AUSTRALIANS AS RECORDBREAKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 179, 21 August 1909, Page 4

AUSTRALIANS AS RECORDBREAKERS.

"England having lost the 'Ashes,' she must once again take refuge in her retards,said a celebrated cricketer oa the conclusion of the last tour in Australia under Mr. A. 0. Jones. The consolation left us is* not so satisfying i» this speaker, in common with tliu public, is apt to suppost. England *was certainly once the home oi all the most cricket achievements; but in strenuously acting up to their great motto, "Advance Australia," on the cricket field, our visitors have "annexed" not a few of our treasured distinctions, and annulled much that we prided ourselves upon (writes Tit-Bits). It is fitting, of course, that Australia, where matches arc played to a finish,! should boast the records for mammoth I scores. The biggest total ever made in| a single innings in first-class cricket in this country is the 887 compiled by York- j shire against Warwickshire at Binning-' ham in 18' JO, when four Yorkshire players made centuries. Contrast this with the highest total on record—lo!)4, made by Melbourne University against Essendojj ill Melbourne in 181)8. Then there is the D 22 a'cored by the Carlton Club against Melbourne 181)0. In addition. Australia holds the record for the highest total ever made in a first-class match in any country, namely, Xew South Wales' score of against South Australia at Sydney in 1901. '

On that occasion yet another recor was achieved, no fewer than five player bl-oring centuries in one innings, S. Y Gregory (168), M. A. Noble (153), L. i S. Poidevin (140 not out), R. A. Dul (119), and F. A. Iredale (118). On lighest total was jet again exceedei iy the Creak o' Day Club, who mud 11 against Wellington «it Ilobart i 902. That the Australians ateo hav lesigns on our home record is show: \y their score of 843 at Portsmouth i: 893 against the Past and Proseu ■layers* of Oxford and Cambridge. Although we still retain the r. cor or the highest individual score mad n any class of match—the sensfttiois nnings of 028 played by A, E. J, Collins i Clifton College schoolboy, ten year .go—the highest score in serious cricke s again held by an overseas cousin, ( f. Eady making 566 for the Break c )ay Club'against Wellington at Hobarl Tasmania, in 1902. Moreover, the scor n firet-class cricket ranking next !; tfaclareu's famous 424 is the 305 tfio nit of Clem Hill for South Auatrali igainst Xew South Wales at Adelaid n 1900. Th;- highest aggregate cv« ibtained by an Australian in this coun ry is' the 2570 scored by VicU) Crumper in 1002. This score include* to fewer than eleven centuries, a fea hat lias only been exceeded twice ii lit? history of the game—by C, B. Fr) n 1901 (with thirteen) and R. Abel ir DUO (with twelve). A«s everyone knows, the highest score ver made by a player in a Test Match s the 287 of R. K. Foster, scored at >ydney in 1903; but the next two highst scores were lioUi made for Australia -W. L. Murdoch- 211 in 1884, and Syd" Gregory's ten years later. Joth W. L. Murdoch aiwl 11. Graham cored centuries on "behalf of Australia t their very first appearance in tliis ountrv. Australia's total of 586 against England at Sydney in 1894 is the highest ver made in a Test Match in either

country. There is one record held by a famous English player which it is scarcely possible an Australian will ever surpass, uamely, the lion. F. S. Jackson's five centuries in Test Matches in this* country, though two Australians —Victor Trumper and that incomparable "pocket marvel," "Syd" Gregory have eaeli made four centuries iu Tost. Matches in both countries Maclaren, however, nas made four hundreds in Australia and one in England. Clem Hill boasts the more curious record o,f having made altogether over 100 runs s'ix times in a Test match without in either innings getting a century. This is one of the most remarkable performances known in the history of the game of game?. His scores in one such match were and 97. Four. Australian players have scored their 1000 runs' in Test matc.us itlone—M. A. Noble. Clem Hill, "Syd" Gregory, and, of course, the dazzling Victor Trumper. But it is not only in batting that Australhfns jire menacing our past supremacy, for we find that both Oeorge tlifi'en nnd W. 1\ Howell have taken all lew wickets in an innings in first;cl.iss cricket, whilst C. T. JJ. Turner, "The

Terror," i" the season of 1888 captu.-ed the record number of 314 wickets. The nearest approach to this is the iii)o of Tom' Richardson in 1805. Host sportsmen are aware, of course, that the record for throwing the cricket ball is held bv "Billy, the Aboriginal," who sent in 140 vards at Clermont, Australia, in 1872.

Australia lias records, however, which England does not envv, and therein 1 : 'S our sole consolation. Australia has made the lowest score ever recorded 'n a Test Hatch in England, namely, 3(i at Birmingham, in 1!I(I2: and also the lowest ever made in Australia, 42 at Sydney, in 1888. Tlh\h" are records which English enthusiasts would like to sec the present team surpass.