Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 80, 11 January 1902, Page 6

Cricket.

The second test match between the English and Australian cricketers was mainly remarkable for the fine batting shown by the two latest players to gain the distinction of representing Australia. The Sydney ' Bulletin," in one of its recent issues, stated that it had given up prophesying on cricket matches — • they were generally too uncertain, and the prophet was more or less astray. I mention this just to draw attention to a paragraph winch, appeared in anothei Sydney paper. In giving the names of the New South Wales team of cricketers that left Sydney to play against Victoria the following comment appeared — "In the event of Poidevin's dislocated finger not preventing him playing, it is thought that R. A. Duff -will stand out in Melbourne. The Shoreman is a splendid cricketer, but has hardly yet struck his true form, whereas the others are all performing with more or less success." This reads strangely, in view of the fine performances of Duff in the test match just concluded, more particularly in the second innings, when he scored 104 off his own bat. Armstrong's debut in international cricket was also a good one. his second innings sdone of 45 (not out) being distinctly meritorious He was also not out in the first innings, with a score of 4. Clem Hill (99), Trumper (lb). Noble (16), Trumble (16). Darling (23), Gregory (17) — all familiar names m Australian cricket— added their quota, to the total score of 353 in the second innings. The first innings of both teams was noticeable for small scoring — the Australians totalling 112, as against 61 by the Englishmen. Duff (32), Darling (19) Trumhle (16), Hill (15), and Jones (14) made tlie majority of the runs on the Australian side. Jessop (27) and Maclaren (13) getting between them more than half the English total. With the big score of 405 to make in order to win, the Englishmen appeared to have a hopeless task m front of them, and such it proved. Even if the weather had kept fine, I think the result would have been the same, though not by such a large margin of runs — 220. Tyldesley (66), Jessop (32), Quaife (25). and Hayward (12) got double-figure scores Noblo successfully silenced all his> critics by his brilliant feats with the ball — seven w lckets for 17, and six for 60 — 13 for 77. Trumble was a worthy assistant to him lus averages reading three for 38 and four for 49 — -seven foi The tlurd test match u> to commence at Adelaide on the 16th instant and much interest is already being taken in it. The probable result is an unfailing theme ot discussion in cricketing carcles. A general opinion prevails that Jones and Howell have both been given a fail show now, and should make way for other players. There seems hardly am doubt that George Giffen will be among the eleven in the Adelaide match and How all ought to he pu + aside in his favour. Poidevin or Hacl: bpmg given the other place. • * • The mabiht\ of Clai ke to plaj on account of an nijuied shoulder, and the unkind fate that caused Saunders to be stranded m New Plymouth after he had made a laudable effort to get back in time to resume his place at the batting create., seemed to oast a damper on the Phoenix team last Saturday previous to resuming nla\ m their match against Midland However, the clouds lifted a bit while Waters and Midlane w r ere defying the Midland bowlers, the total being carried from 8 to 48 befoie Waters was caught out off Holdswoith Hicke-v followed and by careful encket kept his end up so well that 99 was put on the board when Stevenson sent a good one past him. Benhow was unfoitunate in getting the worst of the decision in a close thm? the umpire giving him run out thouofh miinv of the spectators thoua,i t diffoipntlv Nivrn was soon out "lbw," foi sonip reason, be.st known to himself, battma: on his off stump instead of the centie with the result that the first straight ball hp missed found him square on in fiont of the sticks Midlano was- all the time batting confidonth and adding many a run to the total Wlipn Popp came in thp end was

thought to be very near, but the< unexpected again happened, for, despite changes in the bowling Dick" successfully engineered them all till the score reached 162, when he was unfortunate in back-hitting a ball on to his wickets that he had met with his pad. Having a lead of 23 on the first innings, the Phoenix thus gave their opponents a total of 186 to make to win After getting 34 for one wicket stumps were drawn in a failing light and a drizzling rain, which had more or les« discomforted the pi avers all the afternoon. The game will be concluded on Satuiday afternoon, and the finish should be morp than interesting. • * * The Wellington — Old Boys' match w as earned on on No 2 wicket, with but little interest being td.uen in. it. The older club continued its innings, and occupied the wickets all the afternoon, the total beng 390 for five wickets when stumns were drawn. Richardson (151), Hickson (8o), Weybourne (59), Gore (32), Ashbolt (30), Crombie (12 not out) all had an interesting time with the bat. * * • Midla,ne's was a good innings, and full of masterly strokes There was only one blemish in it, a difficult catch in the slips being missed bv Urmam. His score of 73 (not out) was made by strokes all round the wicket, some of his lee: hits being very sweet ones. Waters' display was lively _ The on drives were particularly effective, his total of 23 being made up principally from strokes of that description. Hickey (16) and Pope (18) did their best to keep their end up while Midlane attended to the score. It was their best game, and proved of immense value to the side. Stan Hickson rattled up his score in quick time, the majority of his strokes being boundary hits. Richardson made lv& century and a half w ith plenty of vim Ins scoring leg stroke predominating. Weybourne's score included a couple ot slashing drives past the bowler, and cuts to the boundary weie prett\ frequent. * • » Tlie weathei was the reverse of plea.sant, and rnanj more dajs like Saturday w ould take the edge right off cricket as a sport. The discomforts of playing on Saturday were many. By the wa> it is nearly' time the local Cricket Association adopted the rule of the Maivlebone Club, whereby the onus of continuing a match, either on account of the weather or of the light, is throw n on the captains of the competing teams, and removed from the umpires I have said this before, and only desire to mention it once again. The tour of the Hawke's Bay team is not proving much of a success. Otago carried too many guns for them and the second match of the tour resulted in a loss. At the time of wntmg the match with Canterbury is in progress, and the Bay team have so far the best of the deal, being -39 runs to the good on the first innings. Out of their total of 199 Trott made G8 and Dent 06, and the wickets were divided among these two— Trott seven for ."38 and Dent three foi 66 [Since the above was put into type Hawke« Bay won the match by six wickets— Tiott 80 (not out). Dent 30 (not out) 1 The North Island-South Island match has been fixed to be played in, Wellington on February 28th, March Ist and 3rd Mr. J. Baker (Dunedin) has been appointed selector of the South Island team, the Noith Island selector not havm? been anointed yet In mv opinion Mr Alf Ashbolt would fill the bill with satisfaction to the North Island cricketers, and the Association would not be making a mistake if tliev appointed him . The innings of 20 pla\ed b,\ C. Bljthe m the first test match is the largest he has ever compiled m a first-class match Out of fifty-eight test matches that haw been played the Englishmen have won the toss thirty -one times and the Australians twenty -seven. The Auckland "Obscrvei" sa\ s that it must have been a gieat ''take down' toi the Haw kes Bay cricketers, w ith the assistance of Albeit Tiott, to be made such a holy show of b\ Wellington m the vecond innings