The Great Cricket Match.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 21 October 1882, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Great Cricket Match.

One of the largest crowds ever Been on a metropolitan cricket gw™*,,awemWed at the Oval on the afternoon of the 28th of August, to witness the initiation ot tuc world famous match between the Eleven ot Australia and a strong team of gentlemen &nd professionals to represent All England. There was no discussion this time about the propriety of discarding that man, or including the other. The eleven were picked from ÜB'B fupplicd by Lord Harris, Mr 1. D, Walker, Mr Grace, and Mr K. D. Walker, and, save on the point of whether Maurice Read fhould play, the selection of thess gentlemen proved exactly the same. This unanimity <-aye great satisfaction to all parties. The Australians felt from the first that their opponents wire iutleed All England, and that if they conquered they would get the fullct possinle kudos for doing so, whilst the the home team knew they would have to ho terribly in earnest and were fully alive to the uece*sity of careful play. The sceno on the ground, at nooD, was one long to be re-

membered. There cannot have been leas than 25,000 persons prercnt, and they wore oacked as tightly as heuings in a barrel. Wonderfully. p-tl?nt and attentive eecmed the immense throos;, ,»11 were apparently cricketers, [or cricket lovers, and here and there well known performers could be noticed anxiously v n 'ting the outbreak of hostilities. Tne ii .sc news that passed round the charmed circle was that the visitors had begun 1 *ckily by winning the toss, and, of course, meaut to go in. By-and-bye, Mr Hornby and his merrio mengreeted with a burst of applause—came to take their placoa on the field, ana finally Masae and Bannerman bat in hand, received a cordial welcome. 1 urn not, unf.inuDat< ly, a cricketer, and, therefore, caunot venture to desc ihe the game on my own responsibility. Tho following account, carefully abbreviated from the "Sportsman," will, however, I think, answer the purpose :—Tho English captain's dispositions were quickly completed, and Peatc, most dangerous of Yorkshire, and some think ot English bowlers, was seen to have the leather in hand prepared to commence hostilities. In his accustomed place, behind the wicket, stood the Hod. Alfred Lyttclton, gloved and padded in readiness to stop the swifte-t deliveries,whilst from the attitude of \V. G. Grace at point it waa evident that the Champion was intent on business, and anxious to show that his ancient cunning had not deserted him. This he well proved throughout the innings; indeed, we never rcmctiib.r seeing him exercise such extreme vigilance. Nut a ball that came anywhere within hia rani c was allowed to get away, md the muiiner ill which he stopped or cuug.'it everything oil' the bat ngain and igain, provoked mnud-i of hand-clapping. it looked as though ihe Colonials were about to do well «it!i the willow, as Banoerman drove Peatc for three in the first ovur; but, with only 6 runs scored in all, Ulyett sent down a full pitch, and carried Massie's leg-stump out of the ground. A shout naturally greeted this achievement, and then, as was to have been expected, a long stand was made by tha Australian captaiu aud his professional colleague. It rt'as has hardly anticipated, though, that they would almost bo unable to score a iun. Such was the ciso, nevertheless, as Peato and Barlow, who were associated from 18, were dead on tho sticks, whilo the fielders seemed almost übiquitous as whoreever a ball might bo placed, there somo one of the English cleveu was sure to be found. With the total at 20, no loss than fourteen maiden overs wore delivered, icven from either cud and one run lator Ihe Australian captain had to vacate his wicket, he playing one of Fcato's into hii sticks. Again the cheers of the assemblage were renewed at this juncture, and again and again in rapid succes ion the enthusiasm broke forth as tine after another the crack bats of tho Cornstalks retired with but meagre records ■•gainst their names. Bonner, the bardhitter of tho team, whose slashing inniugs of sixty-sjx at Portsmouth awhile ago, redeemed bis sides defeat from beinc an utter rout, wont out for one only. Horan, the -ticker, was sent back for three, aud the South Australian, Uiffio, beaten for two. ISailllcrm.au, who generally holds his own for an unlimited time, could not get into double figures, and.it was not until tbc valiant wicket-keep >r, Blackham, and his fowling confrere, Garrett, faced him, that the tide of defeat was for a while arrested. This pair held their position safe until luncheon time, but the very first ball from Pcatc after that necestary interval was fatal to Garrett, who, making a fine drive to long-off, was grandly captured by Maurice Bead close to the line of spoctaior-. The end was now near, as neither of the other made a prolonged stay, and the Australian team were all dismissed for 63, the most insignificant amount ever recorded for them dining their present vi.-it. As to tho first inniogs of England, what was said of their oppouoots may be recounted of them. Their defence was far weaker than could havo been expected, whilst almost equally brilliant to that of England was the attack of Australia, and, •is a bowler, Hpollbrth, " the demon," fairly surpassed himself. Seven wickets went

down b.fore his strong right arm for a total of 4G runs, and if this is scarcely equal to Barlow's five for 19, it is good enough in all conscience. Ulyett, although top scorer of the day, did not bat in pcrticularly good form. W. G. failed to come off, as did all tho rest, with the exception of A. G. Steel and Maurice Head. ' Tho young t- urrey professional fully justified his selection, and bis nineteen (not (out) was compiled by faultless cricket. Perhaps thu feature of the first innings of England was the wicketkeeping of Blackham, who was seen at his best, and in spite of letting oiFUlyett at the outset, hiß only mistnku, Wns |iusuumcuinl in disposing of throe wickets The cheering was prolonged whea tho total of their opponents was reached by England, and louder and heartier still when the century was hoisted. Tfris was the last opportunity for npplau'C during the day, however, as ono run later ihe last man was sent back and England were all out for 101, or 38 runs in advance of their rivals.