ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN v. COMBINED TEAM AT SYDNEY.

Evening Star, Issue 3436, 25 February 1874, Page 3

ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN v. COMBINED TEAM AT SYDNEY.

DISCREDITABLE PROCEEDINGS. The match between W. G, Grace’s eleven and the combined team was resumed and concluded on Saturday, says the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ of the 9th. It cannot be stated that the proceedings during the close of the match were characterized by that good eeling which the cricketing public hoped to witness from first to last; and those who have strenuously opposed any attempt to introduce the betting element into cricket had a specimen on Saturday of how a game may be marred when the players are pecuniarily interested in the result. It seemed to be generally understood that several of the Engish team had wagers on the match, and the ■yictics pursued by their captain towaids tbe iiuish of the second innings of his men, with * view of obtaining sufficient time to get the •ombmed team out and prevent a draw, rc■mlted in a ret diation on the part of* the majority of the Fifteen which was anything but creditable to them. Just before the luncheon hour W, G. Grace went to the wickets and spoko to Gilbert and Bush, who iheu began to play recklessly. The bowline of Ihompson aud D. Gregory at the same time got off the wickets, and the fielding became disgracefully loose. It was evident that a game at “ cross purposes ” was being played, one side trying to get out, and the other doing cheir best to frustrate such an intention. Mr bad a perfect right to instruct his men to get out, and his desire to prevent a draw was supported by a large majority of people on the ground ; but at the same time the e> - Ample was a bad one, and resulted in the most ridiculous display of cricket ever seen ■in the Albert ground. The English umpire again gave diasaGafaction, his dr cision in the case of Gibson being of a most dubious character. No doubt, in several instances he jame m for a good deal of undeserved censure, but one or two of his decisions were eo palpably unjust that it is hardly possible to believe they arose from mere ignorance. It is deeply to be regretted that, at the last moment, any unpleasantness should have occurred; and the combined team (or some f them at least) deserve censure for not playing the true cricketing game, leaving their opponents to follow their own devices, their conduct only recoiled upon themselves, or although they managed to protract the second inrings of the Englishman beyond the luncheon hopr, they were not able to Beep their wipketa up until six o’clock, the Eleven winning b y 218, runs, much to the delight of the public, who, when th<? final wicket was taken, indulged in a round of cheers. A crowd subsequently assembled in front of the pavilion, and W- G. Grape apd other members of the English eleven were compelled to pome opt of the committee room and submit themselves to public inspection and applause. Mr Coates, captain of tne combined team, had to go through the same ordeal, We may state that the Englishmen and the majority of the Melbourne contingent, left for Melbourne late on Saturday night, havingpreviou ly been entertained by a number of friends at Williams’s Hotel. in the English second innings W. G. Grace made 73 ; Jupp. 12; Greenwood, 20 ; ,o *^f ace ' 30 5 Humphrey, 36; Oscroft, jo ; Gilbert, not out, 26 ; and Bush, notout,