James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1885

1 2 LILLYWHITE'SCRICKETERS' A N N U A L. I nestimating the bowling. it mustbe rememberedthat the wickets were, on the whole, all in favour of the batsmen. This only served to emphasise Spofforth's wonderful performances , and he is thoroughly entitled to the dis- tinction awardedto h i mby a Melbournecritic as being themostremarkable bowler that ever stepped on to a cricket field . Looking at his consistent success , thequestion arises as to whatthe teamwouldhavedonehadhenotdecided at the last momentto make the tour . The answer is easy , as manyof the victories were mainlydueto his extraordinary bowling ; and, considering the wickets on which hehadto perform, Australian cricket has indeed good reason to be proud of a bowler positively without a rival . Palmeris regarded byAustralia as the best bowler in the Colonies , and the praise is not ill-deserved . H egets a wonderful amountof work on the ball , and on the best wickets has really few, if any. superiors . Giffen , though a little expensive on the whole, at times proved himself to be the good bowler he has always been accounted ; and Boyle, though the wickets rarely helped himwhen occasion required , was of great use, notably at Manchester against England. Midwinter was not so successful as was expected , and his figures are by nomeans good . Cooper bowled on very few occasions , and, as already explained , was perhaps never seen in his true colours . Blackham's wicket -keeping was quite u ptohis best standard . In this department he has no superior either in England or Australia . Thefielding of the eleven was at times a little uncertain -on the whole, perhaps, hardly so safe as onprevious visits . The tour was a very great success in every way beyond adoubt . Australian sportsmen , though , it is to be hoped, will not be above taking in good part a well meant suggestion -- that the infusion of a little new blood would add to the interest taken in any future trips b ythe cricketers of the old country. F I R S TM A T C H . A u s t r a l i a n sv. L o r dSheffield'sE l e v e n. Sheffield Park, M a y12 and 13, 1884. W o nby an innings and six runs. L O R DS H E F F I E L D ' SE L E V E N . Mr.W .G.Grace, 1 b w bGiffen Hall, c McDonnellb Palmer Ulyett, c Midwinter b Giffen Shrewsbury, 1b w bPalmer.. Barnes, b Giffen Flowers, b Palmer 1 b Palmer. Rev. F. F. J. Greenfield , c Bonnorb Palmer 2 J. Hide, b Giffen H. Phillips , c Spofforth b Giffen . A. Shaw, not out . Harrison , c andb Giffen B y e s T o t a l 3 0 1 c Spofforthb Palmer 8 1 7 cScottb Giffen. 2 3 9 c ScottbGiffen. 0 1 1 cB o n n o rb Palmer 3 4 6 cM u r d o c hb Palmer 1 8 bGiffen 2 4 b Palmer. 1 2 stB l a c k h a mb P a l m e r 4 1 cMcDonnellb Giffen. 4 0 n o tout. 6 2 B9, 1b 2. 1 1 8 6 T o t a l .120 A U S T R A L I A N S . P. S. McDonnell, b Grace. 3 2 W .Midwinter, unout... A. C. Bannerman, c Harrisonb Grace.. 94 G .E. Palmer, cGraceb S h a w. W .L. Murdoch, b Grace 9 H. F. Boyle, not out G.Giffen, c Greenfield bGrace 2 7 F. R. Spofforth ,b Shaw. G. J. Bonnor, e Shrewsbury b Grace 4 J. M c C. Blackham, b S h a w 3 1 H. J. H. Scott , e Phillips b Grace......... 0 Extras T o t a l 4 4 0 - 2 0 9 2 1 2