Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1901. THE CRICKET TOUR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 December 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1901. THE CRICKET TOUR.

The English cricket team now playing in Australia have won the first test match in Australia—won it by an innings and 124 runs. This victory no Colonial will begrudge. It is a great record, now-a-days, for an English eleven to defeat a picket eleven in Australia in the handsome manner M'Laren men have done. It is a complete answer too to those carping English critics who declared the team was a weak one and would have no chance against combined Australia, and it further justified Mr. M'Laren’s choice of young and rising cricketers, in preference to those who have “ passed the prime of their play.” Of course cricket, although a game of science, is also a game of surprises, and yesterday’s result was one of the latter, although in saying so we do not in any way detract from the merit of the win. The Australian eleven was not the best that could have been put into the field nor is the result an estimate of the strength of the elevens, but it is an instance of brilliant play on one side, and little short of a ■ collapse on the other, the Australians in the two innings having no less than five “duck eggs” and eight scores of 5 runs and under. The beating, sound though it be, does not stand by itself. In the first test match 1892, after Australia had won the first two by 54 and 72 runs respectively, England won the third by an innings and 230 runs, which constiutes the “ greatest beating.” In 1895 Australia in the third test reversed the order by winning by an innings and 147 runs to spare. Both these matches were played in Australia. In England in 1886 England won by an innings and 137 luns. Of test matches played in Australia—the first in 1877 —England won, including yesterday, 22; Australia 16, and three were drawn. In England the results were England 12, Australia 4, and 8 were drawn. Of the latter six were regarded as certain wins for Australia. English teams have won 51 games and lost 27, The

highest individual score ever made in any match between the two countries was by V. Trumper (Australian) 300, not out, in 1899, next highest by Shrewsbury (England) 282 in 1887. Of the present tour the record stands; England v. South Australia lost by 233 „ „ Victoria won by 118 „ „ New South Wales lost by 60 „ „ Northern Division won by an innings and 79 runs „ „ New England won by 93 „ „ Newcastle drawn „ „ Australia won by an innings and 124 runs Results so far four wins, two loses and

one draw. A very creditrble record.