THE SENSATIONAL COLLAPSE OF LAST MONTH.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 58, 31 July 1896, Page 5

THE SENSATIONAL COLLAPSE OF LAST MONTH.

The London Daily Chronicle tells the story of the sensational downfall of the Australians for 18 in the first M.C.C. match as follows :—" Before the Australians went in people were speculating as to whether the wicket had improved. It was certainly faster, but the sun had been at work, and after the effects of the roller had worn off, the pitch must have been very bad indeed. The first three batsmen — Messrs. Kelly, Trott, and Graham — were the only men to score. It was soon seen that J. T. Hearne was in form, for with the total at 8 he fairly beat Graham, and 6 runs later he dismissed Trott and Gregory. One would have thought that this success would have satisfied even Dr. Grace, but, with the prescience that must now be considered remarkable, the English captain suddenly took off Attewell, who had given away 14 runs without result, and put on Pougher at the nursery end. Then followed the great sensation. The score when the Leicester professional went on was 18 runs for three, and the next batsmen were dismissed without another run being scored ! It is impossible to convey any idea of the blank astonishment of the spectators, or the speechless dismay of each batsman as he came out, took his block, and after one or more feeble strokes turned round to find his stumps bowled down. Pougher opened by capturing two wickets with his first two balls. He finished the over without any scoring. His next over was a maiden. Hearne then took one wicket, and in Pougher's next over he captured the remaining three wickets. Pougher's analysis is remarkable.