TRENT BRIDGE

Evening Star, Issue 21749, 18 June 1934, Page 13

TRENT BRIDGE

RQMAHCE AND BUSINESS AUSTRALIA’S RECORD THERE Trent Bridge ground, the home of the Nottingham County Cricket Club, has not always been one or pleasant recollections for Australian cricketers, although in recent years they have been more successful there than in the early days (says a writer in the Melbourne ‘ Sporting Globe ’). Lying alongside the Trent River, and close to the bridge from which it takes its name, it was founded in 1838 by William'Clurke, one of the most remarkable figures associated with Notts cricket.

Romance and business played their part in the establishment of .the ground, for it was following his marriage to tlio landlady of the Trent Bridge Inn that Clarke moved in the matter. The Notts team bad been accustomed to playing their matches in the neighbouring forest, with the public having a free view of the games. Clarke, always a man of business, saw the possibilities of having a regular enclosed ground, and there were naturally grumblings when the public were called upon to pay for admission to the new ground. However., they were forced to accept the new position, and the ground soon became established as one of the best in England, noted for its perfect wickets.

Here the famous Arthur Shrewsbury and William Gunn spent a great part of their cricketing lives in compiling the big scores for which' they became noted, and here many another Notts player achieved wonderful triumphs. Clarke was not only a great slow bowler, who ligured in first-class cricket until he was well up in years, but he had a genius for organisation, and practically ran the Notts Club for years. Also he founded and led the All-England Eleven, one of the famous teams that toured England season after season and did fine missionary work—and, incidentally, brought in much money for Qlarkc. '

When the first Australian team visited England in IS7B they opened their tour at Trent Bridge with a match against Notts, and suffered defeat by an innings.. This dismal start might have dampened the ardour of many touring teams, but the Australians wept from there to Lord’s, and startled the cricket world by defeating a powerful M.C.C. eleven, led by Dr W. G. Grace, in a match which lasted four and a-half hours, and was finished in the one day. The match is one of the landmarks of Australian cricket, for it showed that our men were capable, of defeating England’s best.

Our espeiience at Trent Bridge, however, continued to be otherwise than pleasant for some years, for of the first eight matches played against Notts we lost six. Notts, indeed, was the only English county -that’ won more matches than they lost- hgaiitst thei Australians, and it was not until the 1926 tour that Australia took the lead, with eight wins to. seven; at which the record now stands.

The first test match at Trent Bridge was played in 1899 and was drawn, Ranjitsinhji saving England front defeat with a great hand of 93 not out in a second innings total of 155 for seven wickets. Australia scored 252 and 230 for seven wjckcts (closed), and Emdand 193 and 155 for seven wickets. The second match, in 1905. was marked hy several notable performances. Australia led on the first in-, nings with 221 to 196. _ The notable feature of our first innings was the bowling of F. S. Jackson (now Sir Stanley Jackson, one of the English selectors), Australia had only one

out for more than 100 when Jackson went on, and in his first over dismissed M. A. Noble, C. Hill, and J. Darling. A recovery brought up 200 for only four wickets, but there-was then another collapse. ■, Then England compiled 426 for five wickets, A. C. M'Laren making 140, and closed, and B. J. T. Bosanquet, the bosey bowler., taking eight for 107, had the chief hand in dismissing Australia for 188. Australia lost the services' 1 of Victor Trumper early in the first inning.s.owing to a strain,'and he was unable to bat in the second innings. - Another notable feature of tin* matcb was that when W. \V. Armstrong went on to Fowl in England’* second innings he set himself to keep the- runs down with slow leg-theory and bowled without; a change while tha score was taken from',lol to" 301, sending down 35 dyers for 50 runs. Frank Laver.Accomplished a fine bowling feat in taking seven ’for 04 in .England’s first innings;- ;. ; " ■ The next match there was in 1921, the :- year ’ when’ Armstrong’s team annihilated England, with Ted McDonald and Jack Gregory, the fast bowlers, mowing down the English batsmen. Iff was a bad game for England, who" could make only 112 (Gregory six fop 58) and 147 (M'Donald five for. 32), and Australia won by ten wickets. The 1926 game was washed out after England had scored 32 for no wicket, and in 1930 England won by 93 runs with scores,- of 270 and 302 to Australia’s 14-1 and 335. Jack Hobbs'was. England’s- most successful batsman, with 78 and 7-1, and Don Bradman,with 131. made a groat effort in Australia’s second innings. Clarrie Grimraett was the chief performer with the ■ball, taking five wickets 'in each innings.