DEPASTURE OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 19, 23 May 1877, Page 2

DEPASTURE OF THE ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN.

The Australasian took occasion, on the I departure of the English criefceters, to review their tow in term* by no means flattering to Liliywhite's heroes. In fact, there is so much of the element which Anthony Trollope pointedly remarked on, infused into the advico to promoters of future teams, that one is vißdly reminded of a victorious cock's crow of triumph : — " After a four months' tour through the Australian colonies, the All England Eleven took their departure in the mail steamer Bangalore,. and are now on their way back to the old country. They have had some hard work io go through, and have played a good many matches, and we trust they have both bsen pleased with tlieir visit, and have found it a reamnera- j tive one also. As an eleven representing the cricket talent of the old country, they are decidedly the weakest by a long way that has ever played here, notwithstanding the presence among them of Shaw, who is termed * the premier bowler of England.' If Ulyett, Einmett, and Hill, are fair specimens of the best fast bowling in England, all we can say is, either they have never been in their proper form in this- Colony, <x British bowling has sadly deteriorated. Kendall is as good, if not better, than either. Southerton and Lillywhite arc both very well in their way, bat they are both rather passe ; and we need hardly refer to Arraitoge's slows, which remind us of a shocking bad sample of

the Sydney grubbers 20 years ago. In batting, the Eleven were very weak. Jupp never was ia proper health all Ifee time he was here. Ulyett is a brilliant hitter, and Greenwood, Selby, and Charlwood are all good average batsmen; but after them \ there is 8 long weak tail, unless we except Hill, who now and then proves himself of some use. How Lillywhite could ever have expected to beat Fifteen of Australia with such a team is past comprehension, as he should bare been able to form a pretty correct estimate of Colonial play. They were opposed to players many of whom were superior to themselves, and were always, it most be allowed, in better condition to play, in eleven representing the full strength of Australia, could have played a fifteen of England, if the other four were no better on the average tf'an the Eleven ; for. it must be ramem* bered, we played a combined team, which comprised ncitler Evans nor Allan. We have a wicket-keeper beUer than Pooley, and in Eannerman we have a better balsman than any in the England Eleven. Thompson and D. Gregory and Kelly are quite equal to the beat of the Englishmen, whilst a dozen others could be selected from this Cplony and New South Wales a lons way superior fo the other members of the English Eleven. The En?lishmen played better together, and fielded more like a well drilled corps than the colonials, and to this fact t'.elr limited success is to be attribute.!. However, as far as th»s Colony is concerned, some very enjoyable matches were played, and some good cricket was shown, aud perhaps it was more relished by the public, owing to the sides being move equally balanced than on previous occasions, when the England Elevens played against fonder ', odds. " We would counsel whoever may enter into future speculations for importing an England Eleven to bear in mind the great improvement of colonial cricket, and not to imagine that anything will do for Australia. Ifc trou-U require the tno Graces with a very strong team to stand much chance against a combined Fifteen of Australia. Tn another point, too, the colonials have greatly improved. They have learnt patience from their adversaries, and they can face a crowd better than in the oklen time, when eight out of every ten- players who emerged! from the paviKon to- test tfte British bowling either left their hearts behind them, or allowed that necessary organ to subside into their bools-. We have more nerve now, and have learnt to play the game better. However the EngKsbmcn will no doubt report when they fret home what they think of colonial cricket, and cxpfoih why they wore so often- beaten ; and if they speak from their hearts, no doubt tl;e next Eleven that visits Australia wi'l be very differently constituted to-lh.it which has just departed."