THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM.

Evening Star, Issue 10933, 16 May 1899, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM.

THE VOYAGE HOME. The presence of the cricketers served to break down the barrier of restraint on board ship earlier than usual, and the first saloon people speedily became a happy—but mixed The pawnbroker niight have been seen pacing the deck with the bookmaker, the priest with the actress, or the publican with the refined English gentleman of leisure. An amusement committee, with Major Wardill as chairman and Mr J. W. Woodhead as secretary and treasurer, was formed on leaving Albany, and the handsome sum of £sl was subscribed for the prize fund. The first event of importance arranged was a Calcutta auction on the day’s run. Sixty passengers entered the sweep. Some numbers realised £2 apiece, and the winner turned up in Hugh Trumble, who bought for 12s number 362, which yielded him £l3 ss. Frank Downes, of Sydney, carried off second nrize. The Australian Eleven played their first match on April 2 against the other passengers, and won easily by 20 runs, though handicapped by being compelled to use narrower bats than their opponents. In deck cricket the wickets are pitched only 18yds apart; the balls, made of very fine rope strands by the deck-master, are of ordinary size; and the bat blades are only Sin wide. With the engine room on one side, a net on the ether, and canvas awnings above, it is hard to lose a ball, and run-getting is necessarily a rirky business. When runs are wanted the best plan is to take all manner of risks, bustle ” the fieldsmen, and play a game bordering on ** tip and run.” Trumper, Jones, and Laver bowled with deadly effect for the Australian Eleven, and Iredale carried his bat right through. Altogether the match lasted about two hours. The ship was rolling a little at the time, and consequently the bowlers managed some wonderful breaks. Another match of great interest was arranged between the first and second saloon passengers. The Australian players were barred; nevertheless, the first class won with an innings to spare. This was due to the unexpected si and by Bickford, of Adelaide, Major Wardill, and myself, and to very fine bowling by Dr Laver and Downes. Dr Laver is even taller than his distinguished brother, but in other respects the resemblance between the two is very striking. Between Albany and Colombo three concerts were held. The best was given in the second saloon, passengers from l oth classes contributing to a high-class programme. The stars were Miss Bel Loel, Miss Minnie Shine, and Mr Alf Noble, of Sydney, and Mr A. Rowley, an Adelaide tenor. The most amusing feature of this concert was the demeanor of the chairman (Canon Fame) when Mrs Luckman (known on the stage as Miss Minnie Cobb) was excuting a skiit dance. With apparent reluctance the Canon announced the dance, then, facing the large audience, he buried his face deeply in his hands. The situation was irresistibly comic, and the laughter became hilarious as the dancer, who entered fully into the fun of the thing, shot out her toes until she grazed the worthy chairman’s whiskers. The audience clamored for an encore, but the Canon, with his eyes still closed tight, waved down the unseemly demonstration. The skirt dance was also done in the presence of a priest; he, too, placed a hand over his eyes. The Amusements Committee drew up an excellent programme of sports, and many events remain to be decided. Fast-bowler Jones, as usual, carried off most of the deck games. After tieing with Trumper, Tremble, and Howell, he won the bowling at wicket (a single stump competition), Trumper securing second honors. Jones also won the potato in spoon race, and at diving for apples in a bucketful of water he was again successful. The latter contest created rears of laughter. The winner, who started out with the best natural equipment for such a competition, had no difficulty in securing the prize from J. J. Kelly. In the race for ladies oyer sixteen (note the discretion of the Committee) a warm favorite in Miss Loel fell at the start, leaving the Misses Christian, of Melbourne, to divide the prizes. All the cricketers are taking plenty of exercise in hopes of retaining their good form. Howell, anxious to rest his leg, confines himself to walking exercise. It is quite settled that the most will be made of Trutnper’s legbreak bowling in England. He has been asked to take every, opportunity of developing the break. Though Darling is the captain of the team, the veteran of the'.fourteen is Worrall. The sturdy Victorian acknowledges that when he visited England eleven years ago he did not deserve his place. In fact, he was only chosen because G. Giffen had refused to go when asked, and because the selectors could not come to terms with Midwinter. The youngster of the present team is Trumper, who was born when Clem Hill was seven months old.

The majority of the players have their nick-names. Gregory has two—“ Lollie ” and “ Tich,” the latter being the name of a diminutive comedian appearing in London. Because his initials are M.A., Noble is known as “ Maty Ann,” and Kelly is called “ Mother.” In properly pronouncing Laver’s flame the “a” is made long, but when in Sydney recently some of his friends were so amused by hearing hint called “ Lava ” that they straightaway christened him “ Vesuvius.” M“Leod, famous for his lack •of agility, has long since been named “ Lightning ” ; Clem Hill is widely known as “ Kruger,” Worrall as “ Grattan Riggs,” Jones as “Jonah” and “The Barrier Chief,” Iredale as “Nossy,” Howell as “Roty Bill,” and Hugh Trumble as “Gertie” and “Little Eva.” Every Australian eleven has its chorus song, to be given with great gusto on smoke nights. The air of a famous Dublin University song has done duty for several teams. Of course, new verses must be written for_ each eleven. The revised edition, sung with much success at the first smoke concert held on board, is as follows: We’re Australian cricketers all, “The Major” is our father; And off the cricket field We love the ladies, rather, Toujours, toujoura, Pour Bacchus et les amours, Yap, yap, yap; tra-la-la, la la, Yap, yap, yap; tra-la-la, la la, Yap, yap, yap; tra-la-la, la la, Pour Bacchus et les amours. There’s Hill and Darling, too, I’m sure won’t be a failure; For Joe’s a jolly good bat, And Clem daddy of Australia. Johns and Kelly are our ’keepers, As cool as two cucumbers; And people of Australia say That they are blooming wonders. There’s little “Tich” Gregory, So wondrous smart and bright; Gigantic Trumble, he Is quite the opposite. There’s “Lava” and Worrall, Of whom we are so proud; An unassuming man Is Light Geebung M‘Leod. In every cricket team ’ There is a noble man; We’ve just discovered ours— His name is Mary Ann.

There’s South Australian “Jonah,” He’s a doer, not a talker— A very good example of A young Australian stalker. And then there’s Vie Trumper, The youngest of the lot; There’s only one fault we’ve got to find— He talks such silly rot. There’s chatty Noss Iredale, Who’s never known to growl; A bowler with a sting Is Fanner Bees Bill Howell. And now, God bless our land, And for her rulers cheers; And bless God’s noblest work on earth— The Australian cricketeers. i—‘ .Town and Country’s ’ special.