TEST CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1930, Page 2

TEST CRICKET

MATCHES AT MANCHESTER. SOME HARD BATTLES. FROM 1884 TO 1030. The Old Trafford ground at M;mchestor lias been the scene oi : many line struggles between England and Australia. The first played in 1884, and to date twelve games have been decided, England winning 3, Australia 2, and 7 have been drawn. The Australian team of 1884 was not as representative as that of 1882. when England was defeated by 7 runs at the Oval in the “most wonderful match of all,” and consequently England was successful in winning the rubber. The Manchester Test was one of small scores, no batsman reaching 50. Rain prevented play on the first day, and this not only caused the wickets to be slow and dead throughout, but also resulted in the game not being brought to a definite conclusion, England collapsed before Boyle alulSpofforttg only Arthur Shrewbuiy, who made 43, showing to fliiv advantage, and the whole side being dismissed for 95. Australia replied with 182, seven batsmen reaching double figures, toe top scorers being W. E. Midwinter 37. P. S. McDonnell 3G, and W. L, Murdock 28, England’s second knock realised 189 for nine wickets. W. G. Grace 31, A. Shrewsbury 25, A. P. Lucas 24, and T. 0. O’Brien 20 being most successful with the bat, and G. E. Palmer took four wickets for 47. The game was thus drawn.

STONE WALLING ENGLISHMEN. I England won tlic 1886 match by four wickets against a team that was far from representative, lacking as it did such grand players as Murdoch. Alec Bannerman, P. S. McDonnell, Horan, and MaS'iie. Australia scored 203, (S./P. Jones 87, A. HwJarvis,4s), and 123 (H. J. H. Scott 47), R. G. Barlow dismissing 7 for 44 runs. England replied with 223 (W. AV. Read 51, R. G. Barlow 38, G. A. Lohmann 32), and 107 for six wickets, R,. G. Barlow 30, and W. H. Scotton 20, stonewalling for an hour at a critical time. Fortunately for. the spectators, these two batsmen were not often seen in partnership. i In 1888 the Australian team captain- ' ed by P. S. McDonnell lost by an innings and 21 runs, scoring 81 and 70, to England’s total of 172. On a slow and soft .w’cket, R. Peel captured , 11 wickets for 68, six batsmen failing j ttr score in Australia’s second innings, i Rain prevented any play at all in 1890, ruining the fixture arranged for ( August 26, 23 and 27. j

THE SURREY EXPRESS BOWL Ell. In 1893 the last match of the series resulted'in a draw, Blackham’s team totalled 204 (W. Bruce* 68,) and 236 (A. C, Bannerman 63), England replying with 243 and 118 for four wickets. In the first innings W. Gunn, “the Agamemnon of the North,” scored 102 not out, batting for four hours, threefourths of the time being occupied in making the first 50. Tom Richardson, the Surrey express, took ten wickets for 156 runs during the match, foreshadowing his performance in the succeeding Test at Old Trafford in July, 1896. The Australian team Tinder Harry Trott won the 1896 game by three wickets after a* desperate struggle for runs in the second knock. Their first innings score was 412, to which E. A. Iredale 108, G. Griffin 80, and G. H. S'. Trott* 53. were tile main contributors. T. Richardson took seven wickets for 168 runs, bowling 340 balls. England replied with 231, only K. S. Ranjitsinhji and A. A. Lillev, who made top score, 65 not out, making much headway. Following on, they scored 30.5, Ranjitsinhji following un his first innigs score of 62 with a brilliant knock of 154 not out. Australia wanted only 125 to win. Within an hour Richardson had dismissed for 45 four batsmeiv who in the first innings had an aggregate of 268, and seven had fallen for 100, , with Kellv and Trumble batting—only McKibbin and Jones in reserve. But no more success came to England, though the last 25 runs took an hour to gain. This,

too, was the first Australian victory in

1 a Teat match cn English soil for eight years, | In the whole match Richardson sent down 553 balls for 244 runs, and 13 wickets. In the second innings he bowled at one end throughout three hours, did not ask to be relieved, never lost pace or pitch, and never sent down la loose ball! I In the Australians’ first innings Lilley the English wickelkeerer, was given a turn with the ball, and succeeded in getting Trott caught. HARD FIGHT IX 1899. The Australians had a hard fight in 1899, when stubborn batting saved the game. England scored 372, Tom Hayward leading the way with a chanceless innings of 130, Lilley 58, and Jackson 44, giving most assistance. Seven .Australians wickets fell before Bradley and “-Sailor” ■■■Young- for 57, but Noble, who batted 185 minutes for 60 not out, and Trumble 44, Jreda.'e 31, raised the score to 196. In the folI low-on, Noble stonewalled for; 32Q 1 I minutes for’ 89 run®, batting altogether eight hours and twenty minutes in the .match. He was assisted by Darling, 39 in 130 minutes, and Trumper 63, Worrall 53, Darling de- [ daring the innings, closed; with the score at 346 for seven wickets and only 65 minutes left for play. England lost three wic!7ets for 94 ill the time, Ilanjitsinhji claiming 49. A NARROW MARGIN, The 1902 game was disappointing to the Englishmen, who having the worst of the luck of fighting a splendid uphill battle lost mainly through the vagaries of the weather by three runs, the narrowest margin of the whole series. Australia, scored 229, V, Trumper 104, C Hill 65, R. A. Duff 54, and J. Darling 57, being the only batsmen to reach double figures. W. H. Lockwood took six wickets for 48 and W. R. Rhodes 4 for 104. The wicket was difficult when England batted,, and five fell for 44. Next morning F. S. Jackson 128 and L. C. Braund 65, added 114, and the total w-as 262. Australia could notch only 86 in their second strike, J. Darling and S. E ! . Gregory claiming 61 between them. F. W. Tate, fielding “in the country,” a position quite foreign to him, missed Darling early; but for this Australia would not have reached 50. Lockwood and Rhodes were, responsible for the collapse, taking five for 28, and three for 26 respectively.

' England wanted 124 to win, but rain overnight had mined the pitch, and further rain fell during the progress of the innings, the last man, Tate, waiting three-quarters of an hour before facing Trumble and Saunders. Eight nuns only were wanted, but after snicking Saunders for four Tate had his stump uprooted two balls later. The eleven in the field went wild with joy, even “Long Hugh” Trumble. the quiet and serious, doing strange things. EASY WIN FOR ENGLAND. A different tale was told in 1995, England winning by an innings and 80 runs. Every batsman except Walter Brearley reached double figures, Hon E. S. Jackson leading the way with 113, T. Hayward 82, J. R. H. Spooner 52, and “Mr Extras” 39 helping the score to 4-16. Australia scored 197 (J. ■ Darling 73) and 169 (R. A. Duff 60) falling before the bowling of Brearley. Rhodes and Arnold who captured 17 wickets.

SERIES OF DRAWS. A draw resulted in 1901). The scores were; Australia 147 (S'. F. Barnes five for 56 and G. H. Hirst five for 63), afiul 279 for nine pickets (Vernon Hansford 54 not out ana 0. G. Macartney 51); England 119 (F. Laver eight wickets for 31) and 108 for three wickets (R. H. Spooner 58). T.n 1912, the year of the ill-fated triangular tournament, a Araw was again the result, the only performance of note being, W. R. Rhodes’s score of 92 out of a toal of 203. Australia scored 14, without loss, rain interfering greatly with play. The year 1921 witnessed an English recovery, a lack of knowledge of the rules on the. part of-.-the lion Lionel

Tennyson, the English skipper, and the bowling of two successive overs by W. W. Armstrong, the Australian captain. England scored 362 for four wickets (A. C. Russell 101 and E. Tyldesley 78 not out) and one wicket for 44, and Australia 176 (H. L. Collins 40), compiled in 295 minutes. C. Parkin took five wickets for 38 runs, the match as drawn, rain having prevented play on the first day. In 1926, as a result of rain, only 6 runs were scored on the opening dav. a draw resulting. Australia made 335, W M. Woodfull 117, C. G. Macartney 109, and England 305 for 5 wickets, E. Tyldesley 81, J. B. Hobbs 74, E. E. Woolley 58. Of the' Englishmen who took part in the last-mentioned match, only Hobbs and Tate Have been selected to play'in this week’s Test, while'Woodfull, .Ponsford, Oldfield and Grimmett were on the Australian side in 1926.