Cricket 1905

6 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J an . 26, 1905. show sufficiently marked superiority over their rivals, promotion will follow as a matter of course, we shall hear no more of proposals to adopt the system of the Football League. 1 have not a word to say against that body, but the system which answers very well with football would not do at all for cricket. The idea of a county with the traditions of Surrey or Notts being relegated to the second- class as the result of one bad season could not ba entertained for a moment.” The five cricketers of the year, whos9 portraits and biographies are given in “ Wisden” are: It. H. Spooner, P. A. Perrin, B. J. T. Bosanquet, E. A. Halli- well and J. Hallows. Public School cricket, for which the late Mr. W. J. Ford was responsible for years, is now in the hands of Captain W. J. Seton, who has accomplished a difficult task with credit. B. J. T. Bosanquet writes about the M.C.C. tour in Australia, while A. C. Maclaren has an article on the prepara­ tion of wickets. Maclaren refers to the wickets on the various county grounds as follows: “ Trent Bridge, fearfully overdone with marl, giving bowlers no chance whatsjever; Canterbury, a naturally perfect wicket with no artificial aid; ditto Taunton and Bath ; Oval, very good wicket, used to be artificially doctored, making it impossible for the bowler to break or bounce the b a ll; Leicestershire, another wicket far too good, over­ marled ; Birmingham, a naturally perfect wicket; Derby ditto; Worcester, natu­ rally perfect w icket; Leyton, a perfect wicket, but naturally so ; Hants, perfect. Other wickets there are which are not so heart-breaking from a bowler’s point of view, such as: Lord’s. —A peculiar wicket often playing better on the second than on the first day; not unfrtquently breaks up cn the third day. Brighton.—Good, but nothing like so perfect as formerly, breaks up at times. Yorkshire.—Grounds good without being too good. Linca- shire.—Possessed of life, enabling bowlers to send in a good one occasionally. A little marl has been added; generally considered a good sporting wicket. Gloucestershire.—Good wicket at Bristol; and Gloucester bad.” To many cricketers the list of Births and Deaths of cricketers is one of the most interesting features of the Annual, and every year this list is brought nearer to perfection; five additional pages are required for the present year’s fist. It is not so pleasant to find that for the obituary notices of 1904 three more p3ges are required than for 1903; for many famous players died last year. We note that this year, as in 1904, the Annual is described as an “ Almanack ” on the front of the cover, and “ Almanac ” on the back. Before 1904 “ Almanack” held undisputed sway. In his preface the editor, who is sincerely to be con­ gratulated on the continual success of the Annual, acknowledges his indebtedness to his business partner, Mr. C. Stewart Caine, and Mr. H. Vincent Jones, Mr. H. E. Jewell, Mr. Herbert Preston, Mr. J. A. Withers and Mr. S. J. Southerton. I N T E R - S T A T E C R I C K E T I N A U S T R A L I A . V IC T O R IA v. N E W SOU TH W A L E S . Played at M elbourne on December 24, 26 27 and 28. N ew South W ales won b y 135 runs. On Christmas Eve N ew South W ales -were all disposed of for 213, the only outstanding innings being the 85 of N oble, who played a faultless game. M cLeod bowled very w ell indeed. Before stumps were drawn V ictoria made 83 for the loss of three wickets, Stuckey being not out 35, and Osborne not out 7. On the follow ing M onday, Stuckey and Arm strong made a fine stand, and the latter at times hit w ith great vigour. The innings produced the same total as that made b y N ew South W ales. In the afternoon some rain fell, but this did not prevent N ew South W ales from scoring 206 for three wickets. D uff played a fine game for his 60, and N oble, who was not out 43 at the close of the day, again distinguished himself. H ow ell hit very hard, and was not out 57. On the Tuesday N ew South W ales showed some splendid batting, and for the second tim e in the match N oble made the highest score of his side. Towards the end of the innings Cotter delighted his side b y scoring 56 not out. V ictoria had to make 481 to w in, and scored 71 without loss before stumps were drawn, M cAlister being not out 30 and Stuckey not out 39. I h e wicket was still excellent when the game was resumed on the W ednesday. V ictoria made a hold fight, and more than once they seemed to have a fair chance o f pulling the match out o f the fire. Stuckey again played a fine innings, while M cAlister, Arm strong, M cLeod, Hansford and Carkeek all did their level best to stave off_ disaster. Trumper was not playing, ow ing to business engagements. V ictoria . J. H. Stuckey, Bt Kelly, b Johnston ........................73 b Cotter ............75 P. A. McAlister, c Kelly, b st Kelly, b Joha- Cotter..............................12 ston..............B9 W . J. Scott, b Johnston ... 19 c Duff, b Qarnsey24 W. W. Armstrong, b John- c GarnBey, b ston .............................. 46 Johnston..........37 F . Laver, c Kelly, b Garnsey 0 b Johnson............ 0 C. E. McLeod, b Garnsey ... 7 c Garnsey, b Howell .. .. 67 V. Ranaford, c Kelly, b Howell.............................23 b Hopkins........... 43 W. Carkeek, b Johnston ... 16 b Cotter .............. 24 Osborne, lbw, b Howell ... 7 not out................... 9 F. B. Collins, c Johnston, b Hopkins......................... 5 b Garnsey............ 1 J. V. Saunders, not out ... 1 b Garnsey............ 4 Extras......................... 4 Extras.............12 Total..................213 Total...........846 N ew S outh W ales . R. A. Duff, c McAlister, b Collins............................. 5 b Collins .............. 60 J. J. Kelly, b Collins.......14 lbw. b Armstrong 56 M. A. Nobie, c MeAlister, b c Uni'ijrd b McLeod ...........£5 Laver .....................70 E. F. Waddy, b Collins ... 7 lbw, b 1. iver ...63 S. E. Grtgory, c Scott, b Saunders .......................31 cCarkeek.bCollins 49 A. J. Hopkins, c Kansford, c Armstrong, b b M cLeod...........14 Laver ..................... 30 J. R. Mackay, c Carkeek, b McLeod ......................13 lbw, b Collins ... 15 G. L. Garnsey, run out ... 3 c Carkeek, b Col- __ lin s ................. 5 W. P. Howell, c McAlister, b Laver .......................27 runout.............64 A.Cotter,cScott,bMcLeod 5 notout.............. 56 F. Johnston, not o u t.......... 0 b Collins ......... 0 Extras........................9 Extras ..........12 Total. .....................213 Total. N ew S outh W alks . 480 R. W. R. W. Saunders .......... 41 1 ........................ 93 0 Collins .......... .......... 98 3 ........................ 103 5 McLeod.......... .......... 42 4 ........................ 66 0 Layer .......... .......... 10 1 ........................ 97 3 Osborne .. .......... 3 0 ........................ 41 0 Armstrong ... .......... 10 1 ........................ 66 1 Hansford 12 0 VlCTOBIA. First innings. Second innings. R. W . R. W Noble ......... .......... 28 0 ... ................. Cotter ... . .............. 39 1 ... ................. 69 2 Johnston .............. 70 4 ... ................. 64 3 Hopkins .. . ............... 14 1 ... ................. 79 1 Howell....................... 38 2 ... ................. *4 1 Qarnsey.. . .............. 20 2 ... ................. 67 3 SOUTH AUSTRALIA v. VICTORIA (Return). Played at Melbourne on December 31, Janu­ ary 2, 3, and 4. South Australia won by an innings and 72 runs. The Victorians were so severely handi­ capped by rain in this match that they had no chance of winning. Clement Hill, the South Australian captain, won the toss, and sent his side in on a perfect wicket. A splendid start was made by Gehrs and Hack, who quite mastered the bowling, and after Hack was dismissed, Hill, Darling and Claxton all batted well, while Gehrs continued to play a great game. When stumps were drawn the total was 364 for seven wickets, Claxton being not out 40. Gehrs’ fine innings of 170 included nineteen 4’s. In the course of the afternoon Stuckey broke his knee-cap when fielding, and Hill allowed Fry to take his place in the team. The innings was soon brought to a conclusion on the Monday, but owing to rain play was abandoned for the day when Victoria had made six runs without losing a wicket. On the Tuesday Victoria had to bat on a very difficult wicket, and although Laver and McAlister played a fine game, the total was only 129. In bygone days South Australia would have gone in again despite their enormous lead, but the follow on is now the custom in first-class matches in Australia, and Victoria went in again, making 162 for four wickets before stumps were drawn. Seott played a good innings, and Armstrong carried his bat for 70. There was never much chance that Victoria would avert an innings’ defeat on the Wednesday, although the wicket had now recovered, but Arm­ strong brought his total to within fifteen of a hundred, and Ransford played a useful innings. Reedman, who has never been con­ sidered a greatbowler, met with much success with the ball in both innings. S outh A ustralia . A. R. Gehrs,c McLeod, b Saunders ......... 170 b Armstrong ... 4 I F. T. Hack, c Osborne, . . b Laver ................ 67 P. M. Newland, Ibw, ....... J. C. Keedman, c Os­ borne, b Saunders... 5 J. F. Travers, not out 27 P. ti. Coombe, st Fry, b McLeod .......... 4 Extras ..........17 C. Hill, b McLeod ... 28 J. Darliog,b Collins .. 35 N. Claxton, c Collins, b Armstrong ..........£8 C.B.Jennings, c Laver, b Saunders .......... 5 Total J.H.Pelle* ,b Saunders 0 V ictoria . First innings. V. Ransford, c Hill, b Reed­ man ............................... 18 P. A. McAlister,b Reedman £4 C. E. McLeod, c Newland, b Reedman........................ 3 W . W . Armstrong, c Jen­ nings, b Reedmaa..........13 F. Laver, c and b Reedman 41 W. J. Scott, st Newland, b Travers ........................ 3 W . Carkeek, c Claxton, b Reedman ........................ 3 H. Fry, c DarliDg, b Reed­ man ................. .......... 0 Osborne, st Newland, b Travers ........................ 4 F. B. Collins,b Travers ... 4 J. V . Saunders, not out ... 5 Extras........................ 5 ..420 Second innings. b Coombe ..........31 c Newland, b Travers ..........13 c Travers,bReed- m an................. q b Reedman..........85 c Newland, b Claxton..........20 c Reedman, b Claxton..........45 b Reedman ... 7 b Reedman ... 9 0 Newland, b Reedman ... 0 c and b Reedman 0 not out................. 0 Extras.......... 9 Total .. 129 Total . ...219