Cricket 1892

86 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. MARCH 24, 1892 SIXTEENTH MATCH—v. COMBINED AUSTRALIA. S y d n e y , J a n u a r y 29, 30. The second of the three great test matches commenced on the Sydney Association,Ground on Friday, January 29. The greatest interest was taken in the game. It was realised that the Britishers would strain every nerve to regain the laurels they lost in Melbourne in the first week in the year, whilst the Colonials were equally anxious to win again, and thus gain the rubber in two acts. W. G. Grace chose the same Eleven which has played in all the biggest matches of the tour, but the Australians made a slight alteration, Walter Giffen, of South Australia, who could not play on New Year’s Day, taking the place of Donnan, who was a comparative failure then. Although Moses’s leg had not got strong again, he is such a wonderful batsman on the Sydney ground that it was decided to run the r isk of playing him again. This was gener­ ally regarded as very questionable policy, as it kept out of the team Syd Gregory, who is not only a better field than Moses at anytime, but was just then in fine form with the bat. The betting about the match—and there was a good deal—was very even, despite their defeat in Melbourne the Englishmen being considerably fancied, although most people thought thn Australians would be equal to repeating their victory. F ir s t D a y — F r id a y , J a n u a r y 29. Friday morning broke dull, with heavy clouds hanging about, and the outlook was not at all promising. The weather had been threatening all the week, and on Wednesday afternoon a very heavy shower fell. This made it doubtful what the wicket would be like, and the doubts were realised when on Friday morning the players got on to the ground. Though the wicket looked splendid and true as a billiard board, one end was not yet dry and was spongy. The captain who won the toss would not have an easy problem to solve. He would probably have to bat first, however, as rain threatened, and it would be best policy to make use of the wicket before rain fell. Blackham again won the toss, and after some hesitation he decided that the Englishmen should field. The attendance was fine at mid-day, and later on in the afternoon it increased until there were 7000 people present. This was a fine attend­ ance for a Fiiday, as it was not a holiday. Play commenced at ten minutes past twelve. Bannerman and Lyons, stonewaller and big hitter, were of course the first bats­ men. Briggs opened the bowling, and Ban­ nerman started well by sending the second ball away to the fence, Stoddart failing to save the 4 although he tried very hard. Lyons took first ball from Sharpe and glanced a single between “ slips.” The big man then .hit Briggs to leg for 4, and the first 10 was hoisted. Lyons hooked one of Sharpe’s to leg for 3, and Bannerman smacked a full toss from the same bowler to the chains. So aggressive were the batsmen, and so freely did runs come, that Sharpe, who had not found a length, had to make way for Loh­ mann. The change kept down the runs, although the scoring was fairly fast, 30 having been made in twenty minutes. Then Briggs bowled a maiden, every ball of which Lyons drove hard to Sharpe at mid-off. The next over was disastrous to the Colonials, as Ban­ nerman, who had played with great care for 12, snicked a ball into Abel’ s sure hands. Lyons greeted Giffen by smack­ ing Lohmann for 2, although it seemed that if Peel had made a more vigorous effort he might have reached the ball. The scoring was very slow. Briggs kept the ball well on the off, while Lohmann, who had a splendid length, made the ball get up in all sorts of awkward ways. He evidently had a wicket which just suited him. Nevertheless Giffen drove him for 4. The big hitter now warmed to his work, and made his favourite cover hit off Lohmann to the fence. The next over he made a tremendous hit, sending one of Briggs’ clean over the fence on to the mound. Quite impartial, he treated the first ball of Lohmann’s next over in pre­ cisely the same way, much to the delight of the spectators. Attewell now had to replace Briggs, but the separation was effected by Lohmann, a ball bumping off the shoulder of Giffen’s bat into Abel’s hands again. Two fo r,67. Giffen seemed to have settled down, but his run of bad luck had not yet deserted him. Moses at once settled down to play carefully. Lyons was not now forcing the pace as he wanted to tide over the luncheon hour. He. however, came to grief, a wonderful catch dismissing him. He made a hard cut which went to Grace’ s left hand. The ball flew into the air, but the old warrior snatched it as it came down. The retiring batsman played a fine forcible innings without giving a chance which went to hand. The score was 62, and lunch was then taken. Turner was Moses’s partner after luncheon. The left-hander got 4 for a fluky snick off Attewell, but the next 4 he got was for a really good back cut. Turner was not well on the spot, and he forged along with singles and two’s. Attewell was not doing much, but 11 overs only gave 16 runs, and he gave up the ball to Sharpe. Turner snicked the new bowler for 4. Lohmann, however, troubled him with a bumpy over, and a last a ball rose off the bat and M’Grtgor easily got it. (Four for 90.) Bruce joined Moses and soon made a pretty cut to the grand stand fence. Sharpe generally troubles Bruce, and|as to-day he was bowling with a strong wind behind him the lef.-hander had to be watchful. He made an uppish snick which found a passage through the slips, and 4 runs were recorded. Moses also was scoring, and at 116 Sharpe was relieved by Attewell. This change broke the spell of Lohmann’s success, as Bruce hit a tempting ball to long on, where George Bean made a good catch. (Five for 117.) Trott, the next man, was soon bowled by Lohmann, and with six wickets down for 123 the Australians’ average was not so good as it had been. Directly after M’ Leod joined Moses just what had been feared happened. The latter went for a sharp run, and his bad leg gave way. Grace having distinctly stipulated that in this event a man would not be allowed to run for him, Moses had to do the best he could. Grace of course did quite right, as Moses had no right to play, and he was not injured in the match under notice. Anyhow, the injury to his leg apparently knocked the spirit out of the New South Wales champion, and when he came opposite Lohmann he put the first ball up to Grace at point. Moses was at the wickets an hour and forty minutes, and his defence was invaluable. M’Leod made some nice glances to leg, but Walter Giffen, who was playing as a representative cricketer for the first time, was cautious, and at four o’ clock, when the players adjourned for refreshment, the total was 132. After fifteen minutes’ interval the play was resumed, and straight away Walter Giffen had to retire, Lohmann making a grand catch off his own bowling. It was such a close thing that the batsman did not like it, but the umpire as well as all the players agreed that he was out. By extremely cautious play M’Leod and Callaway carried the score to 141, when M’Leod was taken in the slips. Blackham, the last man, was over eager, and at 144 ran Callaway out. This was not a winning score unless rain fell, and no one, not even the Australians’ most enthusiastic supporters amongst the crowd, who hooted the umpires for adverse decisions, was anxious that it should rain. Lohmann bowled grandly, and took the fullest advan­ tage of the slightly varying paces of the wicket. The others who had to bowl at a better end were not so deadly. The fielding was good, and towards the end of the innings it was remarkably brilliant. Lohmann, Bean, Briggs, and Sharpe stood out conspicuously for brilliant work. The wicket having been rolled, and with over half an hour to bat, Grace and Abel went in to bat. Turner and M’Leod, who were so successful in the former match, were the bowlers. The batsmen both played good cricket and kept their wickets intact until six o’clock, when Grace had made 23, and Abel 15—total, 38. S econ d Day— S a tu r d a y , J a n u a r y 80. Bright, sunny, and genial weather prevailed, and the wicket was now destitute of all moisture. Blackham had now the melancholy reflection of knowing that he had better not have won the toss. In anticipation of keen cricket, the attendance was tremendous, numbering 24,000. The tariff for admission to the Grand Stand is higher in Sydney than in Melbourne, and the amount taken during the day was £1,122. Lord Jersey, the Governor of New South Wales, was amongst the spectators, and with the Earl of Sheffield watched every ball very closely. Moses was too much injured to field, his medical adviser telling him that if he fielded his leg might be permanently injured, Grace having warned Moses would not allow a man to field for him, but Earl Sheffield once more showed what a true sportsman he is, by urging Dr. Grace to let a man field. Then W. G. gave way, but he would not let Gregory field, Garrett going out as the substitute. Turner and Trott resumed the bowling. The latter troubled Dr. Grace, and a “ silly point ” was put to him, Bruce walking nearly up to the bat. Turner, however, got the wicket, a fast ball completely beat Dr. Grace, who had only made 3 more. (One for 50.) Bean went out to help Abel, and as the latter at once drove Trott for 4, at 57 he gave way to Giffen. Bean did not shape well to the new bowler, still he got one drive for 4. After a couple of 2’s off Turner, Abel hit one to leg for 4. Bean then cut Giffen to the chains, but it was his last success, as in trying to make a big hit he only managed to put the ball on to his pads, whence it rolled on to the wicket. This was a dangerous man gone, but he only made room for one just as dangerous, Stoddart taking his place. Still, the Austra­ lians were not so frightened of him as they were of Abel, who was batting beautifully in his smartest and neatest style. A drive for 4 by Abel welcomed Stoddart, who just hit at everything. He had some success, too, for a tremendous hit off Turner went clean over all the fences. At 99 Trott and Callaway were given the ball. Abel got 4 off the fast bowler, and Stoddart similarly appreciated Trott’s slows, hooking them round to leg. Stoddart next hit M’Leod, who had replaced Trott, but the latter, however, had immediate revenge, Blackham making a good catch at the wickets. The Australians were well rid of the brilliant Middlesex amateur, who made his runs at a great rate. W ith the advent of Read, Trott, who troubled him in Melbourne, bowled again, but the two Surrey men were together at luncheon, with the total at 126, of which Abel had made 51. The teams having been photographed during the luncheon hour, play was resumed, Giffen starting the bowling. Abel went off with a single, but Read had to leave, scooping a ball up to mid-on. With four good men out for 127, the Australians reckoned that they had done fairly well, and quite expected the innings to end for something less than 200. Peel went to help Abel, and though Turner went on again, the Australian:!’ total was headed, the crowd heartily applauding tho Englishmen. Abel put up a ball softly, and Giffen started to run to wicket for it, but collided with Peel, and could not reach tho ball. At 152 Turner was rewarded for his persevering attacks, Peel snicking a ball which with great cleverness Giffen, at slip, snapped up. Lohmann played a strange innings. Iu sheer wildness he hit one from Turner to the fence, and smacked the next over it. He could not time Giffen a bit, and at last, rushing out, was bowled. The . Australians were entirely satisfied with six