CRICKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 July 1925, Page 5

CRICKET

GILLIGAN’S TEAM ENTERTAINED

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Eeuter’a Telegrams.)

LONDON, July 16. Marylebone for the first time in its history gave a dinner to a defeated side, namely, Gilligan's men. Admiral De Robeck, presiding, said it did not- matter that the team had mot brought back the ashes. They had played the spirit of the game anj upheld the highest traditions. Gilligan, responding, said that cricket was a game of chance. Nobody had the right to squeal about bad luck. The team welcomed Lord Forster’s cheery words when the luck was dead against them, and recalled one spectator’s declaration that “theM.C.C. were cheery coves,” which he claimed the team always were, even when the luck was most wretched. ‘‘Collins was one of the finest type of captains I have ever played against. It is a pity that Collins had not had to meet a tosser like Jackson.”

Lord Harris, toasting ‘‘Cricket,” said they had never had a better example than Gilligan’s—always playing the game with good temper in the face of the hardest circumstances.

Hon. F. S. Jackson, responding, confessed that he was sufficiently prejudiced in favour of England that he refused to believe the Australians better cricketers than 20 or 30 years ago. With a little luck England should take the field in 1926 confident, of holding their own, if not winning the ruboer. He disliked the eight-ball over, and hoped it would never be introduced in England. It neither succeeded in getting the batsmen out nor saving time, but if it was meant to to break bowler's hearts, it nndoubtededly had succeeded, lie equally disliked the absence of a time limit. He did not believe any fair turf wicket would last more than three or four days and he appealed to the responsible authorities not to permit patches to last beyond four days, and possibly five for the deciding match for the rubber.