THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11889, 12 May 1899, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

THE, Australian crickhters Have opened tkeit toiir in. fengiknii with, a very ' creditable performance, 'the* eleven they ruet at the Crystal Palace ground On, Monday; if hot absolutely tie strongest combination that could be selected from the southern counties, was a great deal Stronger than the majority of the teams they are likely to meet during thb next three or four months; To get rid of such £U. team in each 'at its innings on a good wicket; and with no special luck, for less than 250 runs is a feat which shows that Australian bowling and fielding are at least as- good asthey ever were. The visitors’ own score of 375 . in the single innings they completed proves that they' Havh lost hone of theit prowess in the other department of the game. It is true that nearly two-thirds of the total were contributed by two batsmen, but this, instead Of being it, matter fOr .concern, is rather one for congratulation. Gregory and Noble are two players whose initial performance has been awaited with some-anxiety. It-was reported that the former was a good deal below his best form; and that the -latter would not be suited by the English wickets. Their displays on Tuesday must , have set all doubts on these points at rest, and their comrades may be trusted liter on to imitate their brilliant achievements. It will bo extremely gratifying to the admiters of the cokinial pliiyera to see that Jones, whose bowling was said to have lost much of its “ fire,” has made a very excellent beginning. There are few exponents of the aggressive side of cricket who can boast of such success against the pick of English batsmen as the South Australian player-has achieved this whole. The only unsatisfactory feature of the-game form the colonial point of view is, the result.. It seems ridiculous that three days should not be sufficient to complete a match in which there was ho phenomenal scoring. If it were not for the all-pervading influence of “.gates,” a contest of this,kind wcilld ilot at the most oEupy ihork than a couple of days. As it is, there appears to be a great

danger of a large proportion, of the .gapjfiS played by the Australians ending in draws. Such results must sooner or later lessen the public interest in the tour, and have .a demoralising effect upon the players theiasetves. . .