Cricket.

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 29

Cricket.

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS. The following criticism of the Englishmen's play and style as exhibited in the Victorian Fifteen match, written by •♦ Point" in the Leader, will be interesting to crioketers :—": — " As a batsman, I think j Lucas shows the truest cricket of any I have seen — not excluding W. G. Grace. From the start he displayed the most complete mastery over the bowling, and seemed as likely to remain at the wickets for a week as get out when he did. He stands in an easy position, apparently leaning slightly on the bat till the bowler delivers, but then rises to his full height at once and plays every ball as it should be played, hard and true with the full face of the bat. In addition, he bits with great vigour, and so far as he showed in this match is by no means a slow Bcorer, as I had been led to believe from the accounts of his play in England, for he made 50 whilst a punishing batsman like TJlyett got $4. Ulyett is not as finished a batsman as A. P. Lucas, for the latter is the most famous of the famous pupils of H. H. Stephenson, who captained the first English Eleven that visited these Colonies, and - has since developed at Uppingham School into the most celebrated coach of the day. But for all that the crack Yorkshireman is quite as effective as the Surrey amateur, and it was indeed a treat to watch the cricket whilst the two were together. A. N. Hornby's batting, though undoubtedly first-class, is as unlike that of the two first referred to as possible. There is more action about him, and he seems to be as busy with ' his feet at every ball as he is with his arm?. He is one of those batsmen I like se much who has no veneration, that is to say, he appears to have no respect for any kind of bowling, and would just as soon hit the best head-ball from a Shaw or a Spofforth — though, by-the-bye, the •' demon" quite collared him in England— as he would the greatest rubbish sent up to him by a schoolboy. A. J. Webbe is another batsman who punishes with great vigour, and has also fine defence. But one can't get away from his stand at the wicket. I don't know how to describe it. If you took a daddy long-legs, divested him of all his leg 3 but two, and cut those twodown to about a third of their length, you might have something the appearance he presents. I could sketch him for my readers, but then the proprietors won't allow woodcuts in this column. Lord Harris, by his English records, must be a good bat. He hadn't much opportunity of showing his form in this match. V, Royle is one of your dashing vigorous bats, who would no more surprise you if he made a hundred than if he got nothing. He played true spectators' cricket for his runs, but by that I must not be understood to say he lifted the ball, for, on the contrary, his hitting was all along the ground. Emmett is the Emmett of two years ago. Not much pre^ tence at style, but for all that one of the most difficult men of the lot te get rid of, especially if runa, are badly wanted. The remainder of the Eleven, Messrs Absolom, Maul, Hone, and Mackinnon did not do much with the bat, though the first-named made 21. The fielding was pretty good all round, but by no means so good as I had anticipated. Here, as at the bat, F. Mackinnon is the weakest man, and on his form in this match it is difficult to see him in an Eleven of England, or indeed in a hundred of England. Next to him in order of merit in the field I must put his captain, who was by no means up to the mark. Royal did some brilliant things at cover-point, and also some the reverse of brilliant, whilst Hornby did a lot of work in the out field at variouß places, but made several blunders; A. P. Lucas, Ulyett, and Emmett also fielded very well, but not without blemishes. L. Hone kept wicket very well to the medium and slow bowling, but wouldn't stand up to Ulyett at all. As was expected the brunt of the bowling was borne by the professionals. But for Emmett in the first innings, whilst the wicket was at its best, the, total of the Victorians, large as it was, would have been much larger. He has completely changed his style. Formerly he was very fast and. irregular, but not from choice ; now he affects the style of bowling which Barratt, of Surrey, I believe, was the first to introduce — that is to pitch about the ofE Bfcump, and in some cases a long way outside it, but not with the intention of

breaking into the wicket, but in going away from it. In England they have given up trying to bowl for wickets, and bo they go in for this, style, all the fieldsmen but one — a short mid-on — being placed on the off side, and the batsman allowed to fatigue himself endeavouring to get the ball through with the chance of givirig a catch sooner or later. It was quite amußing to see how often the batsman let apparently tempting balls go by without attempting to hit, simply because they were frightened of the field. (By Cable ) Sydnby, January 26th, There were 12,000 spectators at the match to-day. The first inning of New South Wales closed for 240. Murdoch made 70, Thompson 50, and Masste 30. The Englishmen have in their second innings reached 29 without losing of a wicket, Abtolom having scored 17 and Ulyett 7 when the stumps were drawn. [The first innings of the Englishmen, it will be remembered, closed for 248.] Sydney, January 27th. There were 15,000 persons on the ground today. The scores now stand : — ENGLISH TEAM. First innings .. .. .. 248 Second „ .. .. ..217 Total .. ' .. .. 466. HEW SOUTH WALES. first innings .. .. .. 240 In their second innings the Colonial players have two wickets down for 83. Charles Bannerman has been disabled while fielding a hard hit at mid-wicket. His hand was split between the first and second fingers. A. Bannerman scored 15, and Thompson 9. Murdoch and Massie, not out, are playing steadily. The match will be continued to-morrow. January 28th. NEW SOUTH WALES. First innings .. .. ..240 Second „ (for five wickets) .. 226 Total .. .. .. 466 The Welshmen woa by five wickets and one run. Massie, not out, 78 ; C Bannerman, ditto, 60. (Special to Press Association.) New South Wales won, with five wickets to spare. C. Bannerman made 61 and Massie 83, not out.