CRICKET.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8095, 11 February 1892, Page 6

CRICKET.

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA.

THE SECOND TEST MATCH.

(FROM OUB CORBESPOSDBKT.)

[By Telegraph— From Auckland.]

SYDNEY, February 3. Tuesday witnessed an almost unparalleled scene of enthusiasm on the Sydney Cricket Ground on the fourth day of the great match, England v Australia. The splendid play of Lyons and Bannerman on Monday in opening Australia's second innings has turned what looked like a certain defeat into at least a possible victory. During the day Lyons was pretented by a few Sydney ladies with a very handsome silver matchbox, suitably infccribed. On Monday Lord Sheffield, in congratulating him on his batting, toW him that if he beat Abel's score he would himself make a presentation, even although it affected the chances of his own team, and steps are also being takeu in Sydney towards a further presentation.

Vvhen play began on Tuesday Bannerman was t>2l and Bruce 5. Bruce knew he was playing a risky game ia going for the off balls, but it was desirable that rune should be put on as soon as possible since rain waa then threatening. He accordingly took the risk and scored fast, and there was a lot of loud cheering from a rapidly increasing crowd. The batsman had rattled up the score to within one of 300 when the rain come on, Bannerraan having scored 73 and Bruce '35. The enthusiasm at this stage was very great, and amongst the indications of ie •was a box from Sydney coataiuing a button hole bouquet of tubeioses, tied up with pale blue ribbon, for each of the Australian team. The feeling was that win or lose they had made a remarkable record, aud there was general regret that the rain should interfere with ao valuable an innings being played to a close on Us merits. The ball had been knocked out of shape by this time, so that the Englishmen asUed for a new one and got it. When play was continued ie was apparent that an hour's steady rain had made a remarkable change iv the wicket. Broce rapidiy realised the fact, and no longer attempted to play cricket but forced the scoring. Every 10 was wildly cheered, the onlookers knowing that runs had a special value. When Bruce had got 72 he put one of Lohmann's high in the air, and buarpe, running backWard; got a fair catch and dropped ie, a wild shout marking the tuies. The let-off was of no importance, for jßruce landing heavily an oil-ball of Sbarpe's drove ie into the hands of Grace and out again to be cleverly held by Briggs at cover-point. The fourth wicket went at 347, and had put on 93 to the score. Up to 50 Bruce played faultless cricket, but he realised che hopelessness of trying to play the correct game on the drenched wicgec, and did the right thing in forcing. Thirty-two of his 72 were got bj boundary hits, two of which were oaly a few feet short of o's. McLeod came in, and at 304 Bannerman, fell rather softly. He poked one gently forward to Grace, who was forward at point and close in. The catch was taken. Others had been missed, but poor Alick was fated to go at his first chance with the 100 just ao hand. His 91 was a remarkable innings. He batted for seven hours and some minutes, during which he received 011 balls, and scored from 51. Attewell's figures at bowling to him were especially remarkable, as Bannerman scored from only five of 204 balls. Lohmann sent him 156, and he scored from fourteen of them. Nine out of 77 bowled by Grace were hit for rune, and only three of Peel's 50 balls. Bannerman had only three 4's in his score, eight B's, and fifteen 2's, and to say that he was. cheered on coming in is putting it mildly. McLeod and Turner raised the score to 290, and the innings came to a sensational dose, Briggs doing the hat trick. With a fast rising ball he bowled "W. Giffen, just taking the halls, Blackham missed the next with his hat, hue got his pad there in good time, and was out lbw, while the third ball Calloway softly tipped to Grace at point, this being hib third catch. The wicket being so bad, the Australians could see nothing to be gained by sending in Moses, whose leg was so bad that he could not run, so the Innings was closed for 391 for nine wickets. The condition of the pitch is best indicated by the fact that che first lour Australians wickeis scored 364 and the last five 27. Although the Englishmen were unlucky in dropping catches, their ground fielding was sound all through. - . By four o'clock a crowd of 12,000 had gathered, all bubbling over with excitement and waiting expectantly for the Englishmen to bat. They had about half an hour to wait, and the incidents of the half-hoar will not soon be . forgotten. McLeod had learned by telegraph of the ' sudden death of his brother, so ne had to return to Melbourne at once. The Australians asked that Button, the Melbourne "University man, might till the place of McLeod. Grace was candid. "Is he a better field than McLeod T he asked. "Yes," said Blackham, with equal candour. " Then get someone else." The someone else was found in Donnan, an arrangement which the Australians had no cause to grumble at. The number the Englishmen wanted was 229, and they started tv get them with Grace and Abel, to the bowling of lamer and Giffen. There was a continuous patter of cheeriLg, the strain being simply intense. A load exclamation of disappointment was heard when Abel put one up between slip and che wickets, but the crowd went fairly wild when, in hitting at a leg ball of Gif Fen's, he sent it high in the air, and Walter Giffen held the catch. Hats were in the air, a thousand at a time, the sight being unique. The ladies in the reserve smashed their parasols on the seats, and battered umbrellas were being kicked sound the lawn. One for 2. A bit of a hush as Bean came in, and a cheer as he drove Turner for 4. Then Bedlam again, for the Sussex man hit a ball in the same over hard and straight to Lyons, who held it. Two for 6. Stoddart came in and Grace, seeing that steadiness was of no value, went to force. He jumped out and drove one back to Giffen like a shot, but the bowler failed to hold it and there was a shout of dismay. Grace back cut the next beautifully to the fence, bringing up the first 10, but when he nicked the next ball from Turner and a dozen excited Australians appealed with one voice, the Umpire's hand went up, for Blackham had held a splendid catch. Xhree for 11. The air was thick with hats and rent with shouting. Such a scene perhaps had never been witnessed on the ground before as followed the downfall of the English Captain. The crowd were keen for more of it, with a quarter of an hour yet left for play, but a iUghl shower came on and as there was a written agreement before the match that no play should take place during rain the stumps were drawn. During this quarter of an hour the Australians fielded as they did Iα the corresponding stage of the Melbourne match, and Blackham at the wickets was a sight worth seeing. One realised then ho«r far lie stood above all others.

The uphill game playea by the Australians has excited the most universal enthusiasm in Sydney, and the project of Another Australian eleven has been revived, Geo. Giflfen expressing a wish that the very best eleven in Australia should be got together to visic England.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES.

The following will represent their re•pective Clubs in Saturday's matches:— SENIOR CUP. Lancaster Park—Bates, Cooke, Caff, JDeM&us, Jackinan, Labatt, North. Ridley <2), Watlis and Wildinj?; v Midland— Wheatley, Treweek, Garrard, Lawrence, Fearce, Barry, Barnes, Richards, Ashby, Macdonald and Reese. At Hagley Park. United Eleven —Frankish, Mathias, Fenwick. "Walmsley, A. Harman, T. D. Harman, Kitto, E. V. Blythe, Clark, Rolleston; emergency, W. Hariuan; v Ashley County Thirteen—Wilder, Chapman, Sale, Bluuden, Helmnre, Wilson, Garty, Warner, Gulliver, Torlesse, Govrer, Clayton, Mansell. At Bangiora at 2.30 p. m,

JUNIOR CUP.

Lancaster Park—Labatt, J ones, "Whittle, Marshall (2), Johnson, Preece, Lawrence, Brook, Cant, North; v Midland (No. 1)Cohen, Rayner, Forsyth, Gordon, White, Homer (2), Schmoll, Vincent, Barge, Firth. At Hagley Park. United No. 1-Aldred, D. Wood, Maxwell.Tapper, Fairhurst, R. D. Harraan, W. Harinan, Marshall, Winter, Tendall. Ross; emereency, Bowen : v St. Albans. At St. Albans. ... _ ■ United No. 2-Harris (2), Bowen, Hartland, Macdonald, Kit to, Tomlinson, B. "Wood. Day, Batger, Beswick; emergencies, Sander&on, Harper: v Addlngton— CayKitt, Haynes, Curtain, Seager, Ashby,

Gates, Porsyth (2), Jones, MalOne, and Washer. At Hagley Park. Midland No. 2—Slumlord, Glazebrook, Taylor, Hay, Evans, Miller, Spencer, Lavery, "Ward, M. Woodward, Frost: v College. On College ground.

PRESIDENT'S CUP.

Addington—lsitt, Clarkson, Freeman, Johnson, Hooker, Bowie. Ansley, Rockett, Brown, Anderson and another; v. College. Midland—Bead, Woodward, Morgan. Preece, Young, Schneider, McGuire, Serjeant, Garcy, Newnham, Pender, Button; v High School. At fiagtey Park.

OTHEB MATCHES.

Addiogton v Warehousemen —Slater, Cay gill, Ogier, Mc Murray, Malloch. Stevens, Hopper, Hadfleld, Smith, Kineman, end A. Forsytb. Lancaster Park v Lyttelton, at Lancaster Park at £15 p.m.—Hawkins, SteeJs, Steere. Doherty, Orchard, Baird, Raphael, Roberta, Lafferty, Waller, Pejsg, Graham. Lancaster Park No. 2 v Upper Riccarton, at the Park—Brown, Baldwin, Acton, Stephenson, Gunthrope, Smart, Pegg, Waller and three others.