CRICKET NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11191, 12 February 1897, Page 2

CRICKET NOTES.

[By Scoring Board in “ Canterbury Times"! . Cricketers, on Saturday were favoured •with excellent weather, and, on the whole, with good grounds, although the wickets at Hagley Park were again somewhat soft and slow. Theprincipal features in connection with senior cricket were the sudden 'revival of the Midland Eleven, a brilliant innings by D. Eeese, of that team, and a batting performance by Wilding for the Eancastrian. Eleven that vividly recalled his prowess of a decade ago. Otherwise very startling occurred, and the Junior and President’s Cup games went 'along very monotonously and without any steUsatkm. ,• The, Lancaster Park Eleven, by winning the.‘ tbss-against the United Thirteen, secured an advantage that was not altogfethCr utilised as much as it should have ■been. The wicket was really good, and the opposing bowling not of a very high order. - Indeed/had it not been for Wilding's good batting,the innings would have' iteen, under the circumstances, below mediocrity. , This, too, despite the fact ’that five, double figure scorers appear in the list, and that Archie Eidley was unavoidably absent. Wilding’s innings was quite ■ up to his best form, and ninety per cent of my readers know what that is. Eegret was expressed on all sides that he failed to reach his century. Even his opponents were not altogether pleased when he was caught at 89. When a popular and sterling cricketer gets close to the coveted three figures by excellent play, the opposing side cannot but help regretting, to a certain extent, his dismissal. Such was the case on Saturday, and I, for one, sympathise with the veteran and hope to be in the position to chronicle mahy- mote as good innings from his bat as he gave ns on Saturday. Hasell was next to him with 30, and played steadily and well without a chance. Fowke compiled 19, and was a good while at the wickets, playing with customary care. H. C. Eidley started off exceedingly well," and promised for a good score until he pulled a fast breaking ball into his wicket. His score consisted of two 4’s, a 5, a 3 and a single, and judging by his recent good form, the United men had good cause"’for jubilation at his comparatively early downfall. Larabie, who was not put on until late, came out with the best bowling average, and kept a good length and-direction. The United’s innings, so fair as. it has gone, is only noticeable on account of a steady, careful innings by "Vincent,, who , is still Unbeaten with 32 to his credit. Bates quickly settled four of the others for 32 runs, and is evidently our best fast bowler at present. The field- " ing on both sides was only fair several mistakes being made. ..’The game between the United Eleven and the Sydenham Thirteen produced somewhat, tame and uneventful play and at the time of writing the United team has a small advantage but nothing much to boast of. Malone, Ayrey and M’Murray were the only double figures in the Sydenham team (of course excepting Mr Extras .with 37). Malone played very nicely for his runs, giving one difficult chance at the wickets. Ho went in with two down for 20 and saw seven men out, leaving with 85—10 —29 oh the board. Ayrey, who has been recently promoted from the junior ranks, displayed good hitting abilities and rattled up 28 before being run out. Medlow and Frankish shared the bowling honours and finished off very evenly matched in the matter of success. The United men started badly, losing R. D. Harman and Sims at once, both falling victims to Malone. "Wigley, although playing uppishly, gave no actual chances, and his half hundred was very welcome to . his team. Clark’s 44 was marred somewhat by an easy chance which was not accepted by the Sydenham skipper, otherwise though his play was really good and quite up to standard. Collins looked like scoring well until a good one from M’Murray beat him. Malone’s bowling again appeared very troublesome, and by way of a change his ill-luck deserted him, ■four of the five wickets down belonging to him at a cost of 54 runs. The Midland Eleven seem determined thus late in the season, to atone for their previous weak performances, and appear to have selected the Lancaster Park Thirteen as the objects of their special wrath. How last year’s champions have fallen so low as they have this season is a puzzle to most cricketers. With men like Da Mans, Lawrence, Wheatley, T. W. Eeese, D. Eeese and Pearce in the eleven it has been a source of wonderment why the team should actually occupy the lowest place in the competition. Over confidence and lack of practice, and a weak tail, together with a disregard for the strength of their opponents have, I am convinced, led to the undesirable result; but I was glad to notice on Saturday that the Blue and White came out in something approaching its true form, and gave the public more of a taste of its proper quality than heretofore. The Lancaster Park Thirteen were short of two men, but I do not think that can be advanced as any excuse for their weak batting. Barring Pavitt, who played up in good style, confidently and well, and Jackman) who got doubles by characteristically steady play, no one seemed inclined to even look at Pearce, whose average of seven for 17 speaks for itself. He bowled in his best form, though, be it remembered, and being aided somewhat by the soft wicket was able to, get on a decided break from the off. The Midland innings started off at a furious pace, young Eeese being especially powerful and vigorous. Sixty balls brought 56 runs before the pace slowed down somewhat. The outfield was very fast, and the fieldsmen had a busy time, so much so that at the caU of time 268 was up for six wickets. D. Eeese’s innings was . a treat to watch. His power for so young a lad is marvellous, whilst his timing of the ball is quite a revelation. He almost ran his partners off their legs, and when he retired he was accorded a hearty allround ovation. Next to him Lawrence played best, and got his runs in his old style. De Mans was not in his best form, but had bad luck in being run out

when he had about settled down. Pearce threw his wicket away in trying to “mow ” Smith out of the ground after having succeeded in the attempt once before. All the bowlers, of whom seven were tried, were severely handled, young Eeese appearing to treat them all alike. Strange to say, three death notices appeared in last Saturday’s Lyttelton Times, and each of them has caused regret amongst cricketers here. Mr J. Garty, who died recently in Sydney of consumption, was some years ago a prominent member of tho Midland first eleven and also a Canterbury representative. About ten years ago he came with a meteoric flash as a bowler, and did a great bowling performance against Otago. He went off, though, later on, although he afterwards rendered good service to the Ashley County Club. .Mr J. M. Maxwell, who was unfortunately killed through an accident on Friday, was an old Wellington Midlander and represented his club against the Canterbury Midlands. At the time of his death he was a member of the Sumner Club. “ Charlie ’’ Wheeler will be well remembered by the younger generation of cricketers as an enthusiastic and popular junior at Lancaster Park, and his death, which occurred in Melbourne, came as a great shock to his late playmates. In a 'match last iweek, not a hundred miles away, a batsman who had been giving some trouble, played at a fast rising ball, and snicked it somewhere about the wrist. The wicket-keeper snapped the catch, and with the bowler appealed. The umpire stepped up and asked the batsman where the ball struck him. “ Just here ’’ said the striker, indicating a spot half-way between his wrist and elbow. “ Ah ! well,” said the umpire, “ if it hit you below the elbow you’re out,” adding, by way of parenthesis, “You know I don’t like to give my own men out, but after all we must play the game by the rules.” This is a fact, and is, I think, distinctly good. At least, the fieldsmen on the occasion thought so. D. Eeese’s play of late has placed him in the proud position of being, without a doubt, tho best batsman in Canterbury. In fact, there is very little doubt that he is entitled -to rank with anyone in tho colony as a brilliant and skilful player-, and when one considers his youth it is hard to say to what heights in Australasian cricket he may attain. Wilding’s success on Saturday was personally very pleasing to me. I have known for quite a number of years what a genuine and enthusiastic cricketer the “ old gentleman ” is, and whilst I always like to notice the youngsters coming on, I can never be slow in congratulating veterans who continually prove evergreen. J„ Macfarlane, after a long and tedious illness, reappeared in the Midland Eleven on Saturday. He was not called upon to bowl, and had no chance yet of batting. •Thirty-seven extras given to Sydenham reads badly. What was Collins doing ? E. D. Harman’s century last week was a good performance, and emphasises the fact that he had hard luck in being caught at deep-leg in the Wellington match. A good story is related in connection with the recent Intercolonial match, Victoria v. South Australia. A very fast one from Jones, “the Adelaide express,” got up and struck the burly Jarvis —who was keeping wicket—a severe blow in the stomach, bad enough to knock him out. He was taken into the pavilion and doctors summoned to revive him. After some time he came too, and his first utterance was.- “Now, you know, that fellow would make a grand slow bowler if he would only try. He got a couple of good wickets the other day with slow ones, but it is no use talking to him; he will persist in ‘rooking them in’ as hard as ever he can.” No doubt “ Jarvie ” was speaking feelingly and with a certain amount of knowledge of tho subject. The Hagley Park ground outside the actual playing wickets is in a bad state for want of water. Why this is so with a plentiful simply available no man knows, and no man seems to care. Tho Midlanders, too, I hear are complaining loudly about their practice wickets, which, towards tho end of the week, are worn and bumpy to a degree. Hair, of Sumner, put up the record for his club recently by scoring 101 against the Hairdressers’ Club. The Midland Junior Cup teani are loud in their praises of the wicket provided at Sydenham on Saturday, and also speak well of the sociability and good feeling shown by their opponents. . St Albans threaten to inflict a defeat on the Lancaster Park Junior Cup team, in which case the trophy should easily be appropriated by the Midland. ■ Stephens, of the Sydenham Second, is spoken of as a likely bowler. He is fairly straight, and breaks both ways. Upper Eiccarton, which has been considered as the undoubted winners of tho President’s Cnp, was for tho first time fully extended on Saturday by the Midland A team. The Eiccarton men, though, were minus the services of Bush, one of .their best bowlers. C. Colville, of St Albans, who has been somewhat under a cloud this season, came out again against Lancaster Park and hit up 56 in good style. I have several times in this column advocated the claims of C. W. Garrard, of Kaiapoi, to the consideration of the selector-, and I have gone to the trouble to secure a list of his performances this season for his club, which, by the way, has won the trophy in the North Canterbury district. I" submit his list, which shows his prowess:—lol retired, 53 not out, 32, 10, 101 not out, 33, 10, 101 retired —8 innings, twice not out, 441 runs, average 73"5. I may mention, too, that, upon the occasions he has retired, he has been forced to do so in order to give his side a chance of getting tho gaine finished. His bowling average is thirty-six wickets for 131 runs, or 3"(1 per wicket. When one considers that in addition he is a splendid field it does appear strange that he is never even asked to practice for our representative matches. I hear that when a team was being sent to Otago this season, and was shorthanded, he was asked to go even without practice, but could not spare the time. I trust that in future good country players will be remembered, as it is not a

i Christchurch, but a Canterbury team that should bo chosen. Tho following are the averages of the Kaiapoi Cricket Club, the winners for tho season of the North Canterbury Association Cup. Matches played 11, won 10 and drawn 1:

The team at the end of the season of 1895-6 was last on the list, winning only two matches. Peatherstone and Martin showed much improvement in the batting department, but the success of tho team is due in a groat measure to the purchase of the Kaiapoi Park, which has enabled the club to provide good match and practice wickets. Still further advance is confidently expected as the club has a member roll of over 90, and a good dual of dormant enthusiasm has been aroused of late. .1. Bate, playing against Amberley for Kaiapoi on Jan. 30, took five wickets for 5 rims, bowling nine overs, six of which were maidens. C. W. Garrard’s performance of securing thirty-six wickets for 3"6 runs eacli is rendered all tho more noteworthy when I mention that he did not not play against the two weakest teams in tho second round of matches. Wheatley, the popular Midland captain, expresses his doubts about the advisability of going in first with D. Eeese any more. Ho'declares that the running the colt gave him from the start on Saturday clean beat him, and that he has never had such a severe gruelling during his long experience as a cricketer. Southern Tasmania defeated the Queensland cricket team by nine wickets. At the dinner held after the conclusion of tho recent match between Victoria and New South Wales, the Chairman, on behalf of the Cricket Association, presented J. J. Kelly, the New South Wales wicket-keeper, with a cheque for .£lO 10s, in recognition of his performance in scoring iOB against South Australia. The Chairman also presented T. Garrett with a "trophy to mark his thirty-first intercolonial match—against Victoria, at Melbourne. The trophy consisted of the ball which had been used in the match, and which was suitably inscribed and handsomely mounted, so as to form the central portion of a silver flower-stand. The following items are from the Sydney Bulletin :—The hero of the second innings of New South Wales against Victoria was the colt Noble. He went in facing a rot, facing confident bowlers who had sent the first four of the New South "Wales batsmen back to the pavilion for 23 runs. The first ball from Trumble just missed the off stump, but the colt sent the second to the fence, and from that on the limber twouty-threc-year-old played a plucky, aggressive game, stopped the rot, and showed his side that although Roche and Trumble e aid “ do a bit ” ou a good wicket, their bowling could be smitten. Noble is the youngster who made that fine 152 (not out) against Stoddart and Company. Roche, who got six wickets for 63 first innings, is a red-headed young man of medium stature. . Having lost his first and second fingers and part of his thumb, he is a bowling curiosity. Ho turns his slow ones well from tho off, and he shoots down quite a first-class fast one at judicious intervals. The men whom the Sydney crowd greeted most cordially were Trott, Gregory, and Coningham. Trott, on coining out to bat, received a tremendous welcome ; he had to keep taking his hand out of his pocket and raising his cap all the time of his march to the wicket. It was the heartiest and most sincere welcome that a player has received from a Sydney crowd for many a long day. The ovation war excellence was when Gregory made his historical 201 against Stoddart and Company. Gregory, being the midget, receives spontaneous recognition everywhere; when Syd. used to drive big Richardson to the boundary in England the crowd would cheer itself hoarse. By the way, tho little man used the one bat all through the recent tour, scoring some 1700 runs off it. “No one I over saw,” remarks the veteran C. Banuerman, “could upset a side like Lyons. Let him be in five minutes and he has tied his opponents in a knot. 1 remember on one of tho occasions when I stood umpire for New South Wales in. Adelaide. Lyons came in; took block; hit a four; wiped his forehead; hit another four; re-wiped his forehead; hit two or three more "fours which the fieldsman stopped for singles; hit. a fiver; changed ends; wiped his forehead and hitched up his pants. I looked up at the board thinking he must be 20 ; ho was 50 ! It was the biggest surprise I over got in cricket.” Apropos, Syd Gregory relates that once when Lyons was batting in England, Gregory went from the pavilion into the dressing-room for his pipe and coat. He put on his coat, filled his pipe, lighted it, took half a dozen draws, ancVcnme back. Tho game was over. The mighty smiter had played the devil in those few moments on a bad wicket. “ One of the Team” supplies the Sydney lic/erea with an account of his experiences with tho Queensland team during its recent tour of New Zealand. The following are a few extracts : —The great expectations with regard to the good wicket at Christchurch were not happily realised, as the Queenslanders at Lancaster Park played on one of tho worst wickets of the whole tour Many of the players received severe blows, and it required tho skill of a Ranjitsinhji to glide some of the balls, which kept to tho height of the eyebrows. * * * The Queenslanders throughout the tour experienced the difficulty and disadvantage of playing on all varieties of wickets—fast, slow, and fiery. The best wicket in New Zealand is that at Napier, being very fast and true. Auckland is a good wicket but very slow—almost as slow as a Queensland train. "Wellington is fairly fast, but fiery. Christchurch, which has the best reputation in the matter of wickets, was the most treacherous of all, and batting on it was very trying. Prolonged dry weather was the cause assigned to this condition by the ground man. A rather serious but amusing breach of the rules occurred on this wicket, tho Queenslanders finding; on going on the field on tho second day of the match that the wicket had been mown and rolled during the night. The ground man had innocently allowed his zeal to override his discretion in Ins endeavours to resuscitate a broken-down wicket. As this rendered a most signal

assistance to tho local team the Queenslanders at the time were rather annoyed, but the officials and tho team were not responsible in any way for what occurred. The Dunedin wicket upheld its reputation for slowness, and one of the Queensland bowlers (Hoare) revelled in it, to the great discomfiture of the Dunedin batsmen. * *_ * Tim keenest as well as tho most impartial spectators were met with at Wellington. The discipline of all the Queensland team throughout was most exemplary,. and was favourably commented ou by the New Zealand authorities. As regards the general strength of the team, it may be said that it was good all round so far as the batting was concerned. * * * if Napier has the best wicket, Wellington has the most impartial and enthusiastic spectators, but on the point of hospitality ChristeLureh stands on Alpine heights. Tho Queenslanders desire through the lief eve e, to acknowledge the invariable kindness met with throughout New Zealand at the hands of its good people, and to add a special rider in grateful acknowledgment of the magnificent treatment the team received at Christchurch. If you are a cricketer going to New Zealand, and desire to make a big score, go to Napier; if you seek impartial applause and generous critics, go to Wellington; if you want to have a “ howling good time,” go to Christchurch; and if you have a good story, tell it anywhere—except Dunedin. New Zealand is a charming spot—a veritable garden, where fields are a foot deep in green grass and wild flowers ; a place where each field is surrounded by exquisite hedges, poplar trees and weeping willows.. Truly, New Zealand should be a happy country, and yet they seem to have difficulties —at least, one fair girl told M’Glinchy that “ they had mortgaged everything in New Zealand except the atmosphere.” The glorious tour throughout Maoriland convinced the Queenslanders that if one is not bora a Lord Brassey the next best thing is to be born a cricketer. Bracketed with our beautiful harbour (writes the Canterbury Times’ Sydney correspondent) must now bo mentioned our magnificent scoring board. This is a substantial structure which has been erected with great care and attention to detail at the Association Ground. Members of the last Australian eleven, who have necessarily seen grounds and boards in many parts of the world, declare that it beats by a long way anything in their experience. So, probably, do the crowds in front of the newspaper offices who post every run as it is scored. lam not quite certain whether our devotion to cricket is a thing to glory in or to be ashamed of. An attempt to reorganize the County Cricket Council was made at a meeting held on Dec. 7, at the Oval, London. The project, however, was abandoned, a majority of tho delegates considering that there was no reason for its existence, and that all necessary matters could be considered at the annual meeting of the secretaries, or at any specially convened meeting asked for by four of the leading counties.

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