LORD HAWKE'S TEAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12192, 11 February 1903, Page 6

LORD HAWKE'S TEAM.

AN UNPLEASANT INCIDENT. ,' [by telegbafh.—press association.] Chbistcrtrch, Tuesday. Both papers this morning editorially attack the English team for ungentlemanly conduct in the field yesterday. The Press suggests that an apology is due to the local men. So far, however, no move has been made by the visitors, and Warner's team has gone out of town. The incident is creating great excitement and intense indignation here. Later. . With reference to the unpleasant episode in the cricket match on Monday afternoon, Mr. A. E. G. Rhodes (president of the Canterbury Cricket Association) has received the following letter from Mr. P. F. -Warner: ...•....-.■ " Referring to the incident which has been so fully commented on in the papers this morning, I need not, I am sure, say how much I regret that anything of this kind should have occurred to mar the enjoyment of the best-contested match we have yet had in New Zealand, and therefore I hope I 'may be allowed to make a few remarks on ■what actually occurred. In the first place, we did not dispute the umpire's decision, but some delay took place before we could get the umpires to give any decision, which ultimately was . that neither of them had actually. seen what occurred, and I at once ordered the game to proceed. My remark referred to in the papers was made some minutes after the decision had been given, and was addressed to one of the members of our Own side, and I very much regret to find that it was overheard, and still more that it should have been repeated. The statement that succeeding batsmen were subjected to a running fire of tauuts and criticism is absolutely without foundation. I have this morning seen some of them, and they assure mo that nothing of the kind took place. I hope thi3 letter will prove satisfactory to your association, and I can only add that we all regret that anything of the kind should have happened." Mr. Rhodes states that he has seen the other two members of the English team against ; whom complaints were made, and they have expressed their regret that they ' made any remarks in the heat of the moment ,to which objection could be taken by batsmen. Mr. Rhodes hopes that this apology will close the incident, and that no further reference will be made to it.