THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 35, 10 February 1905, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

\ ■ MATCH AfiAISST AUCKLAND AUCKLAND AT THE WICKETS. The most important cricket event of many seasons, the match between the Australian Eleven and the Auckland representatives, waa commenced to-day on the Domain Cricket Ground. The conditions were perfect for cricket. The wicket, whioh has had the constant attention of the groundsman (Mr R. Yates) all through the season, \ was as good as it is possible to secure on the Domain, being fast and true. The weather was beautifully fine, the aun shining brilliantly and the light being therefore excellent. The out-field was in tine order. For an off-day the attendance was very good, and the keenest interest was manifested in the progress of the game. The Australians, having been absent at R&torua since Monday morning, hod practically no opportunity for practice, but as they left in the middle of the season, and were playing up till the day they left, they are all at the top of their form. The Eleven thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Rotorua, where they saw all the principal sights of the Thermal district. Cotter was slightly indisposed on the trip down yesterday, but he has now recovered. Messrs Stephenson and J. Watts were tt«e umpires in the match to-day, the former acting on behalf of Auckland and the latter for the Australians. The match will be continued to-mor-row, commencing at 11 aau., and on Monday, at the same hour. On Sunday the visitors will be entertained at an excursion in the s.s. Kapanui to Waiwera. THE TEAMS. The selection committee of the Australian team on the ground to-day decided that W. P. Howell (N.S.W.) ahould stand out of the team. Following the teams:— Australia:—M. A. Noble (N.S.W.), (captain), C. Hill (S.A.), (vice-capcain), V. Trumper, R. A. Duff. A. Cotter, A, J. Hopkins, S. E. Gregory, J. J. Kelly (N.S.W.), W. W. Armstrong and C. E. McLeod (Vie), and D. R. A. Gehre (SLA.). Auckland: —D. Hay (captain), A. Haddon, L. A. Hemus* F. McNeil, E. V. Sale, C. Oliff, A. E. Sloman. G. Sehmoli. W. Steuison, S. P. Jones, F. It. Masou, N. B. Lusk, W- Brook-Smith, H. B. Lusk, and A. Stevens. THE PLAY. Auckland won the toss and went in to bat upon a good wicket. C. Oliff and S. P. Jones opened Auckland's innings, the latter facing the bowling of Cotter, the innings commencing at 2.10 p.m. The Australians were received with cheers as they tiled out of the pavilion to take the field, a similar cimpliinent being paid the two first Auckland bats as they followed. Cotter started from the pavilion end. The first ball was played to the off, and the second was driven to leg for a single. A bye followed Cotter's next ball, and from an overthrow another was scored. Olifl" made a pretty off drive for a couple, five runs being thus scored off the first over. Noble, the captain of the team, took up the bowling at the Hospital end. Jones played the first two, and then got oue to leg for a brace, the rest of the over being unproductive. Cotter sent down a maiden over to Oliff. Jones sneaked a nice two to leg off Noble's first ball, and the bowler put another man on the leg side. A single followed, bringing up double figures in twelve minutes. Cotter sent down another maiden over to Jones, one or two of the balls of which were rather erratio. Noble beat Oliff with the first ball of his next, over, but the ball was outside the off-etump. The over wae a maiden, the batsman being content to play the ball away from the wicket. A beautiful late cut through the slips by Jones, off Cotter, registered the first boundary, and the next ball travelled across for four byes. A cut made another single, the' over thus producing nine rnns. A pull to leg off Noble for a single, by Jones, brought up 20, and Oliff then followed suit. Gregory fielded the. ball very smartly, and tbxerw at the vricket while OJirf was well oat of his crease, but he missed the sticks. Jones made another single, which he snicked to leg. The second ball of Cotters next over sent Jones back to the pavilion. He met touched it, and it flew into the safe hands of Kelly. Jones made 13, one wicket being down for 22. Cotter's wicket had cost eight runs. Mason joined CSiff, who was playing quietly bat confidently. Cotter's over was a maiden. OKff drove NoWe for a single, and then Qqttar, gyho -wde bowl-1 ing well. seh% him' 'aown a maiden. Mason cat one from Noble, but it was smartly fielded by Armstrong. He then scored a single, and faced Cotter, off whose first ball he missed an easy run. The 'ne&M»e got nicely to leg for .three. Hopkins took tlie ball.from Noble, who had bowled six overs, and had had ten runs scored off him. The new bowler's first over was a maiden. Oliff cut Cotter nicely for a single, a boundary being just saved. A pretty leg glance by the same batsman resulted in three runs being added, and Mason followed with a single. AUCKLAND.—First Innings. S. P. Jones, c Kelly, b Cotter 13 C. Oliff; not out '•' F. R. Mason, not out 5 Oliff. b. Hopkins 13 Extras ti Total 4°