CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 273, 19 November 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

The cricketers were very unfortunate in having last Saturday turn out web like it did, as with the limited time at their disposal for Cup matches a break, of two Saturdays in the programme make 3 a lot of difference. Tom Emmetb has bowled eighty-three wides in the course of the first-olass matches of 1887. A contemporary says:—A tribute of praise has lately been given to Charlie Bannerman by tho veteran Tom Emmott. After over twenty years" experience of cricket, during which he has seen all the world's best performers with the bat, he is of opinion that Bannerman in his best clays was the finest batsman he has ever seen. In English county cricket, G. G. Jones, with 24 wickct3 for 282 runs (average 11*18 per wicket), heads tho bowling averages this year, but considering the relative numbers of overs bowled, Attewell and Watson (89 at 13 "81 and 100 at 1482) must be placed at the top of the tree. Lohmann has captured 154 wickets this year in first-class matches at a cost of 15-94 runs each, while the other bowlers who have been credited with 100 wickets are Briggs, 114 (average 17-80), and Watson andWooton (100 each) at 14-82 and 18-92 per wicket respectively. Tom Einmett, the popular Yorkshire cricketer, effected a wonderful hit whilst batting against the M.C.C. and Ground ab Scarborough recently. The first delivery he received from Mr Nepean "Tom" sent in grand style to the on, where the ball bounding over the rope struck the bowl of a spectator's pipe, breaking it clean from the stem, leaving the latter part in the mouth of the astonished owner. R. Allen, the Sydney batsman, is in fine batting form this season. Already he has made over the century twice. On Saturday week last he played a fine innings for 120 not ont, against the Osbornes, his hitting being hard and clean throughout. Allen was in the Now South Wales eleven that last week put Shaw and Shrewsbury's English cloven through to the tune of ten wickets. A recent issue of the Sydney " Town and Country Journal" contains tho following : '»—Trophy-hunters should make a "dead rush " for Armidale, and join the Ironclad Club there. The following prizes have been promised for the first eleven : —Three gold medals, two prize bats, six egg creu and spoonsj two gold trophies, smoking cap, bag of flour, ball with silver band, pair of cricketing pants, set of gold studs, and special trophy of Baker's C.G.M.G. A writer in the "Sporting Times," in speaking of the Nottingham county eleven, Ba y ß . —»I gained some inkling into the secret of their many victories. It lies in the stern discipline that prevails. Gunn is, I believe, one of the finest batsmen in the kingdom, and only last week scored 205, not out, againsb good bowling. And yet Shrewsbury actually crossed the play and lectured him on a weak hit ho made while they were batting together in the match againsb Kent."

The twelve,highest batting averages of the year are Shrewsbury, 78 "15; W. G. Grace, 54-10; A. J. Webbe, 47 "22 ; W. W. Read, 47*17? K. J. Key, 43-7; W. E. Roller, 4010 ; Hall, 38-24 ;C. I. Thornton, 38-1; Ulyett, 38-5; Gunn, 3513; Robinson, 35-9; and W. C. Bridgeman, 347. The following have obtained over 1,000 runs in first-class matches this season :— W. G. Grace, 2,062 ; K. J. Key, 1,684; Shrewsbury, 1,653; W. W. Read, 1,615 ; Ulyett, 1,487 ; A. J. Webbe, 1,244; and Hall, 1,240; all these very appropriately being among the most sucsessful batsmen of the year. Of the 69 individual three-figure scores obtained during the first-class cricket season of 1887, Shrewsbury is credited with eight, Dr. W. G. Grace with six, and Mr W. W. Read with five. These three, with Mr A. J. Webbe, Hall, Ulyett, Mr K. J. Key, and Gunn, may fairly be considered the eight leading batsmen of the year. .