Cricket 1908

M arch 26, 1908. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 37 T H E M .C .C . T E A M A U S T R A L I A . (Continued from page 23). IN 12 th M a tc h . —v. TASMANIA. Played at Launceston on January 18, 2>, and 21 . England won by 120 runs. After the strain of two successive Test matches in abnormally warm weather, the Englishmen naturally regarded their visit to Tasmania almost in the light of a holiday trip. The arrival of their steamer was delayed by the haze due to a bush fire, and in con­ sequence the match commenced at 2 p.m., instead of at noon. Tasmania were not at full strength, the most notable absentees being Eady and Burn : the side was composed of seven Northeners and four Southerners—Dobbs, Hawson, Richardson, and Ta- bart. The weather was still warmer than usual, the temperaturo on the opening day being94Jin the shade and 142 in the sun. England, who took the field without Jones, Barnes, Fielder, and Humphries, won the toss and commenced batting to the bowling of Richardson (fast) and Windsor (right-hand medium). Richardson placed all his field, with but one exception, on the off-side, Fane, having made 14, was caught at the wicket at 33, and 12 runs later Hayes was lbw. With Hutchings in, the scoring increased in pace, the short boundaries favouring a hitter. The Kent man made 37 out of 47 in twelve minutes and was then out to a fine one-handed catch at cover-point: he hit eight 4’s. Hobbs and Hardstaff made a profitable stand, during which many bowling changes were made, Hawson, Frost (medium), Martin (left-hand), and Tabart (medium) all going on in turn. The 100 went up in forty-five minutes, 150 in sixty-nine, and 200 in ninety-five. At 224, however, Hardstaff, who had made 6(5 of 137 added for the fourth wicket in seventy minutes, was bowled by M artin: he hit ten 4’s, but when 23 was missod in the slips by Harrison off Hawson. Eight runs later Hardstaff was stump­ ed for a stylish and vigorous innings of 104, which contained sixteen 4’s and took one hun­ dred and thirteen minutes to com plete; he reached 50 in sixty-two minutes, but was missed when 43 by Dodds at the wicket off Richardson. Young was never comfortable, but Gunn and Braund put on 36 together for the seventh wicket, which fell at 302, made in one hundred and thirty minutes. Gunn hit nine 4’s, and made his 46 out of 78 in thirty-five m inutes; he made a very fine straight drive off Windsor out of the ground, and was dismissed by an excellent catch in the long-field by Harrison. Crawford reached double figures, but, the last few wickets doing little, the innings closed for 321, after lasting one hundred and seventy minutes. The fielding of the home side was often very good, but the bowling was, on the whole, lack­ ing in sting. In the last quarter of an hour of the day Tabart and Hawson scored 13 against Blythe and Crawford without being separated. The attendance during the afternoon was about 2,500. On the sccond morning the total was taken to 78 ere the first wicket fell, Hawson then being bowled for a fine and attractive innings of 41, which lasted sixty-five minutes and contained seven 4’s ; on-driving was a feature of his display. Martin failed, but, with Harrison in, the 100 was sent up for the loss of two wickets in eighty-three minutes. When the third wicket had realised 41 Tabart was caught at mid-off for a faultless 57, made out of 124 in one hundred and ten m inutes; his chief hits were a 5 and seven 4’s. Windsor played-on after helping to add 28 and Dodds was bowled at 165, half the side then being out. Harrison showed most powerful defence, and put on 20 with Richardson, 24 with Ward, who was run out through a splendid throw in by Hardstaff from square-leg, and 32 with Smith. He hit six 4’s in scoring 54 out of 158 in one hundred and forty-five minutes, and the most that could be urged against him was that when 51 he should have been run out had not Young failed to take a return by Gunn from square-leg. Henri, who was missed when 9 on the leg boundary by Hardstaff off Braund, helped Smith to add 27 for the ninth wicket, and eight runs later the innings closed through Frost returning a ball to the bowler. The total of 276 took two hundred and sixty-five minutes to complete. Crawford, who took four wickets for 75 runs, bowled m ost accurately and deserved a better analysis. During the innings Gunn sustained a slight sunstroke, and, though not serious, it was thought advisable to place him in the General Hospital. The temperature in tho shade was 98, but there was a pleasant breeze. At the end of the day England scored 5 runs for the loss of xoung’s wicket. The attendance during the after­ noon reached 3,000. On Tuesday the wicket showed signs of wearing, and the thermometer was twenty degrees lower than on the previous day. Blythe, after helping to add 34 for the second wicket, was bowled at 39, and 22 later Hutchings met a similar fate. Hobbs and Hardstaff again batted freely and well, and sent the 100 up in sixty-five minutes. They remained together whilst 115 were added for the fourth wicket, and then Hobbs, who had made 65 out of 171 in ninety-five minutes and hit a 5 and eight 4’s was caught; when 9Dodds should have stump­ ed him off Windsor, and on one or two other occasions he was rather fortunate, although no actual chance could be urged against him. The 200 went up in one hundred and five minutes, but 7 runs later Hardstaff, who made twelve 4’s and hit freely, was caught at deep cover for 85 out of 146 in seventy-two minutes. Half the wickets were then down for 207. A run later Braund was held at mid-off, at 217 Hayes was caught at cover, and at 234 Crawford, who hit a 5 and four 4’s in scoring 22 out of 26 in a quarter of an hour, was bowled by the left hander, Martin. Fane was held in the slips at 249, and, with Gunn unable to bat, the innings then closed after lasting one hundred and forty-three minutes, leaving the home side 295 to win. Windsor did very well in obtaining five wickets for 85 runs in the innings. When Tasmania went in it was seen that Jones was fielding sub. for Gunn, this being his first appearance on the cricket field since December 2nd. Against Crawford and Braund a poor start was made, Tabart being bowled at 9, Martin returning a ball to Braund at 32, Richardson falling to Crawford at 47, and Hawson being bowled by Blythe 16 runs later. The last- named batsman hit seven 4’s and played attractive cricket in making 41 out of 63 in forty minutes. Dodds, who should have been stumped without a run, scored only 6, and at his dismissal half the side were out for 63. At this total Windsor commenced his innings, and it was due mainly to him that the State’s total eventually reached 174. He added 16 with Smith, 39 with Ward, who was caught at mid-off after making 16, 7 with Frost, and 49 with Harrison Altogether, he made 75 out of 111 in an hour and a-half by sound and patient cricket, and was stumped apparently whilst endeavouring to force the pace in order to reach his hundred. He hit thirteen 4’s. It was hoped by supporters of the home side that Windsor and Harrison, the stone-waller, would play out time, but, Henri being absent, the innings elosed when the ninth wicket fell, twelve rj inutes before stumps would have been drawn, leaving England successful by 120 runs. Score and analysis:— T asmania . First innings. Second innings. O. M. R. W. G. Iff. K. W. Blythe ... . 20 6 4«; 0 ... ... 14 4 35 3 Crawford .. 34 11 75 4 ... ... 18 6 50 4 Braund ... .. 21 4 66 3 ... ... 10 1 54 2 Rhodes ... nA i 0 27 0 ... ... 3 1 6 0 Hutchings 3 19 0 .. ... 3 0 23 0 Hayes ... .. 4 U 13 1 ... Hardstaff .. 3 1 7 0 ... E ngland . First innings. F. L. Fane, c Dodds, b Richardson ..................14 Hobbs, st Dodds, b Tabartl04 Hayes, lbw, b Richardson.. 6 K. L. Hutchings, c Smith, b Richardson .............. 37 Hardstaff, b Martin ...... 66 Gunn (G.), c Harrison, b W indsor..........................46 R. A. Young, c & b Tabart... 8 Braund, c Tabart, b Richardson ..............16 J. N. Crawford, c Richard­ son, b Tabart ..............11 Rhodes, not o u t .................. 7 Blythe, b Richardson ... 0 Byes, &c.................... 6 Second innings. c Tabart,b Martin 7 c Frost,bWindsor 65 c Martin, bW ind­ sor ................... 4 b W indsor...........15 c Hawson, b Martin ...........85 absent......... . ... — b Richardson ... 1 c Harrison, b W indsor........... 9 b Martin ... not out b Windsor ... Byes, <bc. 22 Total .......... 321 T asm ania . Total...........249 First innings. R. Hawson, b Crawford ... 41 T. A. Tabart, c Hardstaff, b Crawford .................. 57 C. Martin, run out ........... 0 E. W. Harrison, b Craw­ ford .................................. 54 E. A. Windsor, b Crawford 18 N. Dodds, b Hayes .......... 6 W. Richardson, c and b Braund .......................... 15 E. K. Ward, run o u t ........... 8 H. O. Smith, not oijt..........36 H. Henri, c Young, b Braund .......................... A. E. Frost, c and b Braund Byes, <fcc......................23 15 Total .......... 276 Second innings, b Blythe ...........41 b Crawford........... 4 c andb Braund... 10 not out ...........11 st Y o u n g , b Braund ...........75 b Crawford........... 6 b Crawford........... 1 cRhodes,b Blythe 16 b Crawford........... 4 absent...................— b Blythe ........... 0 Byes, &c. ... 6 Total...........174 Richardson , Windsor... Hawson ... Frost ... , Martin ... Tabart ... . E ngland . First innings. M. R. W. Second innings. O. 14-4 15 , 9 5 G 11 O. ... 12 ... 19 ... 2 ... 4 M. R. W. 13 th M atch . — v . TASMANIA. Played at Hobart on January 24, 25, and 27. Drawn. Gunn, who had been indisposed through slight sunstroke at Launceston, had recovered sufficiently to be able to play in this match, the four to stand out of the visiting side being Jones, Barnes, Craw­ ford, and Humphries. Eady and Burn played for Tasmania, whose team was made up of nine South­ erners and two Northerners. Cool weather was experienced at last, much to the gratification of the Englishmen. The visitors won the toss and made an excellent start against the bowling of Eady and Windsor. Hobbs, who was first out, reached 50 in just over an hour and scored 58 out of 93 in seventy-two minutes before being caught at mid-off. He hit a 5 and seven 4’s and gave no chance. Hayes was Ibw 8 runs later, but Hutchings, playing a characteristic game, made 51 of the next 69 runs in twenty-eight minutes, hitting a 5 and nine 4’s. Fane scored 62 out of 180 in two hours and a-quarter by watchful cricket and was then caught at cover-point. He hit six 4’s and was very for­ tunate, being missed by Tabart in the slips off Eady before scoring and being dropped again when 5 and ’ 14. Braund was fifth out, at 197, and following his dismissal Hardstaff and Rhodes indulged in a long ' partnership, putting on 210 for the sixth w icket.; They commenced carefully, but afterwards hit freely and well, notwithstanding the many bowling changes. Hardstaff was the first to leave. He reached 50 in eighty minutes, 100 in one hundred and twenty-five minutes, and made 106 out of 228 in one hundred and thirty minutes ere being caught at slip. His placing and tim ing were excellent, and his innings was without a flaw ; he hit a 5 and sixteen 4’s. Gunn failed, and when the eighth wicket had put on 19 Rhodes was caught at square-leg for 119 made out of 230 in one hundred and twenty-five minutes. He made 50 in an hour and 100 in ninety- five minutes and hit seventeen 4’s, but offered two chances—to Dodds at the wicket off Richardson when 4 and by the last-named off his own bowling when 106. During the day England scored 427 runs for eight wickets in two hundred and seventy minutes. On the second morning Blythe and Young put on 19 for the ninth wicket, and the latter and Fielder 9 for the latter, the innings coming to an end for 455 after lasting two hundred and ninety- three minutes. The fielding of the home side was not of a very high standard and the bowling con­ sequently suffered. Fielder and Blythe opened the attack when Tasmania went in, and wickets quickly began to tumble. Before a run had been made Hawson was caught at slip, and at 2 Forster met with the same fate, whilst with only 25 on the board Tabart was bowled. The only stand of the innings was made by Eady and Windsor, the pair adding 46 for the fourth wicket. Windsor was missed when 28 by Fane at mid-off off Blythe, but Eady, who was out to a very fine running catch at long-off, gave no chance. No one else reached double figures, and the only occurrence worthy of mention is the brilliant catch by Hutchings at deep leg which disposed of Richardson. The innings of 113 lasted two hours and a-half, Braund, who maintained an excellent length, being chiefly responsible for the downfall.. The home side, upon following-on 342 in arrears, gave a much improved display. Fielder and Rhodes opened the bowling to Tabart and Hawson, who scored 52 for the first wicket. Bum and Tabart added 44 without being separated, and then ap­ pealed against the light, the play in consequence stopping half-an-hour earlier than the time arranged. Tasmania had then scored 96 for one wicket, Burn being not out 23. On the last morning the pair added only 13 paore before Tabart, who had hit eight 4’s, was stumped for 55 made out of 109 in one hundred minutes — a vigorous and attractive innings. Windsor, the next in, was missed at the wicket by Young off Fielder when 7, and it was not until the third wicket had realised 50 that the newcomer was bowled by Hardstaff. Three wickets were then down for 159, and, but for missed catches, others should quickly have fallen. Eady, who joined Burn, was missed at the wicket by Young off Blythe when 5 and in the long-field twice before he had made 40. He played a free and attractive game but the chances he offered detracted from the merit of his display. He hit nine 4’s and scored 66 of the 122 added with Burn for the fourth wicket in one hundred and twenty-five minutes. Tho flue stand made by the two veterans was very interesting and most serviceable, but the scoring was never fast