CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 468, 13 July 1899, Page 6

CRICKET

[BY

Stonewaller.]

THE AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND.

FIXTURES July. 13 — Bristol, v. Gloucestershire. 17— Manchester, England v. Australia. 20 — Crystal Palace. 24—Oval, v. Surrey. 27 — Brighton, v. Sussex. 31—Lords, v M.C.O. and Ground. August. 3— Portsmouth, v. Hampshire. 7—Birmingham, v. Warwickshire. 10 —Canterbury, v. Kent. 14— Oval, England v. Australia. 17—Cheltenham, v. Gloucestershire. 21— Lords, v. Middlesex. 24—Taunton, v. Somerset. 28 — Liverpool, v. Lancashire. 31—Scarborough, v. Eleven of England. Septembeb 4— Hastings, v. South of England.

Perhaps the nearest approach to a defeat since “Young and the wicket” beat the Australians at Leyton, was experienced in the game against Nottingham, started last Monday week. The match should have been commenced on Monday morning, but rain interfered with the play considerably, and the Nottingham men in the time available for cricket, made 51 for the loss of one wicket. Continuing on Tuesday, the batsmen for a time had the best of it, but as the sun made itself felt, the wicket helped the bowlers, and the total only realised 188. Towards this total, Shrewsbury played one of his masterly innings, his contribution to the score amounting to 51. Trumble bowled very well, and captured five wickets for 82, while Howell, who puzzled the batsmen when the wicket was bad, took four for 21, and McLeod one for 28. The Australians commenced batting with McLeod and Kelly. The former’s batting luck continued, for he was caught by Shrewsbury off Hardstaff for a “ duck.” Singularly enough this was Hardstaff’s only wicket in the match. Kelly stayed till he had made 21, but after Gregory was dismissed for 3, Victor Trumper joined Noble, and the pair played out time, taking the score to 106 for three wickets ere the bell rang. Resuming on Wednesday morning, the not-outs showed good form, and it was not until the partnership had added 164 runs that Dixon got Noble l.b.w. Noble made 84 runs, but he took over four hours in making them and gave one chance. Trumper’s score was 83, made in just over three hours. The young batsman played excellent cricket, and did not give a single chance during his stay. Darling and Iredale were got rid of cheaply, and at lunch time the total was 234 for seven wickets. After the eating interval, Darling declared the innings closed. Wass, a new man this season, was responsible for the dismissal of Kelly, Gregory and Iredale, the three wickets costing 35 runs. Dixon took two for 38, Atteweil one for 33, and Hardstaff one for 68. The opening of the Notts second innings was bad, Jones and Gunn being dismissed for a total of 2. Dixon did not stay long, and the total with three wickets down was under 20. Then Goodacre joined the veteran Shrewsbury, and they offered a most stubborn resistance to the combined attack of the visitors. They scored fast too. Shrewsbury was out after making 34 by most finished cricket. Mason and Atteweil were out quickly, though both made a few runs and gave Goodacre very material assistance. The total at the fall of the sixth wicket was 132, or 86 ahead. Then Dixon turned the tables on Darling and declared the innings closed. There was not time enough for the Australians to get the runs, but there was a chance of getting them out, and Atteweil and Wass set about it in workmanlike

style. Jones was out for a duck, and Howell, Trumble and Trumper, all shared in the distribution of poultry, Darling meanwhile making every possible run. Atteweil bowled him when he had made 23. Kelly made 7, and he too was clean bowled by Wass. Then Gregory and Noble played out time, the score standing at 38 for six wickets. The Australians

wanted -49 for victory and had four wickets to lose. They might have obtained them, and they might have failed, and with the wicket evidently in a queer state and the bowling good, I think it was just a shade of odds on their not getting the 49 runs necessary. Anyhow, the finish was a highly exciting one. Joe Darling will not be making any more “declarations” just yet awhile, I’ll be bound. He has had a narrow squeak, and, “ remember Nottingham,” will be his watchword for the future. At the end of last week the Australians played at Truro, Cornwall, against a team selected by Lord Roberts. Though called an eleven of England, it was far from being a representative side, and an easy victory for the visitors was foreshadowed by a perusal of the names of the players engaged. Winning the toss, the Australians batted on a good and fast wicket. Alltheplayersgot into double figures, with the exception of Noble, but though all made runs, the total only amounted to 214. Darling was top scorer with a freely hit innings of 55. Tom Richardson made one of his few appearances against the visitors and took four wickets for 66 Peel captured four for 95, and Wilson one for 43. On Lord Roberts’ eleven going to the wickets, they made a poor show, the innings only realising 87, out of which W. Foster made 23, Lilley 20, Dashwood 10, and R. Foster 16 not out. Following on they did better, making 192 before the last wicket fell. Braund, the Surrey player, was responsible for a good innings of 63, top score in the match. Poynter made 55, R. Foster hit up 22, Lilley 20 and Lees made 16. Wanting 66 to win, the Australians made them for the loss of two wickets, thus winning the match by eight wickets. In the game, Jones took nine wickets for 73, Howell eight for 58, Noble one for 6, McLod one for 22, and Laver 1 for 23. Of the twelve Australian wickets that fell, Lilley, the wicket-keeper, caught no less than six. On Monday the Australians commenced a match at Birmingham against a team representing the Midland counties. On Monday the Fourth Test Match will be commenced at the Old Trafford ground, Manchester.