CRICKET.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8610, 27 August 1896, Page 3

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS v. SOMERSETSHIRE. MATCH ABANDONED. Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Pee Press Association. London, August 26. Owing to continued heavy raiu the Somerset match has been abandoned. [Last tour the Australians won by 6 wickets and 2 runs, the scores being— Somerset 119 (Palairet 30, Hill 21)and64. The Australians replied with 106 (Giffen 36) and 78 for 4 wickets. Turner in Somerset’s first innings took 7 wickets for 36, and S. M. Woods (the ex-Austra-lian) took 6 for 22 in in the Australians first, innings,—The return match with Lancashire commenced at Liverpool to-day.]

THE TEAM’S REBELLION. Sydney, August 27. Commentinc on Mr Musgrove’s cabled interview, the Herald suggests that the difficulty so far as the New Zealand tour is concerned could easily be got over by rearranging the dates of the intercolonial fixtures, playing the first match in Mel. bourne, on Boxing Day, instead of in Adelaide in December 17th, as at present arranged. The Adelaide match could be refixed for New Year’s day, and thus give the team more time. The feeling in cricket circles, though opposed to rebellion against the Cricket Council, favours the change. It is considered that if the dates were altered and the New Zealand Association then applied to the Council for a visit from the team there is very little little likelihood indeed of the request being refused,

Adelaide, August 27. Mr Cresswell, Secretary to the Cricket Council, has cabled to Mr Musgrovethat the Council expects the team to return by the end of November. The courtesy of a reply is requested. A well attended meeting of the memoers of the Beaconsfield Cricket Club was held on the 23nd inst. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to Messrs R. Hutton (treasurer), H. Goodeve secretary), and Messrs Hoare, Halkett, drivers, and Rapsey for their labour in improving the cricket pitch. The following officers were appointed : —Patron, Mr G. G. Russell ; presidents, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Hutton; minute secretary, Mr H. E. Goodeve; captain, J. Roy ; vice-captain,Mr T. Halkett; committee, Messrs Rapsey, I). Priest, Halkett, Hoare, drivers, and Roy. The balance sheet showed the receipts to be £ll 11s, and expenditure £lO 16s 6d. When the Australians were playing Notts, one of the Home team (Pike) was dismissed in a peculiar manner. Johns got a chance off Jones, bat though he stopped the ball, failed to hold it. Somewhat disgusted with himself, he looked round to pick up the dropped ball, but it was nowhere to he seen. On moving aw'ay, however, he noticed it in the knee of his pad, picked it out, and appealed to the umpire, who, receiving from so honest-looking a wicketkeeper as Johns the assurance that the ball had never touched the ground, gave the unfortunate batsman out.

It seems that to meet the expenditure of engaging Mr E. Jones, the Australian ‘ boomerang,’ Sussex opened a guarantee fund. A term of five years at £350 a year, £1 a day when away from home, and travelling expenses, is too much to go against the county exchequer, and one of the vice-presidents offered £SO a year. [We have heard by cable that Jones has decided not to accept the offer of Sussex, for what reason is not stated.]J The following is a list of the matches so far played by the Australians : Against Result. Lord Sheffield’s Eleven Drawn Essex Won by 7 wickets South of England .. Drawn An English Eleven Won by innings and 224 runs Yorkshire Won by innings and 8 runs Lancashire .. Won by 154 runs Oxford University Won by 7 wickets Gloucester Won by innings and 91 runs England Won by 135 runs M.C.O. and Ground Lost by Innings and 18 runs Yorkshire, 2nd match Drawn Midland Counties Lost by 4 wickets All England, Ist test match .. Lost by 6 wickets Nottingham Won by 6 wickets Yorkshire, third match .. .. Won by 140 runs North of England Won by 42 runs Hampshire Won by innings and 125 runs Players Won by innings and 137 runs Leicestershire Drawn All England, 2nd test match .. Won by 3 wickets Derbyshire Drawn M.C.C. and Ground, return match Drawn Surrey .. .. .. .. Won by 7 wickets Earl de la Warr’s Eleven Lost by 4 wickets Warwickshire Won by innings and GO runs Kent Won by 176 runs All England, 3rd tost match ... Lost by 66 runs Sussex Won by 6 wickets and 2 runs Gloucestershire, return Won by innings and 54 run* Somerset Drawn Matches played, 30 ; won 18 ; drawn 7 ; lost 5.