THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1073, 15 December 1903, Page 2

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

THE FIRST TEST MATCH,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Dec. 14. The weather is fine, and there is a cool broeze. The Herald says that up to luncheon the pitch was difficult ; after that it was easy. The general character of the Englishmen’s butting was slow, in strong contrast with the risky strokes of the first three Australians. Any stroke which carried with it the slightest danger was avoided. This was not attractive to the spectators, but was gomg a long way towards winning the game. Foster and Braund were particularly cautious. They could, however, scarcely ho blamed for not playing more aggressive cricket, and they ought to win. The brilliancy of tbo innings came from l’yldealey, who gave a most delightful exhibition.

The Tolegraph says any quoerness in the wicket in the early part of the play was equally divided. The features of the day were the brilliant innings by Tyldesley and the big partnership between FosS ter and Braund. Tyldesloy’a batting was the brightest seen on the ground for a long while, and he was as good as Trumper at his best, and one could not give higher praise than that. Foster’s and Brauud’s run-getting was 70 per hour, but not 1 fast enough to please the crowd, who seemed to forget that the team sought to win the test matches, not merely to provide the spectacular fire works element, which has been one of the principal sources l of weakness in recent English elevens. - Naturally both aggressive players, their - periods of quietness were a tribute to the , bowling and fielding, both of which were - excellent. The only chanco offered was a difficult catch to Gregory by Foster when d he was 51.

THIRD DAY’S PLAY,

MAMMOTH TOTAL BY ENGLAND,

RECORD SCORE BY FOSTER,

130 FOR LAST WICKET.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 7.2 p.m., Dec. 14. Sydney, Dec. 14. There was perfect weather and a fair attendance, with the wicket in excellent condition. < The overnight partners continued hard vigorous hitting, but smart fielding prevented rapid scoring. When Braund had scored 92, Hopkins on the boundary missed a difficult chance. The batsmen brought their score up evenly. Foster was the first to secure a century, bringing the third contury in view at the same time. Foster had batted 3hrs 39min for his three figures. A few minutes later Braund, with a couple of fine boundary drives, brought his century up in 2hrs 51mins. Several changes of bowling were tried without troubling the paitners. Howell, with hi 3 next ball to Braund, scattered his wickets. The retiring batsman had made 15 fourers. Five wickets for 309. Hirst joined Fostor, but Howell, who was bowling with excellent judgment, got Hirst’s bails in the next over with the first ball. Six for 311. Howell got his two wickets this morning at the expense of nine runs. He sent down five maidens out of eight ovors. Bosanquet followed, and added a couple ; then tipped the first ball of Noble’s second over, Howell catching him low down in the slips. Seven wickets for 318. Lilley got a boundary hit; then liftod Noble high, and Hill made an easy catch, Eight for 332;" Foster continued to bat magnificently. With clean hard strokos ho soon topped Noble’s score, amidst loud applause. With Rolf’s advent, play became slow. The new man stonewalled persistently, three singles being credited him for forty minutes’ play. Quick changing of the howlers made no difference to Foster, who played with complete confidence everything sent to him, Rolf reaching double figures just within the hour. The fourth century was recorded as the result of 6|- hours’ play. Foster, immediately after, had a narrow escape. He lifted one back just over the bowler’s head, but neither Hopkins (the bowler) nor Saunders got hold of it. Foster then became excessively aotive, rattling off boundary hits in great style, the field having as a lively a bit of leather hunting as they have had for a very long time. The bowliDg was so badly tied up that in extremity Gregory was tried, making the eighth bowler put on. Foster, with a fine carpet drive for four, recorded bis seconded oentury, receiving an ovation. Relf’s time had come, He placed one in the slips, whioh Armstrong held. , Nine for 447. After tea, Rhodes, the last man, accompanied Foster to the wickets. Great interest attached to the latter as ho approached Murdoch’s test match record of 211. Cheers rang out with the boundary hit which placed 213 on the board. Rhodes acted chiefly on the defensive, while Foster scored fast, bringing up 550, with the bowling in a thoroughly tired condition. Rhodes took liberties, and knocked up a respectable total. Fostor was terribly severe, and of 16 off one of Howell’s overs 13 were credited to him.

Foster sent away fourers almost every stroke, and brought his total equal to that of Australia. Then his great innings concluded, he lifting one off Saunders to Noble. Foster, who had batted for six hours 49 minutes, hit 38 fourers. He received a great ovation on regaining the pavilion. The following are the scores : ENGLAND—Ist Innings. Warner, c Kelly, b Laver 0 Hayward, b Howell l-> Tyldesley, b Noblo 5& Arnold, o Laver, b Armstrong ... 2? Foster, c Noble, b Saunders 28? Braund, b Howell 10 2 Hirst, b Howell 0 Bosanquet, c Howell, b Noble ... 2 Lilley, c Hill, b Noble 4 Belf, c Armstrong, b Saunders ... 3 2 Bhodes, not out 4O Sundries l 5

Total 577 Bowling Analysis : Saunders two for 126 Laver one for 119 Howell three for 110 Noble three for 99 Armstrong one for 47 Hopkins none for 40 Trumper nono for 12 Gregory nono for 8 With twenty minutes to play, the Australians began their second innings, Kolly and Gregory facing tho bowling of Hirst and Arnold. After a couplo of overs the latter was relieved by Bhodes.

With the total standing at 11, Bosanquet went on at Hirst’s end. A separation had not been effected when stumps were drawn for the day, the total being 16, Following are the scores : AUSTBALIA—2nd Innings. Kelly, not out 5 Gregory, not out 6 Sundries 5 ' Total, no wickets for ... 16 1

The MsryleboDe Club did not invite Banjitsinbji to accompany their team to Australia, as they wished the team to be composed of none other than Englishmen. B. E. Foster, who, it will be seen by our cables this morning, has made a record individual score for a test match, is probably the most graceful batsmijn in the world to-day. In the recent Victorian match, he handled bis bat like a whip. Several times he jumped out to hit a ball, as suddenly changed his mind, swiftly ana easily glided back to his ground, and played an entirely different stroke to that .which ho first intended. Six years ago, Foster was the best Public School bat m England, and followed up his early brilliant promise. He has bn three different occasions scored a century in each innings of a match, once for the Gentlemen against the Players. Up to the present test match, the record for an individual score in a test rnatoh waß held by W. L, 1

Murdoch with an innings of 211, though S. E. Gregory made 201 for Australia in the first innings of the first test match’ against Stoddart’s team at Sydney, in 1895. Fostor is accompanied on the present tour by his wife, who will doubtless feel as proud of her husband’s brilliant achievement as all Englishmen will be. It must he very gratifying to the thousands of people in Australia and this colony who wish to see the Australians win the rubber in the present series of tost matches against the redoubtable Marylebone Club team to hear that Hugh Trumblo has consented to take the fie?d. In answer to a direct query on Saturday week last, Trumblo said : “ I believe I am in this position—lf they ask me to play, I will tako the field for Australia on Now Year's Day.” Judging from the present state of the First Teat Match, Australia will want him.