CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 383, 7 April 1902, Page 3

CRICKET.

THE TENTH AUSTRALIAN - ELEVEN.

[Notes by “ Biffer.”]

Tho tenth Australian Eleven, with the popular Major Wardill as manager, has sailed for England, and for the nest six months the cableman will inform us daily of their progress as they journey through the Shires, and engage the cream of English cricket on the historical grounds of the Old Land. The first team of cricketers from Australia visited England as far back as 1868, when a team of aboriginal players was taken over. This combination played 47 matches, mostly of an exhibition character, of which 14 were won, 14 lost, and 19 drawn. , The first Australian eleven proper went to England in 1878. It played 37 matches, mostly against odds, and won 18, lost 7, and 12 were drawn. The next Australian eleven went home in 1880, and every second season up till 1890 a team has been sent, and since that date three years haye intervened between the visits. The team which left.by tho Omrah last month is the tenth Australian eleven to visit England. The following table gives the batting and bowling averages of the individual members in test matches, which should help my readers to form some estimate of their ability

Batting Averages in Test Matches. -S 3> g I? Sa° m « g ’S -“ a S o a2o a o ► §Armstrong 4 7 4 159 55 53.00 Hill 16 29 .. 1303 188 44.93 §Duff 4 8 1 311 104 44.42 Darling 21 39 1 1293 178 34.02 Noble 14 23 3 611 89 30.55 Gregory 29 52 4 1355 201 28 22 Trumper 10 19 1 499 135* 27.72 Trumble 24 41 11 710 70 23.66 Kelly 18 28 9 397 46 20 89 § Hopkins 2 3 47 43 . 15.66 Howell 12 17 4 131 35 10.07 Jones 16 24 1 126 20 5.47 Saunders 1 1.. 0 0 0.00 Carter, the other member, has not played in a'test match. *Not out.. ~ § Played in Australia only. Bowling.

xj a ■** 1 s a -s §■ a is 5 Saunders 1 403 19 .*' 163 9 -18 11 Noble 14 3164 184 1404 64 21.93 Trumble 24 5659 334 2194 91 24.11 Jones 16 3332 150 1660 57 29.12 Howell 12 2553 170 894 20 44.70 Trumper 3 54 5 19 .. Armstrong 3 162 7 68 .. ..

Trumble bowled 14 no-balls, Jones 7, Noble 6, Armstrong 3, Howell 2, Saunders 1; Noblo bowled 9 wides, Trumble 4, Jones 3, Howell and Trumper 1 eaoh. It will be seen that New South Wales claims no fewer than eight of the team, while Victoria and South Australia are each represented by three players.' - Great cricketers, like poets, appear to be bom, not made, and it is wonderful how men like Dr W. G. Grace, Gregory and Trumble for such a number of years kept their places against the competition of hundreds of younger men for places in tho great test matches. The great doctor, unfortunately, was not possessed of the elixir of life, and advancing years have compelled him to stand down, but for twenty long years he was the English champion in the great test matches, and a terror to the Australian bowlers. But Trumble and Gregory seem to be as good as ever. Just glance at the table, and see the number of innings these two men have played in test matches. It is truly marvellous how these men maintain the form to secure their places in the great contests, when one considers the hundreds of candidates there are in Aus-

tralia striving keenly for the honor o: representing All Australia in the crickei field.

“ Felix," of the Australasian, says the tenth Australian eleven is a strong stfe,

I but considers fcbo inclusion of Laver and Worrali, of Victoria, would make it ! stronger. In chats I have had at different times with placers from Australia, I have heard that it is extremely difficult for a young player to win his spurs in that country. The Australian eleven is a kind of inner temple, and nothing short of exceptional merit will avail a colt if ho wishes to enter the shrino. However, I think Messrs S. E. Gregory, H. Trumble, and G. Hill, the selectors of the tenth Australian eleven, havo done their work well. The tour of Maclaren's tenm failed to unearth any young Australian player worthy of inclusion, other than those who have been included. The only name I take exception to on the list is that of E. Jones, of South Australia, the fast bowler. His deliveries seemed the simplest stuff imaginable to Maclaren’s men, while the Australian batsmen, particularly the Now South Welshmen, invariably score heavily off him. A good fast bowler is, however, a rarity, and the Australians have taken Jones, I presume, for want of a better. It .seems strange that Marsh, the New South Wales aboriginal, should be excluded when a fast howler is so urgently needed. This player has been bowling exceptionally'well lately. The argument that his action is doubtful goes for little when we remember that Jones has been “called” frequently by no legs an authority as an umpire than Jem Phillips. Of the present team, Hill, Gregory, Huff, Trumper, Barling, Armstrong,Noble, Hopkins, and Trumble make up a strong batting side. Hill is now in his prime, and is to-day to Australia what W. G. Grace was to England for 20 years. The Englishmen may have difficulty in running up long scores against the bowlers of the team. Noble, Trumble, Saunders, Howed, Trumper, Hopkins, Jones, and Armstrong can all handle the leather, but the three first-named are the only great bowlers on the side. The absence of a bowler like Harry Trott will be felt before the tour is over, and unless Jones regains his form, the Australians will be lamenting tho absence of a good fast bowler before ,they are done with Banjitsinhji, Fry, and Co. Huff, Armstrong, Hopkins, Saunders, and Carter visit England for the first time, and should ail do well, judging from the manner in which they acquitted themselves against Maclaren’s team in Aus-

tralia. Saunders is what Australia has lacked for many years—a left hand bowler, and did fine work in the fourth test match at Sydney, He had, however, the misfortune to dislocate his elbow in attempting to.take a return off his own bowling at Melbourne in the England-Vicioria match, and it is doubtful whether he will be ablo

to last the tour through. Kelly is as good as ever with the gloves, and did splendid service behind the wickets this season. His catching was very sure, and he challenged comparison with the great Lilley in tho soundness of his work, though his manner of perform-

ing it was not so artistic. Carter, .who goes as Kelly’s under-study, is highly spoken of, and many prominent Australians consider they have unearthed a

second Blackham in this player. Carter was behind the sticks for New South Wales when Maclaren’s team ran up their long score of over 700 runs, and 443 of these were registered before a single extra was debited against him. L. Poidevin, the brilliant young New South Wales batsman, goes to England in connection with his medical studies, and it is understood that his services will be available if required. The test matches in England will be managed by a Board of Control, which has arranged the following dates for the all-important five test matches:—(l) May 20th, 21st, and 22nd, at Birmingham; (2) June 12th, 13th, and 14th, at Lord’s; (3) July 3rd, 4th, and sth, at Sheffield; '(4th) July 24th, 25th, and 26th, at Manchester; and (5) August 11th, 12th, and 13th, at the Oval. It is noticeable that big matohes attract much larger gates in Australia than in England. The fourth test match between

Australia and Maclaren’s team at Sydney, which extended into the fourth day, was attended by 85,000 people. The largest gate ever recorded in England was when

Surrey played Nottinghamshire at the Oval in 1892, and the attendance amounted to 63,763. It is stated that 103,600 attended the fifth test match at Melbourne between Stoddart’s first team and Aus-' tralia in 1895, but these figures were never verified. The selection committee for the test matches in England will consist of Lord Hawke, and Messrs G. McGregor and W. H. Bainbridge. The matches will start on the first day at 11.30, and on the second and third days at 11, while stumps will be drawn each day at 6.30. This should permit of more than one test match being finished, as was the case on the occasion of the Australians’ visit in 1899. Half the gross gate-money will g o to the Australians. The other half (less expenses), together with the receipts from stands and enclosures, will be pooled, 40 per cent, going to the ground where the match is played; 10 per cent, to the second-class Counties; and 50 per cent, for division equally between the fifteen first-class Counties and the Marylebone Club.

I have an idea that the Australians have embarked on a tough tour. The Englishmen have been underneath for some years now, and it goes against John Bull’s grain to be second at anything. The old man, personified in W. G. Grace, taught his son to play tho game, and gave him many severe drubbings in the process. How well everyone can remember the days when W. G. and A. E. Stoddart used to lead off for England against Australia, and invariably put up a couple of hundred runs before a wicket fell. But Young John was an apt pupil, and soon learned the game so well that he got the old man down, and has kept him down ever since; and we have an idea that Old John doesn’t like it altogether, and will make a gigantic effort to put the youngster in his place during the coming season. However, whoever wins, we can be certain that the Australians will uphold the

honor of the colonies in the cricket field ;

that they will play the game like men; and will once more prove to Old England that her sons are sturdy, and

can give a very good account of themselves whether they bo on the battle-field or playing-field. The Tenth Australian Eleven are fortunate in strik-

ing the present year for their tour. They are bound to be popular as representing Australia, which has rendered such aid in South Africa. In addition to this, they are the first team to represent the Australian Commonwealth, and they will have the groat good fortune to witness the Coronation of King Edward tho Seventh. Joe Darling, whom I presume will again captain the team, will be called upon to make some great speeches, and he is just the man who can do it. I should like to give the captain of the Australian eleven a hint. He is bound to

see this copy of the Gisborne Times when he reaches London, and will certainly be grateful to me. As everyone knows, King Edward the. Seventh takes an interest in cricket. When Prince of Wales, ho

used alwaf 3 to drop in at Lord’s to see the test matches, and in 1896 he shook hands with several of the Australians, and presented Harry Trott, the captain, with a cigar. Now, poor Harry on that occasion committed an act of les majeste for

which many have never wholly forgiven him. Cigars were made for smoking—at least, that was what they usualy did with them in Australia; se Harry, when he left the Koyal presence, coolly bit the end off the cigar, and actually started to smoke it. He finished it, and a really good one it was, too; but, horror of horrors, he threw away the but*. The poor man- was overwhelmed with reproaches for this act of lawlessness. I should not like Joe Darling or Hugh Trumble, or whoever captains the Australians on this tour, to similarly call down on their heads the just wrath of the Empire. If His Majesty escapes for an hour or so from the sumptuary solemnities of his coronation, and drops in at Lord’s, and gives you a cigar, don’t smoke it, Joe, however much you may want to. Get it mounted in Australian gold, and keep it as an heir-

loom. In any ease, for heaven’s sake, preserve the butt. We wish the tenth Australian eleven fine weather for the big matches and a good time generally throughout the tour.