XXII of Scotland v All England XI 1849 - 7, 8 & 9 May 1849

XXII of Scotland v All England XI

Sparks' Ground Edinburgh 7, 8 & 9 May 1849

GREAT NATIONAL CRICKET MATCH

The match between eleven of all England and twenty-two of Scotland, commenced at Sparkes’s Ground, Grove Park, on Monday. The interest felt in this, the first match properly of a national character, was evidenced by the great concourse of persons on the ground, including a large array of rank and fashion. The fineness of the day, the music of a military band, and, not least, the presence of numerous ladies, contributed greatly to the beauty and interest of the scene.

The eleven of all England were, N. Felix, Esq.; A. Mynn, Esq.; H.W. Lindow, Esq., with Clarke, Wisden, Parr, Box, Guy, Martingell, Chatterton, and Hillyer. The twenty-two of Scotland (selected from the Grange, Albyn, and Perth Clubs, and from the military) were Sir. T. Moncrieff, Captain Hutchison, Captain Fairlie, Lieutenant Dickins, J.G. Chancellor, Esq. A. Bethune, Esq., A. Young, Esq., W. Moncrieff, Esq., W. Horsburgh, Esq., H. Wylie, Esq., George Dodds, Esq., Zeigler, Esq., D. Dickson, Esq., Ross, Esq., with Lawrence, W. Lambert, Usherwood, McLeod, Murray, Imrie, Christon, and J. McMahon.

It will be seen that the result of the first two days ‘play is such as to show that the odds given by the English of two to one is not more than our less skilled and experienced Scotch players require.

DAY 1 - MONDAY
England had the first innings, and put in Clarke and Wisden. Lawrence and Lambert commenced the bowling, and were relieved during the day by Usherwood, Christon, and Lieutenant Dickins. Clarke’s first ball was caught by Captain Fairlie. Parr then took the bat, but was bowled out by Lawrence for two runs.

The celebrated Box then went in as Wisden’s companion. Wisden was cleverly bowled by Lawrence after securing fourteen runs. Mr Felix succeeded, and, by beautiful play, added twenty five to the score. Having tried a run in which Box refused to join, his wicket was lowered by Mr Wylie, who very cleverly stopped the ball and threw it with a precision which drew forth loud plaudits of the field.

Guy went in as the associate of Box, who had played with such steadiness and beauty that he seemed likely to carry out his bat; but, after an innings of more than four hours, he gave a catch off a ball of Christon’s, which was cleverly taken by Captain Fairlie.

Box’s score was 42, made, it must be remembered, like the whole English score, against a field of 22. Martingell came next, but, after scoring six, his stumps were found by Usherwood. The appearance at the wicket of Mr Flynn, whose figure as well as his famous name is well fitted to carry terror to the heart of opponents, excited great interest; but he was out of luck, being run out in much the same way as Mr Felix, after scoring only two.

A similar fate befell Guy after a score of thirty two; Chatterton and Lindow, though showing fine play, were got out with less time and trouble; and Hillyer, as eleventh man, carried out his bat. It now being half-past six, and the first innings of England over, the stumps were drawn.

The following is the score:-

DAY 2 - TUESDAY
Scotland put in Mr Ross and Mr Young. Hillyer and Wisden began the bowling, relieved during the day by Clark, Mynn, and Martingell. The bowling was splendid, or, as those who had to play it might be inclined to term it, terrific.

Mr Ross had a short and unproductive life, being given out for leg before wicket; and Mr Young, and Lambert and Lawrence, three of the main props of the Scotch cause, were not long behind, and made up only 8 between them. A turn was now given to the game by the fine play of Mr Wylie, who added 11 to the score.

Sir T. Moncrieff added 0, to which Christon added the same grand total; and Mr Moncrieff (of whom such a fate can seldom be recorded), Mr Horsburgh, and Captain Fairlie, made very small figures (speaking arithmetically, of course). Captain Hutchinson then made a great stand against misfortune, playing with judgement and skill, till his score reached 17, when , in blocking a difficult ball from Clark, he slightly touched his wicket and shook off a bale.

Lieutenant Dickin’s stumps were lowered for 8, after some good batting. Mr Murray played finely at all points, and, after scoring 11, was beautifully stumped by Box. Mr Zeigler began well, but was run out for 6. Mr Dodds went for nothing; and Mr Imrie, after showing good play, was put out by a shooting ball. The career of the rest may be told by the score:-

which is just about half the runs scored by England in the first innings. It was now nearly five o’clock, and Mr Lindow and Hillyer went to the wickets. The latter was got out for 4, and was succeeded by Parr. Some splendid batting was then shown, and when the stumps were drawn, Mr Lindow and Parr were still in, the former with a score of 16, and the latter of 13. Total of the second innings of England, with nine wickets to go down-44.

It need scarcely be added that the chances for Scotland are now rather desperate. The day’s play made very evident what has never been denied, that our Scotch players have yet much to learn in this truly manly and fascinating game. In particular, the wicket-keeping of Box is a sort of thing never before seen here, and excited great admiration, though his fame had long gone before him.

The spectators on the ground were greatly increased, nearly doubled, in number.

The play recommences at ten this morning. If, as by no means unlikely, the match is not played out today, it will, it is suspected, be left unfinished, the engagements of several of the players preventing them entering on a fourth day.

DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY
The match was resumed today, when, as upon the preceding days, the attendance of spectators was numerous and fashionable. Parr and Lindow took the bat, which they kept together for an hour and a half, during which Parr played exceedingly well, and made some capital hits.

Martingell succeeded, but was put out without scoring. Box played with his usual steadiness, but was put out by Mr Horsburgh, who missed him yesterday.

The bowling of Lawrence was admirable, and by reference to the score, it will be seen that, with the exception of one who was not out (Clarke), every man on the English side was either bowled or caught out off him. The whole of the English were got out by two o’clock for 132 runs. The following is the result of the English Innings:-

Total 132 The Scotch went in about three o’clock, with 213 to win, rather a discouraging prospect. Hillyer and Clarke bowled the whole time against them, in so effectual a manner that little could be made of it. Very little stand was made on the Scotch side generally, with the exception of Mr Zeigler and Mr Imrie, who (especially the former) made some brilliant hits.

The Scotch were all bowled out by half past five o’clock, with the small total of 52 for their second innings.

The following is the score:-

All the proceedings during the three days passed off in the best spirit, and the English players, we believe, expressed themselves greatly pleased with their visit and the whole arrangements.