THE MATCH WITH NEW SOUTH WALES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8703, 27 January 1894, Page 7

THE MATCH WITH NEW SOUTH WALES.

THE PROSPECTS OF OUR TEAM. A CHAT WITH MR ~A. M. OLLIVIER. (by our special bepokteb) In view of the approaching match between a Canterbury team and that on it ß way hither from New South Wales, a member of the staff of the Press had. a brief chat yesterday with Mr Oliivier, the selector and coach of the Canterbury men, on the prospects of our team* in the match. Mr Oliivier, as will be seen in the remarks appended, is very sanguine as to our chances of pulling off the match, and he gives reasons for the faith that is in him. It is to be hoped, as there is every probability of a grand display of cricket, that there will be a large attendance of the public. A match with the representatives of the sister colonies of Australia is of such importance when looked at from a cricket poiut of view, that the enterprise of the Association in arranging it deserves the utmost support on the part of the general public that can be accorded. The arrangements with regard to wicket,-—o., are said to be perfect, and those lovers of a really good game, of whom it is to be hoped that there are a large number, will have a great treat during tho three days next week on which the match will be played. "Since the Auckland match," said Mr our meu have not been doing much practice, in consequence of tbe wet weather, but I intend "to give them haid practice this afternoon ou the College ground. After this the team will be chosen, and they will practice at Lancaster Park on Monday and Tuesday evenings. These practices, with the assistance of bowlers who have kindly offered their services, should put them into good form. As to the prospects of the team iv the approaching match, I may say that I think them to be very good. The personnel of the team will probably he the same as that playing against Auckland. The New South Wales team is reputed to be very strong in batting, with four or five good bowlers. The wickets they have been playing upon since they have commenced : their, tour through New Zealand have all been in favour of the. bowlers, and the scores they have made therefore are less than they will probably make at Lancaster Park. While 1 consider that, they will score heavier at Lancaster Park, I also think that our own players will score heavily, as, with one exception, I believe all the team have averages of over 20 runs per innings. Iv considering the question of the scores, it must not be forgotten that the wicket on which the match will be played will, be made as perfect as possible, and the bowling on both sides should therefore be fairly easy'to play. I think iit is probable that the Eleven; failing to make 250 runs per innings, will lose the match. I anticipate that both sides will go very near this average. As to the strength of our team, I consider that our present is tbe strongest. team that has ever represented Canterbury, and, therefore, a very excellent display of really fine cricket may be looked for. The bowling of our team is certainly equal to that of any previous one, and the batting is much stronger than even in the palmiest days of cricket in Canterbury. In our strongest days we had the two Friths, Sweet and Fuller, ivho were never looked .-upon _> - being batsmen, includedin the Kleven,lt was not till 1878 that Frith came out as a bat at all, and neither Sweet, Fuller nor , Charley Frith were at any time looked upon as averaging more than five runs each. Now in our present team there is not more than one man who cannot be regarded as a first* class ba_ma_.

"I understand that the Association are making arrangements to have score cards printed giving the public information as to ttie batsmen and bowlers on each side as they come to the wicket. This will do away with the complaint so often made at big matches that the spectators do not know the differont players. Let mc say, in conclusion, that I fee! pretty certain we shall win the match, as our men will be in firstclass condition, and the wicket will be in favour of scoring." The match, as already announced, will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next on Lancaster Park.

The balance-sheet in connection with the match, Canterbury v Auckland, shows a balance of £8 43 6d to credit. This would have been at least £20 had it not been for the loss on the dauce given in honour of the Auckland team.