CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10599, 7 March 1895, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND* [Special to Press Association.] MELBOURNE. March 6. The weather yesterday was a day of days. In the morning the sky was heavy, and a sharp cold southerly wind chilled to the bona. Towards midday the wind freshened to a gale, driving heavy clouds of dust through the city. The cricket ! ground for two hours after play began ; was hemmed in by thick banks of dust, j which, combined with the smoke from ! passing trains, helped to obliterate the j view. Hats and sheets of paper were j blown across the playing area. The | awning of the ladies’ pavilion was tOrn i away, and frequently spectators on the j other side o[ the field were invisible, while j the players could only be seen dimly moving j about the grass. The dull atmosphere i was suggestive of an eclipse ; later in the S day the clouds passed away. The supply j of dust in Melbourne gave out, and a j pleasant afternoon succeeded. Iredale's . batting was graceful and keen, as it always is, though much 1 slower than usual, but, unfortunately, j there was not enough of it. Tho two ! batsmen most deserving of credit on the Australian side were Giffen and Darling. Giffan’s innings was an almost classic j sample of sound and stubborn cricket, j There was an uncomfortable suggestiveness j of desperation about Graham’s batting, j At the start he made three wild lunges j forward at Richardson, Ha missed the j first two bails, but got hold of the third, | and banged it away to the fence. The ! suspicion grows that Albert Trott is over- | rated as a cricketer. He does nob lack , energy or agility, and on some wickets can ; bowl very destructively; even as a bowler j he is fairly green; in batting, though, he | may get started, and hit up a pair of j tremendous scores. He is well outside the ; first-class. A few failures like this will do him a world o! good, and give Victoria one of the best cricketers Australia has produced. Richardson bowled much better than he had previously done in Australia. Most of the balls he sent in came right across the wicket, and by bowling all day he completely upset the popular theory that he tires easily. Stoddart was highly pleased with his success. Briggs is on the list of partially disabled. One of his legs has given way, the muscles being strained to such an extent that tho limb is practically gone.

People are already talking of an Australian eleven visiting England next year. A well-informed South Australian says that Giffen is eertainto be a member of it. Others who are looked upon as unquestionable are Darling, Gregory, Iredale and the Trott brothers. It is highly probable that Eady will also be offered a place. Ho turns out to be a fairly good bowler, who at times gets up to Richardson’s pace, and, with a little coaching, may possibly supply Australia’s present want of a reliable fast bowlor.

A light drizzling rain fell at 11 a.m. but the weather cleared, and it was fine when play was resumed, though still dull and threatening all the afternoon. The attendance was remarkably good, and the greatest interest was taken in the match. The wicket played well throughout the day. Off H. Trott’s first ball, the English captain, who had scored 11 on the previous day, was given out Ibw. Two for 28. Brown came in, and in the first over Giffaa missed him in the slips. How expensive this mistake was, was only shown subsequently! Brown began by cutting Giffen to cover-point for 4, being well run. Ho then cut Trott for a couple, and for an off drive obtained a single. He sent Giffen high to leg for 4, and similarly treated the next ball, following it up by cutting him to cover for 3. Off Giffen’a nest over Brown made a couple of pretty late cuts, and then a nice glance to log for a brace, winding up by hitting him to log for 4. At 75 Albert Trott relieved his captain, and Brown cut him for a single, Ward driving the same bowler for a single. Then the Yorkshireman opened out and cut him to the fence for 4. Both batsmen were scoring freely, singles and couples coming in frequent succession. With the board showing 87, M’Eibbin relieved Harry Trott, and off his first ball, which only pitched half way, Brown scored a couple. Both batsmen appeared quite at ease, and the century was brought up by Brown banging M’Kibbia to the rails, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the English supporters. Evidently ‘the batsmen were there to stay, as no liberties were taken with the bowling, which was treated with respect, and unless off the wicket the ball was only patted along the carpet. At 115 Bruce replaced Trott, sending down a maiden, and Giffen again went on at the pavilion end. Ward showed his appreciation of the Australian captain by sending him to leg for a triplet, and in the next over registered a couple of very nice square-leg hits off Bruce. Brown at this time was not idle, and sent Bruce once to leg for four, and drove him for a similar number. M’Eibbin relieved Bruce at 132, and his third ball Ward out to cover for 3. Giffen bowled a maiden. M’Eibbia bowled a wide, and his next getting within reach. Brown put it to leg for 4. Giffen was keeping a good length, but with the view of effecting a separation, Bruce was taken off in place of Lyons, Brown driving hia first ball to long-on for a couple. At 144 Giffen took himself off. A. Trott took up the trundling from the pavilion end. When the gong sounded for lunch the score was two wickets for 145 runs. Brown up to this had batted with the utmost freedom and great determination, scoring rapidly, making 23 in the first ten minutes, and 36 while Ward made 2. Ha had made 46 before he gave a hard chance to Giffen. Ward should have been taken by Gregory when he had scored 21. On resuming, the batsmen were soon again to work, the brothers Trott being entrusted with the ball. Only a few runs had been scored when Brown placed one dangerously near Giffen, and 4 resulted. Brown was the chief punisher, and laying the wood on brought up several fours. He put Harry Trott to lag for two, and walking out to the next ball drove him high to on, bringing up his century, which was greeted with enthusiasm. Euas still coming fast, at 179 Giffen relieved the younger Trott, the latter taking the pavilion end. This, however, did not stop the run - getting. Brown and Ward playing with the greatest confidence. A few minutes later Ward gave a chance behind the wickets, which Jarvis did not accept. Brown made three sharp snicks in the slips off Giffen, and then four leg-byes were run. Brown then had a narrow escape of being caught, driving one from A. Trott just beyond his brother’s reach at point, bub only a single resulted. Ward bit one of young Trott’e up, and All the field-appealed when Jama took

it, bnt Phillips disallowed the catch. Brown cut Albert Trott for a single, and a little later on brought up the second century by a nice drive along the carpet. The appearance of 200 on the board was heralded with cheers, and was the result of an hour and thirty - five minutes’ dashing play. The bowling was evidently mastered, each man scoring freely; and Ward getting fairly hold o£ one from Giffen, lifted it among. ' the crowd, five resulting. With 22Q jon the telegraph, M’Kibbin relieved ! Trott, and the batsmen appeared to relish j him, 9 runs being registered off his second' j over. With 238 showing, Giffen brought | about the downfall of Brown by a splendid' ! catch off M’Kibbin. The outgoing batsman ■ had been at the wickets for two hours and j thirty-five minutes for his total of 140 I runs, which included fifteen 4*s, seven S’s, j and fourteen 2’s. It is generally ad- | mitted that such a perfect exhibition; iof batting and powerful and vigorous S hitting has never before been seen lon the ground. Brown received % i great ovation on his return to the pavilion. . The partnership of Ward and he had pro* duced 210 runs, and stuck up the bowling ! completely. M’Luren joined his fellow* j countyman, and was soon at work, both ! Ward and he scoring singles and couple* in quick succession. With a view to stop the continuous run-getting, H. Trott again I went on, this time relieving M’Kibbin. | Iredale badly missed Ward off him, 2 runs 1 resulting. At 274 A. Trott relieved Giffen, j and when another quartette had been j added, principally through the aid o£ I Ward, H. Trott dismissed the latter | exactly as four o’clock was striking—— ' four for 278. Ward had knocked up 193 runs in three hours twenty-seven ’ minutes, and his score comprised one ;5, 'six 4’e, eight S’s and seven 2’b. | Peel joined issue, and began by lifting j Trott to squaro-leg for four; and a single and couple to each batsman resulted in 290 appearing. M’Laren drove Giffen for ! a single, and Peel drove him for 3, and then the Yorkshire professional made the winning hit by driving Harry Trott almost to the fence, but 4 were run. The crowd cheered the Englishmen lustily on their returning to their rooms. The attendance was estimated at 18,000. The following are the scores iTrewn ir.ti

Total for four wickets ssua BowiiiUG Axaitsis. —H. Trott two wickets for 63, GifEen one for 103, A. Trott no wicket for 56, M’Kibbiu one for 47, Bruce no wicket for 10, Lyons no wicket for 2. H. Trott bowled one np-ball and H’Kibbin two wides. The receipts at the gates, Ac., were over £4OOO. Of the five test matches _ played this season between the Australians and MJr Stoddarf a team, three have resulted itt favour of the Englishmen ‘and two in favour of the Australians. In the five matches the Englishmen scored 2399 runs for ninty-two wickets, an aver'? age of 26 runs per wicket, and the Australians 2822 runs for ninety wickets, or an average of 31*3 per wicket. The batting averages of the players engaged in the matches are as follows, the figures in brackets representing the number of completed innings :—Englishmen—Brown (8) 42-8, Ward (10) 41*9, Stoddart (9) 39-1, M’Laren (9) 26-27, Peel (9) 18'7, Ford (9) 18-7, Gray (2) 18-5, Briggs (9) 18-2, Lockwood (5) 17”8, Brookwell (10) 17*1, Phillipson (6) 10-3, Eichardson (6) 9*B. Australians—A. Trott (2) 102*5, GifEen (9) 62*7, Graham (S) 40*3, Gregory (9) 40*1, Blackham (2) 38*0, Irsdale (9) 87*4, H. Trott (9) 29-3, Darling (9) 28*7, Bruce (7) 28*1, Callaway (2) 26, Jarvis (5) 22, Lyons (6) 18*6, M'Kibbin (2) 18, Turner (3) 17*3, C. M’Leod (1) 17, Jones (1) 12, Headman (2) 10 5, Coningham (2) 6*5, Worrall (2) 5*5, Harry (2) 4, Trumble (2), I*s, Moses (1)1.

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Bruce, c M’Laren b Peel ... ... ... 22 H. Trott, b Briggs 42. Iredale, b Eicbardspn ... ... 8t Giffieu, b Peel ~ 57 Darling, o Ford b Peel 74 Gregory, c Pliillipson b Eichardson ... 70? Grabam, b Kicbardson ... ft Lyons, o Pbillipson b Lockwood ... 55 A. Trott, c Lockwood b Peel ... ... 10 M’Kibbin, c Peel b Briggs ... ... 23 Jarvis, not out ... ... 34 Extras ... -13 Total Bowling. Analysis.—Kicbardson three wicketi for 138 runs, Peel four for 114, Lockwood one for’ 72. Briggs two for 46, Brockwell no wicket for 5$» Ford no wicket for 9. - Second Innings. Bruce, c and b Peel ... ... u H. Trott, b Peel ... 42 . Giffen, b Bichardson ... ... m 51 Iredale, b Kicbardson .„ ... ... IS Gregory, b Kicbardson ... ,., ... 30 Darling, b Peel ... ... 50. Lyons, b Briggs ... ... 15 Grabam, Ibw b Kicbardson ... ... 10 A. Trott, b Kicbardson ... ... 0 Jarvis, not out 14 M'Kibbin, c Pbillipson b Kicbardson ... IS Extras IS Total ... 267 Bowling Analysis.— Kicbardson six wickets for 104 runs. Peel three for 89, Lockwood no wicket for 24, Briggs one for 37. Lockwood bowled two ao« balls * ENGLAND. First Innings. Brockwell, st Jarvis b H. Trott.,, >m 5 1 Stoddart, st Jarvis, b H. Trott 6a Ward, b irKibbin ..< 82 Brown, b A. Trott ... 30 M’Laren, bw b H. Trott ... ... ... 120 Peel, o Gregory b Giffen ... 73 Lockwood, c H. Trott b Giffen ... ... 5 Ford, o A. Trott b Giffen.., M 11 . Briggs, c H. Trott b Giffen ... 0 Pbillipson, not out... ... ,« $ Kicbardson, Ibw b H. Trott ... „ ll Extras ... ... ... ... ... SO Total... ... 385 Bowling Analysis.— Giffen four wickets for 130 runs, H. Trott four for 71, A. Trott one for 8»i M’Kibbin one for 73, Bruce no wicket for 7. Second Innings. Brockwell, c and b Giffen ... ... '5. Stoddart,Ibw b H, Trott ... ... 11 Brown, c Giffen b’M’Kibbin 140 Ward, b H. Trott ... ... ... ... 93 H’Laren, not out ... ... hi ... SO Peel, not out 15 Extras ... ... ». 14 'Ti-ifol fs\r* fnnr ... ‘ ... 298