Cricket 1893

iS Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron . THURSDAY, MAECH 23 , 18^3 PRI0E 2d. bound into tbe front rank of Australian players. His line performance in Victoria’s second innings against South Australia, at the end of 1892, came as something of a revelation. He played GeorgeGiffen’s bowling in particular with consummate confidence, and his 86 not out was as taking a display of free and punishing cricket as one could wish to see. .but this was by no means an isolated per­ formance. Against New South Wales he was quite as successful. In the return in particular his batting was some of quite the best in the match. His second innings of 65 was of the higher merit considering that the wicket was much worn. That it was fully appreciated by good judges will be shown by the following comment by a capable critic— If in no otber respect it was remarkable, the fiftieth match between New South Wales and Victoria enabled five players, w hose in­ clusion m the Australian Eleven had been cavilled at, to vindicate their selection in the m ost pronounced way. Young Graham stands out above all the rest, and it seems that the m ost extravagant notions expressed about his batting powers were not exaggerated. For a colt of twenty-one playing in his third inter-colonial match to bang Turner, Coningham, and Callaway about and make 65 on a wicket which was so much damaged as to be largely responsible for the downfall o f fifteen other batsmen for about 130 runs, was a wonderful perform ­ ance. G raham ’s future will be watched with interest. The judgment of the Selection Committee in including Graham so early in the team has been fully confirmed by results. Those who took exception'to his inclusion, as in any case a little premature, have since had to admit his undoubted claims. The accounts of his style justify the belief that he is juet the kind of batsman to suit the tastes of the English public. Though he is on the diminutive side, he has evidently considerable powers of hitting. If he is only 5ft. 6£in. high, and 9st. 71bs. in weight, he makes up for his want rA inches by his plenitude of nerve. With a quick eye, he times the ball with great judg­ ment. That he has no lack of con­ fidence has already been shown by the ease with which he played bowlers of such reputation as G. Giffen and Turner in recent inter­ colonial matches. A player of the aggressive order, with plenty of hit and a great variety of strokes, he is just the stamp of batsman to make a name on English grounds. But he is not only a run-getter. In any case he is bpund to be of great use, for he is in addition a very fine field. Casual mention has been already made of Mr. Graham’s pro­ minence as a footballer. As a member of the Melbourne Club he has been in quite the front rank, and is one of the best goal-kickers in the Colony. M R . H A R R Y G R A H A M . I n spite of the confident predictions of a certain section of pessimists, the visit of the Eighth Australian team to England is now an accomplished faot. That is, of course, with the usual reservation of accidents excepted. At all events the fourteen who are to form the playing strength of the company, with Mr. Victor Cohen, who is to act as manager, are already on their way “ home.” Bruce and Trumble, who are coming on in advance of the main body, were off more than a fortnight ago in the,“ Ophir.” The other thirteen, according to a telegram through Reuter’s Agency, are on board the steamer “ Orizaba,” which left Mel­ bourne on Saturday, and should be about leaving Adelaide. Of the fourteen cricketers ten have been in England before. The four new to English grounds are H. Graham ana R. McLeod, of Victoria, W. Giffen, of South Australia, and Con­ ingham of New South Wales. And, unless we are mistaken, the junior of the party will be the busy little player whose portrait, through the kindness of an old and valued cor­ respondent, known throughout Aus­ tralia as “ The Almanac,” we are able to give in this number. Born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, on Nov. 29, 1870, Graham has not long completed his twenty-second year. A Victorian, tbew and sinew, his birth-place was within a stone’ s throw of the house in which one of the greatest masters of Australian cricket, J. M. Blaokham, to wit, first saw the light. His early edu­ cation, too, was all in favour of his development as a cricketer. The Head Master of the Berwick Gram­ mar School, Mr. E. V. Viesseux, was himself, in his day, a Melbourne cricketer of prominence. In such surroundings there was everything to encourage and stimulate a young­ ster with even a moderate amount of enthusiasm. Graham, too, proved himself to be above the ordinary run, both as a cricketer and a football player. His introduction to first-class cricket was under the auspices of the South Melbourne C.C. which has had the benefit of his valuable services for the last three years. His form at the outset, too, was good enough to warrant a confident prediction of a brilliant future. David Scott, H. F. Boyle’s partner in the firm of Boyle and Scott, in particular was greatly impressed with his show in club matches, so much so as to counsel his inclu­ sion in the Victorian Team. Such an honour had been moreover fairly earned. His average, which was 25 in important matches in 1890-91, had risen in the following season to the excel­ lent figure of 57. Experience of the Australian season just closing more than justified the high expectations formed of his capabilities as an all-round cricketer. His consistent success in Inter-colonial matches brought him at a