CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17254, 2 September 1919, Page 10

CRICKET.

: THE LITE D. GREGORY. ■'$*£«. Dave Gregory'* death *A bis home ni._rurraimta.Ta on August -i, surprised cricketers generally, saya the Referee. Tho veteran looked as hearty as a aai> of 60 as he watched She Inter-State i match in Jxaoary. He was 75 years old, as straight as a. Ram-rod, and. was as obsvnriuit as one jo his physical prune when the winter last n«:th!m. _ Bay*, the eldest of the celebrated brothers in Sgjfe South Wales cricketi was th« most distinguished player /wjsong them.' life.first jappeariK* for New South Wales against Victoria in 1866, thai Is £3 years ago, and his last appearance was matte in ' 1882. in sixteen snatches he scored kt an average of over 1? runs per) innings, »L very, good performance lor the period, when runs were not made with the ease- of these times. Ho alto secured 528 wickets at an average of a i viße over It rates per wicket, but his bowling came urd-r the- bail of the umpires. now and tb,<!n, j-' .Sij -a the crest. single-wicket iiM.tch, .._»/ug. .V* that he confounded the official by not cUjlivcrinß the ball at all. Dave Gregory 'drill always be .best rememheired in .pricket as 'the 'man who ably led t,h« first "Australian Eleven ia their pioneering adventures to England in 1878. They wore the party which blazed the erickrt trail far the many-teams which later followed* their example. 7,, London Punch paid the, party souse very pretty compliments on their sportsmanship, their fielding, their bowling, and their adventurous spirit in travelling so fa* to heard the ■ old lion in hie den. Dave Gregory was a tall, erect man ;of commandins; appearance. This and his long black beard in the days of his prime made mm a striking firjnre even in times when it was this fashion for cricketers to cultivate flowing beard/*. He was a good captain, as, is testified *oy contemporary English writers, an excellent batsman, a useful howler, and. like all the Gregorys, a sood field. The first recognised trial of strength between Encrland and Australia took 'place on the Melbourne Ground in 1877. Australia wranmi? by 4,-« runs. Tim was fallowed soon after bv a ws-oTid match on the same ground, which eland won, Dave Gregory pls»yed in both, and had tb« honour of top-scorin<? for Aus tralia in the second, bis -13 of the serond innings beinsr a fine tffort wh«>ti runs ww rented. One by one tb* Rr*<it men of the Ifl7f>. team »re nassintf. B"+ there rv« Home of those old C«riMtalks ■•rtlW left and sti'J minor si .-on 5. TW are T. W fUrrett. and tl". britho-s Cartes <""d Ab"V Hann«»rr"»n. all three ir fV««v G«or"« J*'?**- m Tapmania: J. M T?i?plfV»m. in MelbatfrM; and V. B. Spofiorth. in Ens-land.