CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3562, 29 June 1912, Page 9

CRICKET.

TRIANGULAR CONTESTTHE TEST MATCHES. July B—At8 —At Leeds, England v. South Africa. July 1-3 —At Lord’s, Australia v South Africa. July 29—At Manchester, England v. Australia. August s—At5 —At Nottingham, Australia v. South Africa. • August 12—At the Oval, England v. South Africa. August 21—At the Oval, England v. Australia.

THE AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND HOW THE MEN ARE SHAPING. (Special to the Sydney Referee.) It is pleasing, to find a few of the Australian team striking goad lorm. Charles Macartney is in great nicic, His first innings at Nottingham was a treat; in his second knock he was given out 1.b.w., a decision not meeting with general approval- The bowler, Riley, is left hand, and delivers wide round the wicket. lam almost behind the bowler, and was sure that the ball did not come back. I specially asked Macartney wheiher the ball did anything, and lie said no. But ho did not murmur. Sydney Gregory is in excellent form, placing and timing the ball well. He gives me the impression that he is going to have a successful tour. He is very keen, and out for runs in his modest way. A truly wonderful little batsman, he has led each innings, takiirg strike, and will perform well. MACARTNEY AND BARDSLEY ARE BRILLIANT.

'Warren Barsley showed good form at Lord's where the team had a week’s good practice prior to meeting Notts. He played very fine cricket against Essex; very sound, and, but for one chance, never looked like getting out. His form there was equal to anything I have ever seen him show. Macartney and he were together in the seventies. First one, then the other, would forge ahead, just a couple of runs separating them at the most. It was a sporting call with the public as to which would firstreach the century:. Macartney was 97 and Barsley 95. Macartney then made a beautiful drive for four. And his next stroke was clean over the fence for six. Then all of his hits were as merry as one could ever wish to see. He jumped to ISO in phenomenal time- Bardsley at this stage was 120, and"he was far from slow. Just to think of it, Bardsley going at them at a fast-scoring rate and getting 20 while Macartney scored SO. They piled the runs on by dashing cricket. It took Macartney just an hour and 13 minutes to score his second century. Fast and slow bowle:>s were treated the same by him. It was a treat- to watch. He was hatting altogether about- 3) hours. To see 498 runs scored in one day (12 till 6) can give you some idea of tne kind cf treatment the bowlers received. Beckenham is regarded by many as the best fast bowler in He bowled well, and kept a fine length, as did Johnny Douglas. Macartney got good command and banged them all over the place, making splendid-hard-hitting strokes all round the wicket. Douglas’ father was at the match, and becoming quite enthusiastic with the batting, remarked, “Fancy the cheek or the kid banging the fast bowling like that. ’ I wish “Not Out” had seen it. I heard it said that it is more than ten years since an Australian team beat- Essex. You will know, of course. [lt was 16 years. —“Not Out.”] The team is naturally elated over the two wins—so overwhelming. Edgar Mavne played good cricket on the Tuesday, making some very sweet cuts and drives, and, I think, will give a very good account of liimself, and will thoroughly justify his inclusion. if I am not- mistaken. -He made a couple of exceedingly good catches in the slips at NottinghamENGLISH CRITICS MICROSCOPIC. The team’s fielding at Essex created a- very good impression. Matthews fielded really well. The newspapers hero are not too kindly disposed. Some of them appear to take a ocliglit iii writing the team down. Good work done by an Australian player is not favorably reported, and should there be any blunders—well, tlie blemishes are very much dwelt upon. Emery is giving us all a taste of what lie can do with the ball —25 wickets ,at the time of writing—second innings of Surrey yet to go. He is keeping a good length, and bowled quite- a

long time at Essex without giving a “tripe’’ ball. His bowling at Lord’s to-day was also of very fine quality. Bird, the only -man who looked like getting runs against him, is a fine hitter. One ball he lifted from Eraery right over the pavilion at straight hit—a rare feat. Chatting with a few enthusiasts, they recalled a time when Jessop made a similar hit. It was a splendid stroke. Wonderful reach .Bird has; he almost, at times, makes a full toss from a good length ball. Whitty bowled with better judgment in this match than in any other to date —he should do well. BITING COLD AT KENSINGTON OVAL.

The day at Surrey was very cold; the only unpleasant one, with the exception of the second Saturday, which was wet, experienced since their arrival in England. Gome of the players wore two sweaters. The wind blew straight up and down the wicket at a terrific rate at times. Emery bowled a few full tosses (secured Hobbs' wicket iii one), hot many, otherwise Ms length was good. Whitty with the wind, did well. It rained a good deal on Wednesday night, and the wicket was “doing a bit.*' Sur-

rey von the toss, and their total was a poor one, as the wicket played easy. There were 5 down for 33 at one time. Then the players had to take shelter from a little hail and a fair shower of rain. After resumption of play the bowlers found it more difficult to command a length, but for the spell, I think, the side would not have reached near the total scored. However, it was a very fine performance. Sydney Gregory was bowled in a good one—first time under double figures; M arren Bardsley was also bowled in a clinker. Jennings was unfortunate Jn being run out. Shaping pretty well, he played a good stick at Nottingham, but was not too safe ut EsSOX.

It is lovely to.watrii Macartney, lie looks every inch a cricketer—and on bis form here I consider him to be one of the very best bats in the world —a big place, isnt’ it? Others can have Hobbs. I would just as soon have Macartney. He has been like a stone wall from the start of each innings, and then—well, Victor Trumper at his best is the c,nly batsman who gets such power and variety into his strokes as he is doing when He is established. lam looking forward to his making the highest aggregate over reached by an Australian on a tour this side of the world. Roy Mmnett and Charles Kelleway have done nothing with the bat so far; they are. however, bowling pretty well. Kelleway in particular, bowled •exceptionally well at Essex, showing good pa:e and making the ball swing, with a nip from the pitch.

I lioj>e to see these two shine shortly. Minnett has been spelling the last two matches, chiefly for the reason that he has a .bruised thumb: it is now comparatively O.K. The passage to England was glorious —as smooth as one could wish, and beyond two days in the tropics the heat was nothing out cf the way- Sydney Gregory remarked that in his many trips through the Red Sea none could be compared with what- this team experienced—a nice, light head breeze.