CRICKET.

Hastings Standard, Issue 501, 14 December 1897, Page 3

CRICKET.

CABLES.

THE ENGLISHMEN IN AUSTRALIA. THE FIRST TEST MATCH. GRAND STAND MADE BY ENGLAND. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) Sydney, Dec. 12. The first of the series of the test matches between the Australian and English elevens began to-day in splendid weather. There were 22,000 spectators present. Oat of respect to Stoddart the Australian team wore black crape bands. Board and Stoddart stood out of the English team, and Gitt'en and Donnan out of the Australian.

Maclaren gave a magnificent exhibition of cricket. After his disposal the wickets fell with some degree of rapidity. The fielding was excellent all round, Jones especially being brilliant. Play opened slowly. Maclaren had a narrow escape, .Tones nearly shifting his leg stump when only a couple had been scored. Then Maclaren brought the score to double figures after twenty minutes' play, by fluking one past his leg stump. Trumble raised a cheer by a smart return of a glance by Maclaren off Jones. Mason, who was playing very carefully, snicked a ilukey one to the boundary, bringing 26 up. -Jones then got him with a hot one. Hay ward filled the vacancy, but one of Jones's struck one of his legs, and temporarily disabled him. Mason went out to run for Hayward. Jones beat Ilayward with the next, and Kelly's appeal was disallowed. This was followed by dragging M'Kibbin to leg for four. Haywari was nonplussed by one of M'lvibbiu's, which he tried to get to leg: instead he just glanced it over the bails, Kelly letting it slip through his fingers, a couple of runs instead of a wicket was the result.

Maclaren slowly raised the score,playing his drives prettily, and displaying great- confidence - Hay ward, who had recovered sufficiently to do his own running, piled up runs quickly by many pretty cuts. M'Leod relieved Jones at 58. Maclaren laid up a small pile of 4's to his credit, hitting very hard. Truinble took M'Kibbon's place at C>7, and the double change troubled the batsmen not at all, both hitting 4 after 1. Then Trott took the ball from Trumble. Kelly missed Hayward off the captain's coaxing stuff. After lunch Hayward sent up a century with a drive off Jones, who had succeeded M'Leod. At this time it was a difficult matter to score off Trott's full pitchers, and the batsmen contented themselves with getting him away for singles occasionally. At 180 M'Kibbin replaced Trott, and Trumble took Jones' place. These rapid changes were appreciated by the players. The Surrey professional lifted Trumblehigh up to the fence, which was the hit of the day, and brought 150 up. Off M'Kibbin an unsuccessful appeal against Hayward was made both by the bowler and the wicket-keeper, but in the next over Trumble got Hayward, the latter being snapped at point by Trott. " Storer followed, and had a lively start, for in attempting to pull Trumble, he just tipped it over the slip's head. He was nearly stumped with the next ball, and shortly afterwards gave a difficult chance in the slips, which was not accepted. Maclaren continued to play with great freedom, and received a great ovation on reaching the century. After an adjournment, Storer's play improved somewhat. M'Leod succeeded Trumble, and in his second over Maclaren hit out at him, Kelly taking him smartly at the wicket, a feat which was loudly cheered. Druce was next, and had only made nine when he was missed at point by M'Kibbin, and shortly afterwards made a high drive to the boundary. Hill made a great try for the ball, and fell just as he reached it. Gregory, however, a little later dismissed Druce by a pretty catch. Donnan fielded for Hill, who hurt himself in his effort to catch. Storer almost immediately afterwards spooned one back to Trott. Hirst, who took Druce's place at the wicket, was hitting with great vigor, and a change of bowling was resorted to, Trumble replacing M'Leod, Eangitsinjhj took Storer's place, and met with an enthusiastic reception. He took things easy, and appeared somewhat out of form. Nevertheless he got in some fine strokes. Hirst gave a difficult chanco to Gregory from a lightning drive to the off, which was declined. He drove the next ball straight out of the ground. Jones succeeded M'Kibbin. Hirst clid mo 4of the work, the Prince getting on a boundary hit now and again. The following are the scores : England.—lst innings. Mason, b Jones ... 6 Hayw r ard, c Trott, b Trumble ... 72 Maclaren, c Kelly, b M'Leod ... 109 Storer, c and b Trott ... ... 43 Druce, c Gregory, b M'Leod ... 20 Ranjitsinhji, not out .= , ... By Hirst ; not out ... ... ... 37 Sundries ... ... 11 Total for 5 wickets ... 887 Bowling analysis.—Trott 1 wicket for 62, Trumble l for 71, McLeod 2 for 58, Jones 1 for 55, M'Kibbin 0 for 82. The wicket was slow when the match opened, but became faster as the afternoon advanced. The evening papers publish a statement to the effect that the promoters are crewing the matter of expenses in anything but a sportsmanlike manner and wonder iliat more have not followed Giffen's example. It is said that Gififen is fighting for ' a principle in this matter, and although i