A.I.F. TEAM WERE MEMORABLE SIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 4 January 1930, Page 27 (Supplement)

A.I.F. TEAM WERE MEMORABLE SIDE.

GREGORY AND OLDFIELD OUTSTANDING PLAYERS. It is nearly ten years since the A.I.F. team appeared on the Melbourne ground, but at the big matches one often hears reference to their admirable team work. To those who saw them on the field, their play remains a vivid memory (says an Australian writer). Many will be glad to recall that splendid combination of players. They were organised in England in May, 1919, the first captain being C. E. Kelleway, whose place was taken at the end of Tune by H. L. Collins. In England they played twenty-eight first-class matches, of which twelve were won. four lost and twelve drawn. Of the six other games played, three were won and three drawn. In the first-class matches. Kelleway averaged 56.11 for nine innings, C. B. Willis 41.3 for forty-four innings and Collins 38.47 for forty-four. Willis had the highest aggregate. 1652. Collins was first in bowling in firstclass games, with 306 wickets at 16.55, Gregory securing the largest number. 131 at 18.19. Gregory and Oldfield were the outstanding discoveries of the tour. On the way home, the team played nine matches in South Africa, of which seven were won and two drawn. In these games Collins was first in batting with 675 runs at 54.23, and Gregory took forty-seven wickets at 12.25. Their first match in Australia was against Victoria in January, 1920. The soldiers’ team won by six wickets, the winning hit being made in the last over of the match. Gregory made a sensational debut in Australia with seven for 22 in the first innings, and Willis made ■ HI- The local team included Arm--1 strong, M’Donald, Ryder, Baring, i Mayne. Liddicut and Ellis. The scores , were 311 and four for 77 to 116 and 270. The next match was in Brisbane, and was drawn, the tourists scoring 215 and : five (declared) for 319 against 146 and . six for 144. The tour ended with the match against New South Wales in a blaze of ' glory for Gregory. He not only made two centuries in the match—l 22 and 102 (in ninety minutes)—but also took : five for 65 and three for 65. As an allround performance that has yet to be beaten. The A.I.F. won by 203 runs, with 265 and 395 to 279 and 178. On e the defeated side were Bardsley, Anv - drew?, Hendry, Kippax, Mailey and Carter. The players who took part in one a match or more in Australia were H. L. s Collins, J. M. Gregory, C. B. Willis, J. M. Taylor, C. E. Pellew\ W. A. Oldfield, h J- T. Murray, A. W. Lampard, W. S. - Stirling. W. L. Trennery, C. T. Docker, L * C. A. Winning and E. A. Bull. Of - t these, Collins, Gregory, Taylor, Pellew e and Oldfield later distinguished theme selves in test cricket, n The manager of the team was Ernie s Cameron, the brilliant Essendon foots bailer, who played cricket for North Melbourne.