Cricket.

Otago Witness, Issue 1598, 8 July 1882, Page 21

Cricket.

Soon after the Australian team landed in England (says Land and Water), Murdoch, Garrett, and Massie were drawn into the service of the Orleans Club in a match against Bexley, but as it was their first outing since they landed they were in no form, and thsir •aggregate with the bat only amounted to three i runs. At the same time Jones and Giffen, two of the three new members, took part in a match between the City Ramblers and Addiscombe, where they spread terror among the unfortunate batsmen of the Addiscombe Olub, and the general -impression among those who have watched the practice of the different members throughout is that this pair will be very valu able acquisitions to their strength. I Mr W. H. Atack writes as follows to a Christchurch paper :— " I perceive in your last issue a most peculiar suggestion in a letter to the Australasian— no less than a proposal to cable Home to stop the English umpires giving the Australian cricketers out lbw. From the tone of the letter the writer evidently thinks that the professional umpires give these decisions in order to pander to the gentlemen bowlers, W. G. Grace, A. G. Steel, and others, who happen to have been succe-sful once or twice in getting wickets, or because r>ome inducement has been offered them to do so. Ho calls it an ' extraordinary feature,'' and no doubt it is a little singular that so many of the Colonials should have got out in this manner, but the published scores show that at least some of the Englishmen have suffered tho same fate, among them being A. G. Steel. With the modern style of what is called 'slow' bowling a batsman is paiticularly liable to get out in this way, and it is notorious that such bowlers as Alfred Shaw and Spo (forth, and doubtless plenty of others, bowl to get a man out lbw when they see a chance of doing it I have seen both the men I have named do it more than once. But what I particularly wished to say when I took pen in hand was that several of the present Australian team have a great, I may say extreme, weakness for putting their legs where they ought not to be. I had the pleasure of standing umpire in several matches for the last Australian team, and it was not long before I found that I should have to be particularly careful to watch their legs. The greatest ofFcndevs were Murdoch, Blackham, Boyle, and Gioube. Boyle, in fact, invariably stood iv front of his wicket, while Murdoch and Groube always got before the leg stump when they had a ball on the body. In one match I had to give both Murdoch and Grunba out m thi« way (aud they were good enough to own that tho decision was perfectly fair) ; while csunsUut appeals of the same sort made tho duty of uuipiro no sinecure. Giffen, who seems as great an offender as any, [ I never saw."

James Wfilker, the Ashcoinbe Park (Staffordshire) professional, pi>rfov)ncd on May 6th the most remarkable bowling feat on record, taking eight wickets with eight consecutive balls. With eleveu consecutive balls he in fact took nine wi elects, hi.s analysis reading :— 11 balls, 9 wickets, 0 runf. Six of the wickets were clean bowled, one leg-before- wicket, two caught. Against such bowling it is not surprising that tho opposing team (the Tunstall Eleven) scored only two runs in their first innings! and six in their .second.

On May Kith Murdoch, Spoiforth, and M.i,ssie played for the Orleans Club against Richmond, but t'hoir bide were defeated in one inuiu"s scoring only 101 and 00 against Richmond's 1(51. Murdoch scored 21 and 23, Spofforth 17 and 0, Massio 22 and 1.

On tho same date Jones, Giffen, and Blackham played for the City Eamblors against lOrith, and their side won on the first innings by 205 against 133. J ones scoi'ed 70, Blackharn S3, and (iitfen 5.

On the same day Horan and Boyle played for Lausanne against Pongo, but their side scored only 27 against their opponents ul). Iloran and Boyle both got a duck's-egg.

Marylebono beat Lancashire by eight wickets, scoring 231 and 2$ (for two wickets) against 99 and 159. For Marylobone Barnes played a line innings for IV,).

Mr Thornton took a strong team of amateurs down to Oauibvkltro in thi> third week' in May, <vi<l beat tho University in one innings, scoring .". A ugiiiiihL !(J.) :u;'[ V,57. J^r Urn winni'V., r«[r A. I'.'Lu.jiis scorer! 145, and took six wickuLs iv the second innings fur 10 run*.

THE AUSTRALIAN OEIOKETERS IN ENGLAND. MATCH AGAIST ELEVEN *GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND. We take the following particulars from the Argus special telegrams :— . London., June 22nd. The Australian Eleven commenced their eleventh match in England to-day at the Kennington Oval against Eleven Gentlemen of England. The attendance on the ground was large, and on going into the field the Australians were warmly greeted by those present. Murdoch, having won the toss, elected to bat, and sent in, as usual, Massie and Bannerman. The former played with much freedom, while Bannerman showed excellent defence, j Runs were rapidly put together, until at length Massie was caught for 32. Murdoch took the vacant place, and played a splendid innings, during which he never gave a chance. His batting was greatly admired, and he was frequently applauded. Bannerman pirb 50 together before he was caught, while Murdoch made the highest score of 57, being also caught. M'Donnell and Giften further added to the score, the latter especially showing good form. When the wickets were drawn, owing to the rain, Giffen had scored 31 not out, the total being 192 runs for the loss of four wickets only. The fielding of the Englishmen was excellent, which will account for the small number of sundries. Second Day The Australians resumed their innings. Giffen, the not-out man of the previous day, who had scored 31, resumed his place at the wickets, and before he was disposed of had scored 43 by excellent cricket. The feature in the match was the innings of Bonnor, who scored 74 in splendid style, and never gave a chance throughout. He made some grand hits, and his play was much applauded. Garrett with 26 and Spofforth 10 also secured double figures. The Gentlemen of England commenced their innings by sending in Lucas and W. G. Grace. The former succumbed for 16, but the latter played a fine innings for 61, and made top score on his side; he was eventually bowled. Patterson, Read, Hornby, and Leslie all played well. C. T. Studd was disposed of without scoring, and A. G. Steel only secured 12. The bowling of the Australians was dead on the wicket, and very difficult to play. The fielding waa excellent, and frequently elicited applause. Giffen was the most successful of the bowlers, and took six wickets for .49 runs. Three of the Home team were disposed of without scoring. Third Day. The English Eleven, with 152 behind the score made by their opponents, followed their innings. Lucas and W. G. Grace were the first to face the bowling. Lucas was again unfortunate, and had only scored 2 when he was i caught. Grace, however, defended his wicket for some time, but was unable to score rapidly, as the bowling of the Australians was dead on the wicket, and their fielding in every department excellent. When W. G. Grace had scored 32 he was bowled. Nearly every member of the team obtained double figures. A. G. Steel, with 32 (not out), played well, and Read's 19 were well obtained. The Eleven were disposed of for 151 runs, leaving the Australians winners in one innings j and one run. The following are the scores :— AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. FIRST INNINGS. Massie, caught .. •• ..32 Bannerman, caught . . . . 50 Murd ith, caught .. .. ..57 M'Donuell, caught.. .. .. 19 Giffen, lbw .. .. -.43 Bonnor, (jaught ..74 Blackman, caught .. .. .. <3 Jones, lbw .. •• ..4 Palmer, bowled . . . . . . 8 Garrett, caught . . • • . . 26 Spofforth, not out .. .. ..10 Sundries .. .. ..5 Total .. .. •• 334 BoAvling Analysis.— W. G. Grace took four wickets for 45 runs. Gentlemen ov England. First Innings. Second Innings. A. ¥ Lucas, bowled .. 16 cauifht .. 2 W. G. Grace, bowled .. 61 bowled .. 32 W. H. Patterson, caught 20 bowled . . 15 \V. H Read, bowled .. 17 caught .. 19 C. T Studd, bowled .. 0 caught and bowled 11 A. N. Hornbv, caught .. 20 caught and bowled 17 A. G. Steel, lbw .. 12 not out .. 32 G. B. Studd, lbw . . 9 caught . . 0 0. P. N. Leslie, not out 13 bowled . . 10 C. i<\ S. Tj lecote, bowled 0 caught and bowled 1 R. C. Kanisay, caught .. 0 caught .. 0 Sundries .. 14 Sundries .. 6 Total .. 182 Total .. 151 Grand total .. .. ..333 Bowling Analysis.— First innings : Giffen took six wickets for 49 runs, Spofforth two wickets for 01 runs. Second inning* : Giffen took throe wickets tor CO runs, Garrett two wiulcets for 28 runs, and Palmer four wickets for 22 iuns. The Australians won by one 'innings and one run, • London, July 3rd. The Australians commenced their match against an eleven of Northampton at Northampton to-day. The Home team went in first, ..and were all disposed of for a total of 122, :% The Australians then commenced their first innings, and at the close of the day's play had scored 143 for the loss of only four wickets. M'Donnell was bowled for 38, and Giffen is not out for 41.