Cricket 1909

CRICKET: A W E E K L Y RECORD OF T H E GAME, JUNE 10, 1909. Together joined in CricKet’s manly toil.”— Byron. No. 811. VOL. XXVIII. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1909. O ne penny . A CHAT ABOUT MR. J. A. O’CONNOR. To Australian cricketers O’Connor has been a familiar figure for many years, but it is probable tbat he was unknown, even by name, to ninety-nine men out of a hundred over here before he was chosen to play in two of the Test matches against the M.C.C.’s team eighteen months ago. A New South Welshman by birth, he learnt the game in his native State and played his early cricket in Sydney with the Tramway Club. He appeared occasion­ ally for the second eleven of the Glebe C.C. at the end of the season of 1901-2, when he made 132 v. Waverley and 96 v. Eedfern. He was, even then, recognised as a good all-round performer, and it is interesting to recall that it was as a bats­ man that he gave promise of gaining more than a local reputation. At the commence­ ment of the season of 1902-3 he was invited to play for the first eleven of Glebe in their opening match against Leich- hardt-Balmain at Wentworth Park; he consented to do so and at once proved his worth by conti ibuting 78 to a total of 159 and carrying out his bat. Among the many well-known men associated with the Club at that time were Warren Bardsley, Duggan, Bowden and Grounds, and he showed that he was qualified to appear in such company by scoring 282 runs in ten completed innings in addition to taking twenty- two wickets at a cost of 11-22 runs each. Having done so well in his first season of First- Grade matches, it was dis­ appointing to those on the look-out for rising players when it became known that he had removed from the district and would play with the Juniors during 1903-4. Still, events proved that his absence from important cricket was for only the one season, as in 1901-5 he appeared regularly for Burwood, which was captained by G. P. Barbour and numbered Mackay, Diamond, Garnsey and Donnan among its members. In eleven innings, five of which were incompleted, he made 235 runs with an average of 39'16, his highest score being 50 not out against New­ castle : he also took thirty-three wickets for 13'96 runs a-piece, his best analysis being six for 45 against Waverley and three for 20 in the Newcastle match. His form was so good that he was chosen for the State eleven M B. J. A. O’CONNOK. Photo ly] [Hawkins d- Co ., Brighton. in two matches—against Tasmania at Hobart and Queensland at Brisbane. In the latter game he was seen to much advantage, scor­ ing 54 in his only innings and taking ten wickets for 79 runs. At the conclusion of the season the Sydney Sportsman said of h im : — “ He is a left-handed batsman, possessing strong defence and patience, and a right-hand bowler of ^first-class length, with a swing in from leg, and when the wicket suits him at all he is extremely dan­ gerous.” His form impressed some good judges to such an extent that his selection for the trip to England four years ago was advocated. Bis claims, however, were passed over and the majority of those people best qualified to express an opinion declare that he was a greater bowler then than he has ever been since. During the season of 1905-6—the last in which he was destined to be associated with the cricket of his native State — he played in both matches against South Aus­ tralia and Victoria, in the game with Queensland at Brisbane, and in Kelly’s Benefit Match on the Sydney ground between New South Wales and the Aus­ tralian Eleven. In these en­ gagements he averaged only seven with the bat, but he took thirty-one wickets for 21*70 runs each: for Burwood he made 128 runs in eleven com­ pleted innings and obtained fifty-four wickets at a cost of 16-77 runs a-piece. From these figures it will be seen that as his batting powers waned his skill as a bowler showed a compensating ad­ vance. Since October, 1906, O’Con­ nor has been identified with South Australian cricket. In that month he arid McBeth, both of Sydney, went to Ade­ laide, the former associating himself with West Torrens and the latter with North Adelaide. O’Connor has appeared regu­ larly for the State during the last three seasons, but his wickets have generally been obtained at a somewhat heavy cost, this being due partly to the fact that he has been un­ fortunate in the matter of missed catches, and partly because bowling frequently at the nets has not tended to increase his effectiveness. But he was chosen for two of the Test matches against the England team in 1907-8, when he p!ayed one very useful defensive innings and took a dozen wickets for twenty-five runs each. During the past season he