NOTES ON THE ENGLAND-VICTORIA MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 56

NOTES ON THE ENGLAND-VICTORIA MATCH.

It was owing to a severe attack of rheumatism that Maclaren did not take part in the maich, Englishmen- Victorians. Robson and Gunn were the other two members of (ho English Eleven who stood down In t'n> absence of Maelaren Jonee, the Notts county cautain, controlled the Englishmen. The tremendous hailstorm in Melbourne on November 14 made the wicket somewliai unplayable in the English Eleven-Victorian match.

The Englishmen's 166 was a good perrorma«co under weather conditions. The wicket was not worth more. The defence cf Quaife was the -brightest spot in the Englishmen's innings. Going in at the fall of the third wicket, he carried hie bat through for 36. Hi* innings was not without a blemish, but hp would have been a marvellous bat indeed who did not ghe a chance on such a wicket.

Jcssop showed ramaikabld pulling in hi? 26. Members of the English team say he k not the Jessop of Gloucestershire yet, but that when he strikes form he will show ! something. Jones's 18 was got by the most attractive cricket. In one of his hits he lifted M'Leocl for 5, and during his innings made several, gocl strokes. There were only two Englishman bowled in tho match against the Victorians — Garnetl and Lilley. This i 9 accountable for by the nature of the wicket, the ball frequently rU-ing over the top. M 'Leod, who trundled right through the innings, captured five English wickets for 75. Had the chances offered been accepted, his average would have read much better. The three hours' battine of the Englishmen yielded 166, and as the innings closed shortly before 6. the Victorians did not commence their innings until next day. Victoria's innings of 133 calls for no special comment. Graham was scarcely comfortable on opening, but after some blows on the body he hit out in desperation at; Barnes, with such success that he had 26 to his credit before being beaten by a good 1 one from the English bowler. M'Leod's innings of 29 for the Victorians was got by patient cricket. M'Allister's 22 was a fine exhibition of batting. Three Macs— M'Leod (29), M'Allister (22), and M 'Michael (14)— were responsible for 65 out of the Victorian's 133 in the first innings. English bowler Barnes got the first five Victorian wickets for 42, but was taken off when his average read five for 61. M'Gahey's 57 and Hayward's 38 were the backbone of the Englishmen's 174 in the second innings. When 57, M'Gahoy played a ball to Stuckey at mid-on off Oollins. Th 6 batsman remained at the or«ase, but_ on ap-" peal was given out. He wac batting in lucky though pleasing style for one ihour 42 minutes. " jtffiffaj^lffiS.ffiujfet Jiffi Collutfi off Mljtepg

»t 38, the runs taking the Surrey crack one hour 35 minutes to compile. He played in a finished style, but slow.

Jessop was bowled first ball by M'Leod. The wicket was greatly in favour of the bowlers, and M'Leod secured two Englishmen in his opening over. Lilley and Jones's partnership was the liveliest innings of second day. The batsmen, recognising that runs should be got quickly, forced the pace. This brought Lilley's downfall. He lifted 'M'Leod to square-leg, where M 'Michael, who was fielding deep, ran in, tossed the ball in mid air, grabbed it with one hand, and fell over. An excellent recovery after failing to hold it the first time. He was loudly cheered for the feat.

The latter portion of the Englishmen's second inning 3 had nothing to recommend it in good cricket. v They dashed at the bowling to make runs on a treacherous wicket.

Wanting 208 to win, Worrail and M'Leod faced Barnes and Blythe. M'Leod was caught without scoring. Graham compiled 26 out of Victoria's 89. He was at the •wickets for 53 minutes, and was the only bat on the Victorian side to stand up to Barnes, who was bowling splendidly. Barnes captured seven Victorian wickets foiv 38 •runs.

An hour and a-half's cricket saw the Victorians all out for 89, failing to come up to the English score, by 118 runs..

The top honours *^> to the Englishmen. M'G*hey's 57 was the highest ecore^ and Barnes's bowling, the best of the two sides. Maclaren is well pleased ■ at bringing ißarnes •with his team, as his form. in the two matches — SJoutn Australia and. Victoria — clearly show that he is a bowler of merit.

, English cricketer 'Harold Garnett is a tall, strapping -young fellow with, an elegant style. Jessop, on the other liand, is of the crouching species of bat, but very effective, and watches the ball closely.

Barnes, the English bowler who did ,such execution against Victoria, takes a long run and bowls with a high overhead action. Blythe. is a left-hander, ( with a straYige delivery. When his bowling arm is at full length behind him the other is pointing batsmanwavd*.

Braund works his leg-break, but at times rocks in » fast one which gains wickets.

Maclaren's team come in for high praise for their fielding, which is described as waobine-like in precision. The general up-to-dateness of the Melbourne cricket ground and the new score board erected thereon came in for great praise from the Englishmen on their recent visit.

Speaking at the reception in honour of the English cricket team in Melbourne on the action of Lord Hawke in refusing to allow Hirst and Rhodes to accompany the 'team to Australia. Maclaren said that in iustice to the players named it was only fair to say that had they been allowed a free hand they would have visited Australia.