CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

At the end of May Stoddart made his first appearance in England since his return from Australia. He scored 5G in less than three-quarters of an hour for Hampstead v. Uxbridge, and took six wickets for SI. A few days later he made 50 for Hampstead v. Ea.ling in quick time, and also took four wickets for*42. The first of the amateurs in Stoddart's team to appear in first-class cricket at Home this year was Mason, who made a splendid beginning by scoring 39 and 80, and taking five wickets for S, in the first innings of Kent against the M.C.C. in May. A Melbourne correspondent of the Christchurch 'Press' writes:—l fancy there is no chance of the Melbourne Club taking up the New Zealand Cricket Council's tour. At present the club is in communication with Sydney on the subject, but even if the New South Wale's authorities agree, which is doubtful, to share the expense, the M.C.C. will, 1 am afraid, decline to do anything. The majority of the committee are against the idea. Mr Raphael ran away with the favourable opinion expressed by several prominent men, and thought it was all settled. I was very sanguine about it. It is a pity, because much good would have resulted from the visit.

A. E. Trott, the ex-Australian cricketer, made his first appearance for Middlesex ag-ainst Cambridge University on May 19th and following day's, but he injured his hand so badly durin the progress of the match that he was unable to bat.