Cricket 1899

THB FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. J un e 8, 1899. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 179 BUSSEY’S CO LU t*s J o fa fa E3 c/3 J J fa f£ C/3 s fa I " I c o tc <U X ! S _ CO m * “ M O ' < * CO CO per 0 3 CO C O w CO s ' ■C a fcsj o fa >>b O +^> o j cm 3 8 fil 09 BUSSEY’S AT THE SIGN OF THE WICKET. B y F. S. A f h ley -C ooper . By far the most interesting event in the world of cricket during the past week has been the great match at Nottingham between Australia and England. Owing principally to the slow scoring by the Australians on the first day the match, after three days’ full play, remained unfinished. How slowly the runs were obtained is shown by the fact that during the day only 238 rims were scored, the batsmen evidently preferring to play as steadily as possible on so important an occa­ sion. Jt is, however, the first duty of a captain to endeavour to win the match and to play a defensive game afterwards, if necessary, and there cannot be any doubt that had the Australians played a freer, ani therefore a more natural game they would have stood a far greater chance of ultimately claiming the victory. In Australia, where great matches are always played to a finish, a batsman can take as long as he wishes to score his runs, but as only three days are allotted to each fixture in England different methods in this country are essential if the match is to be finished. The collapse of the Englishmen in the first innings, after the excellent start made by Messrs. Grace and Fry, was very disappointing, the whole side being out for 193 after 75 runs had been made for the first wicket. The work of the Australians through­ out the match was admirable, but the advan­ tage they held at the close was clearly due to the batting of Noble and Hill in the second innings, the two batsmen whilst together adding 83 runs for the second wicket. Hill has evidently regained his form and by scoring 52 and 80 had the distinction of being the only player in the match to exceed the half-century in each innings. In his second innings his downfall was caustd by Mr. Grace, who brought off a wonderful catch at point. At luncheon-time on the last day Darling applied the closure, leaving England 290 runs to obtain in three hours and three- quarters. This, it may be remaiked, is the only occasion on which Australia has declared an innings closed when playing against England. Having lost three wickets for 10 runs and four for 19, England appeared to be in for a big defeat, and but for the fact that Ranjitsinhji managed to stay Australia must have won. As it was England had lost seven wickets when time was up and still required over 130 runs to win, so Australia had to be content with a draw in their favour. The first match ever played between Lan­ cashire and Leicestershire took place in Victoria Park, Leicester, on June 14 and 15, 1875. At the time it was stated that no county match had been played at Leicester for seven­ teen years. Altogether the two counties have met on nineteen occasions, but until last week Leicestershire had never proved victorious. Of the nineteen matches played Lancashire have won 14, lost one and left four unfinished. The victory was due to fine all-round play and was thoroughly deserved, the batting, bowling and fielding being very keen throughout. Although the match at Nottingham last week deprived Yorkshire of the assistance of such able exponents of the game as Hirst, Rhodes, and Jackson, it was generally antici­ pated that the county would still be strong enough to overcome Hampshire. Accordingly the result, a nine-wicket victory for York­ shire, came as no surprise. In replying to Hampshire’ s total of 184, Yorkshire lost half their wickets for 83 runs, and it seemed quite possible that the home county would hold an advantage on the first innings. As on many previous occasions, however, Lord Hawke came to the rescue of his side and, by playing a sound and faultless innings of 127, practi­ cally decided the fate of the match. Wain­ wright rendered great assistance and, whilst at the wicket in partnership with Lord Hawke, helped to add 225 runs for the sixth wicket in two hours and twenty-five minutes. Haigh afterwards drove the worn-out bowling to all pirts of the field and compiled 71 before he was caught. In a minority of 241, Hampshire commenced their second innings in brilliant fashion, C. Robson (61) and Barton (63) scoring 125 runs before the first wicket fell. York­ shire were eventually set 19 runs to win, and these they obtained for the loss of one wicket. When the Australians meet the M.C.C. at Lord’s an interesting match can always be safely looked forward to, and the game which came to a conclusion yesterday proved lo exception to the rule. Many of these con­ tests have become famous in cricket history. The first match—that in 1878—is probably the most remarkable of the series, inasmuch as one of the strongest teams the premier club ever sent into the field was dis­ missed twice in one day for totals of 33 and 19. In the first innings Spofforth obtained five wickets for four runs, and in the second Boyle dismissed six batsmen at a cost of but three runs. Six years later the M.C.C. won by an innings and 115 runs, W . G. Grace making 101, A. G. Steel 134, Barnes 105 not out, and T. C. O’Brien 72. The champion had a great deal to do with the result of this match, as he followed up his large innings by obtaining seven wickets for 79 runs. In 1893, when the Australians followed on, Lyons gave a marvellous display of fast- footed hitting, scoring 1*9 runs out of a total of 181, made in an hour and a half, for the first wicket. In the Marylebone first innings F. Marchant (103) and Flowers (130) played very attractive cricket, the two batsmen adding 152 runs whilst together in seventy minutes. A more interesting game has seldom been witnessed, and when time arrived on the third day the M.C.C. had lost eight wickets and still required 14 runs to win. 'Ihe 1896 match will ever be remembered on account of the collapse of the Australians in their first innings, the whole side beingdismissed for 18, mainly owing to Pougher, who captured five wickets for no runs. The chief feature of the match finished yesterday was Hill’s brilliant innings of 132, made in his best style against some of the best bowling of the day. It was a beautiful inn­ ings, and one did not know which to admire most—his fine firm defence, or his brilliant hitting, for both were blended to a remarkable degree of perfection. The remarkable success which attended the Essex team at Sheffield cannot fail to be very gratifying to all supporters of the southern county. The result was principally due to the fine batting of Perrin and Turner, who added 197 runs for the third wicket, but the bowling of Mead and Young must not be forgotten. When Kortright comes into the team again the county will possess an excellent quartette of bowlers. At Chesterfield last year Jephson’s lob-bowling met with great success, accounting for nine wickets at a cost of 55 runs; this year it was even more successful as it was responsible for five wickets at a cost of only 12 runs. As Jephson only gent down ?4 balls it can be readily imagined how deadly his bowling really was. C RICKET Report Sheets, lOd. per dozen, post free. Order of G-oing-in Cards, 7d. per dozen, post free. Cricket Score Book*, 6d. and Is. each ; postage, 2d. extra.—To be obtained at the Office of Cricktt , 168, Upptr Thames Street, London, E.C.