THE ALL-ENGLAND IN AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 36, 6 March 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE ALL-ENGLAND IN AUSTRALIA

(From the Correspondent of the Otago Daily Times.) Melbourne Thursday, 24th Jan. 1862. Thursday last was a day of dissapointment as it rained too heavily for the Great Match between England and Australia, to come off, and a most unwilling postponement was the result. It cleared up on Thursday afternoon, and Friday was a day delightfully cool and pleasant, and the match came off. The Eleven won the toss, and sent in thenopponents to the wickets. Tho United Eleven — the pick of Victoria aud New South Wales cricketers—made a large score, and were not put out until they had made 153. The Eleven than essayed their skill, but either had not their usual luck, or where playing against a superior team. In compliment to the United Colonies, tho English Captain took the latter view of the case, and at luncheon, in replying to the toast of his health, declared he had never met a better twenty-two anywhere, not even in England, lie that has it may, on Friday the All-England Eleven had five wickets down for fifty runs. Of course this led to excitement and largo and small bets where made that the “ Britishers ” woidd get, what they had never been before, licked out of their own country. Some ill-natured people said it was only a “ draw,’ as the attendance was very poor ; and there might be some truth in that, at'all events it did get up a little excitement, aud ten thousand people went on Saturday to see tho Eleven get what they said they would, aud did give us single-handed—before our big brothers came to our assistance. Tho remaining wickets made a good stand on Saturday, and brought the score up to 110—thus leaving the United Colonies the victors as far as tho first innings wont. Our men went in again and made 145, but it was now getting latehiml those who had whispered it “ a draw ” of one kind where not far wrong, for it was a draw ” as far as the game was concerned for it was evident the contest could not close that evening, and they had made engagements to go to Geelong on Monday, aud the Sydney team had also to leave on the same day. Great disappointment was felt, as it would have been a great thing to have scut homo by the mail that the renowned Eleven had met a defeat at tho hands of twenty-two of Australia ; and tin’s fact will have greatly impressed our friends at home that it must oo a fine country this when wc coidd produce such cricketers, and this little fact would have done as much as any two immigration lectures wmdd have done. Well, tho Eleven went to Geelong, and played twenty-two of that town and district, and beat them by a long chalk, as cvcrybodv expected. Tho Golongcse, however, made a veryfair stand, as the following scoring will show : Occlong first innings, 11l Do. second do go Total 191 All England first innings 123 Do. second innings, with nine wickets to s Pave 01 Total 192 That is to say that they beat Geelong in one innings and one wicket. They arc now ready to start for Sydney, and next week they will be busily engaged in playing the strength of that colony on their own ground. DEFEAT OF THE ENGLISH ELEVEN. The following are the latest particulars of the cricket match between theAll-EnglandElcvonand twenty two of New South Wales and Victoria, by which it will be seen that, in their two innings, the AllEngland scored but a total of 135 runs, while the United Twenty-two had, in their first innings, scored 101, thereby leaving them but 35 to score in order to win. Great excitement existed as to the result. The play commenced on February 13, and was greatly iu favour of the United team, All-England having been put out for a total of GO, while the colonial players ran up 81, with the loss of only twelve wickets. Considerable speculation has taken place with regard to the issue, opinion being very generally divided with’rcgard to the chances of the rival sides. As respects the All-England, the propabilities of defeat are greater than in any other match in which they have engaged since their arrival iu the colonics ; but it is by no means improbable that to-days’s play will work a change in the prospect of tho game. If it should turn out otherwise, and that the balance still remains against the players of the old country the finish of (he match on Saturday will bo doubly interesting to those who feel an interest iu tho game for it is pretty well known that a desire exists (a selfish one perhaps) to see the Englishmen either beaten or closely run during their sojourn here, the supposition of course being that, if not beaten in Sydney they cannot be beaten elsewhere. So far as it has gone the game has been contested in the most honourable and friendly manner; and it is to be hoped tho same spirit will prevail to the close, no matter which side may happen to come off victorious. At half-pact twelve o’clock the captains (Gilbert and IT. 11. Stephenson) tossed for choice of innings, and the leader of the Eleven having won, elected to send his own team in first. Tho Twentytwo thereupon took the field the only change in the previously-stated list being that Olecve played for Cameron, whose right hand was injured by a jar from the ball in former play. Shortly before one o’clock on Friday, the Eleven initiated their second innings by sending in Bennett and Laurence, to the bowling of Gilbert and G. Moore. The innings closed for a total of 75, making in both innings 135, and leaving the United Elevens (who made 101 in their first) to make 35 in their second innings to win. It is understood that the play will be resumed at clcvcd this (Saturday) morning. The favourable position in which the play stood on Thursday evening very naturally created a feeling of interest not to say of anxiety, as to whether the hitherto unconquerable English team would not actually sustain a deafeat, and accordingly, yesterday witnessed a great augmentation in the aften-

danco. We believe we do not exaggerate the num ■ ber if wo set it down at £tcn or twelve thousand n ithout taken into consideration the additions which were made towards the afternoon, when the increasingly dubious aspect of the game became known. The weather, as upon the previous day proved remarkably fine, tho sun shining out brilliantly from a fine clear sky, while the atmosphere was pleasantly tempered with a delicious breeze from the east-ward. To obviate the possibility of the match not being concluded by Saturday evening it was decided to commence the play at an earlier hour and, agreeably with this arrangement the wickets were pitched soon after eleven o’clock. Ilopkinson and Gregory, the presiding batsman of the previous night resumed their places to the bowling of Laurence and Calfyn. The united innings as will be seen maintained «n advaantage to the close when, the telegraph announced 101 runs as the sum total. The English Eleven then after a brief interval, assumed the willow amid feelings of the most divided nature; many people deeming it very doubtful whether they would be enable to put a more favourable aspect on the play. Three or four of the best players wore disposed of for remarkably small scores, the fall of Calfyn and Laurence, in particular, inspiring fresh hope and vigour in tho breasts of the double team. Griffith proved the hero of the innings, running up, by a masterly display of batsmanship, a score of 38. Mortlock also did good service on behalf of his side but somehow or other the fates seemed unpropitious, and the gallant Eleven finally retired on a total of seventy-five, making, with their previous innings, 135 runs. Against this, the united team had already scored 101 they therefore required the comparatively small aggregate of thirtyfive. Will they get it to-day ? This is the question winch was anxiously discussed yesterday evening. Many people look upon the match as virtually decided but as we heard a gentleman remark last mght, “ the colonials have never yet seen what a British folorn hope can do.” The Englishmen themselves are not exactly convinced that the game is oyer yet, there being instances on record whore some good players have had their timbers disposed of for a total of twelve. [From a private letter we learn that tho United Elei en» of Australia had won the game, with twelve wickets to go down.— Ed. AT. Examiner.^