THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1899, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

PLAYING AGAINST HAMPSHIRE

THE COUNTY BEGINS WITH VIGOROUS BATTING.

[PUKSS ASSOCIATION.] (Received August 4, 0.30 a.m.) London, 3rd August. Tho Australian cricketers began thoir. match against Hampshire at Portsmouth today. The respective teams are as follows: — Hampshire—Captain Wynyard, Hill, Bradford, Major Poore, Burton, Robson, Llewellyn, Heseltiue, D. A. Steele, Baldwin, and Sutherland. Australia—Gregory, Iredalo, Kelly, Noble, Howell, M'Leod, Trumble, Worrall, Hill, Darling, and Jones. Tho weather was delightful and the wicket last, and the attendance fair. \ The county team has the first innings. Wynyard and Hill, the opening batsmon, mado a capital start, keeping together till tho century had been passed. Hill, who had contributed CO, was thou caught by Trumble off Jones's bowling. Ho had beon at tho wickets for 80 minutes without giving a chance, and his score included uiue hits for four. Pooro followed, and at the luncheon adjournment he and Wynyard had carried the score to 151, of which Wynyard had made 58 and Poore 29. Ou resuming, Poore was dismissed by a ball from Howell, without haviug added to the score, Bradford followed, but before he bad scored was sent back by a ball from Jones. Wynyard, meanwhile, added 9 to tho total, so that tho score stood at 160 for tho loss of threo wickets. ' Barton then partnered Wynyard, who brought his total to 79 before Howell found tho way to his wicket. Wynyard gave a chance to Kelly when he had made 0, but afterwards hatted splendidly. Robsou and Barton have since continued the batting, and the score now stands at 196 for tho loss of four wickets, made up as follows.—

Hampshibb.—First Innings. Hill, o Tnunble, b Jones 60 Wynyard, b Howell 79 Bradford, b Jones 0 Poore, b Howell , 20 Barton, not out ... ~, ... ~, 14 Rquson, not out... 10 Sundries , ... 4 Total for tour wickets 19(3 THE COUNTY PLAY AND PLAYERS. Hampshire last season experienced the most unsatisfactory results of all its years in first-class engagements, getting no higher than third from last on the county championship list. Of eighteen county matches played only two were won, eight being the number lost and eight drawn. So difficult was it for Hampshire to get a choico of players for its representative team that only on one occasion did tho question or Lao of who should be left out! And yet tho county is said to have a large amount of talent within its borddrs. Tho weak 6pot is its bowling, and this is noticeable in tho team now playing. As u hutting combination the team contains players who will give troublo if allowed to got going. Hampshire's players uro an interesting lot, but the county is hampered with noted men who huvo to answer Uio call of their country at a moment's notico, when they are most needed on tho cricket grounds of their county. Tho army has first claim upon Major Poore, Captains Wynyard (skipper of tho county eleven),' and Quintou (all of whom have seen service- in India), und W. H. Studd, whilst Sutherland, another promising player who camo out last season, belongs to the navy. Major Poore made his cricket reputation in matches against touring toams in South Africa and India. Last yoor was his first appearance for Hampshire, and his scores included 121 (not out) and 107. It will also bo remembered that playing for his county against Somerset tast month (when seven Rampshiro wickets put together 672) the Major made 304 and Captain Wynyard 225. Tho captain smites heavily and often, his scores last season including 113, 125, and WO. Tho 1896 Australian team was the first of tho colonial teams which the county mot, and Hampshiro was beaten by an innings and 125 runs. The county team then consisted of Robson, Ward, Wynyard, Quinton, Barton, Webb, Steolo, Soar, Baldwin, Wootton, and Sykes.