Greenock v Australian Imperial Force
Glenpark
15th August 1919 (one-day match)

North of Scotland v Australian Imperial Force
Inverness
16th August 1919 (one-day match)

Unfortunately, our planned brief tour in Ireland, with two or three matches interspersed fell throughSporting Notes From Home, The Australasian (Vic), Sat 1 Nov 1919, p. 23. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140249153 . owing toNottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Mon 21 Jul 1919, p. 2. our host Sir Stanley Cochrane, well known in connection with that innocuous beverage, ginger-aleTo-Day’s Gossip, Daily Mirror (London), Wed 9 Jan 1918, p. 6. , having to leave Ireland for America on important business. The A.I.F. XI were billed to play Nottingham Journal (Nottinghamshire), Mon 21 Jul 1919, p. 2. the Woodbrook Cricket ClubUnknown, Woodbrook Cricket Ground, unknown, photograph, https://www.cricketeurope.com/IRELAND/VENUES/WOODBROOK/index.shtml at Sir Stanley’s ground at his estate in Bray, with a second game against the Gentlemen of IrelandThis Week’s Cricket Fixtures, Gloucestershire Echo (Gloucestershire), Mon 11 Aug 1919, p. 1. . This is possibly fortunate, given all the discontent and troubleThe Way To Peace, Irish Independent (Dublin), Tue 8 Jul 1919, p. 4. going on over there at present.

Our delightful host in Scotland was Mr. Peter Dawson, the manufacturer of Dawson’s whiskyCricket, The Express and Telegraph (SA), Thu 4 Sep 1919, p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210600255 , who arranged a most comprehensive motor tour for two weeks through the beauties of Scotland, including the Trossachs, the lochs, and even as far north in the Highlands as Inverness”Bert” Oldfield Talks About Cricket, Examiner (Tas), Mon 4 Apr 1938, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52199819 . Following a visit to the famous shipbuilding yard of Messrs Denny and Co., Ltd., Dumbarton, where we all had the pleasure of going over the latest submarines, we attended a garden party at the grounds of Poloc Cricket Club at ShawholmA Trip To The Highlands, The Express and Telegraph (SA), Thu 6 Nov 1919, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210604478 . We were also guests of the Duke of Athol at Blair Athol Castle, who personally conducted us round his historic residence, pointing out all its most notable featuresColonials At Blair Castle, Dundee Courier (Angus), Mon 25 Aug 1919, p. 8..

Of course it wasn’t all lochs and whisky! Most of our time in Scotland was taken up by sight-seeing, but a couple of one-day matches were fixed upSporting Notes From Home, The Australasian (Vic), Sat 1 Nov 1919, p. 23. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140249153 . The first against Greenock at Glenpark, the highlight of which was Murray’s fifty minute century made up of four 6’s and ten 4’sGreenock v Australians, The Scotsman (Midlothian), Thu 14 Aug 1919, p. 6., a century by our host Mr. Kerr to go along with his five wickets for 62, and Collins mopping up eight Greenock wickets at a cost of only 39 runsThe Australians At Greenock, Dundee Courier (Angus), Thu 14 Aug 1919, p. 6.. The second match was against a team of fifteen representing the North of Scotland at Inverness, who were not expected that they would make much of a stand against the Australians. Their bowling and their fielding–twelve men took the field–proved quite satisfactory. It was when the North men went to the wicket that the real difference between the teams became apparent. The bowling of Collins and Winning did not give the North men a chance of settling down to make a score. Clever and resourceful bowling was supplemented by the smartest of fielding, and the North fifteen were all out for 36. As there was still an hour to go, the Australians went to the wicket a second time. Their batting was then in the nature of an exhibition such as is seldom seen in the North of Scotland. Free batting all round the field was the order of the evening. In 35 minutes the score had passed the 100 mark. Sixes were hit by Docker, Murray, and Bull, and they and Ernie Cameron, who carried his bat, had 146 runs to their combined credit. The Australians’ batting roused the spectators to enthusiasm, and it may be expected that the visit will have an encouraging effect on the game in the NorthAustralians v. North of Scotland, The Scotsman (Inverness), Mon 18 Aug 1919, p. 8. .

Ernie Cameron, the Essendon footballerLeague Football, Weekly Times (Vic), Sat 11 Jun 1910, p. 27. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23615119 , has been the moving force behind the scenes on the tour, and his personality has been a big factor in making the A.I.F. team the happy family that has been so much laudedPersonal, The Daily Telegraph (NSW), Tue 10 Feb 1920, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239659374 . One of the selectors for the tour along with Barbour and ParkNot Out, Cricket, Referee (NSW), Wed 11 Dec 1918, p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120302794 , Ernie has taken up the management position from Howard . He is a glad, open-hearted, unselfish sportsman, an ideal character for a manager of menOnlooker, A.I.F. Cricketers Welcomed, Referee (NSW), Wed 14 Jan 1920, p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121157081 .

There was some other news regarding our fixtures this week. Firstly, the A.I.F. boys will play a South of England at Portsmouth, and not Hampshire, as originally arrangedSport of the Week, Northampton Mercury (Northamptonshire), Fri 8 Aug 1919, p. 11.. This is high praise for the quality of the team, and a chance for us to prove our mettle after the defeat to the Gentlemen of England. It has also been announced that the South African Cricket Association has requested the High Commissioner in London to negotiate a visit South AfricaAustralian Cricket Team For South Africa, Aberdeen press and Journal (Aberdeenshire), Mon 18 Aug 1919, p. 7..