The Australian Team of 1896.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5271, 30 May 1895, Page 4

The Australian Team of 1896.

A FORECAST.

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• The English cricketers have airbed in London, and of course the ne-wipaper reporters have been interviewing the members of the team. Naturally Stoddart and his men apeak in the highest terms of the hospitality extended to them and the calibre and prowess of their Antipodean opponents. Feel ia rejorted to have said that the best cricketing talent in Australia will be available for the selection of the team which will visit England next year. This statement is a little premature, as it ia impossible to forecast what events will take place during the next nine months. This, at Jeaßt, may be reckoned upon as certain, that neither Bruce nor Moses will accept an invitation to join the team. The former is now practising as a solicitor in Melbourne, and is unlikely, at so early a stage in his professional career, to damage his prospects by being absent for so long a period as the visit to Eogland would entail. Moses, 'for business reasons, haß alwayß refused to become a member of the previous teanca which have gone Home. Thia baa been a source of much regret throughout Australia. A reference to the admirable book on Australian cricket, compiled by the sporting editor of the South Australian Register, shows that in intercolonial and international matches Moses stands easily first in the batting averages. He has been, and still is, the beßb wet-wicket batsman in the Southern Hemisphere — just the man to Btop a rot on the sodden English wickets. However, the opinion is almost unanimous, that by the colonies working harmoniously together the next Australian Eleven will be the beßt combination which has yet left Australian shores. Doubtless Btrong pressure will be brought to bear upon the veteran John McCarthy Blackham to again don the gloves and take command of the team. At the beginning of last season he unfortunately received a severe injury to one of his hands, which prevented him from taking further part in the first-class matches of the year. Bat he is still facile princeps of wicket-keepers. In addition, he is the best captain procurable. GiSen, ss captain, is a failure, great cricketer though, he be— the beat all-round in the world. The Becond wicket-keeper will be an easy choice. Jarvia for certain reasons connected with his last visit to England, will ■ not be asked to return, so that the lot will fall on young Hill, of Adelaide, who at the early age of eighteen has established for himself a reputation attained by very few in the history of cricket. He beara the honour of having made the record individual, score of Australia, and - his play against the late English visitors mark him i as one of the coming batsmen of Australia. Ab a wicket-keeper he ia first class, and be may be put down as a certainty for the '96 team. Bowling was the weak spot in the combination which went Home in 1893. There were several first-class bowlerß in the team, hut they were all of the same olaas, namely, medium paoed. In the coming season not only will a number of first-class trundlera be included, but there will be variety among them both in pace and break. Turner feels sore over his omission from .the last test match, and declares he will play no more. Certainly Blackham and Giffen made a great mistake^ when they refused him a place. This they diaoovered to their- cost when Brown and Ward, thoroughly set, .were hitting the bowling all over the field. .What w6uld they not have given then for a good "stick-up" bowler to keep down runs and pnzzle the batamen P Of thia class of bowlers Turner is the best in Australia, and it is hoped that ere long hie chagrin will pass away, and he will be found, aa of yore, mowing •down the English wicketa. If he persists in sulking, the committee will probably give his place to Charlie M'Leod, who is next; best to Turner of the "stick-up" bowlers. As a batsman he is reckoned next to Moses, the best in the colonies on a wet, sticky wicket. A. E. Trott, both with bat and ball, may be pnt down as ! the Buccess of last season. He bowls medium pace, with a big off-break, occa* aionaUy varying this by sending in °a Relinking faßt yorker, which on more than one occasion spread the stumps of the best' •of Stoddarf s men. He is a batsman of the. punishing order ; by no means reckless, but '''severe on loose bowling. [ M'Kibben, of New South Wales, has oome to the front during the past season. He supplies a want long felt, in Australia, namely, a bowler who can command a good leg-break. Thie he has developed almost to perfection, and batamen meeting him for the first time usually fall victims with low scores opposite their names. Probably Jones, of South Australia, will be included, solely . on account of his pace, which is almost as fast aa Bichardeon'a. He is very erratic, but is expected to perform better on the English wickets than on the hard ones of Australia. ;

Of batting talent there is at present a brilliant galaxy. Indeed there has never been a time in the history of Australian cricket when the coloniea could boast of co many sterling batsmen. And this is likely to continue for 1 many years to come, as they are mostly quite young, and will improve with care and experience. New South Waleß will be represented by. Gregory and Ireiiale, "whose prowess against the Englishmen were features of last season's cricket. Gregory has much improved since hie visit to the Old Country, and at present has more strokes than any other man in Australia. Iredale has not yet b«en included in one of the visiting teams, although most people were of the opinion that he ought to have got a pplatec t e in the '93 eleven. ' He" scored heavily against Stoddart'a team on more than one occasion, his 140, at Adelaide, being a masterly display of scientific cricket. The Victorian certainties are Harry Trott and Graham. The latter player was off form the greater part of last season. Doubtless his 108 against Stoddart'a team, at Sydney, waß one of the best innings he ever played, considering that the first half of his runs were obtained on a bad wicked He wasthe euccess of the '93 team, and let him pall himself together, and he will regain his old position. Three South Australians can show claimß to be considered for inclusion in the team as batsmen, namely Lyons, Darling and Eeedman. The first-named is the ' " slogger "of Australia. When fairly set he will score faster than any other man in the world. At such times it is a treat to watch him. All sorts of bowling seem to be alike to him. He simply opens his wide shoulders and the ball is lifted yards outside the boundary. Darling is another hard hitter. He is left-handed and scarcely so daring aa Lyons, but on several occasions he has fairly brought down the gallery with his « mammoth " hits. Eeedman has been a ooneiatent scorer during the past two years, but haa been put -n the shade by Lne of the other brilliant lights of the South Australian Eleven. To sum up/then, the following thirteen will be found very near to the combination chosen to do 'battle for Australia on the English cricket grounds for the year 1896:— " ■ rr xM sss? ■•■ A. B. Trott iiows J Turner or C. M'Lkod Of these,, six at least will be new to English wickets, and wjII thus tend to heighten the interest amongst players and spectators. Taken all round the above would form the strongest team which has yet gone Home, and barring such internal dissensions as marred the success of the 1893 campaign, the honour rf Awtalun cricket maybe safely left m their hands.