THE TEST IN 1880

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1930, Page 9

THE TEST IN 1880

,1 BACKWARD GLANCE

CRICKET GIANTS OF OLD

Fifty years ago, in 1880, New Zealand was just as much interested in the cricket Test match as it is to-day. In that year an Australian team was touring England and one Test match was scheduled. Three Tests haa been played in previous years, of which' Australia hadwon two. This time fifty years ago "The Post" consisted, of four pages only—one folded sheet. The space devoted to news took up a little less than seven columns, the rest being advertisements. Of< this limited space ;i full half-column was devoted to the Test prospects on the day that tho English team had been cabled out. So, proportionately, the Test got even more attention than it does to-day, and yet the scries of matches was only in its infancy, so to speak. This is what "The Post" of fifty years ago Las to say, and names will be recognised that are still names to conjure with in the cricket world: —;"Great interest will centre iv the match to be played on Monday next between the Australians and tho All England representatives. In our cable new 3 to-day will £c found the names of tho twelve of tho foremost cricketers in England from which will be selected the eleven who will do battle for tho honour of the Old Country. First we have the ' Three Graces' of Gloucestershire. Mr. tV. G.I Grace still stands without a rival as an all-round cricketer. Last year he did not play quite so well as in -previous years, but still had the best averago as a batsman among the leading cricketers, namely 35.5. His largest score in one innings was 123. Ho is also, of course, well known as a fine bowler and 1 brilliant field. His brothers, although they do not equal his prowess, still worthily maintain the name of the family. Both are splendid all-round players, Mr. E. M. Grace being considered the best amateur point in the county. The name of Lord Harris (Kent), who brought out the English team to Australia, is familiar all over the world as that of a most enthusiastic cricketer, and one of tho best amateur batsmen of the day. Mr. P. Pcnu, another Kentish man included in tho team, is also a fino batsman, with plenty of defence and great hitting power; on one occasion last year he acorcd 134 by almost faultless cricket, in the match M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge University. Another dangerous bat and quick run-get-ter as the Hon. A. Lyttelton, a member or the Cambridge University Eleven, who also plays for Middlesex. He is generally considered to be the best amateur wicket-keeper of the day. Mr. A. K. Steel, another Cambridge man, is iiiso a rising cricketer. Of Mr. I. D. \Valker it is necessary to say very HUlo, known as' he is far and wiuo as a cricketer .of the I very first.order, and a captaiu who has led some of tho best teams in England to victory. Ho plays for Middlesex and is a fine batsman, his drives to the offside being specially noticed, in the field he is almost unapproachable as raid-off. Mr. A. P. Lucas is a member of the Surrey County Eleven, and is an admirablo batsman, a splondid Hold,, and a good slow round-arm bowler. In addition to this very strong contingent of amateurs, tho team possesses throe uotod professionals—Alfred Shaw, Morley. and Barnes, all Nottingham men. Shaw is well-known as a medium pace bowler and a, good short-slip. Morley ia tho best letf-hand fast bowler in England, and is also a good batsman, wiolding the willow also with his loft hand. Barnes is a first-class slow bowler, and played sovei-al fine innings last season m first-class matches." Summarising 'the prospects, "The Post" adds: "Altogether it will bo seen that the contest will be one of the

most exciting that havo taken place on the Lord's Ground, where, we believe, it is arranged to bo played; and, should the Australians win, they may fairly consider themselves tho champions of the world. Several of their best players have refrained from taking part in recent minor matches—probably with a view to saving themselves for the 'big event' of Monday." The Australians, who were captained by W. L. Murdoch, could not call themselves champions of the world, for they were well beaten, which made the record in tho series of Test Matches between England and Australia stand at two wins each. In the 1880 match, the only Test of that year, Australia batted first and made 149 in the first innings. England replied with 420, of which the redoubtable W. G, Grace made 152, being a century on his first appearance for England. Australia did better in their second knock, making 327 (Murdoch 153 not out). This left England 57 to win, but five xviekets were lost in making this modest total The match, incidentally, was played at the Oval, like the present one, and not at Lord's as "The Post" thought would be the case.