CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 472, 10 August 1899, Page 6

CRICKET

[By

Stonewaller.]

THE AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND.

FIXTURES August. 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. September. 4—Hastings, v. South of England. The strong team picked by the M.C.C. for the second match with the Australians was at the last moment changed slightly in constitution, Ford and Roche taking the place of Maclaren and Jack Hearne. The Englishmen batted first, and compiled the moderate total of 253, moderate, that is, when the batting strength of the side is considered. The Australians exceeded this total handsomely, thanks to ’ the excellent batting of Gregory and Darling. As in most of their matches the Australians lost their early wickets at a small total, but afterwards the team played up manfully. In the second innings of the M.C.C. men there was something like a rot, and in the end the visitors were left with but 90 to win. Trumble and Worrall made nearly 80 before the former was out, and on Hill joining Worrall the runs were got, and the Australians left with a nine wickets victory. On Thursday the Australians commenced a match against Hampshire at Portsmouth. The Hampshire men have been putting up some big scores lately, and it was thought that on the fine wicket they would make a good showing against even the redoubtable Australians, and they did, for they made the big score of 392, only one man on the side failing to score, the others all getting double figures, Captain Wynyard and the old Cantab, A. J. L. Hill, started operations, and they laid a solid foundation, the century appearing before the first wicket fell. Hill then retired for an excellent innings of 60. Me was bowled by Howell. He gave an exceedingly diffi cult chance to Kelly at the wickets when he he made half a dozen runs, but afterwards he batted in his well - known graceful style. Major Poore, who made two centuries in the first match against Somerset, and in the return, put together the big total of 304, shaped very well for 29. There were four wickets down for 196, but the remaining batsmen laid on the wood fearlessly, and when the last wicket fell play ceased for the day, and the Hampshire men had scored 392, a very good rate of rungetting. Llewellyn made 72 in an hour and a half, he never gave a chance and hit ten fours in his score. The bowlers came out with big figures, Jones getting 3 wickets for 56, Howell 2 for 87, Noble 2 for 85, McLeod 2 for 75, and Trumble 1 for 79. Again the first Australian wickets fell cheaply Worrall, Noble and Gregory going for a few runs, but on Darling joining Trumble a very fine stand was made, and 130 was on the board before Trumble retired for 83. The tall Victorian might have been caught at point when he had made four, but afterwards he played splendid cricket. Darling did not stay long after Trumble’s dismissal. He made 48 by very good cricket, and helped Trumble very materially. Hill was soon disposed of, and Friday’s news told us that the score was 215 for the loss of six wickets. Iredale, McLeod, Kelly, and Jones all played dashing cricket, and before the last wicket fell the total was 360, only 32 behind the Hampshire total. In their second innings the Hants men again showed good form and made 212 for the loss of six wickets before Wyn- ; yard declared the innings closed. The , two military men Major Poore and Captain Wynyard batted brilliantly for 71 and 51 respectively, while Hill and Llewellyn made 37 and 21. Wanting 243 to win, and only time to get half the runs the Australians lost 3 wickets for 92 when stumps and the game were

drawn. Llewellyn bowling for Hampshire took 8 wickets for 132. In the second innings of the County team Trumble took 3 wickets for 72, Howell 3 for 52, Noble 0 for 14, Jones 0 for 40, and McLeod 0 for 18. A. E. Stoddart’s 485 has stood for many years as the highest innings ever obtained by a cricketer. Lately, however, a young Clifton College student, A. E. J. Collins, only fourteen years of age, compiled the huge score of 624 not out. The game was a house match, and the young player batted altogether for seven hours, though not continuously, for the game was continued from day to day. The Clifton College ground has easy boundaries on three sides, therefore, a boundary hit to either scores only two. Collins hit in his big innings one six, four fives, thirty-one fours, thirty-three threes, and one hundred forty-six two’s. As most of the threes and fours were run out, Collins must have done some wonderful hitting for such a youngster. Victor Trumper’s latest big feat, 300, not out, against Sussex, is being boomed all over the colony. The American Tobacco Company have issued a leaflet containing Trumper’s portrait and a few of his many big scores. While telling of Trumper’s powers, the Company also extol the merits of Vanity Fair Cigarettes.