Cricket 1909

74 CR ICK ET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. A pril 22, 1909. *401, E. F. S. Tylecote, Classical v. Modem, at Clfton College, in May, 1868. 369, C. Landou, Fort Street Modern Public School v. Leichhardt Superior Public School, at Petersham Oval, Sydney, in November. 1905. *360, C. Hi!l Prince Alfred College v. St. Peter’s College, at Adelaide, in Decem­ ber, 1893. 356, E. P. Barbour, Sydney Grammar School v. Sydney Church of England Grammar School, at Sydney, in March, 1909. 338, C. W. Keele, Sydney Grammar School v. St. Joseph's Co'lege, ou Sydney Spurts’ Ground, iu November, 1905. 336, N. H. B. Lyon, New House v. Old House, nt King’s School, Bruton, in July, 1905. 311, H. Stewart, Collegians v. Melbourne Club, at Melbourne, in March, 1897. 311, C. E. Dolling, Priuce Alfred College v. St. Peter's College, at Adelaide, in December, 1904. *307, K. A. A. Beresford, School House v. Laxton House, at Oundle School, in May, 1888. *303, W. F. Holms, Blair Lodge v. Campsie Glen, at Blair Lodge, in June, 1881. * Signifies not out. Other large scores by school-boys in Victoria are 203 by E. C. Miller for Mel­ bourne Grammar School v. Wesley -College, 231 not out by C. W. Miller for Melbourne Grammar School v. Wesley College, 215 not out by T. B. Lewers for Melbourne Grammar School v. Geelong Grammar School, 204 not out by 1). McLeod for Scotch College v. Geelong Grammar School, and 204 by B. S Dinsmore for Wesley College v. Melbourne Grammar School. Geelong boys, by-the- way, will have good cause to remember J. A. Prout, for when playing there in November last for Wesley College v. Gee­ long Grammar School he scored 152. In two innings there during the past season, therefore, he made over 000 runs ! T h e Wesley College total of 710 set up a new inter-school record for the world, exceeding the 700 made by Prince Alfred College against St. Peter’s College at Adelaide in December, 1904. The previous best in Victoria was 046 made by Scotch College v. W'esley College in Melbourne in November, 1898, when J. T. Graham made 172, C. McKenzie 125, and C. Hodgkinson 103. I t was only for one short week that Wesley College were allowed to hold the record, for on March 20th the Sydney Grammar School, playing against the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, made 845 for eight wickets. Of this number Eric P. Barbour was respon­ sible for 350 and J. W. Farrar for 214 not out. T h e veteran inter-state player, Am­ brose Tarrant, uncle of the Middlesex cricketer, showed more than a glimpse of his old form in the Pennant match between Melbourne and Fit/.roy on February 27th. The latter were obliged to bat on a wicket rendered very difficult by rain, but Tarrant performed so well that he made 45 before falling to a won­ derful catch at short-leg by J. Leith. He could not, however, prevent his side from being beaten by an innings and 14 runs. S om e months ago Mr, C. A. Mudie, an old Lancashire cricketer, who has been a Melbourne resident for many years, wrote to the Victorian Cricket Association and the Board of Control suggesting that it would be advisable to have some appli­ ance by which the wicket might be covered, so as to prevent it -being spoiled by rain. On November 24th last he wrote to the Marylebone Cricket Club, with full particulars of his scheme and ideas. Neither the Victorian Association nor the Board of Control took any serious notice of the letters, but Mr. F. E. Lacey wrote to him as follows :—“ In further reply to your letter of November 24th, it will in­ terest you to know that a resolution of the secretaries of the first-class counties regarding the advisability of covering the wicket is at the present time under con­ sideration.” A t the meeting of the Victorian Cricket Association on March 8th a silver tea and coffee service was presented to Vernon Ransford in recognition of his great per­ formance for Victoria against New South Wales, on the Sydney ground, where he scored 182 in his first innings and 110 in the second. The President of the Association, Mr. Donald Mackinnon, in making the presentation, stated that Ransford’s performance constituted a re­ cord in Victorian cricket, and he hoped that the Australian team would perform much better in England than the “ croakers” predicted. He wished Bans­ ford, Laver, Armstrong, and McAlister every success during the tour. Those players suitably replied. The Melbourne Club, to show their appreciation of Rans­ ford’s fine performance, secured the ball which he hit about during his second innings, had it mounted in gold with appropriate inscription, and on March 12th handed it to him at the offices of the Club in Collins Street. A t the Association meeting a resolution was carried that, for the purpose of paying preliminary expenses of the Australian team, a sum of .£600 be sent to the secre­ tary of the Board of Control. At first it was thought .£300 would suffice, but Mr. McElhone, the hon. secretary to the Board, on further inquiries, found that double that amount would be necessary from each Association. In the first week of March Mr. McElhone stated that .£1,517 would be needed at once to finance the Australian team, and on the 10th of the month the South Australian Cricket Association voted a third of the amount—±'505 13s. 4d. A r m st r o n g and Ransford scored 108 for Melbourne’s first wicket against Carlton on March 13th, and both were 80 when Ransford was caught at the wicket in Warne’s first over. He hit ten 4’s, and played with his customary ease and finish. Armstrong made 104 by two utterly different kinds of cricket— the first half slow and methodical, the second splendidly powerful and attractive. He hit a 6 and seventeen 4’s and was in three hours and twenty minutes. The Argus said :—“ A special note is due to Suilivan, Carlton’s new wicketkeeper. In an innings of 370 there were only six byes, and four of them were from one ball. But he did more than stop them. He caught Ransford, stumped Armstrong, and missed no chances. It was attractive, as well as promising, and everyone would be pleased if Carlton succeeded in dis­ covering a second Blackliain, as the first was found gathering them at the back of a tin wicket in one of the Carlton parks.” T h e r e was an ideal finish to the second - grade match between Clifton Socials and Clifton A.N.A. in Melbourne on March 13th. The latter closed their innings with six wickets down for 197, leaving their opponents two hours to bat. The Socials made a dash for the runs. The last over had arrived, their last two men were at the wickets, and the match had to be won or lost. Off the very last ball of the day J. Dunkin took the risk ; he gave a chance, it was missed, and went for 4, all run, and the Socials won by a wicket. V ic t o r T r u m p e r plainly showed, just before he sailed for England, that he had thoroughly regained his health and form. In successive innings for Paddington he made 128 v. Burwood, 105 v. Balmain, and 260 v. Waverley. He has now made twenty-eight hundreds in First - Grade matches in Sydney, six of them exceed­ ing the second hundred—260 not out and 260 v. Waverley, 335 and 215 v. Redfern, 212 v. Central Cumberland, and 213 not out v. Glebe. F r a n k I r e d a l e , the Gordon captain, had an unusual experience in the match with Middle Harbour at Manly on February 27th. He won the toss and sent his opponents in, with the result that they stayed in almost the whole day making 463. Of that number F. S. Middle­ ton scored 174 in an hour and a-half, hitting ten 0’s and sixteen 4’s. I h e a r that Harry Moses, New South Wales’ famous left-handed batsman of other days, will probably arrive in England next month on a holiday. It is his intention to see some of the matches played over here by the Australian team. Dr. Ramsay Mailer, one of the best-known members of the Melbourne C.C. Com- mitteee, will also be in this country shortly. O n the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 27th Central Cumberland II. scored 330 against Gordon II. When H. A. G. Cook was partnered by K. Willis, the last man, nine wickets were down for 182, and before the former was dismissed for 153 the total had been increased by 148—a very useful per­ formance, everyone will agree, for the last pair in. Willis carried his bat for 53.