Cricket 1907

456 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. Nov. 28, 1907. JOHNWISDENftCO. CRICKET BALL MAKERS, Supply all the Principal Counties and Clubs through out the world with their well-krown Marvellous Testimony. The Inna of Couit Hotel, 18th Sept., 1905. Messrs. John Wisden & Co., London. Dear Sirs,—Before leaving for home, I should like to bear testimony to the Bats you supplied me with and which I have used nearly all the tour. I must also speakin praise of your “ Special Crown ” Cricket Balls, which, of course, we have used in all the Tests and many other Matches, they are les-3 hard on the hands, in my opinion, than any other make.—Yours faithfully, W a r w ic k W . A rm strong . The Balls to be used in Test Matches are now settled WIfcDEN’ 8 are the only makes permissible. From Dealers all over the world, and 21, Cranbonrn St., London, W C. City A gents: BENETFINK & CO., CHEAPSIDE. Cricket: A WEEKLY RECORD OF TEE GAME. 168, UPPER THAMES STREET, LONDON, E.G. NOTICE TO OUR READERS. Six numbers are published during the Winter, from October to March inclusive, as follows:— No. 707.—THURSDAY, OCT. 31. No. 768.—THURSDAY, NOV. 28. No. 769.—THURSDAY, DEC. 19. No. 770.—THURSDAY, JAN. 30. No. 771.—THURSDAY, FEB. 27. No. 772.—THURSDAY, MARCH 26. The above scries sent post free to any part of the world for Is. 3d. Cricket is the only paper in the world solely devoted to the game. Weekly, April to September. Monthly, October to March. T erm s o f S u b s c r ip t io n :— 6 / - per annum . 7 /- post free abroad. Payable in advance. All communications to be sent direct to the Offices of Cricket, 168, Upper Thames Street, \,0'idon, E.C. THURSDAY, NOVE VlBER 28 th , 19.)7. $a\)tlton (^osistp. The abstract and brief chronicle of the time.— Lam'el. E n g l is h m e n everywhere will have re id with the greatest satisfaction of the fine all-round form displayed by the M O.C.’s team in Australia. In all the four matches played they have been seen to the greatest advantage, although they would probably not have eeciped defeat at Melbourne had it been found passible to play to a finish. On the occasion mentioned, however, they gave a great display in the final stage of the match when, set 499 to win, they scored 422 for nine wickets. Whilst there appeared a possibility of a win being recorded Hutchings, hitting with much power, made runs at a great pace, and after his dismissal Hardstaff and Barnes defended skilfully, earning much praise by their fine display. Toe day’s cricket saw the tourists at their best. A t Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney the work of the team has been spoken of in the highest terms. In the match with South Australia J. N. Crawford’s innings was stated to have been “ the best hitting displiy ever seen at Adelaide,” which, so far as it is possible to judge from the cabled reports, doe3 not appear to be an exaggeration, notwithstanding the many vigorous innings played there by J. J. Lyons. He reached 50 in twenty-four minutes and 100 in fifty-three, fcoring 20 off Wright in an over aud 19 off Claxton. With Braund he added 109 for the sixth wicket in 34 minutes, and, so fast did the score travel, the fifth hundred was made in 40 minutes and the sixth in 34, the huge total of 660 for nine wickets taking only four hundred atd sixty-five minutes to compile. The Surrey amateur followed his fine innings by taking five wickets for 40 runs, thereby enabling England to gain a most decisive victoiy. It was a great personal triumph, and a noteworthy event in the annals of English cricket. F o u r o r m o r e c e n t u r ie s in a n in n in g s o f a fir s t -c la s s m a t c h h a v e n o w b e e u m a d e o n fo u r o c c a s io n s , a s f o l lo w s :— (a).— F iv e C en turies . New South Wales v. South Australia, at Sydney, 1900-1. Warwickshire. Derbyshire v. Hampshire, at Derby, 1&98. 151. A. C. MacLaren. J 114. A. H. Hornby. f 103. Tyldesley (J. T.). f 101. Cuttell (VV. R.). ; ♦Signifies not out. In minor crijket five individual hundred* in an innings have been obtained only ones — for Melbourne University v. Eisendon, at Melbourne, in March, 1898, when L. Miller made 205, E. C. Oiborne 190, J. J. Quirk 179, E. Feilchenfeld 176, and H. Bullivant not out 139. T a k i n g everything into consideration, it was probably at Sydney that the E lgland team gave their b> st dijplay. Their opponents were a very powerful side, aud it was generally recognised that in New South Wales they woul 1 meet a stronger eleven than either of the three previously encountered. Yet, on a perfect wicket, the home side were dismissed for 101 and 96 and beaten by the great margin of 408 runs. To Barnes and Fielder, who must have bowled superbly, the astonishing victory was primarily due, and one cabled report went so far as to state that such bowling, on so true a wicket, had not been s>en in Sydney for years. W h e r e so many players have per­ formed eo well it would be invidious to attempt to say to which should be ac­ corded the greatest praise, but more than a passing word of commendition is due to Hardstaff who has, so far, proved the batting suecesi of the tour. His scores have been 46, 135, 0 and not out 95, and 53 and 71, which give an aggregate of 400 and an average of 80. Could any batsman have been expected to do better on his first visit to the Colonies ? Mr. Jones, too, has proved far more successful than during his previous trip, and Braund and Mr. Fane have also scored well. Moreover, Mr. Hutchings’ innings of 91 against Victoria was said to be ‘ ' a revela­ tion” and “ the finest display of forceful and graceful hitting ever seen on the ground.” The fielding of the side, too, has frequently been spoken of very highly, and, as the bowling is undoubtedly strong, everything appears to suggest that Eng­ land stands a splendid chauca of winning the rubber in the Test matches. C l e m H i l l , by his faultless inLings of 104 aud 61 in the Adelaide match, has already given evidence of proving as great a tower of strength to Australia in the five big matches as on similar previous occisions. In Vernon Ransford, also, of Victoria, who played a three- figure inuings against the visitors, there is a young left-handed batsman of the greatest promise. Writing last month iu the Australasian, Felix said :— “ If Ransford doesn’t get a century against the Englishmen hefoie their tour close3, well, it wiLl he due either to bad luck or want of true form.” ‘ O! admirable judge.” I n some quarters exception has b en taken to tbe mclusi< n of Tarrant in the home side in the Melbourne match, but Lancashire v. Somerset, at Manchester, 1904. 1G8. S. E. Gregory. \ 153. M. A. Noble. *140. L. O. S. Poidevin. f 119. R. A. Duff 118. F. A. Iredale. ) (6).— F o u r *210. Peel (R.). "I 10(5. Lord Hawke. 1 120. Wainwriglit. 117. F. S. Jackson. J 142. Chatterton (W.). ' 134. L. G. NVriglit. 108. Davidson (G.). 100. Storer (W.). >