CRICKET.

Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 3594, 15 January 1877, Page 3

CRICKET.

ELEVEN V FIFTEEN.

The above waa the title of the match played on Saturday last. Play did not commence until nearly 3 p.m, as some of the players were absent to meet the Otago cricketers upon their arrival at Lyttelton. The Ffteen took the field, Bweet and T. H. Moore commencing the bowling. Leach and "Wood appeared for the Eleven, and after each bateman had scored a single an appeal by the wicket keeper for a catch was not allowed; although it was afterwards found ibat the ball just touched the batsman's glove; but the next ball proved fatal, and Leach retired. Corfe succeeded, and com-

menced steadily batting, much better than sC' in practice the previous evening. Wood, however, was not content with ground allotted to the batsman to stand upon, and ■was beautifully stumped by Fowler, who was keeping wicket quite in his old form— two for 16. Alpe filled the vacancy, and for some time defied all the efforts of the bowlers. Buns, however, came slowly, plenty of loose balls being let off. At last Alpe made an off drive, for which he thought he could eteal a run; but not calling his partner nntil too late, the two batsmen were at the same end. and the ball beinpr nicely Seldf d by * aimer, Alpe lost his place—three for 38. He made a good leg hit for a 4 and a 3. J. Fowler came, but in consequence of a strain had Leach to run for him. The play was very slow, the bowling being let off frequently; the fielding, however, was good wita one or two exceptions, notably point, who, in returning the ball, always threw it at the wicket keeper's feet. We would remind this young player that, however good a bateman he may become, he will never be fit to play in a good match ■nnlti he exerts himself more in the field. We hope to see an improvement next time we see him play in a match. The scores 'gradually crept np to 68, principally by singles, when Dickinson disposed of Corfe, two men mowing behind the bowler's arm distracting his attention. He made a 5, the ball going under the cover of the well and it w«s sometime before it could be got out, and a 4, a grand cut off Sweet.

Ashby went to Fowler's assistance, but after making a 5, a splendid leg hit, and two singles, was neatly run out by Palmer and Fowler, fiv<for 70. Neileon joined J. Fowler, and a long stand was made. The bowling, which had previously been changed, under-

going the s«me operation, Sweet going on at the upper end, Fuller, who was bowling well

from the lower end, continuing. - With the score at 93 J. Fowler wee clean bowled by Sweet. He only made a few rune, there being only one 2 amongst his contribution,

which waa owing to an injury above referred to. Secretan came, and now the game became more lively, both batsmen scoring rapidly ; Neilson, who had previously been content with singles, now going in for larger figures. At [last a change came, Eecretan commenced with a single oS the iirst ball of the over from Sweet, which Neilson followed up by two 2's and a 4 to the gate, but playing at the next before he had recovered from the running was bowled. Eisscoie of 49 wae rapidly made, and with the exception of two difficult chances was made without a mistake. D'fimden followed, and with Secretan played until time was called, both being not out for 11 aud 17 respectively; the score being J155 with the lose of seven wickets. Of the play, the batting was not bo good as it should have been, many balls which ought to have been punished being allowed to pass. The •fielding was very good, more especially that of Palmer at mid-ofl and B. Fowler at the wickets. Ollivier took long stop, but at first did not pick op the ball so cleanly as he should hsve done, and showed that he is in want of practice to bring him into the form he displayed abaat eight years ago, when he need to take that position. Fuller bowled -well, but had very bad luck, and Moore, who is an old acquaintance, showed that his right hand had not lost its cunning. The following is the score :— SLBVEJf. First Innings. W. E. Leach, b Sweet ... 1 -J. Wood, st Fowler, b Moore 8 C. O. Oorfe, b Dickinson 23 8. Alpe, run out ... ... 14 •J. Fowler, bSweet... ... ... ... 15 D. Ashby, run out 7 W. P. Keilson, b Sweet 49 H. H. Becretan, not out 17 •J. 8. D'Emden, not out 11 E. C. 3. Stevens, B. B. Palmer, and W. Frith to go in. Byes, 3 ; leg byes, 4 ; wides, 3 ... 10 155 ANALYSIS OP BOWLING. Sweet—loo balls, \ maiden, 63 tuns, 3 wickets. Moore—9s balls, 6 maidens, 23 xune, 1 wicket. Fuller—lss balls, 13 maidens, 43 runs, 1 wide. Dickinson—ss balls, 3 maidens, 16 runs, 1 wicket, 2 wides. THK INTEBPBOVINCIAL CBICKBT MATCH. On Saturday last the Otago team arrived by the Taranaki, and came through to Christchurch by the 2 p.m. train, and were driven to their hotel in a drag by Mr E. W. Millett, who, as usual, kindly lent it for the occasion. Some of our cricketers met the team in Lyttelton, but, as there wae a match ' being played on the ground, a great many J who would have been only too glad to have : gone were prevented from doing so, as play * was to commence at 2 p.m. Our opponents -seem little worse for their voyage, having l had a good passage nearly the wholo way. * Shortly after three o'clock some of the eleven put in an appearance on the ground, * and, at their request, a wicket was prepared for them, but they did not practise, evidently * preferring to watch the match that was beiDg played between an eleven and a J •fifteen, in order that they might spot the v weak points of our players. Judging from F the remarks that some of them made, they do not eeem to think much of oar elevoD, c and fancy they have a good chance of winning the match. Their captain, and some of * their own players, believe that they are the best team that haa visited Canterbury ; and, b if so, the match should be a very good one, as although wehave not i early oar best team, b Messrs Baker, Frith, M. God by, and H. W. Moore being unable to play, we have a w strong eleven, and one that will take a great deal to beat. "We are glad to find the S1 Otago team are so strong, as the reports = which frequently came from Dnnedin gave T£ry little hope of more than a second class Win; but this is the proverbial way with Every season they profess to be very weak, and can scarcely obtain an eleven they nevertheless at the last find that they' have -a good one, and expect to carry off the match. As they did not practice on Saturday we are usable to give any description of their play « several are quite new to us, but report \ epeake highly of Messrs Millington and i a Bouch as bowlers, and we understand that come of them tbiuk the ground too small, if j. co our long fields will have to be placed ▼cry deep to cave the fourera which are =, threatened. *.

The selection committee, Messrs D'Emden, Ollivier, and Sweet—met on Saturday evening *t Warner's Hotel, to choose onr representatives. After mature deliberation they ■elected the following to sustain the honor of the province—Messrs Alpe, Ashby, Corfe, JS. Fowler, J. Fowler, Fuller, Leach. Neilson, "timer Secretan, and Sweet; emergency, UKmden and Palmer. With three exceptions they can all bowl; all can bat well, although some are very short of practice, •nd may not come off in the match, and in «»e field we do not anticipate many misekes. In the bowling, the more prominent •aabett known ate Meeera Ashby, Fuller, •oa aweet, who can all be relied upon, and

re, and ehonld the wicket rait TheriTtnef wf 5*2? F ° wle * N «k°°. Secretan hay, ittrted pjoved effective bowlers should they .unate Teqpired, and we have seen the time * >raith. J. Fowler's fact nnderhandshave cause b. and eeparation between two batsmen when i an an set. In the battiDg we cannot pick out 3 pur- who are not likely to score. Puller Sweet, perhaps the weakest in the te = have both made good scores this season the latter especially, if he choose, can t an excellent game, having good defence ■ if a loose ball should be bowled can pat I it, as we have frequently seen. Iα th" fi J every place has a good man, and what aatch more to the Purpose, men who will not 1 com- ? chance even if the match should appeaj f the be S°ing agaicst them. )tago There was some little excitement ab :lton. the eekction, and wo hare no doubt so r. B. ?"" be disappointed at not being incluc i and I in the Eleven ; bet we cannot see how i after con «nittee could have done otherwise—l >peal only alteration suggesting itself was to i not w - Frith for hi ß bowling, bat then rand would become a question of putting Fo lans ° ne out i and we cannot see that aDy of t and Eleven could be displaced when the positic iom- I oi tne field that must be well filled i ;han studied. Both Palmer and D'Emden t ocd, J five fields the former especially so, and 1 iund neat way ot picking up a ball at mid < and m 'ght be studied with advantage by a lar who nur uber of our cricketers, but we regret th m _ playing on rough wickets at the commerc [ for ment of the seasou has somewhat destroy, the hls ner ve as a batsman, otherwise we thii *ly, that De would have had a place in tl last e !f v ? n - The r ° u gh state of the grour gbt al ' a «led to above was caused by playir his * 00 BOoa o° the gronnd when it was too so 'ere for tne wickets to remain true, and ar :ely Practice then would have no good effect c iree [ he P J ayer?, which we think has been prove md b y subsequent events and more especially i ,of this instance. J ?he We do °ot know, but we hope the Goveri off ment offices, Banks and mercantile houe< Dod Wlll close as usual for the half days \S nt , cannot help thinkiDg that our nationi .i t sports are looked upon by a great number i re . necessary evils which rome will indulge ii )od instead of being as they are, sports whic rer should receive every encouragement. :ch match is to be played on Wednesday Id. Thursday, and Friday of this week, an' ;xt frcm tne opinions of members of the tw ; h I elevens a good match may be anticipated 58, We h ope for fine weather, and have m iB . doubt the display of cricket will well repay anh e one who goes to see it. The Canterbury j e Eleven will meet for practice this evening O f and afterwards will choose their captain l d The Otago team will practice in the mornint !fc< at ten o'clock, and again in the afternoon, er The : colors of Otago are light blue, the Jo J same as previously worn by Canterbury, oui id Eleven are therefore requested to provide > r( themselves with dark blue caps. g) The following are the remarks of the r . Otago Daily Times with reference to the at forthcoming match :—. \\ The annual Interprovincial match between ie Otago and Canterbury has been finally ar>y ranged to take place at Ohristchurch on the re 17th, 18th and 19th January, therefore Gonial mencing on Thursday next. That the result <} of this cricketing contest will prove very ie unsatisfactory to all the parties concerned g I cannot be gainsaid. The Otago Cricket n J Association, after anxiously debating the , r question, Canterbury compeers ?j that owing to the forthcoming matches with c the All-England Eleven it was desirable to h postpone the Interprovincial match for one 0 season. This action appeared to give great c offence to some of the Canterbury men, who [. evidently anticipated an easy victory in t, scoring an important Interprovincial match, a as they were fully acquainted with the fact . that several of the leading cricketers would 3 not be able to play owing to the prospective j All-England Eleven matches. The result of 3 the agitation was a publiG meeting in Dane- » din, and a determination to gratify the wish 3 of the Canterbury men by sending up at 1 least some sort of a team. Now, we mus , express our extreme gratification that ; notwithstanding the anticipated diffif culties, a very respectable team has been got t together, and from the material placed at r their disposal the match committee might , have made it much stronger. However, it is t a curious fact that, according to the latest s advices, the Canterbury cricketers having t got what they clamoured for, are taking very > little interest in the forthcoming match. t Perhaps, as the betting in Christchurch has . been ten to one in their favour, and they anticipate a very weak team from Otago, they do not consider special practice necessary. The matches between Otago and Canterbury were commenced in 1864. One i having been drawn in 1869, each Province has won six matches. Of the last six matches, Canterbury has scored five. With regard to our present representatives, we may congratulate the Otago Association upon having secured E. L. Keade, of Riverton, and Millington and Nicholls, of Oamaru, as they are reported to be in grand form! However, wa are at a losa to understand why Rose and Mearea have been chosen in preference to Glen and Allen or Sutcliffe. The former especially has done very little this eeason, and therefore cannot be in anything like Interprovincial form. He may likely distinguish himself, but it is not at all probable. Now Glen has been both trundling and batting very well this season, and shown great improvement in the latter department. Whether as a smart field or all-round cricketer, Allen has distinguished himself frequently. He has been for many years looked upon as a certain interprovincial representative. As our Eleven (excepting Millington and Nicholl?, who proceed direct to Christchurch from Oamaru) leave per the steamer Taranaki to-day, we append their leading characteristics in the field. Paramor—A good right-handed bowler ; splendid b3t when well set; distinguished himself as Interprovincial representative in 1875-6 ; formerly engaged as professional by the Dunedin Cricket Club. Beade—One of the finest bats in the colony ; a good fast bowler : an excellent field ; former representative. Millington—Excellent alKround cricketer ; a first-class bat ; good fast bowler. Nicholls—A steady and good bat: fine field. Clark—A magnificent field, especially at long-leg and cover ; good but nncertain bat, with excellent driving powers ; former representative. Carpill—A careful and improving bat ; smart field, particularly at point. Bouch—A very good all-round cricketer; bats splendid when well set. Morrison—An excellent medium-pace bowler ; good bat; fine field. Rhodes—An improving bat; one of the best longstops in the colony. Meares—A good but uncertain bat; fair wicket-keeper. Rose—A "tolerable bat when in practice ; smart field.