Cricket 1908

CR ICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A p r il 16, 1908. the Saturday, when the game was resumed in dull weather, the Rev. E. F. Waddy fielded sub­ stitute for Gregory, who had injured his right hand whilst batting. W ith only 4 runs added to the overnight total Saunders relieved Armstrong, and it was not long before the change had the desired effect, for at 135, made in 143 minutes, Hobbs was bowled for a faultless innings of 72, which contained seven 4’s. The Surrey man gave a very sound display and suited his game adm irably to the changing conditions; his stand for the second wicket with Gunn realised 134 in 138 minutes. Hutchings batted a dozen minutes before scoring, and, with the total 155, rain stopped play for twenty minutes. When the Kent man appeared to be thoroughly settling down he was run out, owing partly to a good return by Trumper from mid-off, but chiefly to Gunn, who, instead of endeavouring to complete the run, returned to his own wicket. Hardstaff claimed 17 of the next 19 runs made, against Saunders and Macartney, and then, twenty minutes after lunch, play was again stopped by rain. The downpour was so severe that at 4.30 it was decided to abandon play for the day. During the long wait the spectators were in­ form ed of any decisions come to by means of notices on the score-board—an innovation which was much appreciated. During the day only 71 runs were made for two wickets, but Eng­ land left off with a lead of 50 with seven wickets in hand (Gunn, not out 77). The attendance for the day was 12,141, and the receipts £520. There was much rain in Sydney during the Sunday, and on the Monday the wicket gradually got worse as the day wore on. No play was possible until Ijalf-past three, when Gunn and Hardstaff resumed batting, and Noble and Saunders bowled. Off the latter’s first delivery Hardstaff was caught at mid-on, the fourth w icket falling at 189. Crawford, who was missed when 5 at long-on by Waddy, fielding for Gregory, saw only eight added ere being caught on the leg boundary. W ith Gunn and Braund in the cricket was very slow, but the second century was completed 210 minutes after the start. Braund, when 9, was missed by Waddy at third-man off Saunders, after which the total was taken without further incident to 240, when the Australian captain retired in favour of Macartney. The change quickly had the desired effect, for five runs later Braund was stumped for 31, included in which were five 4’s. W ith Rhodes as his vis-a-vis, Gunn com­ pleted three figures after batting 263 minutes, and at 256 Armstrong went on for Saunders. At 264 the seventh wicket fell, Rhodes being out to a clever catch in the slips. The last few men on the side, acting under orders, en­ deavoured to get out quickly so that the Aus­ tralians, if possible, m ight have an hour’s hatting on the bad wicket before stumps were drawn. The action, though of course thoroughly justifiable, was resented by some Australian critics; on the other hand, others thought that such a policy might well have been adopted sooner. At 271 Young was stumped and Jones bowled, while ten runs later Barnes was run out, the innings, after lasting 295 minutes, closing for 281, which gave England the sub­ stantial advantage of 144 on the innings. Gunn, who offered no real chance, scored 122 out of 280 in 292 minutes and carried out his b a t; he timed the ball perfectly and hit a 6 (off Arm ­ strong to square leg) and seven 4’s. The Aus­ tralians had 40 minutes’ batting at the end of the day, and sent in Noble and O’Connor, who were opposed by Barnes and Crawford. Off the form er’s third delivery a very confident ap­ peal for a catch at the wicket was made against Noble, who had commenced to return to the pavilion when given not out by ttie umpire. W ith only 8 scored Rhodes took the ball from Crawford, who crossed over and relieved Barnes. Both bats showed very strong defence, and at the end of the day were still undefeated with 18 runs scored. The attendance during the afternoon was about 3,000. For about an hour on the fourth morning the wicket was sticky, but it improved later and before the end of the day was true. Noble and O’Connor took the total to 25 when the latter, who had batted 53 minutes for 6, was bowled. Trumper then partnered Noble, and when he had scored a single was missed off Barnes by Rhodes at short m id-on; the chance was not an easy one, but the ball touched the fieldsman’s wrist. At 44 Crawford relieved Rhodes, who went on for Barnes at the other end. 50 went up in an hour and a quarter, but two runs later Noble, who had hit three 4’s and showed very strong defence, was lbw. for an invaluable 34 made out of 52 in 77 minutes. Gregory, who was handicapped by an injured thumb, joined Trumper, and some very interesting cricket was seen. At 66 Barnes went on for Crawford, who went on at the other end, and twenty-five later Braund relieved Barnes. The hundred went up in 113 minutes, and the wicket steadily improv­ ing, Trumper made his 50 in 74 minutes and Gregory his in 72. At 164 Braund took the ball from Rhodes and a run later Crawford dis­ placed Barnes. With only a single added Gregory was bowled for a finely-hit innings which contained three 4’s ; of the 114 runs added in 85 minutes for the third wicket his share was 56. Trumper (61) was then joined by Macartney, but when 26 had been added in 27 minutes the newcomer was out to a one-handed run­ ning catch at square-leg. Hill was unsteady at starting, but soon settled down. Trumper, when 77, fell in trying to “ glance ” Crawford, and, if Young had gathered the ball, must have been stumped. The second hundred was completed when the innings had lasted 205 minutes, and a little later Trumper hit Crawford for four three times in an over. After tea Braund and Barnes bowled, but runs came readily, and Trumper, after batting 174 minutes, completed his hun­ dred. D-irectly afterwards Hardstaff, in trying to save a 4 by Trumper, strained a muscle in his right leg, and so had Blythe to field for him. Crawford and Rhodes relieved Barnes and Braund at 285 and 293 respectively, but 300 went up in 265 minutes, the last hundred hav­ ing been^jnKde in an hour. W ithout a run added Greffiry, who had hit four 4’s, was caught at the wicket. He batted 72 minutes for 44 runs and helped Trumper to add 108 for the fifth wicket. Armstrong then went in, and at 327 Hobbs went on for Crawford. When the sixth wicket had put on 42 Trumper, who had hit eighteen 4’s, was caught at m id-on; he scored his 166 out of 317 in 245 minutes by superb cricket, driving and playing to leg in fine style, and creating much enthusiasm. At the end of the day Armstrong and Ransford added 15 without being parted, the home side, when stumps were drawn, being 213 runs on with four wickets in hand. The Englishmen fielded very keenly, but Fielder’s fast bowling was much missed. The attendance during the fourth day amounted to 7,500 and the receipts to £350. Heavy rain early in the following morning quickly saturated the ground, and it was not until one o’clock that the match could be resumed. Crawford and Rhodes were en­ trusted with the bowling and the score had been increased to only 373 when Armstrong, hit­ ting out on the soft wicket, was caught at point off a straight long-hop; he made his 32 out of 73 in 57 minutes and hit four 4’s. In each of the Test matches during the season he scored more heavily in the second part of the game than in the first. Hartigan helped to add 14 and then played-on, but, with Carter in, the fourth hundred was completed 348 minutes from the start. The wicket-keeper hit up 22 out of 35 in 14 minutes and was then caught at third man. Saunders immediately skied the ball be­ tween the wickets and the innings, after lasting 358 minutes, closed for 422, leaving England 279 to win. In scoring 21 not out on a bad wicket, Ransford played a fine game. The pitch was still difficult when the Englishmen went in and assisted Saunders’ bowling considerably. Off the very first ball delivered by Noble, Fane was missed low down by Trumper in the slips, and the mistake proved somewhat costly. With 17 scored the bowlers changed ends and four runs later Hobbs was caught at mid-off after batting half-an-hour for 13. With the total un­ changed Noble gave way to Macartney, who, at 26, bowled Gunn in trying to off-drive a straight ball. Four runs later Hutchings was yorked with a fast one on the off-stump, three good wickets then being down for 30. Hardstaff, the next in, had Hobbs to run for him, and he and Fane caused Armstrong to go on for Saunders at 34 and the latter for Macartney at 41. Twice Hardstaff, in getting the ball to leg, hit Hobbs and on each occasion was probably deprived of four runs in consequence. The 50 went up in 78 minutes, but at 51 the Notts man played-on in trying to pull. Braund fell to a catch at point six runs later, but Rhodes made a stand so that at 71 Macartney went on for Arm­ strong. who had bowled ten overs for 9 runs, and O’Connor for Saunders. At 87 Noble him­ self displaced Macartney, and in his first over bowled Fane, who, by careful and plucky cricket, had made 46 out of 87 in 135 m inutes; he hit four 4’s and offered only the one chance mentioned. Rhodes and Young added 30 to­ gether without being separated at the end of the day, when England, with four wickets in hand, required 162 to win. The attendance during the day amounted to 8.600 and the takings to £328. The wicket rolled out well on the last morning and the visitors made a fine fight and, in the end, were beaten by only 49 runs. W ith six added Young was caught at mid-on, following which a good resistance was made by Rhodes and Jones. The latter was for some time uneasy when opposed to Saunders, but when he settled down it appeared not un­ likely that he and his partner would pull off the game. Rhodes reached 50 in 113 minutes and bowling changes were numerous. After the stand had lasted 54 minutes and realised 53 Jones was bow'led for 34—a good display which contained four 4’s. Crawford helped to add 22 and then lost Rhodes, w'ho had played a fault­ less and admirable game for 69 out of 141 in 160 minutes; he hit four 4’s and gave a display w'orthy of the occasion. When Barnes went in, last man, 81 runs were still required. The pair made 31 and then Barnes was bowled, leaving Crawford to carry out his bat for 24—an innings marked by strong defence and some powerful strokes. The venture lasted 292 minutes— exactly the same time as the first—and Australia won by 49 runs. The fielding was of a high standard and Noble’s captaincy perfection. Score and analysis :— A u stralia . First innings. Second innings. M. A. Noble, b Barnes 35 lbw., b Rhodes 34 C. G. Macartney, 0 c Jones b Craw­ Crawford, b Barnes... 1 ford 12 J. A. O’Connor, c Young, b Crawford... 9 b Barnes 6 S. E. Gregory, c & b Barnes .......................... 44 b Crawford 56 C. Hill, c Hutchings, b c Young, b Craw Barnes .......................... 12 ford .............. 44 W. W. Armstrong, c & c Gunn, b Craw b Crawford ............... 3 ford .............. 32 V. Trumper, c Braund, c Gunn, b b Barnes ............... 10 Rhodes ...166 V. Ransford, c Gunn b Barnes .......................... 11 not out .............. 21 R. Hartigan, c & b Crawford ............... 1 b Crawford 5 H. Carter, not out c Hobbs, b 1 Rhodes ... 22 J. Y. Saunders, c Young c Young, b b Barnes ............... 0 Rhodes 0 B 9, lb 1 ............... 10 B 21, lb 3 24 Total .......................... 137 Total .............. 422 First innings. Hobbs, b Saunders 72 F. L. Fane, b Noble ... 0 Gunn (G.), not out ... 122 K. L. Hutchings, run , out .......................... Hardstaff, c O’Connor, b Saunders ............... J. N. Crawford, c Hill, b Saunders ............... Braund, st Carter, b Macartney ............... Rhodes, c Noble, b Arm­ strong .......................... R. A. Young, st Carter, b Macartney ............... A. O. Jones, b Mac­ artney ... ............... Barnes, run out B 6, lb 3 ............... 13 Second innings, c Gregory, b Saunders b Noble b Macartney ... b Macartney ... b Saunders not out ... 0 Noble, Saunders b Noble c O’Connor, Saunders b Armstrong b Saunders B 5, lb 6 , 8 24 1 0 69 11 34 11 11 Total ...281 Total ...229 A u stralia . First innings. O. M. R. W. Barnes ... 22.4 6 60 7 .. Rhodes ... 10 5 15 0 .., Crawford ... 18 4 52 3 .. Braund 20 Hobbs 7 Second innings. O. M. 11. W. ... 27 6 78 1 ... 37.4 7 102 4 36 10 141 5 3 64 0 3 13 0 Noble Saunders O’Connor Macartney Armstrong E n gland . First innings. O. M. R. W. 28 9 62 1 ... 35 5114 3 ... 6 0 23 0 ... 15.1 3 44 3 ... 12 2 29 1 ... Second innings. O. M. R. W. ... 24 6 56 2 ... 35.1 5 82 5 ... 13 3 29 0 ... 15 4 24 2 ... 18 7 27 1 The present is an opportune time to recall the following lines which appeared in the Globe at the time the English team sailed for Australia:— Farewell, stout band of cricketers, Who sail across the foam ; Be sure to do your very best To bring those Ashes home. The eyes of all true sportsmen Upon your deeds will be. (If you win, we’ll call you “ England,” If you lose, you’re "M .C.C.” ) Swift centuries, it may be. We’ll see from Jones or H obbs; W ill Blythe and Fielder out their menP W ill Fane and Braund make blobsP