James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1875

f l • 20 won particular fashions, some of our little eccentricities being at times perhaps u11fit for publication. Thursday was Christmas Day, and few of us but tt11·ned a longing look to the picture of an EngliRh fireside. Christmas Day, with the thermometer over 90 degs. in the shade, ,vas at least a novelty, but it soon palled. Roast beef and plum pudding we had it is true, but it was a. miserable deception, and most of us were glad when it was at an eud and the mor1�w had come for action. FIRST MATCH, MELBOURNE v. EIGHTEEN OF VICTORIA. Boxing day and cricket seem hardly kindred words, but Boxing day of 1873 at least saw t1s for the first time before a11 Australia11 c1�0,vd. Ch1--istmas­ tide under a scorching sun was rather a trial to uH, a11d we h™l not j"et been able to unshlp our sea legs. The Melbo ur ne Cricket Ground is well adapted for cricket, being of a good size, but the light at times is very bad, owing to the umbrageous influences of sundry trees, said to have been planted by the hands of our predecessors. Mr. W. G. Grace disappointed us sadly. He is not given to, or fond of, losing the toss, bt1t he did on this occasion, and the Australians took the bat. The :Eighteen all played good ci·icket, two at least, :r.,ressrs. B. B. Cooper (an old friend on a new shore) and G. P. Robert­ son (once of the Oxfo1·d Eleven) being far from fresh acquaintances. The first wicket fell at 23, and the second at 29. Boyle and B.. B, Cooper then raised the score to 83, when the former was well caught for a really well played innings of 30. B. B. C. kept the game alive merrily enough, and splendid cricket he showed for his 84, with all the old patience and defence. He was four hours at the wickets, and his cuts and drives were brilliant in the extreme. There was a smack of the old times, and a savour of Old England about the exploit that made it quite refreshing. The Victoria11s in all made 266, the last seven wickets only scoring 21. W. G. Grace had the last five of them all to himself, and this without a run. Some 1Jeople call hi11i a bad bowlei·. Of our batting I had better perhaps say little. Modesty forbids ! W. G. Grace made 33 in the :first and 51 (riot out) in the second, the latter a magnificent innings in every sense. Jupp played well in the first and G. F. Grace in the second innings, but we we1 ..e not yet in form. Our fielding ,vas brilliant, Jupp's especially. The impression of the first match was that Australian cricket had been l1Dderrated. In Victoria at least, ,ve had seen more and better cricket than we had expected. Anothe1 .. impres­ sion stamps itself on our recollection, 40,000 spectators paid for e.dmissio11 d ur ing the three days, and 40,000 half-crowns represent,--. The tenth commandment is before me and I pause. Mr. W. G. Grace, b Boyle • • J'upp, b Allan , W. B. Gilbert, c and b Cosstick Green� r ood, C and b Allan • ?tlr. G. F. Grace, b Allan • Oscroft, b Allan • • n urophrcy, c .Allan, b Cosstick LillY" · hite, b Cosstick • • M'lntyre, c Cosstick, b Allan • Bush, b Allan • • Southerton, not out • ' . Lb • • • 'l,ot&l • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ENGL.AND. let Inn. • • 23 • • 22 • • 18 • • 5 • • 6 • • 12 • • 4 • • 4 • • 9 • • 0 • • 0 , " 2 • 110 not out • • c and b Cosstick o M'Gan, b Allan c }!'Gan, b Allan c Cooper, b Conway b Conway. • b Cosstici: b Boyle • • run out • • c Con,vay, b Boyle b Boyle • Bj"OS • Total . 2nd Inn • • 51 • • 0 • • 6 • • 16 • • 28 • • 0 • • 6 • • 19 • • 4 • • 2 • • 0 • • 8 -- • • 13 •