FIJIAN CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13523, 22 August 1907, Page 5

FIJIAN CRICKETERS.

TO VISIT AUSTRALIA.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright

Sydnet, August 21. ARitwGKMKNTS are being made for a team of Fiji native cricketers to visit Australia. They will play matches in the principal cities.

Cricket is the£great game in Fiji. . In that "' paradise of peace and plenty," where the actual necessaries of life—enough, anyhow, to satisfy the average Fijian obtainable with the smallest amount of labour, there is ample leisure for indulgence in the pastime. So the natives play cricket every day, and. as much practice makes perfect, are skilful with the bat and ball. In the field they.are as agile as monkeys; they are vigorous, plucky batsmen, and swift, but not tricky, bowlers. They wear no protection for" their bare legs or semi-nude bodies while in the field. There are' a. number of European clubs in Fiji. The Suva Club, having the largest- selection of players, has naturarry the most powerful eleven, wnich included several of. the native chiefs. Some years ago a +3am. composed of six Europeans and an equal number of Fijians, made a tour of New -Zealand, and put up a pretty good record. The fuzzy-headed Fijians, especially if they appear "Vaka-Viti"— Viti" —-in the Fijian stylo of attire— prove a big " draw" in tlv> Australian cities.