a dashing innings, was snapped up by slip. Bean only made 17, but it was his best display since he landed in Australia. Sharpe made a few, and M’Gregor remained not out. The innings closed for 94—20 in front of the Sydney men. Turner bowled splendidly, and the fielding on Saturday was a great improvement on that of Friday. Again Jones and Bannerman began the New South Wales innings, and again the brilliant but disappointing Sammy failed to score, so that he bagged a brace of ’ em. Donnan went to the assistance of Bannerman, and he was so vigorous that Briggs, who was bowling with Attewell, had to give way to Sharpe. With the total at 24 M‘Gregor smartly stumped Bannerman, who openly resented Shaw’s decision ; but, then, did anyone ever know Alec to be stumped or given out “ 1b w ” without he protested ? It is a way some batsmen have. Turner, the next man, was in his happiest mood, and his fine leg hitting and back cutting, combined with good drives, soon caused 50 to be hoisted. All the changes were rung in the bowling, Lohmann, Peel, Attewell, Sharpe, and Grace all coming in for punishment. At length a catch in the slips terminated a brilliant innings, Turner having got 40 out of 53 made while he was at the wickets. Three men were out for 77 when he left. Moses followed, and played his usual provokingly slow game, seldom attempting to score except he got an over-pitched ball on to the off, which he would cut in front of point to the fence. At 85 he lost Donnan. This young batsman, who is an understudy of Murdoch, and a creditable one too, batted exceedingly well until he wrenched his leg, and the enforced few minutes’ spell getting his eye out, he was bowled. Iredale did not take long to make 9 before a fine catch by George Lohmann dismissed him at 106. Gregory, in his own vigorous style, rattled up 11, while Moses continued the even tenour of his way until he had made 30, and the total was 132 for five wickets, when stumps were drawn for the day. In the evening the Earl of Sheffield and the members of his team were entertained at a sumptuous banquet at the Australian Hotel by the New South Wales Cricket Association. Mr. G. H. Reid, president of the Association, presided, and Lord Jersey, the Governor of the colony, was amongst the guests. The Chairman, in giving the toast of the evening which was received with enthusiasm, eulo- NEXT ISSUE FEBRUARY 25