THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET MATCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2293, 26 January 1882, Page 8

THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET MATCH.

The following account of the first throe days' play between tho AH England Eleven and a Combined Australian Eleven, appeared m the Melbourne Sjioi'lsmait of the 4th in* l ., from its contributor " Bails." Although the particulars of the fourth diy'i play will not be to hand till next mail, we are m poi<e<tion of the complete scores, which aro npjeoded : — For three dajs »n Australian Eleven md the Kugl'sh profoifio' ul cloven, under the captiino.v of Alfred Shaw, h>vo been stubbornly fighting for BupreuiMcy on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, m the presence of a larger orowd of spectator* than I ever romember to bare a«en ut any pretinus match. The tussle has b«en of the most determined character, and after the three day* 1 fight it i< an open question what will he (he ul m nt.r result. When the (tumps ttere drawn last evening, the Englishmen hud wiped off their debit baluuce of 26 on (he first, inning, had itlready set tho Victorian* 213 runs, ai d had three wicket* to fall. Considering thßt the scoring on both sides hns been unusually heavy, thn is a state of affairs at tho rud of three days' play that, inunl intensify tlie interest m the final ttrucglc, especially as we know on one hand that the Austrulinns aro extremely strong m battin », and on tho other hand that the Kngluhnien nre most determined p'ayera at (»« end of a n.alch, as witness their play ogainst the Victorian oleven, when it almost appears 1 a foregone conclusion that they would be b-aten, und when they finally camp out (he victors with a few runs to the good. As it was left last evening the match it m a most interesting singe. Tho supportsrs of the Englishmen ara suaguine that they will eventually sol their opponents something like 250, and provont them from getting them ; while on the other hand those who have pinnoi their f.iith to the Australians feel confident that the remaining wickets will bo bagged fnr very few runs ; and further, that even if 250 were set, the batting strength of thn combination is quite rqual to topping that, with souje wicket) to spare, on c trua wicket. When the phy commenced on Saturday lust, and the Englishmen, having won the toss, had tbe advnntaae of a magnificent wicket, it w»« fully anticipate! that thpy would score heavily. Even their opponent* reckoned that thoy. wero, under tho circumstancet, worth fully 250 runs ; but, providing tbe weather did not interfere, this, it was considered, would not be sufficient to diemay or make downcast the Australians. When,however Barlow, the ttonewaller.and most r.- liable bat of tho English tieam,Wiit dispoaod of before be had scored, there was some who regarded victory as certain. Ibis, however, was, of course, a very ab'urri conclusion to arrive hastily at, as the batting of Dlyftt, felby, Kates, and Midwinter subsequently fhowed. Unfortunately Palmer proved to be m very poor form with the ball, and this, was a, very serious matter for an eleven admittedly weak m this depirtment. The batsmen, therefore, made matters very lively, for the field, for they were playing on a-, batsman's wicket agaimt a toam not sufficiently strong m good bowling changes. Ulyett and Selby were Boon quite at home, and the score mounte I with alarming rapidity. Both batted with remarkable freedom and precision, and although all the members of the Australian team who could possibly have a ohance with the ball were tried, it was all without avail. Tbe fielding was remarkably good, but tho batemen gave no chances, aod ( he effort a of the leather-hunters bad to be confined to stopping runs. Lunch time, however, came, and after it, at has often been noticed, an alteration took place. Selby was firat run out, and then soon afterwards Ulyett misjudged one from Cooper, and put it into McDonnell's bands m the slips. Bates, liotrover, was si ill a thorn m tho tides of the fielders | and tening that he wbj capitally supported by other members of the learn, it was no wonder that the last wicket did not fall until a few minutei before the time for drawing the stumps, and then only when tbe fine total of 291 had been put together. The Englishmen on thi« occasion again stowed that the notion that they wero deficient m batting power is very wide of the trtnli. The Australians were extremely fortunate m getting rid of Barlow so cheaply ; but •till five other members of thn team all bitted splemlicily and snored hewily. It is true tliere is a butting toil, but it ii nothing like so marked as hns been given forth. The performances of the eleven iv the colonies are sufficient pro-.f of thit. Ulyelt is a b»tam*u of whose quality we have hid a good many opportunities of judging; and it is quite sufficient to lay (hat he has lost nothing of hit old brillianoy and dath, and seems, if anything, ta have improved on his nlways admirable defence. Hit innings of 87 was n splendid exhibition of the truest cricket. Selby is also a batsman who has been to this end of the world before ; but the detractors of the balling talent of the Englishmen would have hid us believe that his day wai ovor. He baa completely upset any such idea as that. He made hii 66 with much freedom of style, oombined with steady defence j Rnd but for being run out might have doubled the number, for ho wat quito at home with all the bowling. Bate* is m many respects the most taking bat m the tram. Hia style ia perfect, his hitting is clean, hard and safe, and all theia qualities nre combined with a moat, excellent defenco, wliioh oannot f-.il to serve him m good stead. His contribution of 68 wat a masterly performance. Our old friend Midwinter surprised (hose who remember him of old. For tome reason or other he derliar] to act mainly on the defensive, and, for him, his 3(5 were obtained m the most, crannied manner. At the same time he showed that he has acquired a very formidable defence, if he choofca to use it, and with patience he would be a very difficult customer to dispose of. Scotton »howed very nice cricket, bu' none of the others remained long enough at the wickets to enable one to fairiy judge of their merits, although it may tafo'y be taid, I think, that Filling and Feate are not likely at any time to make a long stand against good I'owling and fielding. During this innings the howling of tho Australians could not bo said to be of the fir«t-r-lis«, if I except Evans, who performed moat consistently throughout the day, and got three valuable wickett. Cmpor also got three, one being Ulyett's t but that, to my mind, was more to bo attributed (o the batsman than to any merit of the bowler Ulyett had been bitting the South Melbourne man about most unmercifully all over the fiold, and, having made three fours m one over, the crowd got excited, and there wern yells of " take him off." Ulyett, having got bit three foura, appeared to me very anxious to "play lo the gods" by treating the fourth bull m the tamo manner, and tin's led to hi* diwnfall, for the ball which he snicked had not nearly the merit of mnny from Cooper thai he had previously punished. Evant bowled 284 balls, and only 80 rum wera got off him, one-half hit overt being maidens. Cooper bowled but 126 balls, ami 81 runs were scored agtinst him. Palmer cut up very badly, and his one wicket cost him 78 runi. Ho was quite off the spot, and was hit about everywhere It wat a matter of general remark that ho hat not bowled to badly for a very long time. Boyle, who did not bare much work with the ball, came out rery well with one wicket, for 18 runt. Of tlie fielding it may b* laid tbit it waa good all-round, without any very •pepial brillUooy. Bmj rain Hi bit work

well ; but Bunnorinin, Mossie, Cooper, mid Giffcn were pt-rhaps the most conspicuous. On Monday the Auatra'.iant h»d to commence their work of totting up a score as I large or larger lhan the 2111 of (he Englishmen. As some showers had fallen. i> wm frared that the wicket, would have suffered ; hut lappily it was found that, this wts not the ease, and the pitch flayrd at truly us could bt desired throughout the day, although Ihe fielding gound wat a triflu slow, and tho boll did not travel with any reruarknb'o facility , and Bannerman were t lie pioneer batsmen, acd the cup of Matrix's ill fortune was filled to oveifliwinu whi-n Wo wat had, almost at the out«et, by Pilling at tho wickets. It wai a remarlably brillixnt catch, and niiuht not. be executed again if the wicket-kreper had half a dozen triet »t, it, so no thut there was a considerable amount of bad luck m i<- so fir as M«s-ie waa concerned. Thus if the English lost Barlow m thfir firit inning*, they had the consolation of getting rid of a most dangerous Kat very cheap'y m the fir»t. inmiL'S of the Aust.ral^ns. Murdoch and Bannsrmin then set themselves to make a stand and retrieve the fort unrs of the day, and m this they aucreeiled admiroMv, both batlin- toultleMly, and fftMy collaring tbe bowling, but net until nfter a conideroble display of patience. Tbe EngHirfren, however, h*ve gre»t bowling resources, and at lost Ulyett wa« called into requisition and did moat valuable work, for m a few overs he honied both Murdoch and Banner man. Koran then mule his appearance, ond from (he first it was evident that he wns m gnat heart. At fi^st. he bsttcd with confidence, but. still avoiding haste to make rim*. He was assisted during thit time by McDonnell, who played freely until he was disposed of. and vii euccoedod by Uiffen. By (his time Horaa had got tho mtosuie of the bowlers, and a magnificent display of cricket ensued. Tbo South Australian, Beeing his partner so completely at home, judiciously »ct up a stonewall of die uiost prouounced character. He was at the wickets t'T thrce-qil irters of an hour before he Foored a run. He could not bo tempted to hit, aud his defence was simply perfection. Thc-e Indies wore eminently successful. Horan oontinued to score steadily, and the runs mounted up, perhaps a little slowly, but surely, until Giffen hid fairly broken (he bowling, which had ben greatly demoralised. Then runs camo very quickly, as they always will do if bstsinen will but wait. Bcith men used the willow with mnrked effect, and it lnoked us if they vrcre bound on a journey together for the day. At. last the veteran, Tom E'nmett, got m one that li'-Bt tho youth Auntrnlino, and the partnership wns dissolved. The »ftme bowler soon dismissed Bluckhnui, but Palmer, who succeeded, proved very much more difficult to denl with. He played out until the stumps wero drawn, showing rr markably fine crioket. Tho scoro ihen stood at 277, so (hat the Australians wore net fur behind (heir opponents ; and as they had still four wirket.4 to full, it. w.ie confidently anticipated that they wo'ild submit the Englishmen to a very connidemblc handicap for the second innings. Th'e imprcesion was borne nut yesterday to some ex-tr-nt, for a total of 320 had been reached before, the last wicket fell. Horan, who bud played one of the grandest innings I have ever witncißcd, bad 12-1 to hU credit. It was the mainstay of his side unquestionably, and deserved a more satisfactory termination. Horan was given run out by the Austmlinn umpire, but many were confident that the decision was a miktake, fur Pilling failed t'i tnke tbe ball on tbe return, and put the wicket down without having the ball m his hand, although -wift could not sco this, porbapt, from hit position. However, fJoron desorvet unlimited oredit for hia magnificent batting, and his success w«i extremely popular, for it it at all timca gratifying to find an old and wtlMried performer reading his true form after a temporary falling off. Of Giffen it may be truly said thithu fully juttified hit reputation at a baltman. In bit innings the true scirnco of cricket was exemplified m the most marked manner. His play diaclosed not only a remark >M« command of himself, but alto an intelligent consideration of all the surrounding circumttances, and a proper ttudy of the strength end weakness of hit opponents. Wben tuch qualities are allied to a true eye, au utierrjng hand, a straight bat, and a complete appreciation of what may be fenced (he inechinical part of crioket, we have all (he requirements for a cricketer of the first water. Such a one Giffen dearly is. Of Ihe others, Murdoch and Bannerman require no description. Their accamDlishmenla nre thoroughly well known and admired, and it is sufficient to i»y that their runs were obtained m a manner worthy of themselves. M'Donnrll made hit 19 m his usual vigorous and effective style, and again kept the hall well m contact with the turf. Palmer, however, went quite beyond himrelf with the bat. His 34 were secured by the most genuine all-round play, m which clem, vigorous hitting was happily combined with tlcadiness of defence, either being u»ed as occasion required. All the Engliah bowUrs vtevs tried, and were repeatedly changed. None distinguished themselvoa above tie others m any very marked degree, but the general impression produced was (hat, while they mar be moat deadly on dead or Micky wiokots, they are not such experts that the Australian bat<men need dread them on a lively pitch. The fielding wai capital, considering the heavy work enUiled by tuoh a long inning*. A few runt were added to the score through fumbling m the field, but no chance waa misted. With 2S runt on the wrong tide of the account the Englishmen commenced their sec>nd innings yesterday afternoon, and a splendid display of batting wat afforded. Paloier bowled somewhat better th»n m the previoui innings, but. was not up to his (rue form, and Cooper proved tho most destructive, securing tix out of the tevt-n wickets which fell up to Ihe time (he ttumps were drawn. Evans again bowled persistently and remarkably well, keepin? the runt down, but not being favored with an atom of luok. Selhy wos again all there, and at present heads tho acore wiih a beautifully earned 70. Bates also urs'rtcn his cliiima to consideration, nnd put together 47 m a most workmanliko manner and m bit own taking style. Ulyett and Batlow both batted capitally, and when Ihe stumps wero drawn Scotton and f'haw were doing well. There wero seven wickets down for 238, whioh, deducting the 26 the English were to t.ne bad, leaves them already with a credit of 212. It is, therefore, eTidoot thai t,Vi9 Australian! have ao child's play before them to-day, bnt, as (he wicket remains good, I am ttill of opinion that., should the match be played out, thxy will bo ahln fo secure Ihe laurels. Tho departure of the New Zenlund steamer has been delayed until four o'clock this afternoon, m order that the contest may, if possible, be brought to a termination. All through it has been a most enjoyable match, productive of the very best cricket ; and as public interest of the keenest kind has been aroused, a decision one way or the other would be moit deairab'.e. All England £lstbh. fibst innings. Ulyett, o MoDonncll, b Cooper 87 Barlow, cA. Bannerman, b Palmer ... 0 Selby, run out ... ... ... ... 55 Bali'co Giffen, b Boyle 68 Shrewsbury, o Blackham, b Evans ... 11 Midwinter, b Evan* 33 Emmett, b Evans ... ... ... 5 Scolton, run out 21 Shaw, c Boyle, b Cooper 5 Pilling, o Giffen, b Cooper 6 Pcute, not out 4 Sundries 7 Total 294 Bowling) Analysis.— Palmer, 141 balls, 73 runt, 1 no-hall, 9 maidens, 1 wicket j Evans, 284 bolls, 81 runa, 35 maidens, 3 wicketa j Cooper, 126 balls, 80 runa, 8 maidens, 3 wickets ; Boyle, 72 balls, 18 runs, 9 maidens, 1 wicket ; A. Bannsrman, 40 balls, 23 runs, 3 maident ; Giffen, 12 balls, 12 runs. Combined Aubtiulian Elbvbh. PIBST IXNIXGs. Massie, it Filling, b Midwinter ... 2 Bannerman, b Ulyett 88 Murdoch, b Olyott. 89 McDonnell, b Midn inter 19 Horan, run out 124 Giffen, b Emmett 30 BUoihani, b Emmett 2 Palmer, o Pilling, b Bates 34 Evans, b Bates 3 Boyle, not out 4 Cooper, tt Filling, b Feate ( 7 Sundriei 18 TcUl ..,• BSO

iiowLlNQ Analtsib. — Peu'e, 23d balls, 64 runs, 24 muidens, I wicket; Midwinter, 156 hnllr, 50 runs. 21 mn-Hrns, 2 wickets; Bute-, IH4 ba ! la, 43 runi, 20 moidena, .2 wickets j Kmniett, 140 hulls. HO runs, 12 maidem, 2 wk-kela; Barlow, 92 balla, 22 runa. 13 merlons; Shaw, 80 balls, 2l runs, 11 maidens Ulyett, 80 balls, 41 runt, 6 maidens, wickets. AIL-ENOLiJtD EtBVMf. SECOND INNINGS. Ulyett, it Bluckham, b Co 0l »-r 1 Furlnw, st. Blackham, b P.lreer { Belby, o Boyle, b Co .per C Ba'cs, cA. Bannerman, b Cooper ... 47 Shrewsbury, h Cooper ... ... ... 16 Midwinter, v Massie, b Cooper ... ... 4 :< !nn'ett, b Cooper ... ... .., 6 Scotton, not out .. ... ... ... 60 Shaw, caught 40 Pea to, run out 2 Tillinc, bowled 3 Sundries 14 Total 3^B First innings 291 Ortnd total 602 COMBINRD AUtiTDALUN EIEVEX. SECOND INNINGS. Bannernian, b Biles ... ... ... 8 Blackhmn, b Butes 25 flornn, c Kmniett, b Bates "fi McDonnell, not out 33 Murdoch, not out 22 Sundries J3 For tho lob* of 3 wickets ... 127 First inning! ... ... ... 320 Grand total 447