INTERNATIONAL CRICKET.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 249, 21 October 1893, Page 1

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET.

The Field has an article on international cricket, in -wliich it reviews the doings of the Australian team now in this country. To test, it says, tho comparative merit of cricketers representative of England and Australia, the custom has, in this country, grown of playing three matches against the visiting team of Colonials; and in the present season the plan has not been departed from. The resolfc has been favourable to England ; but it cannot be said that, viewed solely by the light of these matches, tho superiority of English cricket has been so well established as most patriots could haye desired. On the question of superiority we may, however, go a little outside the three all-important matches, and in doing so we find that the balance still remains with EngI land. Of the sixteen games which have been played in this country between England and Australia, tea have been won by our players, and two only by the colonials, whose last victory was gained in 1888. Taking, thereicre, these results and the doings of the Australians in the important matches of 1873 into consideration, we can still lay claim to pre-eminence at the game which is more truly the national summer pastime of England than it ever was, and which seems to thrive on whatever sjil it may be planted by our countrymen. The tour of the team, which will be spoken of hereafter as Mr Blackbam's— as those iv previous years are referred to by the name of the gentlemen who acted in the capacity of captain — has nearly run its course, and we think that the general opinion must be that it has not earned the right to be considered the " strongest team that ever left the shores of Australia" — the encomium passed upon it by its zealous and genial manager, Mr Victor Cohen, on the occasion of the welcome given to the Colonials by the members of the Sports Club. It numbers no Spofforth in its ranks ; it is without batsmen of the calibre of Massey and McDonnell, and time after time has in consequence been at a loss. One of the most satisfactory features of the tour has been the capital cricket shown by one of the men who had not previously visited us, aud by another who had caused some disappointment when on a previous tour. Mr Graham has, indeed, done wonders on this his first visit; he lias invariably shown cricket of a high order, as his position at the top of tho batting averages goes to prove. It had been thought in some quarters that the interest in the visits of Australian cricketers had declined, but no proof of this has been afforded during the present summer. Indeed, it may be said that cricket generally has commanded more attention in the season now fast drawing to a close than it had ever done before. That it may continue to flourish is a hope which one may with corif dence expect to be fulfilled.