Cricket 1906

J an . 25, 1906. CRICKET: A. WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 9 extract from the Australasian is to be trusted, and our contemporary is generally accurate:— The umpiring of Messrs. Argali and West wastip top from startto finish. One decision given by West was so sound and indicated such watchfulness that J. Darling said: “ I wish the umpires in England had been like that when we were batting. ” I n the report of the South Australian Cricket Association it is stated that:— Clem Hill has scored 3,674runsin Sheffield Shield contests, M. A. Noble being next with 3,086. Then follow S. E. Gregory 2,636, F. A. Iredale ‘2,466, G. Giffen 2,319, F. Laver 2,278, H. Graham 2,153, J. C. Beed- man 2,129, and V. Trumper 2,123. No other batsman has made 2,000 runs in these matches, though B. A. Duff is close with 1,949. E. Jones, with 209, is the only bowler who has taken 200 wickets, George Giffen having got 192, H. Trumble 159, W. P. Howell 157, T. E. McKibbin 137, M. A. Noble 113, and C. E. McLeod 109. J. V. Saunders, during the match between South Australia and Victoria, on November 11th, etc., joined the number who have taken 100 wickets. H ugh T rtjmble has resigned his pos­ ition as one of the seclectors of Victorian teams. His place has been taken by R. Aitken. F rom the Australasian : — In a cricket match between Benigan and Finley, W. Burns, formerly of Deniliquin, performed a remarkable bowling feat, cap­ turing five wickets with five successive balls. Six wickets were actually accounted for in the one over, as one of the tatsmen was missed behind the wickets, and started to run, and the ball was thrown to the bowler, when he knocked the wicket down, and the batsman was run out. Burns took eight wickets for 10 runs in the match. R eferring to the Saturday afternoon matches at Hobart, the Tasmanian Mail says:— Afternoon tea is now dispensed at matches at New Town by members of the fair sex at threepence per cup. Lady friends supply it at the S.T.O.A. ground free of charge, and players show their appreciation by adjoum- ing for a quarter of an hour—4.30 to 4.45. ] have never been a supporter of the afternoon tea interval in serious cricket. Those who attend the matches do not approve of it either. Not a few prefer watching second- grade cricket to first-grade cricket, on the ground that in the former there is none of the “ silly afternoon tea business,” as they term it. It seems that K. E. Burn and C. J. Eady have declined, as captains of South Hobart and East Hobart, to adjourn for afternoon tea in a half-day match. T he question whether New Zealand should ask for a visit of a team from England or from Australia for 1906-7 was discussed at a meeting of the New Zea­ land Cricket Council in October. It was decided to refer the question back to the sub-committee for further consideration. It was stated that it would cost about £2,500 if a team went from England, whereas an Australian team would be less expensive. But apparently New Zea­ land cricketers, as a body, would prefer to see a team from England. F or a team of Natives against the Kennedy Regiment at Charters Towers (Victoria), J. Harris made 203, his part­ nership with White (155) producing 333 runs. ------ I n one of the A grade matches at Hobart, says the Tasmanian Mail, one of the fieldsmen noticed a batsman running short runs, and also noticed that the umpire was watching the ball and not the batsman. The observant fieldsman evidently considered it was a question of “ fact,” and drew the attention of the umpire to it. The decision of the official was somewhat abrupt—“ Don’t start growling now you’re licked.” C harles L andon , a schoolboy at Sydney, made 369 ia the course of several afternoons’ cricket in October and November for Fort Street Model School v. Leichardt, in the “ A ” Grade Schools’ competition, whatever that may be. Australian papers state that “ on November 3rd he was 243 not out, and at the first opportunity Mr. Kilgour, the headmaster, announced to the school­ boys, when in the ranks, that their captain had then established a record for Public School cricket. Ringing cheers were then given.” The Australian school record, at any rate for what is known as the “ Great Public School Competition,” is 412 by O. H. Dean. On November 22nd C. W. Keele made 338 for the Sydney Grammar School v. St. Joseph’s College. I n reply to a statement which has appeared in various Australian news­ papers to the effect that the N.S.W. Cricket Association has decided that Victor Trumper is not eligible as a club delegate, the Sydney Referee says :— The position to which the champion bats­ man was nominated—in all probability with­ out his consent—was that of member of the selection committee. The rules of the Asso­ ciation provide that anyone who plays or umpires as a professional shall not be per­ mitted to be a representative or office-bearer of the Association or of any sub-committee thereof. The reason V.T. is considered in­ eligible is that he has accepted the profes­ sional fee, as provided for in the rules of the Association.” I n his first important match after his return to Australia D. R. A. Gehrs scored 200 not out for Port Adelaide against Adelaide on December 2nd under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Owing to a mistake in the scores the players, under the impression that Port Adelaide had won the game, left the field when Gehrs had made 196. But finding that the scores were level they returned, and Gehrs promptly made a boundary hit. O f this innings by Gehrs the Adelaide Observer says :— “ He hit 23 balls to the boundary and two over the outside fenca into the street. The sixer at Moffatt’s expense was lifted from a foot outside the off-stump high over square-leg, and all the field stood in amazement at the daring nature of the stroke.” M r . P ercy K . B owden , the secretary of the N.S.W. Cricket Association, has undergone an operation for appendicitis at Sydney. It is stated that he is making satisfactory progress. T he individual innings of 200 which have been played ia Adelaide club cricket are as follows : — 1890-1. G. Giffen, Norwood v. South Adelaide ... 296 1899r0. J. Darling, East Torrens v. Port Adelaide*259 1903-4. N. Olaxton, North Adelaide v. West A delaide.................................................... *248 1896-7. O. Hill, North Adelaide v. Adelaide ... 211 1901-2. E. II. Kekwick, North Adelaide v. Sturt *227 1894-5. O. Hill, North Adelaide v. Hindmarsh ...*217 1901-2. C. B. Jennings, East Adelaide v. West Torrens ................................ ... 211 1899-0. O. Hill, East Adelaide v North Adelaide 210 1903-4. F. J. Dickinson, North Adelaide v. East Torrens .....................................................210 1881-5. G. Giffen, Norwood v. Kensington..........*209 1898-9. E. H. Leak, East Adelaide v. Port Ade­ laide ................. ...................................... 203 1905-6. D. R. A. Gehrs, Port Adelaide V/Adelaide*200 Olaxton missed the distinction of a second entry on the above list by one run, and Gehrs by four runs. B. T. Bailey once scored 199. I n a match at Sydney a ball was skied to short-leg, who let the ball slip out of his hands. But the fates were kind to him, for the ball, instead of dropping to the ground, fell on the umpire’s back and was caught on the rebound. H. S tuckey , the Melbourne player whose knee-cap was broken last season, has recovered from his accident suffi­ ciently to be able to play cricket again. Oa December 2nd he scored 100 not out for Seymour against Bradford. His side had to make 142 to win in an hour and three-quarters, and with twenty-eight minutes to go 30 runs were wanted. So hard did Stuckey and his partner hit that the total was taken to 196 for seven wickets before time was up. W riting in the Australasian on Decem­ ber 9th, “ F elix” says: “ It gave me positive relish the other evening at prac­ tice to see Hugh Trumble bowling at the other Melbourne C.C. veteran, W. Bruce. Batsman and bowler appeared to be in good form, and perhaps in the New Year we shall have the pleasure of recording the reappearance ia the arena of the graceful left-hander (Bruce), whose bril­ liant batting for many a season afforded so much genuine gratification to the thousands who visited the Melbourne C.C. grounds at inter-state and inter­ national matches.” It may be added that Trumble made his first appearance of the season on December 2nd for Melbourne C.C. v. South Melbourne, but had no opportunity of bowling or batting owing to wet. On the following Satur­ day he took two wickets for 19 runs. I nterviewed soon after his arrival at Brisbane, Lord Chelmsford, the new governor of Queensland, said :— ‘ 11 used to play cricket. I was captain of the Oxford Eleven, and played occasionally for Middlesex; but I could not give up my profession to follow cricket seriously. I hope in this warmer clime to resume my play. I shall certainly practise, but I don’t know whether I could stand a long day’s fielding