The Australian Cricketers.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 491, 23 July 1890, Page 3

The Australian Cricketers.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, May 23. The Australian Eleven met with thei 1 ' first revorse on English soil at the Wesbbury grounds on Saturday last, at the hands of a good English team gob together by Mr W. H. Laverton, Taken all round, the homo eleven was nob quite up to the one which knocked nnder in such a feeble manner to the bowling of Turner and Ferris at Sheffield Bark some weeks back ; but still it was a really good team, and, favoured to a certain extent by that erratioindividua), Mr Clerk-of-the-Weather, proved one too many for the visitors. The first innings of the English team was noticeable from the fact that though no less than eighbof thetecmgotintodouble figures, noonesecured more than two, andthoaggregate was the extremely moderate one of 141. The bowling of Briggs and Lobmann was fejo good for bho Cornstalks, who could only compile 67 between them. It was funny to see the usually circumspect and scientific batsman Murdoch run half-way down the pitch (allowing for exaggeration) to smite an enticing short-pitched slow from Briggs. Had he managed to hit the sphere, I fancy it would have been a case of lost ball, but ho didn’t, and Bush quietly whipped off his bails. The home team commenced their second innings with an advantage of 74 runs. Thanks mainly to the brilliant efforts of W. G. Grace and Mr Radcliffe, who knocked up 64 and 93 respectively, they were ab the completion of their innings able to look upon victory as their own. Requiring 300 runs to win, the colonials went in on Saturday on a wicket rendered treacherous by heavy overnight rains and a hot noonday sun. Briggs and Lohmann, with Peel and Mold as changes, again shared the attack. The Australians, i with the exception of Lyons and Turner, were easily disposed of, and eventually the innings ended for 116, thus leaving tho 1 home team victorious by 181. Turner’s exhibition in the second innings was a really fine one. and his 47 was compiled by careful, yeb withal dashing play. Lyons again proved the safest bat in tho team, and I predict that his avorago at the close of the tour will bo Al. The new men of the team, with the exception of Gregory, have so far done nothing to justify their inclusion in the team, though it is only fair to the change bowlers, Carlton and Trumble, to state that they have nob had many opportunities of distinguishing themselves ; bub I can scarcely believe they will earn groat distinction. D. Barrett, who camo ovor with a reputation for defensive play up to that of Bannerman, has yet to justify the eulogies passed on him by bis compatriots. Burn has not yeb been tried. VERSUS OXFORD UNIVERSITY. On Monday tho Australians commenced their match with the Oxford ’Varsity. Little doubt was entertained as to the ultimate issue of the match, but most folk expected the Oxford man to make a better show. Tho visitors held the upper hand throughout, and eventually wen at half-past four on Tuesday by an innings and 61 runs. The first innings of tho Australians resulted in a total of 234, to which tho chief contributors «eie : Lyons, 34; Murdoch, 45 ; Turner, 50; Charlton, 41 ; and Ferris (not out), 34. Tho first innings of the Oxonians produced 120, and being 114 runs to the bad they followed on, but Ferris and Charlton were too difficult to play on the tricky wicket, and dismissed tho home side in short order for an insignificanb 53. The chief feature of tho match was the excellent bowling of Charlton. Ho did nob go on till late in the Oxford first innings, but he bowled all through the second attempt, and hie record for the match was 7 wickets for 32 runs, a performance that will bo road of with pleasure by the many Australians who recognised and pushed forward his claim to bo included in the soventh Anglo-Australian team. The fielding was smart and accurate, and B’ackham, at the wicket, was brilliant and safe as ever. On tho first day the weather was fairly good, but on Tuesday there was a very high wind, and the air was extremely cold. A large nutnbor of spectators were present on both days. V. SURREY.

The Australians made their first appearance in London at Kensington Oval on Thursday to do battle with the powerful Surrey team. Tho weather was simply delightful, the sun shining out most brilliantly while play lasted, and tho ground was in splendid condition. There was of course an onormous attendance,and the play wasof an excitingorder throughout. Surrey, profiting by past experience had arranged two or three minor matches, in order to give their men a chance of getting into form ere they were required to meet the colonial eleven. Of the eight matches between the Australians and Surrey, five were won by.tho " Cornstalks,” and in 1838 there was a draw. Both captains waited to see whateort of a day it was likely to turn out ere finally deciding whom they would play, and whom they would leave out. The Australians left out Burn and Trumble. Surrey played the team that so often represented them last season. Sharp was substituted for Bowley on account of his recent excellent performances with the ball. The Surrey captain won the toss, and elected to bat first. Although there were some fino individual performances it cannot be said that the Surrey batting came up to expectation. A total of 200 was rather meagre, considering tho favourable conditions existing for run-getting, and the Australians are to be congratulated on getting rid of their antagonists for such a figure. Once, and only once, was the bowling fairly collared, and that was when the two Reads were at the wickets. W. VY. Read, indeed, did just os he liked with the deliveries of Ferris and his compatriots, and compiled eighty-seven before a splendid left-hand catch by Walters brought his brilliant batting display to a close. Maurice Read played fine cricket for his forty, Tho last four of the Surrey side did not give much trouble, and at 4 o’clock tho innings came to an end. The fielding of the Australians was perfect in every way. At 4.30 the Australians commenced thenattempt with Lyons and Barrett, who were opposed by Lohmann and Beaumont. The start was not encouraging to the colonials, as before a run had been registered Lyons skyed a ball and was easily caught by Key. Murdoch, who met with an enthusiastic reception, then partnered Barrett,and these together made a valuable stand, Barrett for the first time exhibiting the defensive qualities attributed to him by hit friends in

Australia. Murdoch played fn his old finished form, and had scored 40 ere ho was taken at point off a short-pitched delivery of Lobmann’s. When the score was 80, Barrett had his off stump disturbed by Sharpe, and Jones, who followed in, was quite unable to play either Sharpe or Lohmann, and after making five was ran out. Walters then partnered Trott, who signalised the occasion by hitting a full pitch to log for four, bringing the score up te a hundred at 6.20. Try as they would, the Surrey men could not secure another wicket, and when play ceased for the day the Australians held a slight advantage, having 94 runs 1 to make and 6 wickets to fall.