LADIES AT THE GAME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 8

LADIES AT THE GAME.

LOBS AND LEG STROKES. A GAME OF PATIENCE. The conquering ccx hae invaded the province of man in many fields; and one of theni is cricket. 'i'o-day -they are playing something like a representative match with an elev-en of Ohristchurch ladies. The scene is Kelburne Park and men, who are interested in the progress of the other, but nowadays hardly weaker, sex can there study the modern, problem exemplified in a game of cricket between elevens of ladies. Golf, tennis, hockey, even bowls, and bridge, have been mastered — but cricket — ? Will a woman ever learn to throw* Can a woman ever hold a catch or a straight bat? Can a woman bowl? These are question to which the arm-chair philosopher over a pipe would answer in a negative — a derisi\e negative. But — go to Kelburne. The match is in play under a sweltering sun. The batewomen are at the wickets ; the bowler is sending down an over and the field is out. It is frightfully hot and the effect on the cricketers is noticeable. The bowler is delivering lobs, which make the. mere man long to have hold of the bat. Oh for a smack at that lovely full toss ! But the ladies take it very seriously. The batswoman pokes out a bat and stops it almost dead. The next ball is a soft, languid short pitcher, trickling in gently towards the wickets. Another pat and it goes about three yards. The field is moat amazingly set out — to the mere man. There is no slip at all, and point is away out in the dim distance.- But mid-on aaid mid-off are only a few bats-lengths away. There are long stops at each end, who never move from their places. The rest of the field is bunched out on the leg side. What particular theory leg or off or what rules the disposition of the field is hard to say. Anyhow it seems governed by cast-iron custom, for it never changes. The bringing in of some of the ladies on the outskirts would undoubtedly have saved runs and produced catches •—but there was no change. It is clear women have not advanced as far in cricket as in other games. Tho match was more like croquet than cricket. T.he most remarkable part about the batting was the skill of the btitswomen with the leg stroke. Here they displayed far greater confidence than they did on the off. There were two boundaries during the morning, one a good on-drive, and the other a snick past where slip ought to have been. The batting, however, on the whole, was tame, and one longed for the girl who would forget her instructions and smite, even if she did sky a few. One advantage the batters have, and that is in the abolition of the leg-before rule, which it has been found impossible to apply. Fielders generally returned tho ball with an under-arm trundle, but one or two shied in quite the orthodox throw. There was one over-arm bowler, who, with a little more pace, could have done great execution. Altogether, without being unduly critical, one must say that the. ladies have a lot to learn before they can play cricket. There were one or two brilliant exceptions. One lady fielded particularly smartly, and, donning the wicketkeeper's gloves, stumped a batswoman quite neatly. The score at the lunch- 1 eon adjournment stood as follows: —

WELLINGTON. First Innings 91 OPAWA.— First Innings. Miss Robinson, b Miss Boecker ... 42 Miss Wilkinson, b Miss Mahoney ... 0 Miss C. Scott, b Miss Mahoney ... 38 Miss A. Scott, by Mrs Sutherland ... 17 j Miss Buttle, b Miss Mahoney ... 3 Miss Sorrel, not out 12 Miss Allard, st. Miss Twohill, b Mrs Sutherland ... ... ... Ii Miss Smart-, b Miss Twohill ... o Miss Javden, b Mrs Swanson ... 6 j Extras 15 | Total for eight wickeiß „. 138 |