Cricket 1904

32 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. F eb . 25, 1904. CRICKETING QUEENSLAND. The first of the home-find-home matches of 1903-4, between Queensland and New South Wales, was p liyed at Sydney on December 26, 28, 29 and 30. The bast eleven of New South Wales met Victoria, at Melbourne, on the same days, but despite that, the Light Blues opposed Queensland with a powerful side. Four new players appeared for them, namely, G. G. Black, M. H . Blaxland, T. Foster, and D . Gee. Of these, Gordon Black is the young player, who appeared a few times for London County in 1903. M. H. Blaxland, is a Sydney Grammar School boy, who is likely to develop into a cham­ pion left-hand batsman. A few days prior to this match he scored 247 against Melbourne Gramm ir School. From the Queensland side E. R. Crouch was omitted, D. L. Miller taking his place. The latter toured New Zealand with the Queensland team in 1896-7. The Welshmen scored 334 at the first attempt, Black getting 72, Bowden 57, and Hickson 50. Byrne was the most successful bowler. The fielding of the Queenslanders was bad, and in marked contrast to that shown in the match against England. Queens­ land’s first innings yielded 222 , the chief feature being the b attirg of W . T. Evans and Dr. Macdonald, who repeated what they had done against England a month previously. In partnership they added 122 for the fourth wicket, of these Evans claiming 78. H is innings, like that against England, was a brilliant display, worthy of a great batsman. Evans’ scores in first-class matches for Queens­ land are 23, 2, 7, 15, 25*, 72, 27, 78 and 15. H e is a first-class wicket-keeper, and is sure to be a candidate for the next Australian team for England. Indeed, several of the Englishman have expressed the opinion that he should be chosen for Australia in preference to Kelly. Mac­ donald stayed at the wicket till the close of the Queensland innings, and was not out 62 after b ittin g 3 hours 25 minutes. His display was characteristic. There are many, who consider the Doctor worthy o f a place in a representative Australian X I , and certainly his selection would create little surprise. With New South Wales leading by 112 on the first innings, Q leensland commenced a fine up-hill battle. The Welshmen were got rid of for 180, Henry bow ling with best results. Then C. W . Patrick and N. K. Foster put on 115 before Queensland’s first wicket fell, and Foster stayed until only six runs were wanted for victory. He was seventh out after scoring 131, a highly valuable innings, even allowing that the style was not of extraordinary brilliance. This was only Foster’s third match of note, the first being that v. South Australia in 1899. His scores to date: 9, 4, 18, 20, 21, 131. Only one other hundred has been hit for Queensland in a first-clasi match— 151 by A . Coningham v. New South Wales, at Sydney, in December, 1895. Six runs wanted and three wickets in hand ! The total was then 287. Three of the six were got, but thus far and no more : the three wickets fell with the total 290. New South Wales had won b y two runs, and Qieenslanders asked again, “ Are we ever going to win a match ? ” The same question has often been asked of recent years, for Queensland has played some desperately close games. However, we have been shown the dawning of promise, and there are beautiful days to come, days which will bring with them victories worth the winning. On New Year’s Day a trial match was played on the Brisbane Cricket Ground between elevens captained by Dr. Val. Macdonald and C. F. Morgan and com ­ posed of players outside the eleven that played in Sydney. The only noteworthy item was an innings of 107 not out by T. Faunce, a colt of great promise. Queensland has lost the services of C. W . Patrick, who settled in Sydney after the inter-State match. He is now playing with the Sydney District Club. A fairly good batsman, he made two or three useful scores for the State, but his usefulness was discounted by slovenly work in the field. Dr. R . Macdonald will probably be found on cricket fields of home during the com ing English summer, which should be good news for Leicestershire men. N. K. Foster has been in rare form since his return from the South. Im ­ mediately after his return he scored 50 for his club (Toombul), and on the follow ing Saturday (January 9) made 53 not out against Fortitude Valley. A weak later he increased his 53* to 215 not out, which is the sixteenth individual double hundred made in Queensland. E. B. R. “ PARSI CRICKET” (.I llu s tr a te d ) By M. E. PAYRI. A history of Parsi cricket given in a lucid and concise form. Records and many memorable achieve­ ments of prominent Parsi Cricketers, etc. Originally Published at 4s. 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