NEW SOUTH WALES v CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9290, 16 December 1895, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES v CANTERBURY.

There was a goodly attendance at the cricket match on Saturday, as might have been expected. This is the first team sent over here by the Cricket Association of the Mother Colony, and naturally its doings will excite great interest throughout New Zealand. It oannot be denied that the score for Canterbury's first innings is anything but satisfactory, and, as so often happens in cricket, it is not altogether easy to account for the nonsuccess of some of our best batsmen. It is true that the fielding of the New South Welshmen was excellent, but the bowling did not seem to be good enough to give a satisfactory reason for our failure to' score more heavily. However, we may be fortunate yet in getting our opponents disposed of without too great an advantage in the first inning.-*, and may do better when our men again take to the bat. There is no doubt the public here exnect to see a fine exhibition of

cricket at the hands of the visitors, and we hope it may be so, even if that means a crushing defeat to the home team. We have had visits before now from Australian elevens, but this being the first team picked by the New South Wales Association it marks an epoch in intercolonial, cricket. In Sydney also the progress of the matches, of which this is the first, will bs followed with keen interest. Of course, trials of strength with New Zealand cricketers cannot be expected to create the almost maniacal: excitement evoked by the test matches with Mr. Stoddart's English team. The visit of the New South Welshmen will do much for cricket in New Zealand. We hope it will lead to the fulfilment of the hopes which are being entertained of a return visit of New Zealanders to New South Wales next year. Such a trip would be of enormous educational value to the cricketers of New Zealand. There is no reason why in a very few years New Zealand cricketers should not hold their own with the best elevens of Australia. Ten years ago cricket in Adelaide was no better than it is at present in this colony, and now Adelaide can boast some of the best players in Australia. Why should not our players make equal progress ? It is certain that periodical exchange of visits between the cricketers of Australia and New Zealand is one of the best means of furthering that improvement. There is no doubt, that in physique Young New Zealandia the equal, if not the superior, of Young Australia, and in

most parts of New Zealand the climate is a 9 favourable, to the game as the climate of Australia. Apart from the value to cricket of this visit, we hope it will be of great value to both colonios in promoting brotherly feeling, and extending a knowledge of each colony's resources and a respect and affection for the people. It is gratifying to notice in the Old World au increasing tendency to hold international competitions in manly sports, and though a little friction will probably be occasionally engendered as for instance the friction which has occurred in connection with the yacht race between England and America still if the nations are accustomed to meet each other as honourable sportsmen in friendly rivalry it must be regarded as making for that much to be desired end—the peace of the world.