CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 259, 1 November 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

Dear Readers, is it nob borrible, all this rain ? Even lasb Saburday ib was impossible fco geb a start made with the cup cricket matches. Down South, however, the Christchurch and Wellington cricketers are well at work, though both places ar e supposed to bo so much behind as in climate. However, we may expecb bettor things for the rest of the season. We always have it pretty web and cold aboub the end of October and beginning of November.

Tho St. Mary's Club has the advantage of a very docent practico ground in Ponsonby, where fche members have had some fairly good practice during the last fortnight. Even there bhe rain on several afternoons made play impossible. The practice wickets provided are a good deal better than any such provided on tho Domain, though the outfielding ground is very bad. Cricketers must all have been quite shocked fco hear of fche death of poor Charlie Cheeseman lasb Monday. Ho lefb Auckland apparently in the best of healtb, bub his lungs were always, I believe, a bib troublesome. He was an enbhusiastic cricketer, and ib will be remembered was very active in promoting the visit of the Sydney cricketers last season. The Domain has been in such a damp and dismal condition even during the present week that very little practice has been possible. Tho Gordon men will greatly miss Artie Rees bhis season. He is now in Gisborne, and is likely to remain there some time, Everybody will be glad to see that this clever cricketer and footballer is also no 14 slouch " ab study, and that he has passed his examination as a barrister. The Cricket Association would do well to consider fche advisability of having some sort of general opening of fche season in future, apart from the commencement of practice or cup matches. Such an opening would attract public attention to the game. A costume match could easily be arranged, to which admission would of course be free. I believe Morrison, of the Auckland Club, is assisting the Belmonb boys wibh his experience. Several of bhe Sydney cricketers who visited us last season are showing up prominently in the New South Wales capital. On October 4bh playing for Carlton against the Belvideres S. Callaway made 56 and Youill 32, while Cowper was dismissed for a single. On the same day Clark scored 43 not out for the Sydney Club against Warwick, bub Robinson failed to score. Newell bowled well for fche Sydheys. Clarke and Newell are spoken of as playing very well for Sydney. Sid Callaway has been doing some splendid bowling, The Melbourne Cricket Club have given the uso of their ground forth© Intercolonial Junior Match between Victoria and New South Wales, to be played on the 7th, Bth, and 10th November. The "Sydney Mail "states that Ferris, having received the offer of an appointment in the Bristol Bank equal to that which he holds in bhe A.J.S. Bank in Sydney, has accepted the appointment, and that after returning fco Sydney he will go back to Bristol. . , Pilling,the well-known Lancashire wicketkeeper, is on board the Ormuz, with fche Australian Eleven. Ho is coming out for tbe good of his health. Spofforth was greatly in evidence for Derbyshire in the second innings of Norfolk in a match between these counties, as he got seven oub of the 10 wickebs ab a cost of only 26 runs. " Playing for Sb. Patrick's College against a nondescripb team at Wellingbon last week, Mr Mahon achieved a remarkable bowling feat, capturing nine wickebs for 2 runs. H. P. Kissling, bhe Gordon capbain of lasb season, has joined fche Melbourne Crickeb Club, as he stated he would before he lefb. He is not mentioned in late Melbourne files, bufc I expect to hear of him before long. Ib is probable that cricketers will have the pleasure of a visit from Christchurch this season. Mr McKinney has communicated with Mr Harman, Secretary of the Canterbury Association, on tbe subject. Though the matter haa not yet been discussed by the Christchurch Committee, a telegraphic reply has been received from Mr Harman which reads fairly favourable. Mr McKinney has also communicated with the Wellington Association, and the matter will be considered by that body. Ifc is feared, however, jjbab the Wellington men

will nob be seen in Auckland this season. The chance of playing in a representative match should stir our men to increased activity afc practice. Cricketers were able to use the Domain for practice on Thursday afternoon. The ground ia in fine condition, and but for "the rain, the rain, tho pitiless rain," plenty of good practice could have been had long ago. I am sorry to say tho United Club havo been unable to put a second eleven in tho field. However, a Newmarket club, the Belmont, have joined fcho Association to play for the Second Junior Cup. This would have made an odd number of clubs playing for the junior cups, but the Alpha LL had pluck enough to play for the Junior Cup, in which they take the matches arranged for United 11., while Belmont take those arranged in the second junior contest for Alpha 11. I hope tho Alpha men will be rewarded for their pluok by making a big show in the Junior Cup struggle. The Takapuna Club will not play for the Cup, but will take outside matches, like the North Shore Club. Cricket is becoming lively in the Aratopu district. Mr Crookes, the teacher there, is no doubt responsible for a good deal of this activity. Ho is an enthusiastic cricketer, and at Paterangi was also very prominent.