Cricket 1897

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.”— Byron. no. 4 6 9 . v o l. xvi. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1897. p r i c e 2d. A CHAT ABOUT GEORGE GIFFEN. The action of George Giffen in refusing to play for his colony and for Australia ngainst Mr. Stoddart’s team has lately been eagerly discussed in every news­ paper and by every cricketer in England, while in Australia an immense amount of excitement has been aroused by it. A few weeks ago, Giffen must have beenthe most unpopular man in Australia, but there are signs that public opinion is beginning to change. At the beginning of the Austra­ lian season, Giffen announced his intention of retiring from first-class cricket for a year, in order that his injured knee might receive the rest which he con sidered absolutely necessary. Little notice was taken of this decision of the famous South Australian at the outset, for many great Australian players have in previous years expressed their determination to give up the game, only to take to it with more energy than ever after a little judicious flattery had been brought to bear upon them. When Giffen had made two or three very fine scores in club matches, cricketers laughed and hinted that he would be found at his place as captain of the South Austra­ lian team in the very first match ; and despite the fact that George had several times publicly said that he should not alter his decision, it came as a vast surpiise to everybody when, after his colleagues on the selection committee had refused t o ________ leave out his name from the list of South Australians who were to appear against the Eaglishmen, he posi­ tively declined to play. In these circum­ stances it was necessary for him to give a reason for his refusal to play, for so much annoyance was expressed at his deter­ mination that he found it advisable to write a letter stating that it was his intention to rest for an indefinite period, and that he had assured the selectors (of which he was himself one) that it was an unnecessary waste of time to choose him. In an interview, Giffen said that he was annoyed that he had not been elected a life member of the South Australian Cricket Association, although two other committee men had been elected. At the same time he said that this alone GEOBGE g if f r n . From a Photo by Hawkins & Co., Brighton. would not have compelled him to retire. He also said that he was not satisfied with the terms which had been offered. In addition to this his knee, which was weak last year, was not yet strong, and required rest. According to the Australasian. Major Wardill states that Giffen, with other prominent South Australians, asked for certain terms for the matches against Mr. Stoddart’s team which the promoters of the tour were unprepared to give. Lyons, Jones, Darling and Hill, however, left the matter in the hands of Mr. Oreswell, the Secretary of the South Australian Association, and they obtained what they asked for. The same terms were still open to Giffen. It goes without saying that many other reasons have been hinted at by various people who are supposed to be “ in the know,” and not the least of them is that George was so vexed when Mr. Stoddart decided not to play in the match at the Oval in 1896 between England and Austra­ lia, that he declined to please him by playing against his team. There was much speculation asto what George would do when it came to be only a question of play­ ing against another colony, and when Victoria won the toss at Adelaide, the appear­ ance of the South Australian players at the gate of the pavilion was anxiously awaited. To the delight of the spectators, the well- known figure of the old South Australian captain was once more seen to be first on the field, so that after all he had been persuaded to take his place again in first-class cricket. Many men who had thus held aloof would have been certain to cut a poor figure when they again appeared, but George is the very man to rise to the occasion when it is of the utmost im­ portance that he should do so, and, bowling right through the innings, he took five Victorian wickets for the small total of 69 runs, proving beyond the slightest possibility of doubt that he is still one of the finest cricketers in Australia. Whether he will be persuaded to play in the second great match against Mr. Stoddart’s team remains to be seen, but whether he has been well advised in his previous actions, or whether he is