CRICKET CHAT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9669, 6 March 1897, Page 2

CRICKET CHAT.

'•Weekly Press and Referee.', ( The thirty sixth matchbetwcen Canterbury \ and Otago, which was played at Lancaster , Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday last <] week, excited more than ordinary interest t amongst enthusiasts in the game, as previous f to its commencement each province had - seventeen wins to its credit, while the odd ] match, played in Christchurch in 1869, t resulted in an unsatisfactory draw, Cantor- , bury having 17 runs to make to win with , three wickets to fall. As, however, the \ match was a low-scoring one, and the wicket j none too good—it being the first big match ; played on the present Haglev Park ground l —neither side could claim a distinct ad van- ] t-age. Since Canterbury won the fourteenth game in 1877, the numfier of wins has been ( in favour of the northern province, until ; this season, and in 1887 and 1889 they had a , majority of six victories to their credit, but subsequent to the latter season the southerners have been gradually making ; up their leeway, and of the last nine matches, Canterbury's win by two wickets at Lancaster Park in 1893 is the only one they can boast of over their old antagonists. Last week's contest gave Otago once moro the lead in matches won and, for more reasons than one, they thoroughly deserved their victory. In the first place, as has been the case for some seasons past, they sent away their best team, while Canterbury has not only been poorly represented when playing in Dunedin, but in the latest contest, though played on their own ground, they were without Pearce and H. . Ridley, who, undoubtedly, would have strengthened the team. Then, the local men, after having had all the best of the early stages of the game, showed such indifferent erioket during the latter half that it was not to be wondered at that they wore finally badly beaten. The bowling and fielding in Otago's Becond innings was just as bad as it well could be for interprovincial cricket,' but up to lunch time on Saturday the game appeared fairly open. After the adjournment, however, the batting on Canterbury's side was so feeble that, after the first pair had made 19 runs without a loss, the ten wickets were captured for a paltry 25 runs, 5 of which were extras. Had Canterbury shown anything like the form reasonably expected in representative cricket, they ought to have won easily after the advantage they secured in tho first innings, but they performed so badly during the second half of the contest, while Otago played up so well that tho latter secured a hard-earned, though in the end easily achieved victory; one, too, on which they are heartily to be congratulated. The batting of Otago was disappointing in the extreme in the first innings and, notwithstanding that the wioket was on tho soft side, they certainly ought to have made more runs than they did. In the second venture they redeemed themselves by putting up the largest total on record by an Otago team against Canterbury, but a lot of gilt is taken off tho performance, owing to the wretched fielding and bowling of the local men. Of the batsmen Bakor oomes first, and he was the only man on his sida to score double figures in each innings. In both essays ho showed good defence, , and his second innings of 60 was not only tlio largest score made by an Otago man, but his batting went a long way towards taking out the little sting there was in the Canterbury bowling. He gave three chances, however, the first being to Stephenson in the slips when he had made 26; the second in the long field to Do Maus with his figures at 34, while Malone missed him at short-leg one run later. Kinvig exhibited nice erioket in making his 44 in tho seoond innings, but he made some uppish strokes, and was missed by DoMaus at third man. Spraggon hit very freely in compiling his 40 not out in his second innings, his strokes to the on and square leg being very telling ; but he ought to have been caught by North when ho had only made half a-dozen, Fisher did not hit with the freedom that lias ; characterised his previous essays in Christchurch, but his second contribution proved very acceptable to his side. He should have bepn run out before he reached double figures, while on more than one occasion he also put np the ball 1 just out of reach. Johnston showed ! sterling defence, and he and Baker wsre responsible in the second innings for making a record for the first wicket for Otago against Canterbury. Clarke battod well, and exhibited good defence each time, but he does not appear to be the batsman he was two seasons ago, his hitting lacking the brilliancy he then displayed. Liggins had a lot of luck in 1 putting together his 21 in tho second innings, ■ as he was missed no less than threo times, 1 but Haydon's 11 were made by good erioket, and in the first venture Downes hit freely ' for 17. The Canterbury fielding left but little to bo desired in the first innings, but in the second attempt, as already indicated, it was very faulty. North dropped 1 three catches, De Maus two, and Malone, Stephenson and Reese one each. The ground fielding on the whole was fair, and at times ' brilliant, Clark, in particular, doing fine work throughout the match, while Wheatley was given a large amount to do and he never made a mistake. Fowke kept wioket as well as ever he did in the first innings, '• but he was hardly at his best in the second ; ! he missed more than one chance. In the opening venture Malone and North bowled j unchanged, ond the former's average of seven wickets for 30 runs has seldom been equalled, while North kept down the 1 runs well, although not taking many wickets, Wheatley, the Canterbury captain, in my opinion, made mistake in not starting with the same pair in the > second innings. He, however, put Stephen* ' son on in place of North, and notwlthstand--1 ing frequent changes in the attack, runs ; came freely throughout the innings. Wild- ' ing, by taking five wickets for 67 runß, fully ' earned his place in the team and, considering | the length of the innings and the number of - runs made, his figures read remarkably 5 well. Some surprise was expressed that the "' veteran was not given a trial earlier * and Wheatley, in a way, acknowledged his > mistake by starting with him .at the ! beginning of Saturday's play. In the second ' attempt Malone was given every opportunity ' of again distinguishing himself and many thought he was kept on too long. On the - second day he was not only inaccurate, but - he could not find his length. On Saturday - morning he bowled better, and his figures 1 would show some improvement had/ the > chances given off him all been accepted, * North and Stephenson both trundled * steadily, but the bowling of the others calls ' for no special mention. 3 In Canterbury's first innings De Maus 3 played quite the best innings of the. match, r and he gave nothing approaching a chance. > Although a bit shaky at the start, he soon i settled down and played all the bowling with confidence and ease. Clark also batted extremely well for his 40, his play on the off side in particular, being very good, while he gave no chance, although he put up one or two balls rather dangerously. Wheatley made a dozen in good style when the bowling was at its best, and Fowke contributed 11 by fair cricket. The other eight men made but 22 runs between them. In the second innings De Maus's 18 was the only double, i and he showed very indifferent form to that he exhibited in his first venture, as he gave a chance when he had made 6, and another when he had ' scored 12, while he never appeared at home to the bowling. Wilding was the only man ) to show any confidence, most of the others exhibiting the white feather. Aa a matter of fact some were practically out before they went in. Unless a case of "funk," it is 9 hard to account for the rapid downfall of i the Canterbury team in their second I innings. In the first innings they had - scored 166 on a wicket more favourable ; to the bowlers, but on Saturday on a rune getting wicket they could only make 46, f or the same score that they were dismissed f for on a bad wicket, at Lancaster Park two 1 seasons ago. Fisher's second over practically - decided the match, as he clean bowled I Wheatley, Reese and Sims in four balls, c after which the batsmen fell easy victims to i the bowlers. In the opening venture, - Hope secured the best bowling figures, o and he varied his pitch and pace with excel--5 lent judgment, While Downes bowled very f steadily, but he only secured the last two :- wickets. In the second innings Hope was V unsuccessful, but as soon as Fisher took his c place the result was quickly foreseen, and c good as Mclone's figures were on the first V day, the fast left handed bowler of Otago s quite put them in the shade, while Downes a also bowled welL The fielding was first class all round, hardly a slip being made, Spraggon at cover point being especially

good in picking up the ball and returning it, ' while Haydon kept wioket in _ good stylo, * giving only ono bye in tho first innings. 1 Last week's matoh was played in as ( friendly a spirit as is usually the case when i Otago and Canterbury meet. One alight ! misunderstanding took place on the last day, < but the players had .nothing to do with tho < matter, and it caused but little friction, i The Otago innings closed just before one < o'clock, and the two captains agreed to then i adjourn for lunch. Mr Glen, tho Otago umpire, interfered and said that the captains ' had no power to make any arrangement, and leading Mr Jones, tho Canterbury '< umpire, to believe tho captains wished to go on, both umpires took the field followed by the players, and a quarter of an hour's play took place before lunch. Whether Mr Rattray was wise or not in agreeing not to go on is a more detail, but I was not surprisod to hear the remark made that Mr Glen thought that it would be to the advantage of Otago to play on. An umpire should always be careful not to take any action that can bo construed into partiality for either side. It is the rule of tho Canterbury Cricket Association to give the fielding side the ball after the last man is disposed of, and it is sometimes laughable to see the scramble for it. In the first innings of Otago D. Reese earned it by catching Rattray off a lofty drive, but in the visitors' second venture tho least deserving of the whole lot got it, North, after missing three chances, gottiug a very easy catch from Haydon, which he held. Baker and Haydon were the lucky fieldsmen when Canterbury went in. Since Canterbury's downfall on Saturday the question has frequently boon asked '' Is cricket deteriorating in the district as compared with some seasons ago *" There is no doubt that the loss of Cuff is severely felt, and the Canterbury men miss his leadership, as by his'own energy he was wont to instil life into the rest of the team. In tbe course of an interview with Mr A. M. Ollivier, which was published in this journal a few months ago, that gentleman oxpressed an opinion that some of the present-day players were quite as good as those who represented the province some twenty years ago. This season I hardly think that Canterbury is quite as strong as during the past few years, as some of the best man have left, while others of our supposed cracks are not playing up to form. This latter fault is probably due to inattention to practice, and unless men absolutely are sure of themselves being in form wo shall find " rots" set in like that witnessed on Saturday. Some rattling young players are coming on, but where veterans fail it is not to be wondered at that the colts should do likewise. Wilding is a player of the right stamp, and he has often got his side out a hole by his plucky hitting, but, although still useful, he cannot go on for ever making good soores, and what is wanted is a man of his calibre to go in and hit the bowling about. A lot has been said about Reese's two failures to get a run and Sims's ill success, but Harman, who is getting on to the veteran stage, did but little better than Reese, as he only saved making a " pair of specs " by a lucky snick in his first innings. Pearce, the two Ridleys, Wigley, Lawrence, and T. W. Reese at their best would undoubtedly greatly strengthen the team. With her best players all in good form, 1 fancy that Canterbury would still render a good account of herself, but until her players go in for a systematic course of training and practice her supporters must not hope for better results. There is no doubt that cricket in Otago has gone up by leaps and bounds during the past few years. I witnessed the match between Otago and Mr Coleman Davis' firßt New South Wales team ot Carisbrook in 1890, and I have but rarely seen a poorer exhibition of batting than idven" by the southerners in their first innings, when the team were disposed of for 36 runs. Mr F. Harper then took an active part in procuring the services of Lawton, the professional, and since then Otago have greatly improved all round. In Fisher and Downes, as I have before remarked, they have tho best pair of bowlers in the colony, and Hope is not far behind thorn, while last week's oatting showed then to be an even lot. Their fielding, too, is first-class, indeed, their brilliant work in this department reminded one forcibly of a foreign, rather than interproviheial team. There is no doubt but that the Otago team came to Christchurch with the determination of winning and from first to last all the side tried their utmost. There was no cricket in Auckland on Saturday on account of rain. Stoddart's cricket team is expected to leave England by the P. and O. steamer on September 9th. The annuaLmatch between Hawke's Bay and Wellington will be played at Wellington on March 20fch and. 22nd. The death is announced of J. T. Cottam, who visited Now Zealand as a member of Mr Coleman Davis's 1890 team. Mr " Dave " Gregory was given a send-off by his fellow Audit officers, upon his transfer to the paymasterahip of New South Wale 3 Treasury, says the Bulletin. The Gregorys are the Australian Graces. The four brothers —Ned, Charley, Dave, and Arthur—have played in interprovincial matches; and in '71 Ned, Charley, and Dave played their j victorious and historic single-wicket match against Victorians Wills, Conway, and Costiok. It was in this match Dave checkmated that wily old bird, Nat Thomson. Nat waß standing umpire, and *'no-balled " Dave's deliveries one after the other. Gregory ran up as if to deliver a ball; "no-ball" came from Nat, before the ball left the hand, and Dave merely dropped the ball on the ground and walked back. Dave played in interprovincials from '66 to '83 and/would probably have been playing still hod not the powers that be dropped him a gentle hint to go slow when be began to hold responsible positions in the service. A Melbourne paper Bays that pressure by jealous civil servants has made Tommy Horan give up the three guineas a week he got for writing on oricket, as "Felix," in the Australasian. The Stoics C.C. have paid A. E. Stoddart a rather peculiar compliment. For the past two seasons he has been a vice-president and now lie has been chosen president. Tbe Stoic? C.C. is the club Stoddart made his record score of 485 against. A writer in the London Sportiman sayß he understands Prince Ranjjtslnhji's visit to Australia may be regarded (in the absence of unforseen circumstances) as a certainty, but F. S. Jaokson is not yet sure to make the trip and J. T. Hearne, the Middlesex bowler, who it was stated would be a member of the team, has not yet been invited by Stoddart to join the team. Last' season the Maryiebone Club and Ground played 178 matches, of whioh exactly a nundred were won and 39 each lost and drawn. A. E. Trott, the Australian, scored most runs for. the club with an aggregate of 1350 in 46 completed innings, giving an average of 29.16 per innings. Harry, who went Home with Trott, scored 293 runs in 16 innings, giving^an average of 18.5. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent General for New Zealand, appears amongst those who played in less than three matches. The well-known Irish cricketer, Lelond Hone, who visited Australia as a member of Lord Harris' English team, died in Ireland during the last week in December. The decoased was forty-five years of age at the time of his death.