Scotland v Australia 16, 17 & 18 September 1880 by Cricket Scotland

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Ground:	Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Scorecard:	Scotland v Australians
Event:	Australia in British Isles 1880

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DateLine: 31st January 2013

 

 

Day 1:
The Australian Cricketers, now on a visit to this country, began a match at the Grange ground Raeburn Place, Edinburgh yesterday with the Gentlemen of Scotland. Owing to the hitch in travelling from Brighton explained yesterday the Australian cricketers did not reach the scene of the contest till about 3 p.m. Their arrival was anxiously looked for by an assemblage of something like a thousand people. Among the company were the Hon. J. Moncrieff, Sir George Warrender, Mr Gilbert Mitchell-Innes, General Hope, Dr Gillespie, Major Dickins, Dr Marshall of Chatton Park, Mr Craig of Craigesk, Mr R.H. Christie S.S.C., the Reverend Cornelius Giffen, the officers of the garrison, and representatives from most of the leading cricket clubs in Scotland.

 

The home team won the toss and preferred the first use of the ground, which was in consequence of a heavy downpour of rain the previous night somewhat “dead”. The Hon Ivo Bligh and L.M. Balfour were first deputed to defend the wickets and Bligh was assailed by Boyle from the pavilion end. Before any runs had been recorded, Balfour, while doing his best with a bumping ball, was caught by point. T.R. Marshall succeeded and Palmer bowled to Bligh. The bowling and fielding was so good that in the course of the next six overs only something like eight runs were recorded, and these chiefly by Bligh.

 

Runs continued to come in driblets till about the twentieth over, when Bligh drove Boyle straight and low for 4, which raised the score to 20, 15 of which had been earned by the Cambridge University player. Marshall then played Boyle to leg for 2 which Bligh followed up with a nice cut off Palmer for another brace. The attack of the bowlers and the watching of the fieldsmen continuing to be good, nothing by way of hitting occurred worthy of note till about the 30th over, when Bligh played Palmer nicely to leg for 3. Then Marshall drove Boyle for another trio.

 

At about this stage 43 was hoisted on the blackboard. No sooner had this announcement been made than Palmer got a verdict of “l.b.w.” against Marshall who seemed well set and had scored a dozen. Two for 41and A.G. Steel next accompanied Bligh, but his career was short, for after making but three singles he was well caught by Boyle off his own bowling. Three for 44. C Davidson was next. This partnership was also slow in scoring and at 51 Bligh, who had contributed 30 splendidly, drove Boyle pithily to the on, and was cleverly held by Groube. The catch was loudly applauded.

 

A.L. Wood went in next and shortly afterwards Davidson drew forth loud applause by the nice way in which he played Palmer to square leg beyond the boundary for 4. Davidson and Wood gave a stout resistance, and scored, although slowly. At about 70 Davidson had two hits successively to leg and to the on for 4 each: then Wood’s off stump was bowled down by Palmer, Five for 75. J. Allan filled the vacancy, and he and Davidson kept the Australians pretty busy, although they did not have any gigantic hits.

 

The resistance was so good that the strangers changed their tactics, inasmuch as Palmer was taken off, and Alexander put on. The latter’s fourth ball was splendidly cut straight out by Davidson for 3 and his fifth as well played to leg by Allan for 4, but with his sixth he spread the stumps defended by Davidson who had played a fine game for 41. Six wickets were now down for 114 and Hughes joined Allan.

 

The defenders did well but at 139 Allan was caught after contributing 35 excellently. At the same figure Hughes was cleverly stumped off a breaking ball; and Macnair being bowled soon there after the innings closed at 143. The Australians fielded very well; the bowling was also good. The visitors enter on their first innings this forenoon.

 

Day 2:
The match between eleven Australians and an equal number of Gentlemen of Scotland which was begun on Thursday on the Grange ground, Raeburn Place Edinburgh was resumed yesterday forenoon. The weather was pleasant though occasionally overcast, and the match attracted something like 3000 or 4000 people. The ground was the better of Wednesday’s rain. The play all round was good, the fielding of the Scotchmen being quite equal to that of the strangers.

 

Punctually at 12.15 the Scotchmen took the field with Steel and McLeod as bowlers. The batsmen were Jarvis and Alexander. The first two overs were maidens, then each of the defenders had a single off Steel, who was presently cut by Jarvis for a 3. By the aid of a few singles by Jarvis and a good on drive beyond the boundary by the same batsman off Steel ten was recorded. Shortly afterwards Jarvis sent McLeod through the slips for a brace of 4’s successively and 20 was hung out.

 

At about this stage McLeod was shunted in favour of R. Macnair, whose first ball was nicely played by Jarvis to the on for 2. Steel then completed his fourth successive maiden, when Jarvis drove Macnair to the on for 3. As the last shunt was found to be unprofitable, Macnair was taken off and J. Craig put on. It did not seem as if this change would be more edicacious for Jarvis got the new bowler well away for two 2s and a 4. However Craig with his next ball got Jarvis caught at point . In effecting this breach considerable credit was due to Steel the fieldsman. One for 37, and Murdoch who scored so largely at London recently, then joined Alexander.

 

The next noteworthy hit was an off drive by Murdoch off Steel which was immediately followed up with a similar play by Alexander and 50 was hung out. Immediately afterwards the last named drove Craig straight and pithily but was well held by Davidson. The catch was highly appreciated by the spectators. Two for 54. McDonnell next wended his way to the wickets, and had just taken up his position, when Murdoch played Steel splendidly to leg for 3. When but another run had been jotted down, Murdoch went out to a breaking ball from Craig but missed it and before he could get round Mr Balfour the wicket-keeper had stumped him. Three for 58.

 

Groube went in next, and presently McDonnell drove Steel finely to the on for 4. The new ingoer began his career by cutting Steel for 2, which he soon followed up with another brace off the same bowler. By the aid of a few singles from both ends three-score-and-ten was displayed on the telegraph board, and this figure was immediately augmented by 4 through a splendid on-drive by McDonnell off Steel. This fine hit realised 5 runs but it was the last from McDonnell for he was immediately after caught in the slips off Craig who had thus got all four wickets for something like 20 runs.

 

Blackham was next in order. He had no sooner entered the crease than Steel, who had sent in about twenty overs handed the ball to McLeod, who was finely driven to the off by Blackham for 4. The score continued to rise, although not quickly, and at 91 the fifth separation was brought about, the expertness of Hughes at cover-point and Balfour at wickets causing Blackham to be run out. Bonnor filled the vacancy, and in the course of two overs from Craig he made three splendid strokes for 4 each, which Groube supplemented with a good 3 off the same bowler.

 

Shortly after 100 had been recorded Macnair resumed the attack in place of McLeod and Steel in place of Craig. Still runs came, but eventually this change was of good result, for at 114 Bonnor was splendidly caught by the Hon. Ivo Bligh, who fielded as deep slip. Six of the visitors having now been disposed of, Boyle accompanied Groube. At the luncheon hour two o’clock the score stood at 116 for six wickets.

 

Shortly after resuming and when the scores had been increased by 1, Groube, who had earned 19, yielded his stumps to Macnair. Seven for 117. Boyle and Palmer were now together and Craig again shared the attack with Macnair. The batsmen became pretty active, and had raised the score to 136, when they were separated through the expertness of Mr Balfour, who shortly afterwards was mainly instrumental in getting Boyle run out.

 

Nine wickets were now down for 137. As the Australians were only seven in arrears, considerable interest existed as to the result of the first innings, but that interest was soon set at rest, for the innings was brought to a close at 142 or 1 less than the grand total of the home team.

 

Marshall and Balfour led the way in the second innings of the home team, and were assailed by Palmer and Boyle. The ill-luck which attended Mr Balfour on Thursday stuck to him now for before he had scored he got bowled by one of Palmer’s. The game then became very slow, so much so that only about 10 runs were scored during the next dozen of overs which included a drive by Bligh for 4. Shortly after Bligh was finely held by Groube.

 

The game continued to be very slow, and only eighteen runs were registered in the course of twenty overs. Marshall having been unlucky, Steel and Wood had a long lease of the wickets and raised the score to over 100 before they were parted by Wood being bowled. The vacancy had not been long filled by Mr Craig when the stumps were drawn for the day, the score then being 105 for the loss of five wickets, Davidson having been smartly run out. The fielding of the Australians as also their bowling was again good. Play will be resumed today at noon.

 

Day 3:
The most important cricket match which has yet been played on this side of the Tweed was resumed and finished on the Grange ground, Raeburn Place on Saturday. Heavy rain fell during the previous night and early in the morning, which told against the Scotch bowling especially that of Steel and Craig. With the exception of one sharp shower, however, the day was favourable, and this combined with the interesting stage at which the game had been left on Friday evening drew out between 4000 and 5000 spectators during the afternoon, including a large number of ladies, while in the pavilion enclosure were representatives from most of the clubs in Scotland.

 

While the victory of the Australians was quite in accordance with the general anticipation the splendid form shown by Scotland on Thursday and Friday left it quite on the cards on the Saturday that the unexpected might happen, and a win be scored for the home country. Early in the day however this was almost set at rest, as after Steel’s retirement the Scotch batting virtually collapsed, and the Australians were only left with 132 to get to win. Even then, however, the match was anybody’s until Jarvis had been missed, when the fielding got somewhat demoralised, especially towards the close.

 

Davidson, Wood and Allan, and the captain behind the wickets, were however conspicuous by their good fielding, the two first named saving a lot of runs. The error in not changing the bowling both sooner and oftener was the subject of general remark as with seven bowlers in the team, anything would have done for a change seeing that both Steel and Craig were almost useless and as the analysis shows expensive.

 

For the Australians, Alexander’s batting was characterised by great patience while Jarvis’ score was got by hard and clean hitting. Financially, thanks to the fine weather, the match has been a gratifying success and equally so from the cricket point of view, showing as it does an immense improvement on Scotch cricket, as the Scotch team was by no means the best in the country.

 

The arrangements of the Scottish Union, under the direction of Major Dickins and Mr R.H. Christie, S.S.C. the hon. Sec. of the Union, deserve a word of praise. During the luncheon interval Mr A.G. Steel was presented with a hat for his splendid score, by the Scottish Union through the vice-president (Mr W.J. Laidlay) who only arrived on Saturday, and would have played in the match if he had got the invitation sooner.

 

At 12.29 the Australians were greeted with a cheer as they took their places in the field, a compliment likewise accorded Messrs Steel (46) and J Craig (0) both not out. Boyle bowled first to Craig who stood the over. Steel played the first ball he got from Palmer for a brace and drove the next for a single to the off. He then got a lucky one to leg, which earned him his 50, amid great cheers and 110 was telegraphed.

 

A pretty cut from Steel was the principal shot of note before Craig, who had stood several overs without scoring, got Palmer neatly to leg. Another nice forward play of Steel’s realised another brace, but at 122 the Cambridge University captain was fairly beaten by a ball from Palmer which was pitched for his middle stump, broke in on his leg, and then broke again on to his wicket.

 

Mr Steel’s 60 was a grand performance made up of four 4’s, eight 2’s and singles: on his return to the pavilion he received quite an ovation. Mr J. Allan came in next, and opened with a neat play to leg, but runs came slowly until 126 was reached, when Mr Craig gave an easy chance to point, and retired with seven to his credit, making seven wickets down.

 

Mr R. Hughes came in next, but the first ball he got he played to short-leg while Boyle earned his hat trick by clean bowling Mr McLeod with the third ball, seven, eight, and nine for 126. Mr R Macnair brought up the rear, and a couple of overs followed before a run was got, Macnair putting one through the slips for a brace, and then getting Palmer to leg. The last ball of the over, however, beat Allan at 130, just fifty minutes from the start, leaving the Australians but 131 to get to win.

 

At 1.35 Jarvis and Alexander appeared against the bowling of Messrs Steel and Craig and Jarvis got the Cambridge captain well to the on for a brace, and an equally good hit in Craig’s second over to the on, for which he only scored a single. Alexander had a couple of singles and then Jarvis drove Steel low to the off for 3, and then cut Craig prettily past cover for a brace, and 10 was signalled.

 

The second ball after of Craig’s, Jarvis cut beyond the ropes for 4, and in his subsequent over got him away twice for 2s. At 22 McLeod relieved Craig at the lower end. Alexander getting his first ball neatly to leg for a couple, while the last ball of the over just shaved his wickets. Another maiden followed from McLeod and the Jarvis drove Steel prettily to the on for 3, which brought the total to 23 when the lunch bell rang.

 

On resuming at 2.55 Steel started from the lower end, Craig taking the pavilion wicket. Jarvis got Steel away for a single then got Craig to leg for 4. Alexander next drove Steel overhead for 4, and Hughes unaccountably dropped Jarvis at cover and two runs were got for the miss partly through an overthrow which brought 40 on the board, and soon after Alexander got Craig to leg for 4, while Jarvis got Steel through slips for a brace. At 51 Macnair relieved Craig, a heavy shower soon causing a retreat to the pavilion for a quarter of an hour.

 

After standing a maiden over from Macnair Alexander got him to leg for 3, and Jarvis placed him square for 4. Jarvis, in the interval, gave what seemed a chance in the slips, for which he was allowed a brace. Palmer then got Macnair grandly to square-leg and then to leg but brilliant fielding on the part of Davidson only allowed a single and a 2 for the hits.

 

With the total on 66 Hughes relieved Macnair for an over, Jarvis cutting his second ball past cover for 3, while a 4 was got off the following ball. In the succeeding over of Steel’s Jarvis hit one high to the on, and it was grandly judged by Macnair who held it amid great applause. Jarvis’ 41 was a grand exhibition of hard hitting and included three 4’s, three 3’s and eight 2’s. One for 73.

 

The Australian captain (Murdoch) came next, and Craig was again tried. After hitting Steel neatly through slips Alexander cut Craig in each case for 2’s while a cut of Steel from Murdoch brought 80 on the board. Several good hits for 2’s soon caused 90 to be signalled and McLeod was again tried after Steel had missed a hot one sent back to him by Murdoch. Alexander then got McLeod to leg for a trio, and several hits for small amounts followed mostly from Murdoch ere he played McLeod on at 99 after scoring a dozen.

 

P.S. McDonnell came next a great cheer bursting forth when McLeod uprooted McDonnell’s leg stump before another run had been got. Two and three for 88 and Groube filled the vacancy and after a single cut Steel and McLeod in turn for 2’s. Groube next cut Steel hard and prettily past cover for 3 and Craig relieved him at 102.

 

Two successive bits of bad fielding on the part of Steel at the off gave the Australians five, two of them through an overthrow. Alexander then got Craig to leg for 3, while Groube caused 120 to be telegraphed at 4.40 by a neat hit through slips. To the great relief of the spectators Wood at last was called to the front, but Steel was again tried though in the succeeding over. Wood got the pavilion end. After sending in two splendid balls Alexander was tempted by the third and sent it high to the on, where it was well held by McLeod and Alexander retired amid great cheers at 122 with a well earned 47 to his credit, made up of four 4’s, three 3’s and ten 2’s and singles.

 

Blackham filled the vacancy, and ran a 2 for Groube ere he got Steel to the on for a 2 and a single. Groube, who had been nearly run out, now got one to square leg which brought 130 on the board. Blackham then got the Cambridge bowler to leg, which made the winning hit, the Australians thus winning the match by six wickets. Groube’s not out 20 was steadily played for and included one 3 and seven 2’s.

(Article: Copyright © 2013 Cricket Scotland http://cricketscotland.com)