THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 566, 20 July 1878, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

The Australian Eleven commenced the first match in England at Notts on the 20th May, they lost the mutch by au innings and six runs. Their next match was at Lords, on the 27th, with the MaryleWe Club. This match, which created an immense sensation, was the moat extraordinary ever seen. The Australians had shown in their conwith Notti, when quite out of practice, and on a wicket most unfavourable to their style of play, that they were fully justified in coming to England, and that they would do themselves no discredit as reptesentatives of cricket at the antipodes ; still, uo one anticipated that they would defeat such a powerful teim as that brought against them by nine wickets. From first to last they took full advantage of their good fortune, and allowed no chance to slip by. Special praise was also bestowed on the excellent fielding of the Australians, which was a,nick, active, and really very smart in the return, The Marylebone players iu their second innings cut a deplorable figure—Mr .Grace was perhaps a little unlucky in the first innings, but in the second he had only two balls, neither of which did lie touch, and the last took his bails. Mr Hornby alone, in the fir.-t innings, seemed' to have any idea of how to pity to the howling of Messrs Boyle and *Spoffi>rth. The rest went in and out, one after the other, as if there was something too terrible iu the bowling to faee. Li the second innings, on a good though dead wicket, nine out often of the Aiaryle.bene side wem clean bowled, and they sot altogether only 19 runs, to add to the alnjo.sk equally insignificant score of 33, which they had previously obtained. Six mou contributed nothing at their first effort, and seven followed suit the second time. Spofforth, whose action and change of pace seemed to puzzle tin; batsmen, bowled in all 59 balls, for 20 runs and 10'wickets ; Bovle, 89 balls for 17 runs and nine wickets; (he former getting six wickets for 3 runs in the. second. As to the Australian baiting, Midwinter showed good form in both innings, r.nd Murdock and Horan likewise did better than any of the English side except Hornby and Flowers The game began at 12, and notwithstanding the. interval for lunch, ended a little after 5. At a subsequent match on 30th May with the Yorksire County team of eleven, the Australian won by six wickets. Tiiey were next victorious in a great niateh with the Surrey Ele\en, at Kennington Oval, which they won by five wickets. This contest, owing to the interest excited by the extraordinary success of the Australians, brought the largest crowd to ICenuingtou Ovid ever seen b\ a cricket field. The victory was welcomed with overwhelming enthusiasm.—Melbourne Argu's.