TEST MATCH MEMORIES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1926, Page 4

TEST MATCH MEMORIES

(By Dr L. O. S. Poidevin in the' “ Sydney Herald,” of June 12th.) Though the story of the tests runs through many interesting chapters, the match commencing to-day at the Trent Bridge ground, Nottingham, will begin one of the most eagerly anticipated additions to the volume. For Australians, much historic interest attaches to the Trent Bridge ground. It was here that the first team from the land of the Southern Cross played its first match on English soil and got soundly beaten. Naturally, in one respect at least, the appearance of the l(sth Australian Eleven at the Trent Bridge ground is not such a curious event as it must have been on May 20, 1878. On that occasion many of the lace spinners and hose weavers expressed cordial disappointment at the colour of the Australians, whom they expected to find black. The story goes that one astonished frontside onlooker was heard to observe about these cricketing pioneers “AY hoy lad. they boa n’t, black, all they lie’s white as wuz.”

In the match of 1878, AA. L. Murdock bad the unenviable distinction of a “ pair of spectacles,” for which, however, lie afterwards more than amply atoned against English howling. Trent Bridge ground has other points of special and historic interest. Three test matches have been decided there, tho first in 1899. when “ Ranji,” with 95 not out in the second innings, saved the game for England—a drawn game. That match was remarkable also, in that it dosed the career ol AA . G. Grace as an Empire cricketer, and it was the first test match that Victor Trumpet-. f. B. Fry, .T. T. 'jyldeslev and Wilfred Rhodes ever played in. The second macli eventuated in 1905, and was won by England, mainly through the instrumentality of the howling of Bosanquet, who. in the second innings, took eight wickets for 107 runs. This match was finished in the dark, and will always be remembered by those who saw it as the worst light in which test cricket has over been played. The third match, the 100th of the test series, brings us to the 1921 tour, and it resulted in a well won victory for Australia, mainly as the result of tho deadly fast howling of Gregory and McDonald. This match was the last test engagement of Wilfrid Rhodes, the maker of IGG4 runs, and the taker of 10.1 wickets in test cricket. Rhodes is the only English cricketer to perform this remarkable double feat—looo runs and 10 ) wickets in test cricket. Two Australian cricketers have done so, those great all-rounders, George Giffen (103 wickets and 1238 runs), and 31,. A. Noble (115 wickets and 1005 runs). AN AMAZING MATCH.

Tlie mention of these feats at ones releases a flood of tost cricket recollections. Every cricket enthusiast looks hack upon some test match memories. Some are privileged ill this respect much more than others. My own experience of test matches begins with tho l()th of the series, and since then it lias been my good fortune to see many Aeglo-Australiaii tests (15 .to he accurate). and to witness therein many historic and thrilling cricket episodes, ft may not ho amiss perhaps to linger over some of them. One of the most extraordinary of these matches was that played at Sydney in December, 1894, ft begun and ended with sensations that aroused feelings of the deepest chagrin for Australian’s. “Tom ” Richardson (what a boon to English cricket Richardson would he now), howling with amazing speed and accuracy, put out Trott, Lyons and Darling in the first few overs of the match for 21 runs, but Frank Jfednle (81), George Giffen (.181), Syd. Gregory (201), and .Tack Blackball) (841, effected a marvellous recovery siiicl Australia finished the first innings with 58(5 runs —then the highest innings total cm record in test cricket. That seemed a winning total, and even when England responded bravely with 325 in the first innings, or 201 runs behind, victory seemed almost assured for Australia. Following on, England saved the innings defeat, and hatting gamely to the litst man, scored 437 in the second innings. To get 177 runs required for victory seemed a mere “fig leaf” ns a task for Australia. So it should have been, licit men seemingly secure in tho assurance of victory dawdled oil the fifth afternoon in making 112 for two wickets'. Overnight heavy rain intervened, and the remaining eight wickets on a saturated pitch, could only muster 53 runs on the morrow, and the match was lost and won by leu runs. All Australia was astounded, even as she was when the M.C.C. routed the strong 180(5 Australian team at Lords for 18 miserable though hard-earned runs, ft was an amazing result. AN EXCITING FINISH.

There have been very few closer finishes than this one, though the Manchester match in 1902 had a narrower margin in runs. Probably nothing nior dramatic on the cricket field has ever been seen in the History of test cricket than the remarkable fluctuations of fortune in this game, and the thrilling incidents of its closing stages. The match began on a slow wicket, with a first 'day triumph for the Australians. Victor Triiniper actually scored a century before lunch, trouncing the bowling especially that of Tate, father of Maurice Tate, with charming abandon and amazing skill. Australia made 299, the soconcMmlf of the hatting collapsing against the bowling of Lockwood, blit with live of England best out for 70 nibs at the close of play. For England, on a drying wicket, V. S. Jackson lldS) was the hero, aild 20.000 stolid north coiiiitry spectators rose at him, and cheered for minutes when he com-

plotecl liis century. A glorious uphill innings it was, the- perfection of .studied science in hatting. England made 202 runs. The position has been almost evened.- Lockwood came next into the picture, assuming the hero raiment in virtue of some truly marvellous howling (five for 28. or 11 for 70 for the match), so at the close of play Australia had lost eight wickets for 85 hard-earned runs, about 80 of them the result of a miss by Tate, and apparently all chance of winning the game, 'flic innings closed next morning for 80. Only 124 for England to get to win. With the score 80 for iio wicket at lunch time. Palairet and Alaclaren hatting, people discussed the exact number of wickets England would win ljy. No one dreamt of an Australian victory, l’alariet, the model of hatting and elegance, was howled at 44 by Saunders, and 00 went on the hoard, witji 'fyldesley and AFaclaren in possession of the wickets. 'With clouds hovering about, the batsmen decided to hasten the end, arid a little later, tod late to make any difference to_ the result it seemed, the wickets began to fall. Tyldeslev was well caught by Armstrong in the slips. Mnclnren followed. magnificently caught in the outfield by Keg. Duff; then “ Ranji,” I.b.w. for the second time in the match to Trumble. Four for 92. Five runs later Abel was bowled by Trumble. It was still England’s match, although there was a deliberation and care about the bowling of Trumble and Noble, hacked by wonderful fielding, that made home supporters a trifle anxious. With onlv 17 wanted, Jackson was beautifully caught near the ground at mid-off by “iSyii.” Gregory, and Rraund was magnificently stumped two runs later on the leg-side by “ Jim,” Kelly, the ball coming to him from between the bat and the batsman’s legs.

Nothing so hard to take behind the J sticks as this. Lockwood, amazed at having come in to bat at all, was bowled without scoring by the wily Trumble. Rhodes, as if to show his contempt for the situation, hit the first ball clean over the fence. It only counted four in those days. Seven to tie, eight to win, and two wickets in hand, was the position when Trumble started his next over to Lillev. AVitli a tug at his cap, and a silent sign to Clem Hill in the outfield to move a litlc deeper towards square leg, the crafty Trinrible sent along a few good length ones, and then the seductive slightly over-tossed one on the leg stump, off which Lillev made a beautifully timed low skimming hit to squarelog. A certain four it seemed. The batsmen didn’t bother to run it, but they reckoned without Hill, who ran, and ran. and ran. and just reached the hall with outstretched hands in front of the pavilion gates, bringing off one of the finest and most momentous catches ever seen. The crowd gasped in amazement. When it awoke, it cheered Hill to the echo, while Lillev, crest-fallen, retired to the pavilion. As the last man, Hate, entered the field it commenced to rain. Everyone ran for shelter except Trumble and Kelly. They busied themselves filling tip the howling holes with sawdust before leaving the field. They got wet, and the crowd smiled ; but wisoheads these two! The rain delayed the game for half an hour or so. and greatly increased the general excitement, which knew no hounds when, on resuming, Tate snicked his first ball .for four. AYbat an exciting race it was between the slip fieldsman, Armstrong, arid the ball. Arid what si roar from the crowd when the ball just woii. The othe*r Australians in the field secretly hoped that the ball would win; it was their host chance of victory to continue against Tate/ People were breathless with excitement. Only four to win! There was dead silence round the ground while the next two on the offside were missed by the batsman. Then Noble strolled over from point to Saunders, the bowler. Then the climax. Saunders, with a fast swinger, knocked Tate’s leg stump clean out ol the ground, it was England’s match till that instant. Australia won by throe runs—-the smallest margin in runs in test cricket—anti tlie victory decided the rubber.