CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

The important cricket mabch of Thursday and Friday, 30bh and 31sb ulb., with the Jubilee festivities of the week, of course drove club cricket of all kinds into the s hade.

Ibwas a great pity for our Cricket Association's funds and for those of the visitors that the match should have fallen on two days when there were so many other attractions ; and that the attendance on both days was «o large is a matter for sincere congratulation, and shows that the interest in cricket Ims considerably revived in Auckland. Had there been less counter attraction, our Jubilee visitors from all parts and our local lovers of cricket would have made up a tine crowd that must have gladdened the heart of MrC. S. McKinney. When the Sydney men come back it ia to be hoped there will be good attendances, though the days are not very suitable except the one Saturday. The match itself was a most interesting one, and showed that our Auckland players are not to be too much decried. They made a very good stand againsc the visitors' bowling both in the first and second innings. Their play all round was very good indeed, and somewhat surprised even their advocates. At the same time they have something to learn in nearly every deoartmenb from the best of tbo visitors. The batting of such meo as Robinson, Youill, and Davis is worth their careful attention ; while Newell struck me as being the bowler best worth watching. The visitors' fielding, though careless ab time 3in individual cases, was on the whole clean and careful, and the way somo of the catches were taken should show some of our own players thab it is of no use to put their two hands together like two pieces of wood. It i 3 a fortunato thing that the New South Wales men intend to play a return match ab the end of the month, for all our local playors, representatives and nan - representatives, will have a good opportunity of seeing them at their best after their trip round bhe colony. I shall expect the New South Wales men to lose none of their matches in the colony, unless they get too careless. They have some real good bats, several changes of bowling, good fielding and a captain who seems to know his duty well. Though the match with Auckland ended in a draw, I hardly fancy our fellows would have won outright if the match had been finished. What might have happened bad Yates remained in the second innings is a different matter, However,' it is no use conjecturing on what might have been. I think Kissling made somewbab of a mistake in placing bis field so wide in the first innings when he knew what good bats he had to deal wibh. A lob of catches off Rees were lost through notody being near them. The placing of hia men by Davis wa3 very different, though he seemed to leave his on-side too defenceless at times. Two fielders are hardly enough for it, no matter how straight the bowling is. The Sydney batsmen, taking the best of them, were very clean and effective in their hitting, generally to the off, and it was noticeable how well they kept the ball to the grass on the whole. Davis in his first innings, though he got 52, did not show very good form, probably owing to his sea voyage. He gave several weak chances. However, io hi« second he showed what a good man he is by carrying his bat for 34, got by very nice cricket; his leg strokes being especially effective. His fielding at point was a treat to witness, and showed how many runs a man may save by care. Youill played better cricket in bis firsb than in his second innings, for he seemed inclined to sky tbem in his later venture. However, be made some very pretty grass strokes. McClinchy is a very useful man in bhe team. His first innings was a very meritorious performance, in which ho showed excellent defence ; while he showed himself a useful bowler.

Robinson had hard luck in being run oub in the firsb innings ; but in the second got a bebber opportunity of showing his hitting powers. . Callaway is rather stiff in his batting, but made "some very nice drives till he sent the ball to Gardiner in the first innings. Hisbowling did not impress me veryseverely. Ib seemed straight, but not very dangerous. Newell had little opportunity of showing his batting powers, but his bowling was very good indeed. He has plenty of break, and, what is almost better, varies wiih judgment and bowls with his head. It is dangerous to hit any balls from him that may be off the wicket unless the batsman is sure of their destination. Cowper batted well and carefully for his 18 in the first innings till Rees caught him so splendidly. He also did some very good bowling in the first innings against Auckland, but it did not seem much above the common.

Cottam batted well, but without much brilliancy in both innings. Clarke, Josephs and Shepherd gave little opporbuniby of judgingbheir battingpowers. Shepherd kept wickets in very good style, though he haa yet a lot bo learn from Blackham

Coming to our own players, I think Kissling deserves the palm, though I am loth to put Yates behind him. For finished batting I think Kissling's was the best Been during tho match. His splendid defence in the first innings waa a treat to witness, and in the second he made some splendid leg strokes, with several very effective outs and drives. An error of judgment made him put up a soft ball ip the first innings, but in the second he was past 30 before giving a chance, and then ib was nob an easy one.

Yates, the veteran, showed that there is life in the old horse yet. He made a very fine score of 35 in the first innings, by good crickeb, and stayed what at firsb looked like a procession. In the second again he was batting, without a mistake when run out so foolishly. His piay is not so finished as Kissling's, but ib is quite as effective. I was well pleased to see that he has nob ab all forgotten how to play good bowling. Fowke seems to improve in his batting, and played a good first innings for 24. His wicket-keeping was as usual without many mistakes, and ho has nothing to learn from the Now South Wales man. At the same time I fancy he is inclined to get excited when be rees a chance.

Luskplayedforward rather foolishly to the ball which gave him the egg, bub he showed his value as an all-round man by some clever bowling in the second innings, He

missed one catch badly, but caught another in hne style, and his fielding all round could not be-grumbied at. Gardiner played a good first innings for 18, and fielded splendidly. Rees bowled well right through the first innings of the Sydney men, and had very hard luck in somo of the catches off his bowling being dropped, and others falling around without anybody to snap them up. His average does not ab ail represent the value of his bowling. He seemed a bit off at the beginning ot* the second innings, bub came again towards tho finish. His catch was the best I have ever seen.

Stemson did little with the bat, though he rattled up a few good hits in the first innings. Neill should not have been sent in first. At the same time, the stroke he went oub on was very weak. His fielding was very good. Lynch did nob do the right thing in staying away when Auckland had bo field during bhe second day. He had very hard luck in gebting such a " sneezer" firsb balk I do not care to say too much of Kelly and Hawkins. Neither of them on form ought to be in the team, and I fancy they would admit the soft impeachmenb themselves. Hawkins bad a bib of luck with the ball in the firsb innings; bub anyone who saw bho bowling will wonder how it gob ivick&bs. I hope bhe Selection Committee will look for better men for next match. There is no use " rubbing it in " on these players, but we should have the very best men.

The Sydney men seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly in Auckland, and speak in the highest terms of our beautiful city. They arrived at a mosb favourable time for seeing us at our besb, when we were rejoicing over our Jubilee ; but a3 a rule the city and its surroundings are sufficiently pleasing to visitors. The result of the matchJSfewSouth Wales v. Christchurch will be awaited with some interest to-day. In the lasb match between Victoria and New South Wales, Sam Jones, who had been omitted from the team that went over to Melbourne for certain reasons, played for New South Wales and jusbified his inclusion by playing the besb crickeb he has ever shown in Sydney for the contury. Bannerman made 49 in his own good old style. Young Gregory, who was the baby of tho team and who was to have come to New Zealand, made 27, and his cricket is spoken of as about tho fiifesb in the game. Iredale, another new man, played fine crickob for 53. Blackham made 66 for Victoria. A clarkey named Morris played 'for tho Victorians and showed fine form in all departments of the game. Turner bowled well for New South Wales, getting 5 wickets in the first innings for 71, improvingin the second innings. Blackham again made a good score for Victoria in the follow on, and Over and Worral both made fairly good scores. In New South Wales' second innings, Moses made 45 out of the 93 for six wickets scored beforo time was called, wanting 15 to win the mabch. Australia's most steadily brilliant bat, Percy Macdonnell (now a Benedict), appears resolved to finally retire trom active cricketing. He is now in charge of a Sydney suburban branch of the A. J.S. Bank, and he says he doeß nob intend to allow sport to interfere with his chances of official promotion. —"Bulletin."

Ib is stated thnt tbo twelve or thirteen to form the next Australian Eleven will be selection from tho following fifteen: — Victoria: Dr. J. E. Barrett, Blackham. 11. Trumblo, Trott, Palmer and Harry. New South Wales: A. Bannerman, Moses, Turner, Ferris, Jones, Murdoch. South Australia :G. Giffen, Jarvis, Lyons. GiU'en will not go and Moses is very doubtful. Harry, of Victoria, will likely be omitted.