CRICKET

New Zealand Mail, 5 February 1902, Page 40

CRICKET

(By “The Hittlte.”)

The outstanding event of last Saturday’s play was the score of 98 made by Williams. He hit out merrily at all loose stuff and played the difficult balls confidently. He had hard luck in being caught out within sight of century street, for the chance he gave was a most difficult one. Williams has now a leg-in for the Hill-stake trophy. By making 97 and 99 in his next two innings he will be entitled to play off with the South Australian.

Manson is to be congratulated on his return to form. On Saturday he played sound aggressive cricket and showed quite a number of good strokes. Richardson and Gore both scored well for Wellington. These players made the majority of Wellington's runs, for Ashbolt (11) was the only other Wellington batsman who made double figures Connell bowled well for Wellington against Old Boys. Six wickets for 18 runs is a record that cannot be gainsaid.

Midlane blossomed as a change bowler for Phoenix. With a little perseverance he would make a good trundler. He bowls a ball that appears to make pace from the pitch and to be possessed of at least medium pace. On Saturday lie took throe wickets for 8 runs.

By to-day’s boat for Sydney about a dozen local cricketers are going across to sen tlio fourth test match played. It is said that players at a distanco form the most accurate judgment of probabilities. In this connection it may bo mentioned that the consensus of local opinion is that England will win the match to be commenced next Friday . In connection with a recent interview which a “Daily Mail” reporter had with Ranjitsinhji, it is mentioned that the Indian player is still troubled with the

throat affection for which he was openated on in Australia when out there with Stoddart’s team in 1898. In the course of the interview Ranji was asked his opinion of the proposition to play out future test matches in England. He replied : i think it is impracticable. Personally 1 am opposed to anything that lengthens the game and tends to make it slower. Making a match extend to four or five days is bound to make the game slower, and in all conscience some players are slow enough now.” Australian critics have much to say in praise of the fielding of some of the members of Mr. MacLaren's team, and especially of the work of G. L. Jessop. A writer in the “Melbourne Argus” says: “ Jessop’s dash at a ball suggests nothing else but a greyhound trying to pick up a hare. Imagine, if you can, a cricketer below the medium height, with something of the build of a wrestler, a suggestion of the rolling walk of a sailor, and you have the Gloucester captain.” The same writer, dealing with Lilley, says: “If ever a man typified ease and finish behind a wicket, he does it. There is nothing extraneous. He just keeps wicket. He seems to know by intuition that a .ball will rise or break away, and there lie puts his hands. The ball comes as if to a magnet. Above all, he has never been known to appeal except when he believed the batsman out. But it is the matchless ease that charms one. What a good judge was Blackham when on first seeing him, a youth at the game, he said, ‘That man will be the best wicket-keeper in the world.'"

The scene in Sydney after tlie posting of the final result in the third test match is thus described:—“News of the play during the concluding stage of the third test match was keenly awaited in Sydney, and the interest taken in the result was remarkable. Towards the posting of the concluding figures on the “Herald” scoring board the crowd swelled to enormous proportions, extending right along Pitt and Hunter streets, blocking the traffic. There was considerable suspense while waiting for the last three runs to be scored in order to make the anticipated victory of the Australians e. fact, and in the meantime the crowd got ready to signal the event. The posting of the final gratifying news was the signal for a scene of great enthusiasm. Ringing cheers were given, both old and young Australia catching the infection of the hour.” Asked for an opinion as to the result of the first test match, Ranjitsinhji said he was very surprised at the result. It exceeded the expectations of everybody, even those who had the fullest faith in the team. Ho continued: ‘Mr. MacLaren’s side has shown its superiority over the other side in this game in every depaitment. The only department in which 1 personally expected them to excel the Australians was in the. fielding. With the possible exception of Blythe, there is no weak spot in the team as far as fielding is concerned. “The remarkablo execution done by the bowling has astonished me beyond everything. Of course. Barnes I did not know much about. Braund I knew would be useful. Blythe I thought, however, would not be a great success. The one man I fully expected to do justice to himself and his English reputation was John Gunn, who has been a total failure; so that ray prediction as far as the bowling is concerned is quite out of the reckoning. “As to the batting? Of course I fully expected MacLaren to repeat his performance in 1897 and 189 S. The Sydney ground still seems to be his favourite. Hayward has been more or less consistent, and did very well in this match; but he will do better yet. Neither Quaife, Jessop, nor ‘ Jones has yet done anything worthy of his reputation. The same applies to Tvldesley. Jessop I fully expect to do something quite out of the common soon. “The all-round success of Brauud and Lilley is exceedingly gratifying. Both men have great hearts, and are fine tryers. Barnes’s success as a bowler is, indeed, a feather in the cap of Mr. MacLaren, inasmuch as absolutely on liis own judgment lie took that playor, who was practically untried in first-class cricket. “I am still very diffident about our team winning the rubber, for I fear three or four radical changes will be made in the next team that will oppose them at Melbourne, greatly to the advantage of the Australians. I think the additional strength in bowling that will bo added to the Australian side will militate sadly against our batsmen. Personally I was surprised at the non-inclusion of tho three successful bowlers—Giffen and Clarke, and either Travers or Saunders—in preference to two or three of the older hands.

“The batting of tlio Australians in this match has certainly been very much below par, and I am quite sure that they will do infinitely better in the matches to come."

Tlio “Sydney Morning Herald” thus comments on tho final stages of the third test match:—“The luck was fairly even all through. Three of the Englishmen were run out and two of the Australians. Almost an equal number of chances were missed, while as regards umpires’ decisions, those that were doubtful made little or no difference eventually. Take Jones’s leg-before, for examplo/ Tho appeal was dismissed. In the opinion of the batsman himself ho w r as out. However, be was shortly after run out. Quaife was given out leg-before-wicket! He said he played the ball. Blythe, the last man, was then in. Though anything might happen at cricket, they were very few who would have given 20 for tho partnership. On the Australian side there was tho Gregory incident. It was a surprise to the majority of spectators when the Sydneyite was given not out; yet we liavo the other umpire, who was, however, not in tho position to see an off stroke,’ supporting his brother official, but Hill! W'ho was at tho other end, thought Gregory was not out; and the latter, who generally walks away willingly enough, on this occasion stood his ground. It vras a remarkablo thing, and calls to mind tho apparent catch made by Garrett off Stoddart four years ago. Hill was given not out to an appeal for lbw. He, like Gregory, was out tho next ball. Then towards the finish, when tliero was time for tlio Englishmen to drag victory out of

the fire, Noble was run out. The Englishmen undoubtedly experienced a calamity when the services of their best bowler were lost to their side. There was no bowler on either side who could quicker find a spot and peg away at. It may safely be said that England would have won this match but for that serious accident. MacLaren felt the absence of Barnes very keenly.

MACLAREN’S TEAM v. NEW SOUTH

WALES

SYDNEY, January 31

There was ideal cricketing weather, with a light cool breeze, for the .match between Maclaren’s eleven and a team representing New South Wales. Tlio attendance was fair. New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat. With the exception of Poidevin all gave a sound display, and the scoring was consistent. Robson, Blythe and Barnes are standing out of the English team. This accounts for its deficiency in bowling. Up to the tea adjournment six men were tried, and changes were worked frequently. Hopkins in the first half hour gave promise of a dashing innings. Both he and C. Gregory scored freely, the half century appearing in twenty-seven minutes.

McGaliey and Jessop deposing Gunn and Braund had the effect of stemming the runs. The Essex man’s stuff seemed simple, yet it was treated with great respect, seven overs going for a couple of runs.

Hopkins had just registered forty when he sent one hard to Jones in the slips, who held it. One wicket for 73. Trumper followed. The fielding was excellent, Jessop being specially brilliant. After luncheon play was quiet. The century was recorded for ninetyfour minutes’ work.

Trumper batted brilliantly, repeatedly sending McGahey’s off deliveries to ihe boundary. Braund accordingly relieved McGaliey, and bis second ball was fatal to Trumper, who went out leg before wicket. Two wickets for 117.

Right up to the tea adjournment play was slow. Poidevin had only scored a single when C. Gregory was bowled by Braund, after batting for two hours. Three wickets for 124.

S. Gregory came in in time to see Poidevin retire before a fine ball from Gunn without increasing his total. Four for 124.

Duff followed. A change of bowling to Jessop and Hayward suited the batsmen, and runs came with greater frequency. After seventeen off Hayward, Jones relieved him, but without affecting the ability of the batsmen to score. After tea Braund and Gunn resumed bowling. The former was almost unplayable, Duff playing him with his pads chiefly. The second century was completed in two hundred minutes. Duff was playing cautiously, and Gregory, passing his total, reached fifty. The veteran was playing with much of his old brilliancy, the partnership at this stage being responsible for a hundred runs. Gregory continued to hit all round the wicket. Duff getting his fifty for a hundred minutes. Jessop then bowled him with a. good one. The partnership Put on 127 runs. Five wickets for 251.

Noble filled the vacancy, and commenced vigorously, getting into double figures in four strokes. Gregory played beautifully and with great freedom. At 283 Gunn took Jossop’s place, Noble getting eleven off his first three balls. The third century was completed in four hours and twenty minutes. Gunn being expensive, Jones was tried. Gregory received a great ovation on reaching his century in two and a half hours.

Noble notched his fifty a moment later for forty minutes’ play. Stumps were then drawn.

S\ T DNEY, February 1. There was splendid weather and an excellent wicket for the continuance of the match between MacLaren’s team and New South Wales.

S. Gregory (10G) and Noble (52), the not out men, went to the wickets, but their partnership was dissolved after eight runs had been added to the overnight score (337), through Noble’s mishitting Jessop into Lilley’s hands. Six wickets for 345.

Carter, tho next man, opened with great confidence, several fine, clean strokes playing him into double figures. He was anxious to win his spurs in international . cricket in view of his chanco of inclusion as second wicketkeeper in the next Australian team-to visit England. Both batsmen punished Jessop heavily, and ho was replaced by McGaliey. Carter tried a run off a light tap, but Quaife got a fast return to the bo.vl-'r, who threw down the wicket. Seven wickets for 391.

Clarke partnered Gregory, and commenced a lively innings. The fourth century appeared for five hours and iorty minutes’ work. Clarke hatted vigorously, and soon had 2o on tho board. Gregory closed his fine disp’ay in an unsatisfactory nay. Clarke hit cue to McGaliey, who checked, but did not hoid it. Gregory ran half-way up tho P I tc l’ i, an , d Quaife, following up, got tie hall back to the bowler, and Grefmifn rot f ed ;, Ho , P la y° d a faultless innings for three hours and forty-eight

minutes,, during which he hit Eight wickets for 417. “fteetff, After luncheon, Kermnd* , Gregory. Within a fe?S nf fol W« resumption of play 7 s °* t£ and retired. Nine 8 ? 1 h Mcßeath filled the vaoaur/ 01 ’, 43 *. trymg a risky run lost his wict 8 out any addition to the 7*7 Following are the scores sc °te. NEW SOUTH WALES.—DW T • I C. Gregory, b Braund luniß & Hopkins, c Jones, b Jessop” - « | Trumper, Lb w., b Braund . - « IPoidevin, b Gunn ... ••• 3-5 S. Gregory, run out” ••• 1 , Duff, b Jessop ... ”* ••• 147| Noble, e Lilley, b Jessop ”* 50 ' Carter, run out ... *” ••• 56 Clarke, 1.b.w., b Braund Kermode, not out ... 25 Mcßeath, run out ... “* 5 j Extras ... ••• 0 **• ••• 9 Total ... —- 1 B r; 1U r S .Gahey, none for 49; Jessop three t 1 for 17™*’ 110110 f ° r 19; Ha ™, not ! ~ Hay ™ T and Madaren commenced ,the first innings. With the task 7 ' them they opened slowly, but aft!! twenty minutes they warmed un rattled 50 on the board in as man? minutes. 1 Clarko and Mcßeath were bowline Hayward opened his shoulders to the former, and lifted him into the smokers’ reserve for 5. The fielding of the histralians was patchy; at times' ifc * Wa , I absolutely bad. y

With the score at 70, Kermode deposed Clarke, both batsmen hitting the fast bowler for frequent 4’s. The century came up in eighty-eight minutes.

Hopkins relieved Mcßeath and Noble took Kermode’s end, MacLaren having knocked a dozen off tne latter’s iyen MacLaren also scored off Hopkins, leg. glancing him repeatedly. He gave°a magnificent display of free cricket. The bowling was tied up, and lacked “ devil,” Noble getting practically no work oil. " :

At 154 Mcßeath was tried again ia place of Hopkins. MacLaren, as be brought his century in view after two hours and ten minutes, received a great ovation. Hayward continued to bat splendidly, though he scored less rapidly than his skipper. At 165 Kermode relieved Noble.

MacLaren gave a chance when his score was at 106, but Trumper misjudged the direction of the ball, and failed to run up to it. Trumper, 1 the sixth bowler tried, replaced Mcßeatb at 190.

Tho second century was reached in two hours and thirty-nine minutes. 7 Hayward was cheered on recording a chanceless century in three hours. Both batsmen proceeded to slash the j bowling about tremendously, and piled! on the next 50 very rapidly. Stumps were then drawii for the day, the English team having lost no wiokets for 255 runs. Scores:— ENGLAND.—First Inning 3. Hayward, not out ••• jjjj MacLaren, not out ••• k® Sundries 4 Total for no wickets 255 A RECORD PERFORMANCE. SYDNEY, February 2. The performance of Hayward and Maolaren in opening the Englishmens first innings constitutes a record for Australia. PREPARATIONS FOR THE AUSTRALIANS’ TOURLONDON. January 29. The Cricket Board of Control has r»’ solved that half the gross gate-® J at the test- matches during the co o visit of the Australian team shall fi lotted to the Australians. A.H m F taken at the stands and in the e sures, with the balance of the ga money less expenses, will be distn as follows:—Forty per cent, to - ground, 10 per cent, to the secon counties, and the balance equall*7 ed between Marylebone and the first-class counties. Wiltshire. Lord Hawke (captain of the Y a County Eleven), Mr G. Macgr „ the Middlesex County Eleven, who a member of Lord Sheffield s te visited Australia in 1891-2) and W. Bambndge (captain of the a shire County Cricket Club),"b appointed a Selection Commi*- 1 ■ * The English test match *M*»g mittee will have power to theif with two amateurs from an * p sen ta« early selection in choosing r J- tc ]j eS , tives for four of the five test match*

DISPUTE ABOUT AN UMPIRE S DECISIONS. ’

SYDNEY, Some surprise v-asmanifestw when it was found that U. j n plac« was umpire for the Englishmen mi of Crockett, whom MaaL SeaSV lected for the tour. —•".■A tea® some members of the Eng • . Croc been dissatisfied with se nco tb* kott’s recent decisions, change. : . f . n to Cm®* A letter has been writtc kett—ifc has been signed

.. „ New South Wales section berf rf A t StfSian Eleven engaged m matches, and will be S<> the representatives .of other Sgned * they airive here-justifying decisions to which excepti° n ba t ll )ie will be found umpir£jg in f has been manifested m Jfnch ee T^f s proposed, if not in the the affal f'.. on February 14th, then at gydhey test o - nt Crockett umpire jjfthf Australians^ A N aboriginal bowler. SYDNEY, February 2. i nhiects to the inclusion of Jlaciarea b l Qrigiaal bowler, in the Marsh, t]l® t g team, on the ground NEW ZEALAND CRICKET COUNCIL. The accordance with a Cricket-- u council, has written r£ d Vawle e suggesting that he ta bnn( r an amateur English cncSim to New Zealand, and has also k -J!n to the Agent-General asking £ “*> Xt he can to farther the' project. •

THE NORTH V. SOUTH MATCH

ir, nhtsen, of Auckland, has been apnfnted sole selector of the North Island E?to meet the South Island repreStives in Wellington at the end of There is considerable heartburning m local cricket circles over'' matters connected with the match between North and South Island representative teams initiated bv tile New Zealand Cricket Association. The latter body, while proposing that the match be played in Wellington, has appointed four Canterbury cricketers to come up to Wellington and manage the match —an arrangement which will possibly entail an expense of £ls or £2O. When the New Zealand team played a match in Wellington a few years—ago the Wellington Association was asked to manage the match. This it did, at small expense; and the opinion is now expressed by cricketers generally that tho same course might have been followed on this occasion, instead of entering into arrangements likely to set the association "galloping to a deficit.” At the meeting of the committee of the Wellington Cricket Association to-night a motion is .to be brought forward that ■the association refuse to commit itself to make good any deficit that may occur in connection with the match. There is also a more ominous whisper in the air that the question of rescinding the agreement of the association to participate in the match will be brought up for discussion. SATURDAY’S SENIOR GAMES. , The second matches of the second round of the Wellington Association’s Senior Championship were commenced on Saturday afternoon at the Basin ReKrve. There was a fair attendance of the public. The most interesting play nas sJioivn in the match between Phoenix and Midland, in which the latter team scored runs at a much quicker rata than Wellington did against Old °U bowling on No. 1 pitch. Midland ran up 100 runs against the superior owhng of Phoenix while Wellington • as compiling seventy, and in an in™gs lasting about half an hour longer n , 'Wellington’s, scored 277 as against ■ . or team’s 156. There is a moral in, l ab needs application. Six of •on. a mnd team notched double-figure tbr n eS 'i hit out merrily all *‘ ls l°ng innings, and ran up a low i°* then hit a hot chance y°, ®enbow, who effected a liamc ca, teh- Manson emulated Wilhe ira! exai and notched 69 before hiJ L^ Ugh L out by Carswell. Hutch-pj.Q-.p i ,1° attractively. Midlane a chan ( r!, IS i? rer i atlbty by c °ming out as overs fn b °?,er. He sent down four rricketc * rUns and secured three Phoenix bie <dose of the day’s plav one SiS mmT 1 41 o for tbe los * 22 " ot ° nt ““ i» thl’Sr ' m,t fi to the wickets ard S on ltT' nst 01d Boys - Ricl,the commo„„ being nearly run out at biggest seor r me V b ’ again P ut on the played nnnf f °i. ,us side 170). C. Gore " as Still sha^ 1Cl!;e<; • r bIS Slde > and 11111 out, Tf 111 cely when lie was three of ti, A nrTr 1^*1 mentioning that 11111 out—a toor lngton batsmen were Afftimony t° the Old Boys’ ?h»s(14) S" g ;, 01) end tsur » Worere tl w only other double * on took six f c i lngton - SanderB °ys batted wea kK tS a f °T’ 44 raM ’ 01cl lost eight a l ld as a result had Btu mp s Wer i® bets 49 runs when, 0f theso fed ra A Vn f ?t r the day - Six' *> n . 8 > bis avem„nT 10 v at a cost of 18 jnaiilens, 18 r ° adl ng—18 overs, 9 }°°k one for R pli 6 wlckots - Ashbolt °' nn S are the T e for 18 - Eol- ‘ ed SCOMS: - WPttti, v - OLD BOYS B>4§J^N--W U &»». run S’ ® an dorson 70 . ure > run out •” ••• 3 ... 49

Ashbolt, o McGowan, b Sanderson 11 Crombie, b Sanderson o Girdlestone, run out ... 4 Weybourne, b Staples 3 Taylor, not out ... 0 Izard, b Sanderson 1 Connell, b Sanderson ... ... 1 Hales x , b Sanderson ... ... ... 0 Byes 12, leg-bye 1, wide 1 ... 14 Total 156 Bowling Analysis.—Staples, 17 overs, 4 maidens, 44 runs, 1 wicket; Sanderson, 18.1 overs, 5 maidens, 44 runs, 6 wicket, 1 wide; Ralph, 9 overs, 1 maiden, 29 runs; McGowan, 7 overs, 2 maidens, 17 runs; Gilmer, 2 overs, 8 runs. OLD BOYS.—First Innings. Staples, o Hickson, b Hales ... 1 Jacobs, b Connell ... ... ... 7 Wilson, c Crombie, b Ashbolt ... 11 Sanderson, b Connell 5 J-. P. Blacklock, b Connell 0 Ivirkcaldie, b Connell ... ... 14 Gilmer, c Taylor, b Connell ... 0 Beechey, b Connell 3 Ralph, not out ... ... ... 3 Byes 5

Total for eight wickets ... 49 MIDLAND v. PHOENIX. MIDLAND.—First Innings. Hickson, run out ... ... ... 6 Williams, c Benbow, b Hickey ... 98 Tucker, c Saunders, b Waters ... 16 Holdswortli, b Greenfield ... 4 Qnee, b Greenfield ... ... ... 18 Alan son, c Carswell, b Midlane ... 69 Robertson, b Waters ... ... 23 Upham, b Midlane ... ... 3 Hutchings, run out ... ... 30 Stephenson, c Blacklock, b Midlane 2 Reid, not out ... ... ... 0 Byes 6, leg-byes 2 ... ... 8 Total ... 277 Bowling Analysis. —Hickey, 19 overs, 2 maidens, 91 runs, 1 wicket; Benbow, 12 overs, 1 maiden, 32 runs; Greenfield, 14 overs, 63 runs, 2 wickets; Waters, 11 overs, 54 runs, 2 wickets; Harris, 5 overs, 21 runs; Midlane, 4.4 overs, 1 maiden, 8 runs, 3 wickets. PHOENIX.—First Innings. Blacklock, notout ... ... ... 18 Waters, b Upham ... ... ... 0 Midlaue, "not out ... ... 22 Leg-bye 1 ... ... ... 1 Total for one wicket ... ... 41 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Old Boys v. Midland. Midland batted first, and made 73 (Moss 24, Churchill 22, Davis 11). Prouse (seven wickets for 16) and .Douglas (two for 35) shared the wickets for Old Boys, who made 89 (Cook 20, Salmon 20 not out). Johnson and Moss bowled best for Midlands, who, in their second innings, have lost four wickets for 28 runs. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Midland v. Karori.—Midland, 363 for eight wickets (J. Smith 113, Mitchell 54, Godber 44, Williams 37, R. Davis 30, Mills 20 not out, Bock 17, Atkinson 16 not out). The match between Midland B and Newtown A was commenced on No. 2 wicket, Athletic Park. The former, hatting four short, were dismissed for 59 (Luke 26, Arnold 18 not out). F. Plimmer bowled best for Newtown, who had scored 231 for nine wickets when stumps were drawn for the day. F. Plimmer made 72, G. Plimmer 41 not out, Frank Alpe 36 (including a hit for 9, all run out), Vickery 28, Robertson 18, Weitie 14 and Hawthorne 12. Arnold bowled best for the Midlanders. In the third-class match Phoenix v. Wellington, the former team in their first innings (batting foin& short) made 30 (McGuiimess 13) and in their second innings (hatting three short) made 20 (Condliffe 7). The Wellington team made 122 (Hanify 72, Woon 14, O’Donnell 11), thus winning Jby an innings and 72 runs. For Phoenix Moran took four wickets for 46 and Johnson two for 27. For Wellington, Hanify, in the first innings, took five wickets for 12, while in the second innings Masters took four wickets for 5 and Pearce two for 7.

Jolinsonville v. Newtown B.—Scores— Johnsonvilld, 86 (W. Moore 14, Luxford 12 not out, Carroll 10, J. Moore 11) and 54 for six wickets (London 15, Blackie 10, Whitehouse 12, W. Moore 11). Newtown B, 49. J. Moore (seven for 16) and Carroll (two for 13) bowled well for Jolinsonville, as did Stewart and Murphy for Newtown. 'HUTT VALLEY r ASSOCIATION. Waiwetu v. St. Augustine.—This match, concluded at the Lower Hutt on Saturday, resulted.in a win for Waiwetu by an innings and 95 runs. Scores: —Waiwetu, 188 (McMenamen 79, Brown 27, McGuirk 15, W. Pringle 15 not out, A. Pringle 11; St. Augustine, 48 (L. Isherwood 18, Moon 14, Bernsten 10) and 45 (Bernsten 27 not out, Moon 13). A. Pringle bowled well for Waiwetu, whilst Cooper got most wickets for St. Augustine..

Saturday’s matches concluded the first round of the Hutt Valley Association senior competition, leaving Petone and United leading with four wins and no losses, Waiwetu running up

with three wins and one loss. The secO i round will be commenced next Saturday. Valley players are now looking forward to the match against the Wellington junior representatives, and, being fairly strong this year, are feeling confident that they will hold their own.

CHRISTCHURCH CRICKET. CHRISTCHURCH, February 2. In the senior cricket match yesterOQ? United v. Midland, United made 2a 1 for eight wickets (Sims 124 not out, Wigley 42. Ollivier 35). The scores in the match Lancaster Park v. Sydenham were:—Sydenham, 95; Lancaster Park, six wickets for 187 (Orchard 59, A. Wilding 51).

By next Saturday’s boat young Fred Midlane, who in the opinion of competent judge's is absolutely the oest batsman in New Zealand at the present time, leaves Wellington to try his luck in New South Wales. Midlane is yet Rarely in his nineteenth year, so with 'the advantage of playing against cricketers of a higher calibre—such as those of the Mother Colony—he should develop into a batsman of high rank in the future. Midlane carries with nim the good wishes of followers of cricket in Wellington.