CRICKET INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealander, Volume XIX, Issue 1995, 17 October 1863, Page 3

CRICKET INTELLIGENCE.

MATCH BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS 'yij MILITIA. Ox 1 uesday ;i friendly contest was t'oin;^ r . , 4, iu the Albert Barrack Square between the ami Militia. 1 lie day was fine, and a goodly number of spectators assembled to witness the sport. Two tents were thrown up, and wickets pitched shortly alter ton o clock in the morning. The game was a spirited one, and at the close of the lirst innings the militia were the victors by lour scores. The volunteers then went in for their second innings, but it was at that stage unanimously decided to postpone the conclusion of the game until to-day, when the volunteers will resume their innings at the same time and place. If the weather prove favonralde there will no doubt bo a crowd of spectators. Wo shall be able to give a more detailed notice of the progress of the game in onr next, and for (he present content ourselves with subjoining the score of the lirst day's sport:— VOLr.XTKICRS. First Innings. Second Innings. E. llesketh, b. Russell, - - 4 b. Russell, -' - 1 W. Scatter, b. Osborne, - - 15 b. Masefield, - - 12 G. Simpson, b. Russell, - - 4 b. Osborne, - - 7 C. Hesketh, c. Kissling, - 10 not out, ... 3 G. Raynor, b. Osborne, - - 22 I'. Kissling, b. Russell, - - 9 Fletcher, b. Russell, ... o Campbell, b. Russell, - - 0 Barnard, not out, - - - 22 c. Yates, - - - 14 A. Raynor, b. Alpe, - - - 1G not out, ... ig Scott, b. Russell, ... 0 Byes, &c., - - - - 25 Byes, &c., - - 14 1-7 G7 MII.ITIA, First Innings. Yates, b. llesketh, - - 111 Tide, b. Hesketh, - - 0 Alpe, c. llesketh, - - IS | 11. Elliot, not out, - - G Russell, b. 0. llesketh, 20 |C. Chamberlin, b. Hesketh 0 Masefield, b. Barnard, 36 | 11. Nation, b. Hesketh, 3 Osborne, b. C. Hesketh, 4 ( Byes, &c., - - 32 S. Kissling, b. Barnard, 0 I G. E. Elliot, - - - 3 j 132

Auckland Cricket Club. —The season has comI mcncecl with this club by a trial of skill between the : members in the Domain on Saturday last. The weather | was all that could be desired, which rendered this opening ; game doubly pleasant to the combatants engaged. At the close of the spirited contest, the members adjourned j to the Windsor Castle, Parnell, to hold a social gathering, j After-the discussion of the viands, the name of the club, ; which lias hitherto been the “Newmarket” Club, was i decided to be altered to the “Auckland;” the reason j alleged for this change being that several new and j active members had been admitted who were residents of | the city. Some new members were also enrolled at this gathering, and the intention of the dub to have an active season was well received. The following is the score of the opening match: — Scott, b. Simpson - -2 b. Mann - - 2 G. Andrews, b. C. Hesketh - 0 b. Mann - - 4 Higginson, b. C. Hesketh - 0 not out - -23 Brown, b. C. Hesketh - - 2 c. C. Hesketh - 0 Salmon, not out - - 0 b. Simpson - - 0 A. King, b. C. Hesketh -2 b. Simpson - - 2 Fitzgibbon, c. Scottcr - - 0 c. E. Hesketh - 0 Byes, &o. - - -3 Byes, &c. - - 2 0 33 Maun, c. A. King - - 6 C. Hesketh (instead Mann), c. E. Hskth. (j F. Hesketh, c. Simpson -11 c. Dickenson - 1 E. Hesketh, b. Scott - -5 c. Mann, b. Scott - 3 G. fetffiwifpttartftw - - -6 t. Amjw - 2 H. King, b. Andrews - - lb. Andrews - - 0 Dickenson, b. Scott - - 5 not out - 7 Bros, &c. - - - 3 Byes, &c, - - G 35 26 An All New Zealand Twextv-Two. The Lyttelton Times, of Oct. 3, says : “ We are glad to notice, from our Otago correspondent’s letter, that arrangements have been made for the All England Eleven to play a match at Dunedin with a twenty-two of New Zealand. Our cricketing friends will also be gratified to bear that the famous ‘team’ will most probably pay Canterbury a visit before they leave the colony.” Is there not sufficient interest felt by the supporters of our recognised national pastime in Auckland to court a visit, on an early day, from this famed eleven, especially as this will very probably be the only opportunity our townspeople will have afforded them of trying their skill against them. We are sure the visit would ho made a gala day by the lovers of the game in Auckland, as well as by the citizens generally.

Thl Puogkess of Cuicickt.— ln 1774 cricket made a great start. Sir Horace Mann, who had promoted cricket in Kent, and the Duke of Dorset and Lord Tankcrville, who seem to have keen the leaders of the Surrey and Hants eleven, conjointly with other noblemen and gentlemen, formed a committee under the presidency of Sir. Win. Draper. They met at the Slur and Garter, in Pall-mall, and laid down the first rules of cricket which very rules form the basis of the laws of cricket of this day. The old skeleton hurdle was abolished, and wickets (two in number (22 inches high and 6 inches wide was substituted ; the weight of the ball was determined to he (as now) five ounces and a-halt to five ounces and three-quarters. In the following year, 1775, a middle stump was added, and although the height aud width of the wickets were twice increased subsequently, until they attained their present size, still in all essential points —even allowing for iho difference of cricket grounds, the comparatively rough materials for the game, and the change in style, a cricket match in 1775 must have much resembled a cricket match in 1863. The next great step in cricket was the establishment of the White Conduit Club, in the year 1779 ; and among its members, in addition to the before-named pations of the game, we find iho names of Lord Wilchelscn, Lord Strathavcn, and Sir. P. Bin rell. Their place of meeting was still the Star and Garter, and their ground was in White Conduit Fields. One of the attendants on this club of the name of Lord, was persuaded to take a ground, which lie did ; and under the patronage of the Old White Conduit Club, a new club, called the Marylcbone Club was formed at Lord’s ground, which was then situate on the site of the present Dorset-squarc. It would be superfluous to say anything about the Marylehone Club, as the fact is notorious that the rules of the Marylehone Club arc the only rules recognised as authentic, throughout-the world, wherever cricket is played ; and that the very mention of the name of the Club in connexion with anything said or done in the cricketing world is sufficient to stamp it as the right thing to say or do. - Once a Week.