Cricket 1908

i o 6 CRICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 3 o , 19 0 8 . Mr. J. J. C a n t w e l l , hon. secretary of the Victorian Junior Cricket Association, has forwarded particulars to various news­ papers of the bowling performances in Junior cricket of the veteran, W. R. Robert­ son (commonly known in Victoria as “ D igger,” and universally as “ the cham­ pion of the Pacific Slope” ). In nine matches he obtained 101 wickets for 529 runs, averaging 5! runs per wicket. Play­ ing for South Melbourne Footballers against North Ports he secured ten for 10, v. Footscray eleven for 87, v. Brunswick five for 67, v. Richmond City fifteen for 70, v. Kew twelve for 67, v. Leopold eleven for 44, v. Essendon Footballers twelve for 49, v. Brunswick twelve for 81, and v. Yarraville thirteen for 54. In these matches he sent down 1,252 balls. T. C o y n e , who appeared for West Australia against England recently, was in fine form with the ball on March 21st and 28th. Playing for Wanderers against West Perth, he took six wickets for 51 runs in the first innings and six for 17 in the second. He also made 24 in his second innings— the highest score on the side in a total of 65 for seven wickets. From the Adelaide Observer :— “ Much curiosity has been aroused in Ade­ laide cricket circles within the past two or three seasons by the publication in one of the newspapers of scores of matches in the South Adelaide and Suburban Association, and particularly concerning games reported to have been played between teams represent­ ing that association and junior associations of Melbourne and Sydney. Some of the per­ formances of the South Australians set out attracted the attention of promoters of the sport, and diligent enquiries were made re­ garding their whereabouts and the class of cricket played. The fact that a century was invariably credited to one particular name was commented on. Recently the scores of a match stated to have been played in Melbourne between representative elevens were published, and interest in the doings of the players was renewed. Nothing satisfactory, however, can be ascertained. No one seems to know where the game was played, and the Melbourne junior authorities are ignorant of the visit to their capital. It is understood that no applica­ tion was made at the Adelaide end for con­ cession railway fares for a travelling cricket body, and altogether the matter is wrapped in mystery. Most of those who have made careful search are sceptical on the point whether the games were ever played out­ side the pen and ink and paper ground of an enterprising boy’s writing desk.” The age of “ faked” matches in Australia is obviously not yet at an end. Perhaps in years to come the authenticity of the games referred to above will be maintained by per­ sons on the ground that they remember see­ ing the scores in print somewhere. Such things have happened ere this, so why not again ? . Park with a record of five wins, two losses and a tie. The six clubs competing finished in the following order :— T h e First League Championship in Dur ban in 1907-8 was carried off by Queen’s Queen’s Park ... Greyville Wanderers Glenwood Z in g a r i............... High School P. W . 8 5 L . D . Tie. Nourse, as usual, headed the batting sta­ tistics, his figures showng a record of 381 runs for six completed innings with an average of 63.50. The chief averages in the League were :— A . D. Nourse (Gr.) G. L . Dalton (Z.) D. Taylor (Q.P.) A . C. King (Gr.) B. C. Cooley (W .) L. D. Dalton (Z.) H . W . Taylor (Q.P W . R. Beningfield (Q.P.) A. Clark (Z.) ... H. Morley (Gl.) G. H. Whyte (W .) G. C. Collins (Q.P. The only hundreds scored were 137 by A. D. Nourse for Greyville v. Queen’s Park, 109* by G. L. Dalton for Zingari v. Grey­ ville, and 102* by L. D. Dalton for Zingari v. High School. The leading bowlers in the same series of matches performed as follows :— Not Inns. out. Most. Total. Aver. ... 8 ... 2 ... 137 ... 381 ... 63*50 ... 12 ... 2 ... 109*. .. 317 ... 31-70 ... 10 ... 0 ... 84 .. . 311 ... 31*10 ... 10 .. . 4 .. . 58*. .. 186 .... 31-00 ... 11 .. . 0 .. . 88 ... 317 .... 28-81 ... 12 .. . 1 .. 102*. .. 312 ... 28-36 .) 3 .. . 1 .. . 30 ... 52 ..,. 26 00 ... 11 ... 3 .. . 41*. .. 206 ... 25 75 ... 3 .... 0 .. . 65 ... 66 ... 22-00 ... 10 .. . 0 ... 57 ... 214 ... 21"-i0 ... 8 ... 1 .. . 41 .. 142 ... 20-28 1.. 9 .. . 1 .. . 52 ... 161 .... 20-12 Signifies not out. A . D. Nourse (Gr.) C. P. Carter (Z.) G. H. Whyte (W .) B. C. Cooley (W .) T. Cutts (W .) ... C. L. Clark (Z .)... T. O ’Flaherty (Q.P.) H. A . Rayner (W .) D. Taylor (Q.P.) A .C . King (Gr.) T. Cradock (Q.P.) L. D. Dalton (Z.) Overs. ,.. 94.2.. .195 .. ..108.4 . ... 65.4.. ...170.4. ...115.4. ...135.1., ... 95.4.. ... 72.2 , ...106.3 . ... 73 . ... 91.1 . Mdns.Runs. . 27 ...182... . 51 ...438... . 14 ...286... . 20 ...126... .. 52 ...357... . 27 ...271... .. 42 ...237... . 22 ...238 .. .. 18 ...167... ,. 31 ...262 .. .. 15 ...180 .. . 11 ...207... Wkts. Av. 7-28 8-76 . 8-83 . 9 69 . 991 .10-03 .10-30 .10-81 15 ...1113 22 ...11-90 15 ...12 00 17 ...12-17 “ U m pire ” of the Natal Mercury re­ cords an unusual circumstance in connec­ tion with the match between Durban and Mr. I. D. Difford’s Transvaal team last month. “ There are usually incidents in a cricket match,” he writes, “ and Nourse had a bit of luck yesterday. He hit wicket, or, to be really correct, he stepped on his wicket, but only sufficient to remove a bail, which was not immediately noticed. The umpire didn’t notice it, and so he couldn’t give Nourse out. There was a little con­ sultation, and only the fly that was on the mat could see the left-hander’s face during the consultation. It must have been a study, as he found some great matter of interest in the binding of the mat, and he breathed freely, and to some purpose, after­ wards.” N ou r se , by the way, was in his very best form on March 28th. Playing for Greyville against Queen’s Park, he took seven wickets for 31 runs in a total of 119 and scored 137 in an innings of 294 for four wickets. A curiou s record has been set up by J. H. Cooper, of New South Wales. He has played cricket for thirty seasons, but it was not until last month that he made a century, although he had often got into the eighties and nineties. Playing for Com­ mercial Bank against North Sydney Veterans on North Sydney Oval on March 7th, he made exactly 100, batting three hours and giving three chances. He is in his fiftieth year. “ T here has been a slight misunder­ standing regarding the future of Clem Hill as a cricketer,” says the South Australian correspondent of the Sydney Referee. “ It has been stated that he doesn’t intend to visit England again with an Australian Eleven, and it has been assumed that this means his retirement from the game alto­ gether. Although he does not desire to go to England, I have his authority for stating that he will probably be found assisting South Australia next season. He has firmly decided not to go to England, but I would not like to lay long odds that he will not be found in the next team. His old comrades in the field—Noble, Trumper, and Armstrong—are sure to make a deter­ mined effort to persuade him. He is too young yet to give up international cricket, and all lovers of the game will join in hoping that he will reconsider his decision, make one more journey to the old land, and meet the full strength of England, with the object of retaining the ashes which he so brilliantly assisted to win during the last season. ” It is said in Melbourne that the Fijians received ^200 from their Tasmanian tour, while the Englishmen drew only £160. S till they come! J. H. Bennett, the Christchurch (N.Z.) bowler, has announced his intention to settle in England and to play cricket professionally. The Canter bury Association decided to set apart the Sydenham-West Christchurch match as a benefit for him and to postpone all other matches arranged to take place on the same day. F rom the four matches of the English team played in Sydney, says the Referee , the New South Wales C.A. netted ,£1,950 12s. id., out of which it will have to pay about £1,200 as its share towards making up the amount of guarantee to the Maryle- bone C.C. When that is paid, the credit to balance will be £300, out of which the expenses of the team to Brisbane will be defrayed. The amount taken at the English matches in Sydney has fallen far short of previous seasons, that of the first New South Wales match being £1,000 less than the corresponding fixture with Warner’s team. For that, one supposes, the failure of the home team was largely, but not wholly, responsible.