Cricket 1899

THE FINEST BAT THE WORLD PRODUCES. A p r i l 27, 1899. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 83 BUSSEY’S BUSSEY’S A T T H E S IG N OF T H E W I C K E T . By F. S. A s h l e y -C o o p k r . THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM OF 1899. During the last tour of English cricketers in Australia five matches against the full strength of Australia were played, and only on one occasion did England prove successful. The chief causes of the defeats sustained b y the Englishmen were attributed, firstly, to the wonderful bow ling of the Australians on the hard true wickets, and, secondly, to the number of young players who had made a name for themselves since the previous visit of an English team. This year many of the players to whose efforts the defeats of the Englishmen were prin­ cipally due will visit us, and again endeavour to overcome the full strength of this country. Bemembering the defeats experienced fifteen months ago England may be relied upon to make a great effort to regain the supremacy in the cricketing world. For these reasons the visit of the Australian team of 1899 promises to form a a interesting epoch in the history of the game. Whether the team will be as powerful as that of 1896 time alone can show, but many able critics have declared it to be the strongest band of cricketers that ever left Australia. It is, naturally, somewhat difficult to estimate the capa­ bilities of the team at present, but from a careful perusal of scores it does not seem to be so strong in bow ling as the team which visited us three years ago. The score of 527 made b y the Rest of Australia against the Representative Eleven provides food for thought. I t is, however, in batting that the team is so strong, eleven of the players being likely at any time to score a three-figure innings. K elly and Johns may safely be trusted to uphold the best traditions of Austra­ lian wicket-keeping. Appended w ill be found a list of the members form ing the team, together with their performances with bat and ball during the last season:— J. DARLING (South Australia). Bom November 12th, 1870, and came to England as a member of the Australian team of 1896. An excellent batsman, bis driving and cutting being especially praiseworthy. He has a very flue defence, and hits brilliantly when set. A very good field iu the country. Against. Place. Scores. New South Wales .. Adelaide ... 27 and 70 Victoria ..................Melbourne... 62 and 1 New South "Wales... Sydney ... 10 and 34 Queensland ...........Brisbane ... 210 In the three representative matches :— Rest of Australia ... Sydney .. 36 and 104 ,, „ ... Melbourne... 49 „ „ ... Adelaide ... 69 and 3 S. E. GREGORY (New South Wales). Born April 14th, 1870, and came to England with the Australian teams of 1890, 1893 and 1896. A very fine batsman with plenty of strokes all round the wicket, his drives and late cuts being particularly good. At cover- point he has no superior, lin e thrower.' Against. Place. Scores. Tasmania........Sydney ... 43 South Australia ... Adelaide ... 3 and 1 Victoria .................. Melbourne... 5 and 51 South Australia ... Sydney ... 89 and 14 Victoria ........Sydney ... 45 and 46 In the three representative matches :— Rest of Australia ... Sydney ... 22 and 10 „ „ ...M elbou rn e., 36 and 20 „ ...A delaide ... 30 and 3 C. H ILL (South Australia). Bom March 18th, 1877, and came to Eng­ land as a member of the Australiam team of 1896. Regarded as the finest of present-day batsmen in Australia. Scores all round the wicket with great facility. Can also keep wicket well if required. Against. Place. Scores. Victoria ...................Adelaide ... 86 and 3 New South Wales... Adelaide .. 73 and 109 Victoria ...................Melbourne .. 27 and 33 New South Wales... Sydney ... 12 and 159 Queensland ...........Brisbane ... 78 In the three representative matches :— Rest of Australia ... Sydney ... 76 and 101* „ „ ... Melbourne... 51 „ „ ... Adelaide ... 33 and 0 W . HOWELL (New South Wales). Born December 29th, 1869, and now visits England for the first time. A fast-medium, right-handed bowler with considerable break. Hits hard and obtains runs at a great rate when allowed to get set. Against. Place. Scores. Bowling. Tasmania... .. Sydney . 2 . 3 for 61 South Aust. ... Adelaide ..., 0 and 1 . 8 for 189 Victoria ... .... Melbourne . 2 and 2* .. . 5 for 108 South Aust. ... Sydney 18* . 2 for 94 Victoria ... ... Sydney , 20 . 5 for 96 New Zealand... Sydney 7 . 6 for 42 In the three representative matches:— Rest of A u st.... Sydney 5 . 6 for 168 *» .. Melbourne... 0* and 20*.. . 3 for 49 „ ,, .. Adelaide ... 26 . 3 for 84 F. A. IREDALE (New South Wales). Born June 19th, 1867, and visited England as a member of the 1896 team. A very safe and elegant batsman when set, but takes some time to become accustomed to the bowling. Very strong on the off-side. An excellent field in the country. Against. Place. Scores. Tasm ania................ . Sydney 196 • South Australia .. . Adelaide ..., 6 and 55 Victoria ................. . Melbourne.. 5 and 23 South Australia .. . Sydney . 20 and 77 Victoria .................,. Sydney 98 and 49* New Zealand ... . Sydney . 31 In the three representative matches :— Rest of Australia ..,. Sydney . 85 and 14 »* »» . Melbourne.. 1 *» »> .. Adelaide .. . 87 and 34 A. E. JOHNS (Victoria). Bom January 22nd, 1868, and visited this country as a member of the Australian team of 1896. A very fine wicket-keeper and can bat well at times. Against. Place. Scores. W kt.-kpg. South Aust.... Adelaide ...0 * a n d 2 ... c2 N .S.W .............Melbourne... 3 and 1 ... c4 South Aust.... Melbourne... 11 ... c 3 and st 2 N .S.W .............Sydney ... 4*and12 ... c4 In representative matches :— Australia ... Sydney ... 1 and 24* ... c3 ... Melbourne .. 17 and 3 ... E. JONES (South Australia). BornSeptember 30th, 1869, and visited England with the Australian team of 1896. Good fast bowler, although at times his delivery is, perhaps, more than doubtful. A punishing batsman, scoring very fast when allowed to get set. One of the finest fields­ men Australia has ever produced. Against. Place. Scores. Bowling. Victoria ...Adelaide ... 42 and 4 ... 9 for 259 New S. Wales ... Adelaide ... 82 and 3 ... 6 for 183 Victoria ...Melbourne... 7* and 5 ... 4 for 138 New 8. Wales... Sydney ...24 and 33 ... 9 for 223 Queensland... Brisbane ... 17 ... 4 for 33 In the three representative matches :— Rest of Aust. ... Sydney ... 2 ... 4 for 172 ,, it ••• Melbourne... 22 ... 6 for 139 „ „ ... Adelaide ... 11 ... 3 for 68