Cricket 1893

APBIL20, 1892 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OP THE GAME. 75 did not take part in any International matches this last season, so that we have to take him on trust at least on the credit of a previous year’s form. That his presence in the eleven is due in some measure to his brother’s influence is ooly a reasonable assumption. At the same time, he has shown himself to be a use­ ful all-round player. In club cricket he has scored heavily, and one performance of his, 42 not out against Lord Sheffield’s Eleven, was distinctly of high merit. Still, it cannot be gainsaid that he was practi­ cally chosen on his form of 1891-92. Though not a brilliant or a stylish player, he is a steady bat, and at times a difficult wicket to get. Nor must it be overlooked that he is not lightly fancied by some o f the best players in the team. In any case he has the merit o f being a good field. So far we have dealt mainly with the players who have not before been seen on English grounds. The ole. stagers are many of them so well known that it would be waste of time to go at any length into their merits. W ith the one exception of Moses, the team, it may well be admitted, is thoroughly representative o f Australian cricket. It might be accepted indeed without any such reser­ vation, as in the face of the fact that Moses’ leg has given way several times and on important occasions, it is quite open to doubt whether he would, even if he could have come, have borne the wear and tear of such a heavy tour. The reappear­ ance of George Giffen, after many years, would of itself be almost sufficient to assure the success of the tour. So far, at all events, there has been little or no sign of any diminution of his powers as an all-round cricketer. During the season just over he was remarkably successful both with bat and ball. In Inter-colonial matches his batting average was over forty runs, while his wickets weight at a cost o f less than twenty- four runs apiece. At the present time he is incomparably the best all-round cricketer in Australia, even if he has any superiors, which is open to doubt. As a batsman he watches the ball very carefully, and with a great variety of strokes is rarely at a loss. On occasions he can hit well all-round the wicket, while his wrist play is generally effective. With plenty of confidence, too, he has every advantage, and his record at the end of the tour is sure to be of the very best. As a bowler, his only fault perhaps is excess o f zeal. Still he will undoubtedly have to bear the brunt of the attack, as he will with credit. He bowls right hand, medium pace, with a good break from the off. It is hardly necessary to add that he keeps an excellent length, and that he varies his pace and pitch. This goes almost without saying for a bowler of his experience. H e is particularly effective with a fast ball, which he is able to send down without any apparent change in his delivery. In the field he is always reliable. _After George Giffen place must be given to J. M. Blackham, who will in all probability be captain. He is the only cricketer who has been to England with every one of the eight Australian teams. As a wicket-keeper he has hardly, if ever, had an equal. Standing well up to,- almost over, the wicket, he takes the ball on each side with the greatest certainty. Whether in catching or stumping he is equally safe. No matter what the pace of the bowling, he stands up with the greatest pluck. The great secret of his success has been, perhaps, his marvellous quickness. Indeed, the precision with which he takes the ball and puts down the wicket makes it really one action. During the last winter he was suffering occasionally from bad hands. Still, in the last International he was quite at his best, and with an understudy in A. H . Jarvis, he will be able to have a rest if required in the matches of lesser importance. Though anything but a taking batsman, he makes runs quickly— and makes them often, moreover, when no one else can make them. A recent illustration of his capacity at a pinch was given in the last Inter-colonial between New South Wales and Victoria. In the latter’s first innings, though he went in last, he made the best score on the side Next to Blackham, Bannerman may fairly claim precedence. Even if he should not be captain, of which there is an outside chance, he will in any case be a useful lieutenant for Blackham. As a defensive batsman he has few superiors. With endless patience, he is a stonewaller of the pronounced type, wearisome, it may be, but nevertheless a batsman of inestim­ able value to the side. In the field he is of equal use. We have never seen a better mid-off, the perfection of coolness, as well as safe to a degree. Watchful in everything, he is withal an excellent judge of the game. Turner’s ability as an all-round cricketer is too well known to require any lengthy comment. As a bowler, with the one exception of perhaps Spofforth, he is the best man Australian cricket has pro­ duced. W ith an easy delivery he can keep up an end for any length of time. He comes back as well as gets lip off the pitch very quickly— a double combination bound to be very effective considering the pace at which he sends the ball in. W ith a good head on him as well, he loses no chance, and varying his pace as well as pitch with judgment, and generally o f an excellent length, he is bound to be very successful when he is at all in form. As he takes full advantage of a wicket that helps the bowler to any extent, under certain conditions he has been practically unplayable. At times he has given promise that he would develop into a good batsman. W ith plenty of power, he can hit well, and if allowed to get in he scores very fast. During this last Aus­ tralian season, it must be added, he was hardly so successful with the ball, and it remains to be seen whether he will recal his best performances o f the past on English grounds. William Bruce has only been over here once before, in 1886, and then he failed to come up to his Australian repu­ tation in any way. Still, he is beyond a doubt one o f the very best all-round cricketers in Australia. During the last few years he has been one of quite the most reliable batsmen in the Colonies. At the present time he is quite at the height of his powers, and, indeed, last season in inter-Colonial matches he had the grand average o f over forty-seven runs for Victoria. For a left-hand batsman he is particularly graceful. Standing up very straight, his style is singularly attractive, and as he plays with great freedom he scores fast off every kind of bowling. Loose balls, in his case, are never allowed to go unpunished, and as he is a sterling sportsman everyone will hope to see him thoroughly successful. In fielding he will have few, if any, superiors in the side. At cover-point he showed himself very brilliant iu 1886. I f occasion re­ quires he can also bowl. Lyons’ punishing powers as a batsman were fully exemplified during the visit of the last team in 1890. Since then he has, if anything, shown improved form. Last season, at least, saw him at his very best. H is brilliant performance against Lord Sheffield’s team will still be fresh in the memory of C r i c k e t readers. O f fine physique, he hits with tremendous power all round, and he is just the type of bat to please the public with any amount of hit. On any wicke he is generally at home, and should h only be in form English bowlers will noe infrequently have a bad time of it thit summer. s Sydney Gregory, though still quite young, has been to England before. He was only nineteen when he came here in 1890, and it was to his credit that he made such a good reputation on a first visit. He is, like so many of the team, a batsman o f the free type. Though small, he has no lack of power, and as he never loses a chance of a hit, if once set, he scores very freely. Still, it is as a fields­ man that he shines most. Remarkably quick, and with a Bmart return, he has no superior in this department. Trott has been over here twice before, and his form is well known. Though not an attractive batsman he pfays the game, and with good defence and no lack of hit on occasions, is generally success­ ful. In Inter-colonial matches last season, his figures were among the very best at the end of the season. He bowls slow round w ith a leg break, and though generally expensive has not infre­ quently got his side out of a knot. In his own place, at point, he can hardly be surpassed, as those who noticed his pluck and smartness in that arduous post when he was over before will freely admit. Mention has already been made of A. H . Jarvis as an understudy to Blackham behind the wickets. It is mainly as a reserve in that capacity, no doubt, that he has com e. There, too, on his past form, he is sure to acquit himself satis­ factorily. Like Blackham, he stands up close to the stumps. As a batsman he is also one of the hitting order. As we stated at the outset, on their home form the team should b6 a formid­ able combination. There will be plenty of what Andrew Lang calls the cham- payne o f cricket, in their batting at all events. Lyons, Bruce, Graham, Gregory, and Blackham are not of the class to allow any mistaken theories interfere with the punishment of loose balls. Besides this quintett there will be G. Giffen, Bannerman, and Trott, a dangerous trio. I f Coningham, McLeod, and Walter Giffen, o f the new men, should be un­ successful, we know that Turner, Trumble and Jarvis can score well on occasions,