AUSTRALIAN AND FOREIGN CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11537, 25 March 1898, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN AND FOREIGN CRICKET.

C. J. Eady, the Tasmanian batsman, playing for Break o’Day against Wellington (Tasmania), recently scored 205 and 122 not out. This constitutes a record. Eady is stated to have recovered his best form. Stoddart thinks that moral suasion might be employed to put a stop to the « barracking ” by Australian crowds. Trott agrees that it ought to be stopped, but considers that seven days in gaol would be a safer preventive. A. E. Stoddart was thirty-four years of age on March 11. . . At the close of an interview with a repre-

sentative of the Sydney Referee, Trott was asked to send a message to the boys of Australia. He wrote,: —“ Practice assiduously ; never grumble, and try hard until the winning hit is made. Let there be one captain, and, if possible, have him always win the toss.”

The members of the English team receive all sorts of messages when they happen not to do well, and also some congratulatory ones in the hour of success (writes “ Not Out ” in the Sydney Referee .) Were the Prince to prize these things as curiosities of his Australian visit, he would have an assorted collection; he does not, however, care a straw for curios. Amongst the items forwarded him was a weatherbeaten and broken bat, bearing an inscription from the cricketers of the West who . wear “brown leggings.” In the Review writings it seems he referred to the fact of , some of the country teams wearing brown leggings, as is the custom in the English provinces. Victor Trumper, the young Sydney cricketer, has made the following scores in Club Premiership matches this season: 82, 123, 125, 85,120 not out, and 191 not out. , His aggregate at present is the greatest ever made in Sydney local cricket. At the conclusion of the final test match a gold watch ' with chain was presented to A. E. Stoddart on behalf of the trustees of the Sydney Cricket Ground and the M.C.C., as a. mark ,of their appreciation of the services he has rendered cricket in Australia. In his innings in the final test match. Darling hit thirty 4’s, and his run-getting strokes were 3,4, 2,4, 4,1, 1,4, 4,2, 4,4,1 4,4, 4,4, 4, 4,4, 1.1, 4,2, 4.: 1,1,4,1,4. 1,4, 4.1, 3,3, 4,4,4, 4,2, 4,1, 1,4,4,1,4,1,4,1,4, 1.3.2.1.1. A. C. M’Laren was married on Thursday, Kinematograph pictures of the test matches were being ’ shown in London before the last; mail left England. : At a meeting.of the Victorian Cricketers Association held recently, a resolution to the effect that the Australian Cricket Council ought to finance the tour of the next Australian team sent to England, was passed, but not before it had been productive of some plain speaking. For instance, Mr W. Bruce,-who opposed the'.motion, said the Cricket Council had taken ,no financial risks in the past, and had better leave the control to those who did. 'He said no good could accrue to the team or to Australia by the appointment of anyone through or by the Council. There would possibly be a lot of friction in connection with the next tour, and it would be better for the Council to keep out of it. . MrMoir said the matter of financing the team had already been discussed on lines which must be a distinct advantage to every member of the team. The Council would take risks, but not a farthing of the profits. They wanted it to go Homo as the Cricket Council team. Mr Budd: It cannot go Homo without the approval of the Council. Mr H. Trott: It will, though. Mr Moir: Then it will not contain several of the most prominent cricketers in Australia. Mr Trott: All right. You’ll find that you are making a mistake. Mr Moir ; The Cricket Council won’t reap one farthing advantage. Where does the objection of individual members of the team come in ?- Mr R. M’Leod said the Council was a most useless body, and could do no possible good to cricket. He could not see what benefit an Australian team would gain in going to England under their wing. In saying that the team would have to go under their control they would find themselves quite wrong, for they were utterly unknown in England. Mr Budd : They’ll make themselves known. Mr M’Leod: The Council were neither recognised nor respected by cricketers. They had been in existence for seven years, and had done nothing. In this case they would be defied. Mr Budd: They will not be defied. Mr M’Leod: None of the cricketers will consult them. Mr Budd: You are interested. A man offered to lay me two to one that you would be manager. Mr Trott (to Mr Budd): I’ll lay you two to one you’re not manager, anyhow. Mr Moir: There is a great distinction being made now between cricketers and sportsmen. Mr M’Leod:’There is also a great difference between those who know how to conduct cricket and the Cricket Council, which does not know. The team can have •

no loss, and will not require the support of the Council. Mr P. Knuckey said he had some hope for the Council after the last meeting, and would support the motion. He could not see where harm came in ini sending such a letter. Mr M’Leod: Thera may he no harm, but no possible good can come of it. The resolution was carried by five votes to three, Messrs Trott, Bruce ana E, M’Leod voting against it.