CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2536, 24 June 1909, Page 3

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIANS'IN BRITAIN. RAIN STOPS PLAY. United Press Association-l 'oityumjht LONDON, Juno 22. Rain fell in the night, and there was a downpour this morning, which saturated the wicket. Rain set in steadily at noon, and it was decided that there should be no play to-day. THE AUSTRALIANS’ FORM REVIEWED. ' With the close of the second ’• ost match (writes “The Native,” in the “Christchurch Press”), a rev ow of the individual performances may be interesting. It will be ieme nbered that the first test mat<ih was tie third trecessive defeat the Austr llians had received, and they had ho i only won two matches. Since then, however, they have been unbeaten, and though their play was far from roaviu-mg, they managed to defeat a couple of the counties—Hampshire and Somerset —and then capped this by a very handsome victory in tho second .1 est. I reviewed tho individual performances at the. close of the first Test match. The succeeding games have a acred the hatting figures considerably. Armstrong, who was in the van then with an average of 57.37, has. only played one good mnlngs since—his 72 against Hampshire—his other innings being 9, 7,5, 12. This has brojg.it down ho average with a big tumble to -13.38, and although he still leads, ho is less than a run ahead of Bvdsley. . Ji t eed, had it not been for the Jaitor’s “.Uv k” in the second innings <.f the Test., tne Sydney man would have been in the lead. Like Armstrong, Bardsley’s figures have suffered since the first Test, falling from 53.27 to 42.94, . this notwithstandinog that ho has scored fairly consistently, his innings being 56, 24, 43, 17, 1, 46, and 0. However, ho still leads for tho highest aggregate with 773, Armstrong being next with 564. Ransford, who is third both for aggregate and average, has only played three innings since the first Test — 13, 3, and 143 (not out). This last performance was very largely 7 responsible for Australia’s fine victory in tho recent Test, and it brings tho Melbourne man’s average to 41.30, as against 34.36 after the first Test. It will be surprising if he does not still improve on,these figures. The London “Field” describes him as one. of the most classical batsmen of tho present era, and I shall pick him- to he on top of the batting averages at the end of the tour. Trumper, who is still fourth, has improved his figures somewhat, getting from 29.30 to 30.47. Since the first Test his innings have been 23, 26 (not out), 133, 9,4, 2,0, 28. It is a somewhat curious fact that although many critics contended that Trumper was not physically fit to stand the wear and tear of the such a tour, he has so far taken part in every match, and is the only 7 one of the sixteen Australians who can claim that distinction. McAlister lia3 displaced Noble for fifth place, having risen from 23 to 27.77. Following on the, first Test, his scores have been 16, 42, 27, 11 (not out), 27, 15, 22, and 19 (not out). These figures are good, considering the wickets they have been made on, and will rather confound the manv who urged that the Victorian selector should not have found a place in the team. Gregory’s figures have suffered a slight fall —23 to 21.72. The highest score he has made since the first. Test is 29. Noble’s last five, innings have resulted in 0,3, 14, 0, and 32, bringing his average down from ■Hj.SO to 20.80. The Australian skipper’s failure is very surprising, and it will bo still more surprising if he does not considerably improve on these figures ere lone. Macartney has gone down from 2.1.71 to 18.27, only getting double figures once in his last six innings. Cotter has only batted three times since tho first Test, making 35, 3, and 0. This lias reduced his average from 14.16 to 13.66. Hartigan has slightly improved his hut as his average is now only 12.07 lie may he classed as the hatting failure of the team, seeing lie was chosen for his batting, and was one of the six first chosen. O’Connor, thanks to his 36 not out against Cambridge. University, lias jumped up to doubles, but has stood down the last three games. Hopkins, who was tlie extra and sixteenth man chosen, lias been an onlooker ever since, the Oxford match on May 24th. Indeed, he has only played two innings so far. Carter, the wicket-keeper, wlio made 61 in the first inniiigs he played, has been losing his average ever since, and has not once, made double figures. However, ho appears to have been keeping wickets finely, and so may be forgiven his failure with the hat. The bowling figures are remarkable from the position occupied by Laver, the. manager of the team. Playing in the first "match of the tour—against Notts—he had 21 runs liit off him without getting a wicket. He did not play again until alter tho first Test. _Bj.it he has played in every match since, lias howled in every innings, and has never once failed to get a wicket. His figures read : 6 for 80, .1 for 31, 6 for 58, 4 for 25, 6 for 53, 7 for 27, 3 for 40, 4 for 38, 3 for 75, and 1 for. 24. Such a fine run of success is as unique as it must have, been pleasing to his comrades, and one may well wonder it the side would have met .with their earlier reverses had he been playing. He is now easily top of the bowling averages with 41 wickets at an averago of 1i.51 runs apiece. Armstrong’s figures are about the same as. they were after the first Test, and now stand at 44 wickets with an average of; ,15.18. Wliitty 'has been one of the mainstays of the bowling, and liis improved his average from 17.52 to 15.37. He has captured 40 wickets to date. Macartney has also been very consistent, and claims 31 wickets at an average cost of 15.58. O’Connor has been most disa pointing. He was looked upon as the first howler, in the team, and in. tlie earlier matches, he never failed to get wickets, though at the end of, the first Test his wickets had cost 23.46 runs apiece. In the succeeding match—-against Leicester—be failed a wicket in 'either innings, and he has not played since. Noble has also been disappointing, though the later - matches have . improved his bowling figures from 42.60 to 28.66. Cotter has been on wickets quite unsuited to lps style, whilst Hopkins. as before; -mentioned, has only played in two matclVos. ~. at,