CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 801, 13 July 1905, Page 13

CRICKET.

THE THIRD TEST MATCH

The Third Test Match, although it resulted in a draw, has given further proof that the present Australian Eleven is not equal to the best that can be put into the field by England, that is, in a match played under even conditions. If the absurd three days’ rule had not been in vogue England would now have won all these matches, or, at least, it is exceedingly probable that such would have been the case, so that the Home executive have no one but themselves to blame for the fact that the two tests will only go on the books as draws instead of victories. The English Eleven was made up of Hon. F. S. Jackson (Yorkshire), captain; D. Denton (Yorkshire), C. B. Fry (Sussex), Warren (Derbyshire), B. J. T. Bosanquet (Middlesex), G. H. Hirst (Yorkshire), T. Hayward (Surrey), A. A. Lilley (Warwickshire), J. T. Tyldesley (Lancashire), S. Haigh (Yorkshire), and Blythe (Kent). Gehrs, Newland, Cotter, and Howell stood out of the Australian team. Jackson again won the toss, but this was of no great benefit, as the • wicket improved as play progressed. The batting was of the quiet order, none of the batsmen doing anything brilliant with the exception of the captain, who played a magnificent innings of 144 (not out), which included 18 fours. Fry made 32, Hirst 35. Hayward 26, and Bosanquet 20, the total reaching 301. The bowling honours were fairly equally shared. The Australians on going to the wickets put up by no means an attractive performance, only three plavers getting into two figures. The consistent Armstrong made 66, which included eight fours. Duff, by good hitting, put up 48, and Hopkins got 36, the innings reaching 195. Warren’s average of five for 57 was decidedly good for such a good wicket.

Going in a second time England commenced well, all the batsmen hitting freely. Tyldesley just reached the century before Kelly stumped him; he got 12 fours. Hayward made 66, Hirst 44 (not out), Fry 30, and Bosanquet 22 (not out). With the score at 295 for five wickets, the innings was declared closed, this leaving the Australians 402 to get to win, a score which they never looked like reaching. With seven wickets down for 199, it looked as though England would pull off the match, but Gregory and McLeod managed to keep their wickets intact till stumps were drawn, the score reaching 224. Noble made 62, Hill 33, Armstrong 32, and Gregory 32 (not cut). Blythe and Hirst got most of the wickets.

A. Marshall, the one-time Paddington cricketer, and who in the last season or two played for Queensland, was not long in making his name prominent in England, where he intends to take up the game professionally. . Playing for the Gentlemen of England, or W. G. Grace’s team, he made 94, and with W.G. himself helped to add 168 for the first wicket. Marshall made his runs in 2| hours, and hit 11 4’s. The London “ Sportsman” thus speaks of the one-time Paddingtonian :—“Marshall promises to prove a cricketer, for he is also a bowlex- of great ability, and Surrey may account themselves fortunate in having him qualifying for them.” It should be mentioned that in the match under notice, Marshall captured two for 37 and five for 50.

The stand for 112 runs made by J. J. Ke’ly (74, not out), and F. Laver (43) against Gloucestershire, noints out a Sydney writer, is the highest on record for the last wicket of an Australian Eleven in England. Neither batsman had previously done anything commensurate with his achievements on Australian wickets. In the case of Kelly, the failure was probably due to an injury of his hand, combined with a strong tendenev to play the “ goose” game, instead of hitting hard and resolutely, as in club cricket. Laver’s non-success as batsman is merely in accord with the rule that particularly great form with the ball is not co-incident with average batting success. There are, of course, exceptions to this, as to every other rule. It seems peculiar that a batsman like Laver, who has made no fewex- than six centuries in first-class cricket, should have temporarily lost his form to such a degree as to warrant the captain sending 11 im in eleventh.

The match between the Australians and Hampshire resulted in a very decisive victory for the visitors, a result which, of course, was only to be expected against such a weak county. Going in first the Australians hit up a huge score. Hill made 115, Noble 101, Gregory 134, Trumper 92, Gehrs 51, and Cotter 48, the total reaching 620 before the last wicket fell. Hampshire’s first innings realised 239, towards which Grey contributed 66 and Mead 41 (not out). In their second venture they did a little better, making 269. Bowell (59), Stone (56), and Hill (50) being the highest scorers. The Australians thus won by an innings and 112 runs.