CRICKET NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8620, 23 October 1888, Page 3

CRICKET NOTES.

A matter that is claiming the attention of the Senior Match Committee is the fixing of Association matches for holidays, such as Show Day, Anniversary Day, the race week, Christmas and New Year holidays. This is a step in the right direction, and one that should have been made long ago. In days gone by, before the Senior Cup matches were started, a number of these matches were brought off, and were always productive of good and enjoyable cricket, and we are quite with the Committee in considering that in the interests of the game so many available days should not be wasted during the season, when we have such a number of enthusiasts in the Province who will play cricket whenever a chance offers. Yet another/loss for the Midlanders ! Macdonald, whose dashing batting and fine fielding were so noticeable during last season, has removed from town, and it is doubtful if he will be able to don the “blue and white” this season. At anyrate he will not appear in the first few matches.

C. H. Beck, the Otago interprovincial cricketer and footballer, is at present residing in Christchursh, and has signified bis intention of joining the Midland Club, where he will be specially welcome. Owing to business avocations, however, he cannot put in an appearance on the field for the present. Mr J. Eiley, the portly and genial proprietor of the Post Office Hotel, Wellington, passed through Christchurch on Tuesday on his way to Melbourne for a holiday. Mr Kiley will be remembered as the top scorer in Wellington against the Australians in 1886, and is one of Wellington’s most practical and enthusiastic supporters of cricket. .

We believe tbe Midlanders intend trying conclusions once again with their Wellington namesakes at Christmas time in the Empire City. This match is an annual one, and it is to be hoped that it will not be allowed to fall through, as these turn-and-turn-about trips are very enjoyable affairs, and tend to promote goodfellowship between the members of the rival Provinces.

A visit to the grounds enables one to predict general good wickets and play during the season. Lancaster Park, as usual, is in first-rate order; and the late dry weather and mild winter has had the effect of causing the old ground to appear in a more forward state than is usual with it in mid-October. The College ground is settling down nicely, and promises to develop into one of the best in the town, and the Addingtonians are also to be congratulated upon the thick and even nature of their turf. The Boys’ High School have shifted camp .to that part of the Hagley Park ground so long occupied by the Collegians. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed on Tuesday:—Mr Leigh Lynch,theadvance agent of the team of American base-ball and cricket players who are to tour the Colonies this summer, arrived by the Mariposa yesterday. Prom him I gather that the team, which comprises twenty-six of the best base-ball players in the United States, several of whom are first-class cricketers, will leave San Francisco by the Alameda on Nov. 17. They will consequently arrive in Auckland about the first week in December, and an exhibition match between two base-ball teams will be played here before going on to Australia. After playing in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and other places, the team will visit Tasmania, and go on to Dunedin. Matches both at cricket and base-ball will be played up the coast to Auckland, where they will catch the mail steamer for San Francisco. The trip will extend over two at least, and perhaps four months. Thepromoters of the undertaking are Messrs A. G. Spadding, and L. S. Lynch. It is expected that an excursion party of some one hundred people will accompany the team. The Melbourne Cricket Club now bas a membership of 2230. A Sydney paper remarks on the Australian eleven:—The cricketers, who will be back from England almost at once, hare done very well, all things considered. The team consisted of two bowlers, one batsman (reliable), one batsman (unreliable), another batsman (first-class, if thoroughly sober), another batsman (first-class, if just comfortably drunk), and an awful tail. The two bowlers worked like horses, but they could not bo expected to keep up to form in so long a trip. At a meeting of the delegates of the Victorian Cricketers’ Association, the report of the Special Committee in arranging the following programme of intercolonial matches was adopted:—lßß9-9 Victoria v. New South Wales, at Melbourne; Victoria v. South Australia, at Adelaide; New South Wales v. South Australia, at Sydney. 1889-90—Victoria v. New South Wales, at Sydney; Victoria v. South Australia, at Melbourne; New South Wales v. South Australia, at Adelaide. 1890-I—Victoria v. New South Wales, at Melbourne; Victoria v. South Australia, at Adelaide; New South Wales v. South Australia, at Sydney. 1891-2 Victoria v. New South Wales, at Sydney; Victoria v. South Australia, at Melbourne; New South Wales v. South Australia, at Adelaide. It was recommended that the Association should arrange a match with New Zealand on Nov. 7,8, and 9, and Tasmania on Jan. 1,2, and 3. Now that the proposed trip to Australia has fallen through, there will, of course, be no match between this Colony and Victoria. The Irish team of cricketers played their first match in Canada, on August 21, when they defeated an eleven of Kingston. The scores were :—lrishmen, 180 and 40 for no wickets; Kingston, 141 and 78. A writer in an English paper calls attention to some peculiar coincidences in connection with the batting of the Australians in the first innings of the match against England at the Oval. Three of the eleven (Bannerman, Trott, and Ferris) each scored thirteen, one (Edwards) twice thirteen, and the seven other members were answerable for the same number. To complete the oddity of the concurrence, the match itself was begun on August 13. The Australians will hardly be of Falstaff’s opinion that “ there is divinity in odd numbers either in nativity, chance, or death.” Funny Folks has the following verses on “The Champion Country”:—

Why is the Surrey team the best, - Most brilliant tuid most stable ? The “ Key ” to ibis great question is. Because, of course, they’re “ Abel.” Upon two “ Beads "—not broten ones— Moat wisely they’re depending. Who with no Cain but that in bat Deal thrashings never ending. On ground that's good and ground that’s bad, vv ithout the ground man's “ holler,” The team's ali right with Beaum.ntgood, Or “ JL'ow ey,” as a Bowler. And if there’s after that a need Of bowling that's astuter. They call on Lohmaau—tower of strength— Who bowls you with a “ Shuter.” And if you want to know, my iriqtul. Why fciurroy’s extra, good, ' ♦ Just kindly tike a note of this, They could because they *• Wood.”

“ Anglo-Australian”-, writes in the European mail of Aug. 17:—“At the cricket match at the Kennington Oval I noticed the largest attendance of Australians yet observed at any of the matches played by the colonials. The entente cordiale existing with our Australian cousins was most marked, and their applause at any special display of the noble game was most vociferous. It was very pleasing to see the way in which the pet boy of the team, ‘Sammy Jones,’ was received by all Australians, who were most warm in their congratulations on ‘ Sammy’s’ recovery from his late serious illness. By the way, the poor young fellow had a very narrow squeak for his life, which was often despaired of by his medical advisers, who at times to pack him in ic© to ke©p down the temperature of his body. I regret to say that the small-pox has left its marks on his face, but, notwithstandingall the terrible ordeal he went through, the gallant young cricketer was as lively as a cricket’ on Monday.” The adjourned annual general meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held on Saturday evening, when the following office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected: President, Mr Mark Cohen; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. P. Spring and A..T. Smith} Hon Secretary and Treasurer,

Mr W. J. Moore; Committee, Messrs Eat tray, Kemplin, John Kaox, J. Carson, Eeid, and Smith. Three of thefour remaining senior Clubs—the Albion, Grange, and Wanderers—had scratch matches, but there was no noteworthy batting or bowling performances. The Carisbro'ok Club, which will be unusually strong this year, will probably commence operations on Saturday next. During the week the Phoenix has made a gasp for life, the Caledonian Society having reduced its demands very considerably; but the effort was left till too late, the majority of the old members having joined other Clubs, and the attempt to keep the Club going failed. It was reported last week that the Grange and North Dunedin Clubs had joined forces. This is not strictly correct, for during the week an amalgamation was nominally effected between the Albion and North Dunedin Clubs. The members o£ the latter Club have not gone over en bloe to the Albion, several prominent players having joined the Grange, and one of these made the highest score in the Grange Club’s match on Saturday. The North Dunedin Club, however, has ceased to exist, “ for which consideration, thanks,” and now there are but four senior Clubs —a big drop from the eleven they were a couple of seasons ago, and one that is likely to bear beneficial results.