GAMES OF 1832

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 16

GAMES OF 1832

EARLY AUSTRALIAN CRICKET The early days of Australian cricket are shrouded somewhat in mystery, but from an old scrapbook in the possession of the writer, one is able to gauge the conditions under which the game was played in 1832, says “Snip," in a recent issue of Mr P, F. Warner's paper the ‘Cricketer.’ Before that year it is known that several clubs existed, but of their performances the writer has no facts. In 1825 the Australian Cricket Club ■ \s formed in Sydney, and it existed for some years later than the period under review. In 1832 three more clubs saw light of day. The greatest of the three "The Amateur Society Club,” became a strong rival of the "Australian Club," and considerable sums of money as stakes passed on the results of matches between the two. Tlie “Macquarie” and "The Exclusives” were the two remaining clubs. The former was named, probably, from the street of that name, and were distinguished by their colours of green. “The Exclusives” wore black. One of the enthusiasts of that time was a certain Mr Richard Tress, it being the custom then to arrange all matches at his store in Pitt street. His chief claim to fame, however, does not lie on that score only, but on the fact that he was the champion singlewicket player of the day. His challenges were made periodically, and reports have it that he benefited considerably by his art. “Amateurs” Play for Money

The tit-bit of the summer of 1832 | was the meeting of the Australian and Amateur Society Clubs. The first game was played on October 5, 1832. and the report is quoted verbatim. It reads: “On Monday, they (the Australian Club) came to the scratch with the Amateur Society of but a few weeks’ standing, on the old Sydney Racecourse, for £25 a-side. The morning was highly favourable for the sport, and at an early hour the appointed parties repaired to the course and pitched their tents, in which a capital repast was spread for those engaged , and their friends. Shortly before 10 : the stumps were pitched. The foli lowing was the result:—Australian I Club: First innings 70, second innings j 81; total, 151. Amateurs; First innings 93. second innings 78: total, 171 —the Amateurs thus winning by 20.” ; The breath of early English cricket is contained in that report, for it is well known that the pitching of stumps at ! 10 a.m. was a practice which was customary after the alteration of the laws J in 1774. | One wonders at the choice of the ! name “Amateur.” Perhaps the definition was not so strict then. The return game was played on New Years’ Day. 1833 and resulted in an easy win for the Australian Club. The chief item of interest was the quaintly worded advertisement of the Amateurs in reply to the Australian Club’s challenge. It read as follows: The Reply Courteous “To the members of the Australian Club: Gentlemen, I am desired by members of the Amateur Society to state, in answer to your very noble challenge of Saturday last, that they will find much pleasure in making a match for thirty pounds a-side, to come off on New Year’s Day, and play the same gentlemen, who were eventually beaten on sth October last. The Amateurs also beg to say that they feel much obliged for the truly generous | offer of £6O to £SO, but. as in the first place, they would scorn to take so ; mean an advantage, and in the sec- ! ond to put down £SO would not only materially strain the pockets of some, but provided they lost, would totally ruin others of the Amateur Club, they j beg to decline for the present to play for so heavy a stake. Should the i above proposal be accepted, the match j can be made at Mr Richard Tress’s, I Cricketers, Pitt street. I have the j honour to remain, gentlemen.—Yours | most obediently, J. H. Ward, secretary, j 12/11/1832.” | Behind this document of courtesy | lurks a fear of defeat, w’hich is amusing by the gentle sarcasm used in re- ! ferring to the previous game. Englishmen v. Natives The only other big game of the season was the match between eleven Englishmen and eleven Native Youths for £2O a-side. The local men won “by : the immense number of 163 notches.” This game was the first of its kind, and it is only reasonable to assume that these games helped to produce the friendly rivalry which led to the players of the ’seventies meeting Stephenson’s professionals on even terms. The clubs referred to earlier were ' the forerunners of that formidable team. “The Alberts.” Its strength may be gauged, partly by its defeat of the Aboriginal XI., which toured England in 1868. and partly by the fact that it supplied the btlK of the players for intercolonial matches with Victoria. G. H. B. Gilbert was a leading member of this club.