THE CRICKET FIELD.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2023, 29 October 1869, Page 2

THE CRICKET FIELD.

ST LONG-SLIP. Cricket, ball, bails, ertase, and everything else—hero they are. Is not this jolly fun ? Is it not better than staying about town, “doing Princes street,” to give the ladies a treat (?) Is is not better to be up in the morning running about than sleeping the best part of ■ the day away ? for it is an admitted fact that some of the mornings in New Zealand arc really magnificent. The wind seldom rises before eight o’clock, and before that hour everything is as still and calm as possible, and when one is tired he can adjourn to the “justice seat”— I mean the pavillion—and refresh the inner man. By-the-bye, I hear that the authorities interfered last week, and intimated to the vendors of refreshments, that they would have to take out licenses. This would be rather expensive, as they would require to pay LI a day. I trust s one arrangement will be come to, so that refreshments may be served on Saturday afternoon, as has been the custom heretofore.

I was pleased on seeing the matches last Saturday patronised by a good sprinkling of the fair sex ; and I hope that the Volunteer band will sometimes favor us by their presence. I know it is hard for some of the m, inkers to come on that day ; yet surely a few of them might, and, by discoursing sweet strains of music, enliven the proceedings, and lend ‘ (enchantment to the view.” The matches last Saturday were very poor ones indeed. The Stage surprised themselves by winning a match. This result was owing to the play of a substitute, who made a sc ire of 51, and also succeeded in bowling most of the Press wickets.

I have heard some remarks as to the propriety of allowing a substitute to bowl, but I never heard th.it there existed any rule on the subject. If you allow a man to bat, you would, I fancy, allow him to bowl. The scratch ma‘ch between C'ollinson’s and Macdonnell’s sides was very uninteresting—the only redeeming feature being Col'inson’s score of 50 ; but the bowling during the first six overs was simply disgraceful. Why are not two good Elevens picked and placed against one another, so that some respectable play might occur ? Another thing I would recommend is that umpires be chosen, and treated with the same courtesy as the Elevens. They hold a most responsible position, and their decision is always final, so that they occupy a very important place in every match