THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

Evening Star, Issue 11830, 9 March 1903, Page 3

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

[Feom Ottr Welmnqton Coekespondent.]

A member of Lord Hawke's team, who desired (for private reasons) to have his name withheld from publication, informed your representative that there was no doubtin his mind as to the best batsman in the colony, for Reese certainly claimed that honor, and he was also the finest all-round player in colonial cricket ranks. Tucker was a capital player in all departments, and second only to the Canterbury man. Callaway and Downes were the champion trundlers, Frankish, in his opinion, being hardly the bowler he was cracked up to be. As regards cricket in the four centres, he thought that Wellington was ahead of her rivals, Canterbury not excepted. Two of the best fieldsmen in New "Zealand, so far as he was able to judge from personal observation, were Reese and Mahoney. He did not have too high an opinion of our wicket-keepers. He considered Williams cleverer and smarter than BoxshalL This visitor further declared that there were lots of good cricket in Mahoney (Wellington) and Hay (Auckland), though the former was inclined to play too much to the gallery. Hickson (Wellington) was a very sound, defensive bat, but should take more advantage of his punishing powers. Howden (Otago) had the makings of a first-class cricketer, and Dalgleish (South Canterbury), with more coaching, would turn out a capital bowler. He also praised Orchard (Canterbury) as a really fine fieldsman, though he was not in the same street as Reese and Mahoney. Marshall (Wanganui) was a fairish bat, whose qualifications, however, were inclined to be over-estimated.' M'Carthy (Taranaki) would prove a far more effective bowler were he to keep a better length. From what he saw of Sims (Canterbury) he should imagine that he was in the first flight of New Zealand batsmen. It would be going too far to say that he was the superior of either Reese or Tucker.

As the Mokoia, bound for Sydney, was casting off from the Queen's wharf on Friday night Mr Warner, captain of the English cricket team, came forward and addressed the cricketers and the large crowd who had assembled on the wharf to see them off. He said that the tour through the colony had been one of unalloyed pleasure to the members- of the team, who would carry with them the utmost good feeling for those with whom they had played and the many friends they had made in the colony. Their stay had been made enjoyable from the beginning, and he looked forward to a return visit with the greatest pleasure. They had found the players they had met thorough sportsmen, and while they continued to play cricket for the pure love of sport they would prove themselves capable players. He hoped that the visit of tho English team would be an incentive to the youth of the colony, and that ultimately New Zealand would have a number of cricket teams of sterling merit. Again, he thanked New Zealand most cordially for the reception given to the team, and concluded by wishing them an revoir. The ship's bugler here took up the refrain of this tune, which was joined in most heartily by all on the wharf and on deck, and as the steamer cast off the cornet player led off with ' Auld lang syne,' which was joined in by those on board and ashore as the steamer glided into the darkness. The following are the Englishmen's averages in all the maters they have played during the tour:—

runs: P. R. Johnson, fouT for 8; J. Stanning, one for 0; A. E. Leatham, none for 19; A. T>: Whatman, none for 6; F. L. Fane, none for 5.

In eleven-a-sidc matches the following are the averages of the team:—Batting: Warner 68.3, Fane 52.62, Burnup 41.4, Stanning 39.75, Johnson 37.2, Thompson 34, Taylor 33.7, Bosanquet 18.5, Dowson 15.85, Leatham 11.25, Whatman 5.8, Hargreave 4.5. Bowling: BurnujL 10.77, Thompson 11.5, Dowson 11.66, Hlrgreave 21.38, Bosanquet 22.06.

BATTING of? "3 3 • be • *£ *-< is "Si" o • ll - o °5 £ ° Dowson 15 3 511 218* 42.58 Warner 23 3 828 211 41.4 Burnup 24 6 737 82 40.94 Fane 22 4 625 85 34.72 Bosanquefc 17 1 466 136 29.12 Taylor 21 0 546 105 26 Johnson 20 4 411 88 25.69 Thompson 19 3 377 80* 23.56 Stanning 18 4 259 35 18.5 Whatman 16 1 208 56 13.86 Leatham 17 2 187 28 12.46 Hargreave 14 4 46 14 4.6 4 i Not out. BOWLING Runs. Wickets. Average. G. J. Thompson ... 1,149 175 6.56 E. M. Dowson 362 53 6.83 S. Hargreave 904 122 7.41 C. J. Burnup 712 87 8.18 B. J. T. Bosanquet 745 66 11.28 P. F. Warner tool : five wickets for 38