CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

The first series of matches in the second round of the Auckland Cricket Association cup competitions will be completed this afternoon, the fixtures set down for decision being Auckland v. United, Gordon v. Ponsonby, and Parnell v. North Shore. Wanting 211 runs to win, United are set a pretty stiff task in their match against Auckland, and this match should prove decidedly .interesting to onlookers.

The Auckland eleven batted on a perfect wicket against United last Saturday, when no less than seven members of the team got into double figures, and a very creditable exhibition of cricket was given. Nicholson, who topped the score with 55, Shepherd, Ncill, and Cossey all played well, tho firstnamed in particular giving a really attractive display with the bat. Stemson was the most destructive of the United bowlers, while the fielding throughout was splendid, D. Hay being nothing short of brilliant in this department. It is no light undertaking that United will enter upon this afternoon, but if D. Hay and D. Clayton get going with the bat there is every prospect of an exciting wind, up to the match. Although 210 is a very tidy total to top, it will be remembered that _ a couple of seasons ago United' averago innings for tho season worked out handy to tho figures mentioned. . " In the Gordon-Ponsonby match, in which tho first-named side scored 244- runs, the burly Kallender ga.vo the outfield a busy time, and 112 runs stood to his credit before Lundon succeeded in capturing his wicket. The Gordonite played a sterling game, not giving a single chance, and it seems that he is getting back to his old form of a season or two ago. Dr. Pabst played sound cricket for his quota of 49, and 11. Lnsk. (39) and Hicks (23, not out) also shaped well for their runs. In the absence of Mills Ponsonby's bowling was weak. Parnell look liko beating North Shore, as after dismissing the home team for 138 they have run up 102 for the loss of four wickets. For North Shore, Wynyard (35), Corner (24), and Barron (22) were the principal rungetters, while Dusk (38) and Gavin (31) were tho chief contributors to Parnell's score. Lusk was also to the fore with the ball for Parnell, getting five wickets at a cost of4B runs. Bowling for Shore, Corner took two wickets for 10 runs. HERE AND THERE.

Maclaren'f. eleven aro now playing a county team at Melbourne. Maclarea has won the toss 'in all three test matches played in Australia. The fourth test match, England v. Australia, will bo commenced at the Sydney •Cricket Ground on Friday, February 14. It is quite possible that on his return to England in May Albert Trott will join a team which Brockwell, the Surrey professional, is raising for America next season. Duff and Armstrong's partnership of 120 in the second test match against the Englishmen is the only one on record of three figures for a tenth wicket. The previous record, 98, was held by Briggs and Hunter. Hugh Trumble's hat trick in the second test match is the twelfth performance of the kind by an Australian in first-class cricket. It is the second by H.T., the first having been accomplished at Cheltenham against Gloucestershire in 1896. Albert Trott regards Sims, of Canterbury, as tho best batsman he saw while on the Southern tour with tho Hawke's Bay representatives, with Midlane, of Wellington, a very good second. He preferred Sims as being more patient and correct in his play. The differences between the committee of tho Auckland Cricket Association and the Auckland Umpires and Scorers' Association with regard to tho appointment of umpires, have not yet been settled. It is to be hoped that a further effort will be made to arrive at some satisfactory understanding. '■■■■ On one occasion only since test matches commenced has Noble's average of 5.92 for 13 wicketssecond test matchbeen beaten by a bowler who -took 10 wickets or more. In 1888, at Sydney, Peel secured 10 wickets for 58, which gives an average of course of 5.8; but Noble's feat of seven wickets for 17 in the Englishmen's first innings, has never in the one innings been excelled. In last week's notes I drew attention to the fact that among the Wilson Barrett Com—now touring the colonythere aro many enthusiastic cricketers, and from latest Southern files to hand it seems that in Rice they have a reully first-class batsman. Against tho first Carisbrook (Dunedin) mixed team recently, he scored 41, and almost carried his bat, and against the second team a few days later he made 33. Mr. F. ,T. Ohlson received a telegram from the secretary of tho New Zealand Cricket Council (.Mr. Raphael) informing • him that lie had been appointed sole selector of the North Island team to play in the match North Island v. South Island, and asking if he would accept the same. Mr. Ohlnon lias, I understand, wired to the effect that he will accept. The appointment should give general satisfaction, as the Parnell " skipper's" wide experience of cricket and cricketers thoroughly qualifies him for the position. The captain of the English team in Australia, _ Mr. A. C. Maclarcn, has written the following letter to tho Adelaide Register: — "It has been stated in the papers that tho Hampshire Club has offered me the post of assistant-treasurer with a salary. As soon as I knew this was correct, owing to receiving the full report of tho meeting, I wrote Home declining the post. It is perhaps unnecessary to add that I receive no salary from the club whatsoever." It will be re- { membered that tho English papers gave it out that Maclaren received £300 a year from the Lancashire County Club, and that at the annual meeting of the Hampshire Club tho j chairman said that he would be given a simi- | lar position, with a salary, in the Hampshire Club. Tho matter gave rise to great dis- > cussion in tho English press. Trumble's recent "hat trick" against Maclaren's team was a remarkable performance. Jones , made a stroke, ho and Gunn crossed, the former was caught; the new batsman, ' Barnes, did not take the strike; Gunn then lifted Trumble out to .Tones, the batsmen crossed, Gunn was caught, and Blytlic, tho newcomer, did not take the strike; Barnes was then caught and bowled by Trumble, and Blythe consequently did not receive a ball. Those who have done tho " hat trick" since 1877 are; —

F. R. Spofforth, Melbourne, 1879, Boyle, McKinnon, and Einmett. W. Bates, Melbourne, 1883, McDonnell, Giffen, and lion.ior. J. T. Hearne, Leeds, 1899, Hill, Gregory, Noble. H. Trumble, Melbourne, 1902, Jones, Gunn, and Barnes. Writing in Count}' Sport of November 23, Dr. W. G. Grace says:—J. Darling,, in a letter to Major Wardill refers to the absence of Hirst and Rhodes- in Maclaren's team. He says Hirst was a rank failure with hat and ball with Mr. Stoddart's team, and that Rhodes was only dangerous on a sticky wicket. This assertion is partly misleading, as Hirst was not a failure by any means as far as batting was concerned. In tho five test matches he had an. average of 29, and in all matches his average was 33. The less said about his bowling the better, as in the test matches ho took only two wickets, and had 304 runs scored off his bowling, and in all matches ho took 20 wickets, with an average of 43 runs per wicket. This last season Hirst bowled as he has never bowled before, and if lie can bowl in the same way next season, I think Darling and the rest of the Australians will have had quite enough of Hirst and Rhodes before the tour is over. I played against Hirst at Hastings, so can give a fair opinion of his bowling. I consider him without doubt one of tho best and most difficult bowlers I over played against, especially so for the first eight or ten overs. He makes tho ball swerve 2ft or 3ft in the air, and with a little wind to help him he is simply unplayable. _ In the course of an interview on his return from the recent Southern, tour of the Hawke's Bay representative team, Albert Trott gave his impressions of cricket and cricketers in tho South. In the course of his remarks tho Anglo-Australian questioned the fairness of Downes' (Otngo) deliver}', and this, naturally enough, is resented by Southern writers. On the subject, " ShortSlip" says: This is an old cry, and I thought was disposed of for ever. I am reliably informed that Trott took no exception to Downes' bowling when lie saw him playing in Christchurch, and when asked the question at Carisbrook, would he no-boll Downes? he said no, that his delivery was perfectly fair. Yet, in faco of ,this, he says to a Northern interviewer . that he has doubts about it. It seems to have been an afterthought, suggested probably by hearing some players remarking about it. Phillips, who has a world-wide reputation as an um-

pire, took no exception to the Otago bowler's delivery, although he umpired at Dovraes" end on the visit of the last Australian team here. No exception was taken in Australia to the delivery when the New Zealander went to the other side a few years back and yet we have this cry resurrected after being buried for a number of years. With all due deference to Trott, and the few remaining cricketers who still have a doubt about the matter, I prefer to rely on Phillips, /who cannot be accused of not having the courage of his opinions, for he has no-balled some of the big guns in England quito recently. The fact of the matter is that Downes is a phenomenal bowler, and has been for a number of years instrumental in beating tho rival: provinces, and several players up north seem to be slow to admit his ability, but prefer to cast round for other reasons for defeat. THE TEST MATCHES.

The third test match, England v. Australia, was concluded cn the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, and resulted in a win for the colonials with four wickets to spare, thus placing them in the lead for the fight for the ashes with two of the three test matches played to their credit. The game, owing to its varying fortunes, was followed on this side with keen interest. -...; In their first innings Maclaren's team, soore<L3Sß, against the 321 of the home eleven, while in their second effort the visitors, batting one man shortßarnes was absent through illness—put together 247, thus leaving the . Australians with 315 to get to win. This they succeeded in doing with the loss of six wickets, as mentioned above. Clem., Hill, who is' undoubtedly the foremost batsman of Australia at the presentday, and was unfortunate in only getting within one ran of the century in the second innings of the second test match, was again dogged, by the same bad luck, his respective efforts with the bat in the match just concluded being 98 and 97. The young South Australian—ho was born oil March 18, 1877, and consequently will be 25 years of age in a few weeks a splendid record in firstclass matches, arid has gained the best average in matches fo- his State against English teams. He made his first score of over 50 in first-class cricket in December, 1892, when he put up 60 _ for South Australia against New South Wales at Adelaide. His first century was made in April, 1895, when he scored 150, not' out, for South Australia against Stoddart's English team on the same ground, and since that time lie has registered 18 centuries in first-class cricket, including his 107 for South Australia against Maclaren s team, at Adelaioe last November, and his memorable score of 365 (not out) made against the representatives of New South Wales (also at Adelaide) in December of 1900.

The story of the matches shows that the advantage is with England. Out of the 59 matches played Australia has secured 22 victories. Of these only seven have been victories on English soil, while 15 have been won on Australian wickets. England- lias a lead of six wins on homo wickers.

Prior to the first visit of a team under Mr. Stoddart's captaincy Australia was scarcely tho power in the cricket world she now is, but since 1895 tho Englishmen have played Australia 21 times. Of these 21 games Australia won eight of the 13 played in Australia, and each has won two of the eight played in England. On the whole, prior to 1899, the Englishmen generally beat Australia in England, and a victory for the colonials caused a sensation.

In Australia, on the other hand, tho issue up to 1894-95 was always open, ,'jinee that season the "odds" have been on Australia. Since the first match in Australia in 1877, Australia has won 15 games, England 14, and one has been drawn. England has, in fact, won 14 " away" and 13 " home" matches, while, as already stated, eight of Australia's 15 home successes have beeft achieved since 1894-95. "All in," whatever way the remaining test matches of the present tour may go, England must retain a lead of at least two. HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES.

Tho highest individual score on. record is 628 riot out, made by a boy of 14 years of age, named Collins. He carried his bat right through the innings, which totalled 836, and his score included 1 six, 4 fives, 31 fours 33 threes, and 146 twos. Although it is two years since Collins put up his record, we have not heard of his doing anything extraordinary in the interval.

A. C. Maclaren, the captain of the English team now in Australia, holds the record of 424 for the highest score in first-class cricket. 1 hat record lias stood for six years, without being beaten, though in the following year Jack Worrali, the captain of the Victorian team which has just been beaten by New South -Wales, went very close to it. In the following list of scores of over 350, no less than four of the names are Australian: — ALL SCORES OVER 350.

*628—A. E. J. Collins, Clarices House v. North Town, at Clilton College, June 22, 25, 25, 27, and 28, 1899. 485—A. E. Stoddart, Hampstead v. Stoics, at liampstead, August 4, 1835. 424—A. C. Aiaolaren, Lancashire v. Somersetshire, at Taunton, July 15, 16, and 17, 1895. *419— S. Oarrick, West of Scotland v. Priory Park, at Chichester, July 13 and 11, 1835. *417— J. Worrall, Carlton v. Melbourne Lni■urV%Slt, at Carlton, February 8, 1896. 415—w. N. Eoe, Emmanuel College L.V.C. v. Cains College L.V.C., at Cambridge, July 12 and 13, 1881. 404— 1- .8. Tylecote, Classical v. Modern, at fiii on College, May 14, 19, and 26, 1803 402— T. War no, Carlton v. Richmond, at Carl'L™ , t O , 1 '. December 3. 10, and 17, 1898. <100— W. G. Grace, TJ.S.E.E. v. Twenty-two of Grimsby and District, at Grimsby, July 10, 11, and 12, 1876. Major Spens, United Services v. Nondescripts, at Portsmouth, August 9 and ,10, 1882. • b *565— E. Burn, Wellington v. Derwent, at Ilobart, February 25, March 4 and 11, 1899. *365—Clem. Hill, South Australia v. New South Wales, at Adelaide, December 17 and 18, 1900. *357— Abel, Surrey v. Somerset, at the Oval, May 29 and 30, 1899. OVER 300 IN FIRST-GLASS MATCHES 344— G. Grace, at Canterbury, August, 1876. 338—' W. Read, the Oval, June. 1838. 323— F. E. Lacey. at Southampton. May. 1887. —W. L. Murdoch, N.S.W. v. Victoria, at Sydney. February, 1882. W.G. Grace, at Cheltenham, August, 1876. *315— T. Hayward, at the Oval, August. 1898. 311— T. Brown, at Sheffield, Jul 1897. ,'.o4—Major Poorc > at Taunton, July, 1899. 301— W. G. Grace, at Bristol, August, 1896. 300— J. T. Brown, at Chesterfield. August, 1898. 300—V. Trumncr, for Australia v. Sussex, July, 1899. * Signifies not out. LONGEST PARTNERSHIPS FOR FIE WICKETS.

554-J. T. Brown (300) and J. Tunnicliffe (243), i orkshire v. Derbyshire, at chester- „„„ „ field, August 18, 19, and 20, 1898. 472— Colman (209) and I. Coles (247, not out), Devonshire Park v. G. W. Morrison's XI., at Eastbourne, August 31, 1892. *470— Wilson (216. not out) and W. G. Wyld (203, not out), Beckenham v. Bexley, at Beokenham, August 1, 1885. 440— N. ; Cobbold (163) and W. B. Gray (218. not, out), West Wratting v. Fitzwilliam Hostel, at West AVratting . Park (Camber.), May 21, 1891. 404—Viscount Throwley (123) and W. F. Forbes (331), A. E. Fellowes' XI. v. Huntingdonshire, at Huntingdon, July 12 and 13, 1881. *403—11. M. Braybrooke (256, not out) and J. H. Kolsey (135, not out), Blue Mantles v. Eastbourne College, on the Saffrons, Eastbourne, May 15, 1899. *402— J. Shuter (304, not out) and T. Ash down (62, not out), IS ex ley v. Emeriti, at Bexley, Juno 14, 1884. 399—P. M. Atkins (238) and Alec. Hearne (150), Mote Park v. St. Lawrence (Canterbury), at Maidstone, August 17, 1887. —J. Slight (279) and J. Rosser (192), South Melbourne v. St. Kilda, at Melbourne, January 27 and 28, 3883. *391— H. Meek (192, not out) and P. C. Pollitt (150, not out), F. C. a re's XI. v. Fenton l'.al), at Fen ton. Hall, August 4, 1877. 391— O. Jones (250) and A. Shrewsbury (146), Notts v. Gloucestershire, at Bristol, June 8, 9, 10, 1899. 379— R. Abel (173) and ,W. Broekwell (225), Surrey v. Hampshire, at the Oval. August 9, 10, 11, 1897. 378— J. T. Brown (311) and J. TunniclifTe (147), Yorkshire v. Sussex, at Sheffield, July 12, 13. 14, 1897. 367— E. Burn (247) and L. H. MacLeod (108), Wellington v. Break-o'-Day, at Hobart, 1895. 364—D. L. A. Jephson (213) and E. Abel (193), Surrey v. Derbyshire, at tho Oval, August 30, 31, and September 1, 1900. 363— F. Perrin (247, not out) and A. E. Grant; (123), Crouch find v. Lauderdale, at Croncli End, June 6, 1901. 356— K. Scott (164) and lion. M. G. Talbot (172). Royal Engineers v. I. Zingari, at Chatham. August 20 and 21, 1875. 355— W. L. Murdoch (200, not out) and W. G. Grace, jun. (150), London County v. Erratics, at the Crystal Palace, Sep- .. tember 16, 1901. *353—C. E. Brought,on (159, not out) and G. C. Fitzgerald (159, not, out), Cains College v. Emmanuel College, at Cambridge, May 24, 3882. * For no wicket.