CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3598, 10 August 1912, Page 9

CRICKET.

TRIANGULAR CONTESTTHE TEST MATCHES. August 12—At the Oval, England v. South Africa. August 21—At the Oval, England v. Australia. Tho Triangular Contests. (By “Short-Slip.”) It i' a thousand pities that the season fixed upon for the inauguration of the triangular contests has turned out to be one of the worst os far as weather is concerned, which lias been experienced in England for years. During the month of July and up to the present it has rained almost continuously, and nearly every match lias been seriously interfered with. Three of the test matches have been absolutly robbed of all interest by the rudeness of the weather, and at least two had to be abandoned. In the first match between England and Australia only fourteen, wickets fell, while in the second only ten went down.

It was bad luck for South Africa, after hoi; series of defeats, that the rain should have robbed tho side of the advantage they bad gained over Australia on the first innings. With a lead of 110 on first hands, Australia would have been compelled to play up to avert defeat.

To run up 329 on a rain-soaked wicket was a performance which reflected the highest credit on the men from the Cape. The South African score-sheet was a thing of beauty in this the pleasing feature about it being the evenness of the scoring.

The big left-hander, Dave Nourso, beaded the list with 64, and every member of tho side, with the exception of Taylor and Beaumont, got well into double figures. Peglsr and Wal’d, the two last men to go in, scored particularly well, tho 'former making 26 and the latter 24. As White scored 59, not out, it will he admitted that the side had not even

the semblance of a “tail.”

As only two more matches remain to be played in the triangular contest, the meeting between South Africa and England at the Oval on Monday next will be followed with the keenest interest.

If the Africans can play up as well against England as they did against Australia they may upset the calculations of the quidnuncs. On the other hand if England can notch another win they will have a mortgage on the supremacy title. Surely Syd. Gregory is a “jonah.” His ill-luck with the coin has been mest remarkable. Up to date he has lost the toss for his team 21 times out of 27. He has lost the toss four times out of five in the test matches. This, it will readily he admitted, has been a severe lindicap where the wickets have been affected by rain. Svd. should get someone else to toss for him. Pars. O'. G. Macartney bids fair to establish a record as regards the highest aggregate scored by ■an individual batsman during an Australian tour in England. To date he lias scored 1738 runs for 35 completed innings, which gives him the splendid average of 49.G5. THE TESTIMONIAL TO SYD. GREGORY. At tbe conclusion of the Test mate." at Lord's, a company of two or thr -e thousand people assembled in front of the pavilion to witness the presentation to S. E. Gregory, the Australian captain, of the testimonial to mark his fiftieth appearance for Australia in a Test match. The testimonial t-ook the form of a handsome silver cup and a purse of £2OO, but as the fund was not yet closed it was hoped that that sum would he considerably added to. Sir George Reid, G.C.M.G., AgentGeneral for the Commonwealth of Australia, made the presentation. In the course of a very happy speech he began by mentioning the fact that nearly twenty years ago he had been asked on the Sydney Cricket Ground to present a testimonial to Mr. Gregory, after that player had made 201 against England, and he felt it a great honor to lx? requested to act in a similar capacity once more in the Old Country —when their little friend did not make a hundred. He went on to say that Syd Gregory could feel proud of a record unapproaclied by any other cricketer, and, moreover, he was captain of the team in which he made his fiftieth appearance. Although not Australia’s best team, owing to some incredible stupidity somewhere or other, it was a thoroughly good side, as the men had already proved in England, and by the play in the match just concluded. He paid a great tribute to Mr. Gregory as a sportsman, both on and off the field, and also to wliat a fine game cricket was, standing, as it did, above all other games. In conclusion, he said he hoped to see him playing in Test matches for many years, yet, for he was still a young' man in appearance.

Lord Harris aho spoke, saying that although he luid never played against Mr. Gregory, lie had against his uncle, both in England and Australia. He had, however, known him all his life, and his career was an honor to Ilis family, to Australia, and to all cricketers.

In a short speech, Mr. Gregory thanked those who had subscribed, and said that in Australia the people would be delighted to know that RT Warner was treasurer of the fund. MACARTNEY’S WONDERFUL RECORD. Charles Macartney's spoil of one week from cricket has been beneficial, for bo returned to the game to score 142 and 121 against Sussex at Brighton. the ground where the biggest individual innings by Australians have been played in England. The form of the little fellow is wonderful: how wonderful Sydney enthusiasts are able to imagine. At the close of the Sussex match Macartney had scored 1696 runs, at an average ot olf per >nnmgs, so that he may finish the season with a record aggregate for an AustralianHe is the first Australian batsman to twice make two hundreds in a firstclass match, his first success of vliat order being accomplished for New South Wales against South Africa, on the Sydney ground. Three Australians have now scored two centuries in a match in England, viz., Y. Trumper against Essex, Y\ . Bardsley against England, and C. G. Macartney against Sussex.

A TRIBUTE FROM ARCHIE MACLAREN. Writing in the “Daily Mail,’- A. C. Maclaren, the one-time renowned captain of All England, ha s the following to say concerning the first test match between England and Australia : If we had, from our point of view, rather a disappointing day, in that our bowlers were unable to perform the miraculous by getting out our friend the enemy on a very easy-paced wicket, it was still left to us to witness as fine an innings as any Australian, iu my opinion, has played at Lord’s, and that was the 99 of C. G. Macartney. We naturally forced the game In declare in the hope that our boys might do a big tiling with the ball. Fry, for no particular fault- of anyone, was run out with his scoro at 42. There was plenty to admire while they occupied the crease. Woolley and Foster both made a hurried 20, and

Hcarne shaped very well for 21 not cut, and he has surely done enough in Australia to earn his place on the sideFrom the time Barnes bowled his second ball it did not seem possible to expect a small score, and I had a friendly 2s to Is wager with one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Australian bowler of all time, that the Australians would not lose the game. Jennings played confidently and well and straight drove Barnes into the country foi 4 and cut him very nicely for a like number. He was going well when ho was out, caught by the wicket-keeper on tne leg-side off Fester . Kellewav contented himself with keeping his end up, but Macartney scon showed the borders he meant making no mistake, and proceeded to piav himself in. His footwork was excellent in forcing Barnes to midwieket for 4 and again to mid-on for 4, while a wristy shot past the covers oil Dean was splendid. Previous to this ho had cut Barnes from the pavilion end for 4 and forced him again to the on-houndary, and he followed tiffs up by a magnificent forcing shot over the square-leg boundary off Barnes. Kellewav acted for the most part as looker-on. but he played a good game for his side, wearing the three regular bowlers —Barnes, Foster, and Dean—out by degrees. Hearne proved expensive, but it was neck or nothing when he was brought on. Dean bowled quite well, especially at the start, as did Foster, but they had a stonewaller up against them and a topsawyer, and runs were always being coilectc-d, which was no cause for wonderment. It was the last wicket in the world upon which one would expect Barnes to bowl well, since it took all the life out of his bowling. Macartney continued to do practically ail the scoring; his late cutting was a treat to watch, and his forward forcing strokes were very telling. Hs footwork in all his back play could not have been better, and it was hard luck indeed to be sent back to the pavilion caught at the wicket with hiscore at 99. It is no.exaggeration to say that he was master of the situation thorughout his stay, and those responsible for his non-inclusion in the last Australian side should now feel very small. The Australians, even after the game hud been saved, played cautiously, and appeared to wish for some quiet practice. Kellewav played extra carefully throughout, and after seeing Bardsley sent back l.b.w- to a short one from Rhodes, he appeared to play on to the same bowler with his score at 61, a most valuable innings and full of merit, although some thought he might have hurried a trifle at the finish.

Gregory was quite happy, and lie showed us he still retains that square, well-timed forward drive; but he was neatlv taken at second slip in cutting Dean. Matthews was clean bowled by Dean at once, but Smith struck me as a likely one to bother us in the future, lii? hitting being exceptionally elean and well-timed. The match, however, rather fizzled out after the tea interval, there being little or no interest in it. The fielding -was always good, and occasionally brilliant, with Hobbs and Spooner at their best ; but it is impossible for fieldsmen to retain all their enthusiasm when the game cannot be won or lost.