Cricket 1908

4 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J an . 30, 1908. Oates each, claimed as many as seven. The performances of the chief wicket-keepers of 1907 may he summarised as follows :— Matches Total Per- ‘ ‘ kept ” wkts. cent in. Ct. St. Total fell. age. Gaukrodger (G. A.)... 13 ... 26 .. 13 ... 39 ...215...18-13 Board (J. H .) ........... 24 ... 38 ... 30 ... 68 ...380...17*89 It. A. Young ........... 5 ... 11 ... 2 ... 13 ... 74...17*56 Lilley (A. A ) .............17 ... 34 ... 7 ... 41 ...234...17-52 M. W. Payne ............ 7 ... 9 ... 8 ... 17 ...105...16-19 G. M acGregor.......... 15 ... 32 ... 6 ... 38 ...235...16-17 Straw (T .).................... 5 ... 10 ... 1 ... 11 ... 68...16-17 Huish (F. H . ) ........... 28 ... 52 ... 23 ... 75 ...476...15-75 Humphries (J.) ... 24 ... 40 ... 8 ... 48 ...320...15-00 Stone (J.)...................... 24 ... 42 ... 12 ... 54 ...381.. 14*17 Oates (T .) .................... 22 ... 40 ... 13 ... 53 ...386...13*73 Worsley (W.) ............ 24 ... 34 ... 10 ... 44 ...346...12*71 Russell (E.) ............ 21 ... 33 ... 10 ... 43 ...352...12*21 Hunter (D.) ............ 28 ... 40 ... 14 ... 54 ...494...10-93 Rev. C. D. Robinson 5 ... 4 ... 6 ... 10 ... 92...10-86 Strudwick (H.) .. ... 31 ... 50 ... 7 ... 57 ...528...10-79 P. W. Sherwell.......... 24 ... 25 ... 19 ... 44 ...425...10'35 J. Sh ields.................... 17 ... 14 ... 12 ... 26 ...261... 9-96 Buswell (W. A.) ... 19 ... 21 ... 7 ... 28 ...295... 9*49 A. E. N ew ton ............ 8 ... 6 ... 4 ... 10 ...113... 8*84 Butt (H. R .) ............ 27 ... 26 ... 11 ... 37 ...421... 8*78 O n ly those players w h o obtain ed ten or m ore w ickets are m en tion ed above. V . — A l l - round P erform ances . F ou r cricketers succeeded in scorin g over a thousand runs in addition to securin g m ore than a hun dred w ickets, the list b ein g as fo llo w s :— Runs. Wkts. J. N. Crawford.................. 1158 ... 124 Hirst (G. H.) ................... 1334 ... 188 Rhodes (W.) ................... 1055 ... 177 Tarrant (F. A .)................... 1552 ... 183 H irst lia s n ow perform ed the d ou b le event eigh t tim es— the last five seasons in succession. E ssen tially the best all-round player o f the year was T a rran t, o f M id dlesex, w h o w as in splendid form th rou gh ou t th e season. H is m ost n otable trium phs w e r e :— 6 for 47 and 3 for 35, and scores of 52 and 28 ; Middlesex v. Somerset, at Lord’s. 6 for 73 and 4 for 36, and scores of 21 and 54; M.C.C. and Ground v. South Africans, at Lord’s. 7 for 56 and 5 for 44, and scores of 41 and 22; Middlesex v. Sussex, at Brighton. 8 for 94 and 3 for 118, and scores of 81 and 2*; Middlesex v. Essex, at Lord’s. 5 for 40 and 5 for 116, and scores of 15 and 44*; M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxford University, at Oxford. 3 for 52 and 3 for 57, and score of 117 ; M.C.C. and Ground v. Oxford University, at Lord’s. 4 for 88 and 2 for 74, and scores of 38 and 56; Middlesex v. Hants, at Southampton. 3 for 91 and +9 for 41, and score of 98; Middlesex v. Gloucestershire, at Bristol. 6 for 67 and 0 for 42, and score of 147; Middlesex v. Somerset, at Taunton. *Signifies not out, and + including four wickets in 4 balls. ( To be continued.) T H E M .C.C. T E A M IN A U S T R A L I A . (Continuedfrom -page U69, Vol. xxvi.) 3 rd M a tc h . —v. VICTORIA. Played at Melbourne on November 16,16, 18, 19, and 20. Drawn. For this important match the home side lacked the services of Armstrong, who was suffering from eye trouble, but they included Tarrant, of Middlesex, who was wintering in Australia and possessed a birth qualification. Fane, Blythe, and Humphries stood down from the English team, the wicket- keeping being entrusted to Young, who acquitted himself well. Although the wicket was good, run- getting ruled low on the opening day, thirteen wickets falling for 275 runs. Fielder and Barnes opened the bowling successfully for England, McKenzie falling to a brilliant left-handed catch six inches from the ground by Crawford in the slips at 10, and McAlister and Warne both being sent back at 15. The bowling was very good and the fielding keen, and runs came slowly, the score at the end of an hour being only 38. At 45 Carroll was caught at the wicket, but following his dismissal Tarrant and Ransford made a much-needed stand, the pair putting on 80 together for the fifth wicket. The 100 went up in just under two hours from the start, but 25 later Ransford, the most promising left-handed batsman in Australia was caught one-handed at long-on by Hutchings. He hit a 6and five 4’s whilst scoring 51 out of 80 in 65 minutes and offered no chance. Tarrant remained until 146, when he was sixth out after hitting seven 4’s in an innings of 65 made out of 131 in 125 minutes. He was especially good against Fielder, and only one mistake could be urged against him ; when 22 he skied a ball from Braund to mid-on where Crawford had the sun in his eyes and did not bring off the catch. Hazlitt hit five 4’s in making 28 and Vernon was seen to advantage in his 25 not out, but none of the other players did much and the innings closed for 233, made in as many minutes. Fielder bowled admirably, and thoroughly deserved his analysis of five for 71. England, like their opponents, made a disastrous start, McAlister, by means of two fine catches in the slips, sending Hobbs back at 8 and Hardstaff a run later. Jones and Young then care­ fully put on 31 before the former was dismissed, and when stumps were drawn three wickets had fallen for 42. During the day the play was watched by over 6,800 persons, including Lord Nortlicote, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, and Sir Wilmot Fawkes, the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian station. On the second morning Young was fourth out, lbw., at 63, having made some good drives in scoring his 26. Braund and Hutchings effected an improvement, and sent the 100 up in 100 minutes, but seven runs later the Kent player, who made some powerful pulls, was bowled by Vernon just when he was beginning to appear dangerous. Crawford, who followed-in, was missed when 5 by Carkeek at the wicket off Vernon, but when he had helped to put on 34 for the sixth wicket he fell to a fine catch at long-off by Rush. Hayes did little, but Braund and Rhodes added 37 together before the former, like Crawford, was dis­ missed by a fine piece of work at long-off. Braund at times played a very slow game, but his defence was of the greatest use to the side. He scored his 62 out of 149 in 165 minutes, hit five 4’s, and offered only one chance—to Carroll at point off Vernon when 55. Barnes failed to score, and, with Fielder failing to stay, the innings closed for 198, leaving the home side with a lead of 35. It was a disap­ pointing performance considering the excellence of the wicket, the pace of which was obviously too great for the batsmen. When McKenzie and Warne had scored 5 without loss in Victoria’s second innings rain came down at 4.40 and prevented any further play during the day. When the match was resumed on Monday the wicket had quite recovered from the rain, but the play at the start was very slow. With 21 on the Board Warne was caught at slip, and at the end of an hour the total was only 35. McKenzie, when 14, offered a hard chance to Hayes in the slips off Fielder, whilst McAlister had made but 10 when Crawford should have held him in the same position off the same bowler. It was not until 78 had been added for the second wicket that McKenzie, who hit six 4’s, was caught at third man ; he made his 54 out of 99 in an hour and three- quarters. The 100 went up in 110 minutes, and at 119 McAlister was caught at the wicket for a serviceable score of 43, which took 95 minutes to compile. Upon Carroll joining Tarrant the brightest stand of the innings was seen, the pair adding 84 for the fourth wicket in 70 minutes. Carroll was missed at third-man by Jones off Barnes when 40, but the mistake had no serious consequence, for at 203 that player was caught at the wicket for 43, a useful innings which contained five 4’s, the majority of them cuts. The fifth wicket, like the fourth, added 84, Ransford being Tarrant’s vis-il-vU on this occasion. Upon the latter’s dismissal at 287 stumps were drawn for the day, the home side then being 322 runs on with half their wickets in hand. Tarrant, whose defence was again very strong, played another admirable innings; he scored 81 out of 188 in 170 minutes, hit five 4’s, and fell to a catch at slip. Crawford (at leg) and Hard­ staff (in the long field) did the best work in the field, whilst Jones’ many bowling changes were made with good judgment. On the fourth morning both Hazlitt and Rush succumbed to Fielder with only 6 runs added, but following these disasters came a welcome stand by Ransford and Vernon, who added 104 together for the eighth wicket. The former batted admirably, and many good judges said that his display recalled the batting of W. Bruce at his best. He pulled and drove well, but showed he possessed strokes all round the wicket. Whilst scoring his 102 out of 194 in 190 minutes he hit ten 4’s and offered only one chance—when 89 to Hardstaff at square-leg off Barnes. His double success in the match naturally highly delighted the suppoiters of the home side. Vernon was ninth out, at 425, having hit seven 4’s in making 62 out of 122 in two hours and a-half. He made some fine cuts but was favoured by fortune, seeing that he was missed by Hardstaff in the slips off Crawford when 12 and by Hayes at long-on off Rhodes when 21. Carkeek and Saunders put on 38 and then the innings, after lasting 460 minutes, closed for 463, leaving England 499 to win. Fielder again bowled superbly, and in so long an innings did admirably to secure five wickets for 98. The visitors, when commencing their huge task, naturally played a careful game. Jones and Hobbs were the first pair, and during the hour they were together made 65 before a separation was effected. Hobbs was then bowled, and although Young, who took his place, appeared very uncertain, no further wicket fell before stumps were drawn, although the newcomer should have been caught by McKenzie at slip off Vernon when 7. At the end of the day the score was 105 for one wicket, Jones not out 52. As the Englishmen had to leave for Sydney on the 20th, it was arranged that play on that day should start at 10.15 and cease at 4.15. The visitors, therefore, had to bat the whole of the day in order to avoid defeat. For some time things did not go well with them, for Young was bowled at 125, Braund caught at 142, and Jones held at the wicket at 157. The last-named, who skied the ball in trying to drive, scored 82 out of 157 in 200 minutes without a chance. He hit five 4’s and drove with considerable power. Hutchings and Rhodes then rendered the side great service by adding 107 for the fifth wicket, the latter being con­ tent to play a defensive game while his partner hit. Hutchings, playing freely, reached 50 in 40 minutes, but Rhodes, with 40 to his credit, was caught at slip. The Kent amateur was sixth out, at 295, having scored 91 out. of 138 in 83 minutes without a chance. He hit to leg and drove with great power, and hit a 6 and sixteen 4’s before being caught at third man. His innings was described as one of the best ever seen on the Melbourne ground. Whilst there was a chance of the runs being made he hit with great vigour, and in merit his innings was only slightly inferior to Hardstaff’s. Hayes again failed to show his true form, and Crawford, when 10, was out lbw—a decision which caused him some surprise. With the latter’s departure eight wickets were down for 315, and an hour and a-half remained. As only Barnes and Fielder were left to come in, a victory for Victoria appeared very possible—in fact, a probability. Barnes and Hardstaff, fortunately for the Englishmen, made a most plucky stand, putting on 99 together for the ninth wicket in 100 minutes. The Victorians had themselves largely to thank for this state of things, for Barnes was let off on three occasions—when 15 by McAlister off Tarrant, and twice when 25—by Carroll off Hazlitt and by Tarrant off Saunders. During the stand Hardstalf kept the bowling to himself as much as possible, at times not running out his hits. In an attempt to defeat the move, Rush deliberately threw the bail to the boundary, thinking to make the bats­ men return to their original ends by giving four runs in place of a single. In the circumstances the batsman should have been credited witli five, the one already made and the four overthrow, but the um­ pire strangely ruled that only one should be allowed altogether. Fielder went in, last man, at 414, ten minutes before time, and he proved equal to the occasion, although the players crowded round him in the hope of snatching a catch close to his bat. Hardstaff carried out his bat for a most praiseworthy innings of 95. He scored his runs, out of 158 in 198 minutes, hit nine 4’s, and made many fine strokes on the off. It would be difficult to speak too highly of his display, for it was due almost solely to him that England escaped defeat. The visitors made their 422 for nine wickets in 44S minutes, and when stumps were drawn were 76 runs behind. The match produced £1,182 14s. 6d., the play being watched by 40,33*2 people, of whom 19,427 paid for admission. Score and analysis :— V ictoria . First innings. C. McKenzie, c Crawford, b Fielder................................. 7 Fielder .. ... 54 T. S. Warne, c Crawford, b Fielder ......................... 7 P. A. McAlister, c Young, b Barnes ......................... 1 F. A. Tarrant, c and b Braund .......................65 E. V. Carroll, c Young, b Crawford ......................... 7 V. Ransford, c Hutchings, b Braund .......................51 Q. Hazlit, b F ield er........28 T. Rush, c Hayes, b Fielder 29 L. P. Vernon, notout ... 25 W. Carkeek, c Braund, b Barnes................................. 5 J. V. Saunders, b Fielder ... 4 B 1, lb 1, nb 2 ......... 4 Second innings. : Crawford, b i l r . Total ...233 c Hayes, b Fielder 7 c Young, b Craw­ ford ...................43 c Hutchings, b Rhodes ...........81 cYoung,b Fielder 43 c Rhodes, b Braund...........102 c Crawford, b Fielder ........... 4 b Fielder .......... 0 c and b Braund 6 c Hutchings, b Braund ...........35 notout...................12 B 11, lb 6, nb 3 20 Total ...........463