CRICKET.

NOT lift 'll^OU"^^^" AUSTBILtAN"

TEAM.

The second eleven of Now South Wales has never yet been defeated in a representative match. The Australian Eleven leave Sydney for Auckland on February 1. • A Sydney writer states that public opinion in that city smiles at the idea of the Australian team as chosen, embracing the fourteen best cricketers in Australia. ; A Wellington' writer mentioned Jn- commenting on the Australian Eleven that it included four players who had never previously visited England, viz., McLeod, Gehrs" Newland, and Cotter-. Thie is incorrect, us tha first named .was a member of the 1899 combination, and moreover is a right-hand bowjer, not . a left-hand, •as stated, by the Wellington scribe.. Gehrs, Newland, and Cotter are the only three who will-be new to, English' wickets.- . E. F. Waddy has b«en the most successful New South -Wales- batsman in this season's Sheffield Shield matches, having made. 299 runs at an. average of 99.66. Had he been, playing .for any other State he would probably have gained a .place in the Australian Eleven for his batting alone. An Adelaide writer, mentions 'that' Phil Newland will prove one i of , the besb-liked members of the team. No graft is too haru for him, and he is a j good wickotkesper and a plucky batsman. It is said he is to be married before going to England, and will take hiG bride with him. She is Miss Jo Fergnsson, one of Adelaide's society girl 3. Tho weakness of the" Australian- team lies in its lack of variety in the bowling. There is neither a left-hand bowler nor a slow bowler on the side. ' All the bowlers are right-handens, five of them about the same pace and oft'-bi<eak bowlers, one fast, and one (Armstrong) slow medium. TJie trundlers are Noble/ Hopkins, ' Cotter. Howell, McLeod, and- Armstrong, with Layer (the manager) and Truifiper as emergencies.. The cables inform us that the friends of J. V. Saunders and Windsor (the< Tas•nianian crack) -being dissatisfied at- the^' non-inclusion in the Australian team; are prepared to pay the expenses of the men named to enable tliem to accompany the team. No doubt Saunders would-have been selected a,s one of' the Eleven but for the fact that his bowling has been declared to be unfair by .some authorities, and it is feared he would Jbe called in England. However, others assert that Bis bowling now is quite atove, suspicion, and that he would strengthen the;, attack greatly is undeniable providing the umpires did riot question ' his delivery," as he "is a left-hand bowler, and 'has been showing ,some excellent form lately. In a recent match, East Melbourne v Carlton, Saunders, who plays for the latter club, trundled splendidly; and sent down 16.8 balls for 68 runs, 8 maidens, 6 wickets. Saunders was at his top, and although he has lamentably off days at times, still when fairly on the job is probably the most difficult of Australian bowlers, with yerhaps the exception of Noijie, when ,the latter is in form, which is unfortunately not so pften ac could be wished for. In the match under notice Saunders, though swerving well, was very accurate, varied his pace with judgment, and, above all, says a Melbourne writer, kept the quick one which swings in .with ihe arm on' the spot. Windsor has been showing brilliant ■ allround form in Tasmania this .season, having performed grandly with both the bat and ball.

Hiigh Trumble emerged from his retirement the other day in Melbourne, when he played" for the Melbourne C.C. in their match against North Melbourne. He .showed that his retirement fro.m first-class cricket had been premature. Although suffering from an attack of lumbago, he carried" too many guns for the opposing batsmen — finishing up with five\wic'ke£s for" 80 rims.

Newland signalised -his appointment as Second wicket-keeper in the Australian ■ Eleven by' a fine performance for South Australia again.s,t Vjptoria. H& is the champion lacrosse player of Aiiistralia, .but last season gave up. the Canadian game in favour of football ,and in the Norwood team was regarded as one of the best players in South Australia'. 1 " Newla'nd is a splendid keeper, and he will be useful on the English tour in more ways 'than one, as his business ability will make him a valuable assistant to Layer in the managerial work. It seems- that the selectors were not impressed with Waddy's wioket-keeping in the match Victoria v New -South Wales, when he had to relieve Kelly with the gloves. Reedman, of South Australia, has the distinction of having played in more in-ter-State games than any other, cricketer, and even .to-day .he can hold hie own with t.he best of them. Though the oldest player .taking part in the last Victoria v South Australia game, he proved as effective as the youngest. His bowling was particularly effeptive, though -he is generally regarded as more of .a 'bat than a bowser. He took 13 wickets' in., the ' jna,tch under riotife.

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