Cricket 1896

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. ■so. 4 3 a. v o l . x v . THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1 8 9 6 . p r i c e aa. jf ERNEST JONES. After Mr. Spofforth took up his resi­ dence in England Australian teams began to severely feel the want of a really good fast bowler—one who could keep his end up, if necessary, for a long time. There were, it is true, fast bowlers in Australia, but there seemed none who could for a moment be compared with Richardson or Mold, and when it was pro­ posed to take Jones with the team which has just returned home the experiment was by most English cricketers re­ garded as likely to prove unsuccessful. It was thought that the Australians merely wanted to be up to date. For it cannot be said that the bowling of Jones had created any great feeling of respect among English cricketers who had played against him. On the fast and true wickets in the Antipodes he generally seemed harmless, and al­ though it was admitted that for the first two or three overs he wanted a lot of playing, he was not regarded as a possible rival to the great bowlers of England. He had, nevertheless, done some very fine performances in inter­ colonial matches, but against his successes so many failures had been recorded that even at home he was not appre­ ciated at his true worth. There is nothing surprising in this, for without doubt he was, to say the least of it, very erratic and uncertain of his pitch. Then came the season of 1895-6, andrumours presently began to be heard to the effect that the South Australian was showing far better form than before, and that some of his great performances were not so much due to luck as to all-round excellence. For his colony against Victoria, at Melbourne, he as­ tonished friends and opponents alike by taking six wickets for 15 runs, and in the match between the Aus­ tralian team of 1896 against the Rest, at Sydney, he had five wickets to his credit for 30. His first appearance in England during the practice at Mitcham did not arouse enthusiasm, but it was plain that his companions in the team were not anxious that he should bowl his fastest at them. When the matches began he was over­ whelmed with congratulations, for, on fiery wickets, he did wonderful execution, while his short, very fast ball created a panic among the “ weaker brethren.” Indeed, if he had chosen to write “ veni, vidi, vici,” on a postcard to his friends at home, he might have done so without departing a hairsbreadth from the truth. In time the reaction set in, and it was at last seen that he was a really great bowler, with some limitations. Although he is endowed with great strength, the hard grounds, as was but natural, tired him and he fell off a little, but to the end he kept up his reputation. The fault which had been urged against him from the beginning of his career still clung to him; after the first two or three overs his pace began to gradually decline, until it was patent to the most inexperienced onlooker that he was not as fast as he had been at first. If he could have “ mixed them up a little,” he would have been even more success­ ful, and as he still has many years cricket before him, he may yet vastly improve. If, for instance, in the middle of an innings he would now and then serve up a ball like the first ball he bowled to W.Qt. in the England match at Lord’s, he would have a much better analysis, and no batsman would ever feel safe against him. Into the ques­ tion of the fairness or un­ fairness of his delivery it is unnecessary to enter; suffice it to say that although strong opinions were expressed that his action was at times illegal —opinions which were im­ partially discussed in the Australian journals—no um­ pire was found who considered himself justified in no-balling him for throwing; so that to all intents and purposes his action may now be considered as beyond reproach. As a bat, Jones might possibly have gained con­ siderable fame if he had not been a bowler. His style is free and attractive, and if he is allowed to become set he is a very difficult man to dispose of. He was almost the only man in the team of 1896 who might be depended on for a big hit or two if he had half a chance. Like most other Australians he is a fine field. Jones was born at Auburn, S.A., on Sept. 30, 1869, where he resided until four years of age; afterwards he lived at Gladstone, Broken Hill, Quom, and for the last four or five years at Adelaide, EBNEST JONES.