Cricket 1911

598 EUGBY FOOTBALL AND CRICKET. D ecember 23,1911. “ No?” “ No, I should call him fast medium. He has, of course, a pro­ nounced off-break and an occasional slight leg-break.” ‘ •What do you think of the rumour that Sherwell is not likely to go ? ” “ I really have not given it much thought, as I cannot bring myself to believe that it is to be taken seriously.” “ Have you any other Natal cricketers in your mind who might be selected ? ” “ Well, I think Samuelson, the Maritzburg bowler, has a chance to go, should the side be short of bowlers, for he is still bowling well, and took quite a lot of wickets in last season’s Currie Cup Tournament. Then Nourse and 0. Pearse are, of course, certainties.” “ Would you be able to go, if you were invited to make the trip ? ” “ Oh yes ; I would go all right. I only hope I get the chance! ” Mr. Taylor replied. And as I reciprocated his sentiments, a smile of pleasurable anticipation overspread his countenance. “ What is your opinion of Natal cricket as regards the young players ? ” “ I think we have quite a splendid lot coming along, especially in Durban ; and at present I consider we are quite as well off as any other province in South Africa.” “ What do you think of George Cox, the Sussex professional? ” “ I think he is a jolly good coach, and I am glad to be one of his pupils. He seems to be able to pick your weak strokes out at once, and will bowl tbe same ball over and over again until you can play it. His bowling is really very good, and he ought to take a lot of wickets for the Escombes this season.” “ Has he his full complement of pupils yet ? ” “ Not quite; he has twenty-one already, but he will have no trouble in obtaining the other three. The fellows all seem anxious to come under him, now they know what an excellent coach he is.” *•1 believe you are also a Rugby player, are you n o t ? ’’ “ Yes ; I have belonged to the Rovers ever since I left Michael- house, and have played for Natal twice in the Currie Cup Tourna­ ment, once at Port Elizabeth and last season at Caps Town. My position on the field is ‘ fly-half.’ ” F ly-hilf ? ” I repeated, rather dubiously, not remembering to have heard the term before. “ Y es; you know, one of the half-backs. I am the one that stands off from the scrum, waiting to take the ball.” “ Oh ! yes. I understand —the ‘ stand-off half,’ ” I answered. And haviD g dim recollections of seeing “ Herby ” career up the field on more than one occasion with the leather in his possession, I thought the term rather appropriate. Before leaving, Mr. Taylor kindly presented me with a photo of the Natal Currie Cup Rugger team taken at Cape Town a few months ago, «nd I could see at once that he is just as enthusiastic a foot­ baller as he is a cricketer. When I took my leave it was with the feeling that I had had a most pleasant interview with as good and soiind a young sportsman as it had been my lot to meet. Herbert Taylor is considered by most critics, especially in Natal, to be the finest cricketer of his stamp in South Africa, and quite worthy of a plac§ in a South African combination. His strength still lies in his defence, but lately he has been adding several scoring strokes to his repertoire and giving every promise of developing into an aggressive batsman of first-class rank. A season under George Cox, the Sussex professional, should work wonders with him in that respect. He is a very useful man on any side, for, although he does not bowl much—only trying an over now and again—he is an excellent field, his usual place being cover-point. He invariably goes in first for his club, who think very highly of him. He is a well set-up young fellow, about 5 feet 6 inches in height, with a pleasant and still boyish face. His experience as a representative footballer has been of great value to him in the cricket field, and as he is not yet 23 years of age—he was born in Durban on May 5th, 1889—he should have a gr^at cricket career in front of him. He is at the present time completing his studies at the Durban Business College. F rederick S etay . THE CRICKETERS’ NOTE BOOK.* The thirteenth number of this waistcoat-pocket annual has been compiled on the lines that made the previous issues so acceptable to cricketers. As the only publication in the world devoted to the notabilia and memorabilia of the year the little book occupies a unique position among the many annuals issued in connection with the game. It is an interesting supplement to the Almanack. *John Wisden's Cricketers’ Note Book, 1912. Edited by F. S. Ashley-Cooper. Lon Ion : John Wisden & Co., Cranbourn Street, W.C. Price, 6d. The M.C.C.’s Team in Australia 7 th M atch . — v. AUSTRALIA. ( the first test ). Played at Sydney on December 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21. Austra lia won by 146 runs. England were handicapped severely in being obliged to take the field without Warner and Hitch, whilst Gunn, who played, had his hand bandaged. Australia, winning the toss, made 317 for five wickets on the first day (Trumper 95 not out). Trumper started slowly, but later played with characteristic brilliance, and altogether made 113 out of 264 in just over three hours and three- quarters. He gave no chance, hit twelve 4’s, and added 77 with Armstrong, 78 with Ransford and 109 with Minnett. Armstrong gave two hard chances and once played a ball from Douglas on to his wicket without removing a bail, but Minnett’s play was brighter and sounder : the latter hit fourteen 4’s in making 90 out of 144 in 110 minutes by vigorous cricket. The early part of England’s innings was marked by useful scores by Hobbs and Rhodes, but it was a valuable stand of 89 for the sixth wicket by Hearne and Foster (who made 56 of the number and hit nine 4’s) that enabled a respectable total to be reached. Woolley also did well, helping to add 62 for the seventh, but the last four wickets gave little trouble. Hearne’s 76 was a splendid display, without blemish, which lasted 165 minutes and contained eight 4’s. At the end of the third day Australia, with nine wickets in hand, were 248 runs on, but some good bowling and fielding on Tuesday got those wickets down for 189 more—a capital performance at Sydney. Kelleway and Hill’s stand for the second wicket realised 121. England were set 438 to wrin, and on the fourth evening had made 65 for the loss of Hobbs. On Wednesday the day’s play was very wearisome, only 198 runs being made for the loss of seven men. Gunn, despite his injured hand, was chief rungetter, and Foster was the only player to attempt to enliven the proceedings. But everyone would have held the slow play justified if the result had been an English victory; it is enough to have Australia to oppose, without wantonly adding Father Time to the opposition. A victory was not to be, however. W ith the departure of Douglas on the Thursday morning without a run added to his overnight score the last flicker of hope expired, a few good hits by the two left only delayed the inevitable. Score aud analysis :— A u s t r a l ia . First innings. Second innings. W. Bardsley, c Strudwick, b Douglas ... 30 b Foster .......................... 12 C. Kelleway, c and b Woolley... ... 20 b Douglas ......................... . 70 C. Hill, run out ... ............. ... 46 b Foster ........................ . 65 W. W. Armstrong, st Strudwiek, b Hearne 60 b Foster ......................... . 28 V. T. Trumper, c Hobbs, b Woolley ... ... 113 c and b Douglas ............. . 14 V. S. Ransford, c Hearne, b Barnes ... ... 26 c Rhodes, b Barnes . 34 R. B. Minnett, c Foster, b Barnes ... ... 90 b Douglas ......................... . 17 H. V. Hordern, not o u t.............. ... 17 b Foster ......................... . 18 A. Cotter, c and b Barnes 6 lbw, b Douglas ............. 2 H. Carter, b Foster ............... ... 13 c Gunn, b Foster ... . 15 W. J. Whitty, b Foster.............. ... 0 not out ......................... 9 Byes, & c ............. ... 26 Byes, &c.................... . 24 Total ............... ... 447 Total ............. . 308 E ngland . First innings. Second innings. Hobbs, c Hill, b Whitty ... 63 e Carter, b Cotter ... . 22 Kinneir, b Kelleway ............... ... 22 c Trumper, b Hordern .... 30 Gunn (G.), b Cotter ............... ... 4 c Whitty, b Hordern . 62 Rhodes, c Hill, b Hordern ... 41 c Trumper, b Hordern .. . 0 Mead (C. P.), c and b Hordern ... 0 run out ......................... . 25 Hearne (J. W.), c Trumper, b Kelleway ... 76 b H o rd e rn ......................... . 43 F. R. Foster, b Hordern ... 56 c Ransford, b Hordern .... 21 Woolley, b Hordern ............... ... 39 c Armstrong, b Cotter .... 7 J. W. H. T. Douglas, c Trumper, b Hordern 0 b Hordern ... . 32 Barnes, b Kelleway ... 9 b H o rd e rn ......................... . 14 Strudwick, not out ............... ... 0 not out ......................... .. 12 Byes, &c. ... 8 Byes, &c. . 23 Total .............. ... 318 Total .............. . 291 First innings. A u stralia . Second innings. O. M. R. W. O. M. R. w. Foster ............... 29 6 105 2 ... ............... 31-3 5 92 5 Douglas .............. 24 5 62 1 ... ............... 21 3 50 4 Barnes ............... 35 5 107 3 ... .............. 30 8 72 1 Hearne ............... 10 0 44 1 ... ............... 13 2 51 0 Woolley ............... 21 1 77 2 ... ............... 6 1 15 0 Rhodes ............... 8 0 26 0 ... ............... 3 1 4 0 First innings. E ngland . Second innings. O. M. R. W. O. M. R. w. Hordern ............... 27 5 85 5 ... .............. 42-2 11 90 7 K ellew a y ............... 16*5 3 46 3 ... .............. 19 6 27 0 Whitty ............... 28 13 60 1 ... ............... 20 8 41 0 Cotter .............. 19 0 88 1 ... ............... 27 3 71 2 Armstrong............... 9 3 28 0 ... .............. 15 3 39 Minnett ............... 2 1 3 0