CRICKET

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 53

CRICKET

(By "The Hittite.")

The just concluded game between Lord Hawke's eleven and the Wellington representative team will undoubtedly ha\e a good effect on local cricket. In the matter of fielding improvement there was an immediate fruit, for never before had a Wellington team given so clean and effective an exhibition of ground-work as that which characterised the field work of V ellington m the second innings of Lord. Hawke- s team. In this writer's opinion the chief lesson the Englishmen have taught local cricketers is the advantage of celerity in fielding. As to batting, they have set a lesson to be learned by local cricketers, which is onlv a subsidiary one after all. Put in a nutshell this lesson is to play the good balls and bash the loose ones. This does not mean though that the Englishmen play a stonewalling game. Far from it. They play freely when “set," but- they take few risks. This point needs to be grasped by local players, for there is a vast difference between careful batting and indiscriminatmg stonewalls.

The bowling of the visitors taught Wellington nothing, for as a matter of fact there was little or no difference in the bowling merits of the two teams- ffhe Englishmen are undoubtedly weak in this department for a travelling team, and though they may not be defeated in New Zealand the odds on their not winning a match against New South Wales or Victoria will be Sydney city to Moore Park "tip."

This augury is simply based on honest opinion formed by actual observation, and it is wi'itten in no unkindly spirit. The visitors have done an immense amount of good to New Zealand cricket (which is much further below Australian standards than the form of our visitors is), and this writer joins with the great bulk of colonists in thanking Dr Warner and his men for the benefits they have conferred on cricket in this colony in both an educational sense and a financial one. This last point evokes a thought that recalls the title of a once famous novel, "What Will He Do With It ?’’ A similar query now presents itself to the Wellington Cricket Association, which as a result of the match concluded last Saturday springs from the position of a suppliant body to its banker into that of a concern freed from an overdraft that for years has clung like Sinbad’s "old man of the sea,” and endowed in place thereof with a credit balance of some hundreds of pounds. There have already been a lot of suggestions made, but "The Hittite” confidently puts forward his double-barrelled lot for consideration. These are, that one-half of the sum be s-et apart, irrevocably, as a sinking fund to be spent in the fulness of years and interest in pur-, chasing a private cricket ground; and, secondly, that the other half of the surplus be devoted to obtaining the services of a professional "coach” for next season, who would be available for one night in the week to the senior clubs. There is now ample cricket enthusiasm in Wellington to ensure a sufficient sum being guaranteed by the passive and active followers of the game to augment the Association’s vote of one-half the profits to a sufficient amount to defray all expenses that would be entailed by such an experiment.

The second suggestidh. is the most important one, but the necessity for a private ground is so imperative for quite a number of reasons that . need not be r.ow specified that this writer ‘would be inclined to deprecate any suggestion that the whole of the funds should be hypothecated for any separate purpose. "Mid-on,’’ of "The Leader,’’ has lately been discoursing in his column on the question ''How to Improve Cricket.’’ Some rather revolutionary suggestions that he makes are as follow:—“In considering this comprehensive subject of cricket reform two distinct sections of the game—representative and club cricket—have to be dealt with separately in regard to detail for manifest reasons. The question of unreasonable protraction, however, applies to both and equally to each. Cricket readers of the "Age" and "The Leader’’ do not require to be reminded that I have for many years strongly advocated the abolition of the second innings in all matches. In still demanding the downfall, of forty wickets in order to arrive at finality cricket legislation is surely behind the times.

Cricket, even if all matches were restricted to one innings for each side, would still be the most protracted athletic sport in the world, and under the existing conditions the protraction is absolutely unreasonable and indefensible. As I have frequently pointed out. the conditions which now prevail could not possibly have been anticipated when two innings for each side were originally provided for, notwithstanding which the fossilised order of things remains unchanged. As to the element of luck, it can never be eliminated from the game; indeed, sudden and unexpected changes in the chances of the respective side supply one of the principal and most interesting features. In this respect the side losing the tess would probabiy.be no less favourably situated in having to play the second innings against the first than when having-, as at present, to bat second and” fourth against first and third. Furthermore, the abolition of the secondinnings would do away with the follow-:, on, which sometimes actually gives an unmerited advantage to the side whose first attempt has been the least successful. In running, rowing, billiards, swimming, boxing, and kindred athletic exercises matches are decided by one contest. In cricket alone when one side. has won or lost, as the case may be on the first innings, the whole performance has to drag its weary course all over again for finality to be arrived at. Surely at the world's present rate of progression, such an observance can be little, if a.t ail, short of ridiculous. No wonder our up-to-date and go-ahead American cousins refuse to give up baseball for cricket, while the latter is played under rules which, while suitable enough fifty or a hundred years ago, are totally inadequate to present day requirements. .Tust think of it! An inter-State or international cricket match frequently monopolises more time than is taken up by the running of 23 important races at a Melbourne Cup meeting!" LORD HAWKE’S TEAM. THE MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON, ENGLISHMEN WIN BY TEN WICKETS. The cricket match between Lord Hawke’s eleven and a representative team of Wellington players was com* menced on Friday afternoon on the Basin Reserve. There was a record attendance for a Wellington cricket match, between four and five thousand people being present. Williams was elected captain of the Wellington team, and when he won the toss be elected to send his team to the wickets. There was superb weather for the event, a mild stun and a gentle breeze being predominating features. The pitch proper was in excellent order, and tne outfield was far less conspicuous with brown patches than is usually the case at midsummer. In front of the grandstand and thence along the fence to the southwest corner the turf was on the “slow" .side, but on the opposite side of the ground, and in the vicinity or the practice pitches, it was really fast. The principal feature of the game was the excellent fielding of the Englishmen. It was conspicuous not only for its cleanliness, but also for an agility of movement that enabled the fieldsmen to cover a lot of ground, and bring to nothing quite a number of strokes that against ordinary fielding would have produced twos and even fours. There were, however, occasional weak points in the display of ground fielding, and in addition a few chances were missed — all of them difficult ones. The bowling was varied by the English captain, but it was for a time collared by Hickson and Tucker, who rattled on over a hundred runs between them while their partnership continued. Hickson went in first,., and came out seventh. His performance was an exceptionally good one, for he broke the sting of the bowling.l His total was made without a blemish. Tucker’s strokes were hard, clean and clever, but he had a couple of “lives”, before he was got rid of for 86. The Wellington team’s scor<e of 232 for nine wickets surprised the great majority of people, but all joined in felicitation on the performance, which practically insures a full three days play, with a possibly exciting finish. The total made cv Wellington is the more meritorious because of the excellent English the men being placed to wonderful advantage. At times there was only one fieldsman placed on the on-side, but very few runs were got in this quarter. THE PLAY, Play was started by Richardson and C. Hickson, the former taking strike to Hargreave, whose first hall was sent to square leg for a couple. The third hall came back fast from the on and disturbed the stumps. 2-^-I—2. C. Gore played the rest of the over safely, the last ball bping a beauty- Hickson got Thompson away for a couple with a telling drive to the out field. In the slips Taylor was doing’ smart fielding, covering a lot of ground. With nine runs up Hickson was nearly throw n out by Burnup. Gore began to play the bowling with some degree of confidence, but the Englishmen’s fielding made a number of his good strokes unproductive. After twenty minutes’ play the score stood at twelve runs, made in ten overs. At this stage Bosanquet replaced Hargreave. Bosanquet is a bowler possessed of a tricky wiliness, slow and curly leg-breaks predominating. Gore got into double figures by a neat and clever cj.it for three. The rate of scor-

ing improved a bit, the second ten runs being made in as many minutes. Both batsmen now played with confidence, but eventually Gore lifted a close-pitched ball from Bosanquet to Burnup at deep square-leg. 22—2—11. Williams followed, but he succumbed to Hargreave’s first ball, w hich he hit to Johnston, that player making an excellent catch. 22 3—o. Mahony began his innings with, a splendid cut for a quartette off Hargreave. He was badly beaten by Hargreave just afterwards, but the wicket remained intact. Mahony cut another four, from Bosanquet this time. Thirty up for three wickets. A brace of doubles to Mahony made that player thirteen, the highest individual score to the period. Fifty minutes’ play had now ensued, and the score was 37, all made from the bat. Hickson’s total was a dozen, carefully compiled. Burnup replaced Bosanquet, and Thompson replaced Hargreave. The latter’s second delivery was sent away for four by Mhhony, but the remainder of the over, was unproductive of runs. Hickson, notched a., four by. means of a lucky snick. The visitors’ fielding was still marked by excellence, and every run of the 47 which Wellington had scored at the end of an hour’s play had been hardearned. Burnup. at this stage of the game sent down a ball that; Mahony seemed to play on to his wicket. 47—4 —l7. Mahony had made his runs by confident play, and he was given a good reception on retiring. Hickson’s stolid defence was very welcome to Wellington supporters, all of whom recognised that only such play w r as desirable in the state of the game. Holdsworth, who had succeeded Mahony, sent Thompson in successive strokes for a double and a trio. W'hen he had amassed nine he was. clean-bowled by Thompson. 58—• 5—9. Tucker began his innings by cutting Burnup for four. . About five minutes subsequently he again got four with a splendid square cut, and then, with an off-drive for two, he gained double figures. Thompson was still keeping; his pace up, brat his average was only fair —one wicket for 30 runs. A quick, warm chance by Tucker to Leatham in. the slips was dropped. Seventy-five r»uns had been totalled after an hour and a half’s plav, and half the wickets were down. A double bowling change was effected, Burnup giving way to Hargreave, and Dawson bowling vice Thompson. The game became so slow that an exasperated spectator yelled “Play up. The Englishmen’s fielding prohibited this, Leatham being especially conspicuous. On the third ball of Dowson’s fourth over Tucker was missed by both. Whatman (wicketkeeper) and Leatham. (slip), two runs resulting, and immediately afterwards Hickson hit a four, and the exasperated spectator was appeased. Bosanquet succeeded Hargreave, and the batsmen at this stage electrified the spectators by stealing a run! Tucker, next ran out to Dow,son, and drove him high over the ropes for a sixer. The next ball Tucker sent for a quartette to the ropes, and then with a single he brought the century up, after an hour and fifty minutes’ play. Hickson, with a four, made the total off this over of Dowson’s 11. Hickson had now to an extent got. the eye. of the fowling, and he livened up his play considerably. Dawson gave way to Burnup, the English captain being evidently a believer in the theory that frequent changes of bowlers puzzle the batsmen. Tucker was walking out to the slow bowlers, and bursting up their breaks with a ~ heavy bat. Thompson, went on in Bosanquet’s stead so as to vary t-he bowling, the score now being 113. The partnership of Hickson and Tucker had doubled the Wellington total, the partnership being a little under an hour’s duration at this time. The runs came in big hits, but at long intervals, and occasionally an English fieldsman allowed the ball to trickle through his feet. The fielding as a whole, however, continued good. Hickson’s score was now 46, while Tucker’s was 42, and the total was 142. Four fine strokes by Tucker were made nugatory by splendid fielding, Hargreave took Thompson’s place, but runs still came, and Thompson went on vice Burnup. Dowson replaced Hargreave at the northern end. The runs icame steadily, and after two-and-a-half hours* play 153 runs were up, Hickson and Tucker having 56 runs each. The first bye of the match was recorded at this juncture, the ball richochetting off the pads of the wicket-keeper, who \ad been doing excellent work. The runs came slowly and surely, no risks being taken. Tucker still piled on the fours, and the English captain rang the changes with his trundlers, Dowson, Hargreave, Thompson and Co. alternating by spasms of overs. The batsmen had achieved the art of placing the ball, and some of Hickson’s singles and. doubles were brilliant. After three hours’ play there were 180 runs recorded, and the surprise couple were still on strike, with the Mount Pisgah of centurydom getting within view 'o<f Tucker. Off one over by Bosanquet Tucker hit 10 runs and ! Hickson a single, but in the following over from Bosanquet Tucker was snapped up by Whatman behind the wickets, when his score stood at 86. His score included one 6 and eleven 4’s. 192 —-6—86. The partnership had lasted for two hours, and had added 134 to the total. Waters filled the vacant crease, and soon 200 hoisted on the board, an event-

which was heartily applauded by the crowd. Waters snicked two successive braces through no intention of liis own, after which he saw Hickson dismissed in the same manner as Tucker was—caught behind the wickets by Whatman, off Burnup’s bowling. The retiring batsman had played a n exceptionally meritorious’innings, and he was heartily cheered by the crowd on retiring. 208—7—73. TJpham filled the vacancy, hut -at the first ball be was disposed of in similar manner to Hickson. 208—8 —0. Stexrhenson played the first ball, and so prevented a performance of the “ hat trick,” but ho was clean bowled with the next ball. 208—9 —0, Hales was the last man. He sent Thompson twice for two in as many deliveries. Waters hit a 3, and then Hales knocked one for 4. after which 220 appeared. Waters knocked another fourer, all these runs (12) being off one over of Bosanquet’s—the most expensive of the day. Waters continued to get runs by big hits, and when wickets were drawn for the day the pair remained unseparated. Whatman gave an excellent exhibit ion behind the wickets. The stand between Waters and Hales came as a surprise to a great m*ny, but it is quite on the cards that a few more runs may be added this morning. The whole Wellington innings was full of surprises, for the first five wickets fell for only 58 runs. The record of the runs per wicket is of peculiar interest, the figures being these—One for 2, two for 22, three for 22, four for 47, five for six for 192, seven for 208, eight for 208, nine for 208, and then 232 without a fall of the last wicket. SECOND DAY’S PLAY. When play in the game between Lord Hawke’s Eleven and the Wellington representative team was resumed on Friday morning the weather was dull and rain threatened to fall. When the Wellington team had completed its innings rain was falling in drizzling showers, and as there was less than an hour’s play to go before the luncheon adjournment, the game was postponed until 2 p.m. At this hour the sky had cleared, and no more rain fell until about an hour before stumps were drawn, when a slight . drizzle prevailed, causing more inconvenience to the' field than it did to the batsmen. Before the Englishmen took strike the wicket Avas rolled,and it proved to be firm and bard, as it AA'as on the first day, the Avind that bleAv between shoAA'ers having kept the rain from penetrating the turf. The outfield, however, was not quite so fast as it appeared to be Avhen the Wellington team batted, and hits that oil Friday brought only twos and threes w r ould probably have i gone to the boundary on the preceding day. The lesson in smart fielding that the Englishmen gave has already had a good effect on the local men, for there Avas in evidence on Friday a disposition on the part of the Wellington fieldsmen . to cover the ground at a speed that never previously characterised . them. In other respects, though, the local fieldsmen fell short, for tAVO wonderfully easy chances Avere dropped, and there AA'as observable, also, a failure to meet travelling balls balf-Avay. On two occasions, also, runs were scored from overthrows that were occasioned by failure to “back-up.” It is true that chances AA’ere dropped by the Englishmen on the preceding day, but in each instance they Avere hard ones. There is, however, reason to compliment the Wellington men on the great improvement shown in their fielding when vieAVed as a Avhole. The ground fielding was excellent, some very clever catches Avere made, and the ball Avas almost ahvaysreturned to the AA’icket truly and fast. At the end of tAVO days’ play the reflection is forced that Wellington has belied both detractors andf enthusiasts. _ The batsmen, provided a surprise by knocking together a highly satisfactory total, and the bowlers did nothing sensational, though they maintained fair records. There Avere some in-and-out performances shown by the Wellington trundlers, Upham, Tucker, Hales and Stephenson all openiag Avitli “badlength stuff,” and eA’entually improving greatly after short spells. Upham and Tucker bowled with very fine effect near the end of the day’s play, Tucker’s tricky ones being particularly elusive. Stephenson AA’as persevered AA'ith too long, and in the end ho bad only one Avicket to set against a debit of 90 runs. HoldsAVorth proved very useful as a change trundler, and for many overs Hales’s boAvling had to be treated with great caution. He had a lot of pace on, but his deliveries did not hang nearly so loav on Friday as they usually do.

Williams kept Avickets most creditably, and the piece of play by Avhich he stumped Burnup was very smart. Subsequently he missed a chance to stump another batsman —but it fi Avas a hard one, and even the great Blackham missed chances at times.

The batting of the .English learn AA’as sound and effective, but it Avas not a revelation by any means. Strong loav hits for the main part in front of the Avicket characterise most of the players in tho team, and they shoAV also l a Arise disposition to tarry for tho loose ones that ever come to those Avho- wait." The principle is a sound one, and there are players in Wellington who could copy

this AA r ith great advantage to themselves.

On Friday’s form, Burnup is easily the best batsman in the team. He has quito a number of telling strokes, and the judgment be slioavs in the matter of running singles is admirable. Often yesterday he Avould start for a single off Warner’s batting almost before the ball Avas struck, he seeming to know intuitively AA'lien it Avould be safe to move. Fane playecl an innings that Avas reminiscent of Claude Hickson’s for Wellington. Fane’s total AA'as 70, hut he took about three-quarters of an hour before ho set about making them in Out of bis first fourteen scoring strokes thirteen Avere singles, but after, that be hit successively 2,4, 2,2, 1,4, 3,2. His innings, as a Avhofo, AA'as good until he neared 50. He AA'as their tAA'ice let off by the fieldsmen. At one period Fane, AA'ith Taylor, enlivened tho play a lot, and 35 runs AA'cre added to tho score in tAA'enty minutes. Taylor showed aggressive play during all liis innings, mainly by foiuvard strokes of great strength. Bosanquet gave tho impression that lie AA'as a good batsman, but he got out for 12 through an unexpected straight one from Tucker tapping his knee. Thompson quite justified his reputation as a batsman-bowler. He knocked together 40 (not out) in fine style, but bo should, neA r erthcless, have been cut off in tlio roundness of bis duck through a chance be ga\’e to be stumped. Leatham, ay ho is by reason of age the Mentor of the team, displayed a mercurial anxiety that amused the spectators, and kept the fieldsmen very liA r cly. Leatham plaj’s the stroke between legs that AA’as greatly faA’oured by several English batsmen of ten or fifteen years ago. As a “ sneaker ” cf runs he is facile princeps. Whatman, AA'ho is reputed to be a A r cry fair batsman. ga\ r e no taste of his quality on Friday, for he AA’as clean bowled by Upham for a cypher, after bo had batted four deliveries. Johnson did some useful AA’ork AA'ith Thompson, by taking the score past that of Wellington, but from his own bat he scored 4 only—singles got by ordinary-looking strokes. The Englishmen did not alloAA’ many balls to get jiast their bats. At one stage of the game iVe successive overs AA r ere sent down AA'ithout the ball passing the AA'ickets. There AA'as unmistakable determination apparent in the play of the .visitors, and it must be very satisfactory to Wellingtonians to* see that the local eleA r en is of sufficient calibre to extend a team possessed of the undoubted batting skill and fair bowling proficiency of the visitors. Apropos of tho relative merits of the innings played on Thursday by Tucker and Hickson, it is of interest to mention that, in the opinion of the Englishmen, Tucker’s innings A\'as an exceptionally meritorious one. While admitting that Hickson’s innings AA'as very serviceable and admirable, they object to the statement that no chances were gi\ r en by him. .As a matter of fact, Hickson, gave an easy chance Avhen he had only made 17. The visitors have no AA'ish to detract from the merits of Hickson’s performance, but in justice to Tucker they point the fact out, recognising that chances gVen behind the AA 7 ickets are seldom to he seen from the pavilion. The stand for the last wicket of Wellington’s first innings Avas continued in the morning until the total Avas taken from 232 to 243, Hales keeping the ball down and Waters playing with cool judgment. The end came by Hales raising one to Thompson, off Hargreave, Waters carrying his bat out for 17. Of the 11 added to the total on "Friday, seven came from byes. The total added for the last wicket AA’as 35. THIRD DAY’S PLAY. - The final phases of the match between Lord Hawke’s Eleven ana the Wellington, representative team AA’ere not so exciting as the initial stages of the game AA’ere. The stand made by the Wellington batsmen in their second innings AA’as not of sufficient duration to allow of tho Englishmen being given a task sufficient to thoroughly extend them. The first innings of the Englishmen AA'as concluded in the first twenty minutes of play on Saturday morning, the last t\A'o AA'ickets adding 26 runs to the total, thus giving the visitors a first-innings lead of 46 over Wellington’s score of 243. The Wellington team began its second innings cautiously, Hickson taking first strike. Burnup and HargreaA’e Avere tho opening pair of boAvlers, but in the early stages of the game the English skipper tried frequent changes. After a while, though, it AA’as apparent that the trundling of the tAA’o professionals (Thompson and Hargreave) could not be bettered, and they AA’ere'allowed to continue for twenty-four and twentyfive overs respectively. Thompson, AA’ho was hit for 56 runs in the first innings (AA'ith only one wicket as the result), in the second got the fine average of seven wickets for 51 runs. Six out of the seven batsmen dismissed by Thompson AA'ere -clean bowled. Hargreave met with little success, but he sent doAA'n some deliveries which greatly puzzled the batsmen and often beat both striker and Avickets. Bosanquet’s “googely ones” were relished by the batsmen, and in one over

he AA’as banged for 11. He AA'as then retired to the field, Avhere he did some excellent run-saving.- Burnup, also, bad no success AA’ith tho ball, but the brilliancy of bis fielding in the slips, allied to his success as a boAA'ler on the previous day and tho t aa p o splendid innings ho played, stamp him as tho best all-round man in the team. Thompson comes a good second. Tho innings played by Maliony (40 not out) AA’as considered by many to be posith’ely tho best performance on the Wellington side. This opinion, it is interesting to note, AA'as shared by some members of the English team. Maliony batted AA'ith absolute confidence, and had anyone been able to stay AA'ith him ho aa’on 1 cl probably haA'e totted op a Very substantial score. In tho early stages of tho innings, though, he had somo narrow escapes of being run out. In tho outfield he fielded AA'ith conspicuous cleanliness and celerity, and, reasonably speaking, it may bo . said that he lias probably played himself into a place in tho team that will represent New Zealand against the A’isitors. Richardson and Hickson each batted stolidly and carefully for their contributions of 19 and 20 respectively, aa'liUo Gore got his 23 by dashing play. Tucker, AA'lio AA'as got rid or for eight, got his few runs by Avell-placed strokes between the fieldsmen. The ball AA’hich took liis AA’icket was a beauty irom Hargreave that broke a yard from leg, curled round the bat, and just trimmed the bails. All the remaining batsmen meant AA'el], but did poorly, the best feature of the debacle being the last AA'icket stand between Hales and Mahony, which added fifteen runs to the score. Hales hit hard and fortunately for 9, thus making his aggregate score for the match 24—excellent figures for a boAvler whose club average is recorded by doc ; - -mals. ®At run-stealing Hales and Mabony aroused the spectators to exuberant amusement. At a quarter past 3 p.m. the Wellington innings Avas over for 140 — and thus tho visitors required only 95 runs to achievo a Avia and had two hours and three-quarters in which to do it. Burnup and Warner began the task at 3.35, and for a long AA’hile they treated the boAA’ling of HoldsAvorth and Upham -AA’ith respect, but at last they got “set,” and then the leather was kept moving merrily. Upham, Holdsworth, Stephenson, Tucker, Hales and Richardson all tried to dislodge the batsmen without avail, though AA'lien "4o runs nad been got together Burnup ga\'e a rather difficult chance off Stephenson to Hales, AA’hich tho latter player failed to hold. Both Burnup and Warner made strokes right out of the field, and at trie end of an hour’s play Burnup made rue AA’inning hit by driving a hall from Bienardson right from the northern AA’ieker to the outer fence of tho reserve near St Mark’s Church. The batsmen AA’ere accorded an ovation by the ci'OAA'd, AA’hich throughout the day’s play had been in a stato of tension that had prohibited outAvard enthusiasm. 1 The performance of Burnup and Warner in knocking together the 95 runs required AA’as a sterling performance, but there is this to be said: there Avas ample time at the disposal of the batsmen in AA’hich to “get their eye in” before they began to hit out. They took frail advantage of this fact. In the first quarter of an hour only eleven runs AA’ere made, and at the end of twenty minutes the total Avas only 15 runs. Thereafter, though, the rate of rungetting livened, and after half-an-hour’s play the average AA’as a run per minute. Just u shade over an hour Avas taken up in making the full number of runs icqjuired to gain a victory; so it AA’ill be seen that during the last half-hour’s play there Avere sixty-six runs piled on. The point of this paragraph is that although the required runs Avere made in fast time, the probabilities are that, had only an hour or an hour and a quarter been at the disposal of tho Englishmen, there would have been a fcAv wickets scattered through the necessity that AA’ould have arisen to force the pac.o from the start. There remains, nevertheless, the need to acknowledge that Burnup and Warner together did tu excellent performance, and it is satisfactory to be able to add that the onlookers acknowledged the feat by applauding most heartily. Taylor, who is reputed to be the best amateur “keep” in the AA'orld, took the wickets for the Englishmen on Saturday. If his reputation be well-founded, be must haA’e been having an off-day on Saturday, for there Avas no special merit in his performance beyond keeping doAvn the extras. & The Englishmen, on the conclusion of the match, gave an exhibition of high hitting for half-an-hour or so. Quite a number of “sixers” Avere obtained, and five AA'ickets fell by the way. The Englishmen are of opinion that Wellington is by far the best team that has met them so far in NeAv Zealand. It was satisfactory to see that the visitors all throughout the match Avere straining every neiwe to achieve ■ victory. They had formed a good opinion of the local eleven’s capabilities, and they admitted the fact. It must be conceded by exervone that the local men liaA’e done very well, notwithstanding the wilted hopes caused by their comparatively poor second innings essay. They Avere meeting on even terms an admittedly strong team, and they (Wellington) put up a score in the first in-

nings that may not be equalled in any eleven-a-side match to be played against the Englishmen in this colony. " The educational effects of the Englishmen’s A’isit is already to bo seen in the ground, fielding of the local men, Avhich on Saturday approached‘perfection. The tricks and artifices of hatting and hoAA'ling Avill no doubt be more laboriously, but just as surely, acquired. The match on Saturday AA'as attended by aa’oil over 5000 people, and it is estimated that quite 12,000 attended on the throe days of the match. The result will he an accession of some hundreds of pounds to the finances of the Wellington Cricket Association, Avhich can now make efforts for the improvement of the game that- were formerly prohibited by lack of funds. The visiting team were well satisfied AA’ith the AA'icket pro Added, though on the third day it developed a tricky spot near the southern AA'icket. The or.it fie Id of the reserve they naturally found fault Avitli. because or ins bumpiness and general unevenness. Some of the team are inclined to select the Napier pitch as being the best one“ln the North Island, though all agree that the ground there is altogether too small. As to who is the best batsman they haA'e met so far. opinions are divided in faA’our of Maliony, Marshall and Tucker. They look on Hickson as a careful and painstaking player, and Gore they consider to be the most stylish of Wellington batsmen. FolloAving arc the full scores in tho game:— WELLING TON.—First Innings. C. Hickson, 21112112141111114111 4112214243211111114313, c Whatman, b Burnup ... ... 73 Richardson, 2, b Hargreave .:. 2 C. Gore, 221231, e Burnup, b Bosanquet ... ... ... ••• II Williams, c Johnson, b Hargreave 0 Maliony, 414224, b Burnup ... 17 HoldsAvorth, 234 b Thompson ••• 9 Tucker, 4412411116411114141211142 23412142111442, c Whatman, b Bosanquet ... ... ... 86 Waters, 2234411, nob out ... ... 17 Upham, c Whatman, b Bosanquet 0 Stephenson, b Bosanquet ... ... 0 Hales, 2241312, c Thompson, b ITargreavo ... ••• 16 B3 r es 13142, no balls 11 ... 13 Total ... ... ••• 243 Bowling Analysis.—Burnup, 19 overs, 4 maidens, 45 runs, 2 AA'ickets ; DoAVsen, 11 overs, 1 maiden, 39 runs, 2 no-balls; Bosanquet, 14 overs, 1 maiden, 61 runs, 4 Avickets; Hargreave, 22£- overs, 9 maidens, 29 runs, 3 AA’ickets; 'Thompson, 29 OA'ers, 13 maidens, 56 runs, 1 AA’icket. THE ENGLISHMEN.—First Innings. Warner, 1311244, b Stephenson ... 16 Burnup, 211411211441121131141241 1411134111141, st Williams, b HoldsAvorth ... .... ••• 69 Fane, 11121111111111242221443211 11121111212111112312. b Upliam ... ... ... ••• Taylor, 222314414413112, c Richardson, b Hales ... ••• 35 Dews on, 1112, c Mahony, b Hales... 5 Bosanquet, 11145, lbw, b Tucker ... 12 Thompson, 233211244111114413] 12122, not out ... ... ••• 48 Johnson, 1111, c and b Upham ... 4 Whatman, b Upham ... ... 0 Leatham, 1111112212, b Tucker... 13 Hargreave, 21212, b Upham ... 8 Byes, 214, leg-byes 2 9 Total ... -.. ••• ••• BoAA’ling Analysis.—Upham, 23.4 overs, 3 maidens, 57 runs, 4 wickets; Stephenson, 27 overs, 4 maidens, 90 runs, 1 Avicket; Hales, 23 overs, 4 maidens, 62 runs, 2 wickets; Tucker, 14 overs. 52 runs, 2 AA’ickets : HoldsAvorth, 7 overs, 2 maidens, 19 runs, 1 wicket. WELLINGTON. —Second Innings. Hickson, 44111414, b Thompson ... 20 Richardson, 224211421, IbAV, b Boigsgi..' sanquet ... ... ... 19 "(T; Gore, 34111211131211, b Thompson ... ••• ••• ••• 23 Mahony, 221123411141214411121, not out ... ••• .*• ••• 40 Tucker, 11321, b Hargreave * ... 8 Williams, 2, b Thompson 2 Waters, 43, b Thompson ... ... 7 HoldsAvorth, 42, c Taylor, b Thompson ... •••, ... 6 Upham, 4, b Thompson ... 4 Stevenson, b Thompson 0 Hales, 21141, run out ... ... 9 Bye 1, leg-bye 1 ••• ••• 2 Total ... ... ••• 140 First innings 243 Grand total ... ••• ... 383 BoAA’ling Analysis. Thompson, 24 overs, 7 maidens, 51 runs, 7 wickets; Burnup, 5J overs, 2 maidens, 17 runs ; Bosanquet, 4 overs, 24 runs, 1 Hargreave, 25 overs, 11 maidens, 4‘3 runs, 1 AA’icket. THE ENGLISHMEN. —Second Innings. Burnup, 1412111124146443316, not out ... ••• ••• ••• 60 Warner, 21341112441321214141, not out ••• ••• ••• ••• 43 Leg-byes 31 4 Total for nS wickets ... ... 97 First innings 289 Grand total. ... ... ... 386 BoAA’ling Analysis.—Upham, 10 overs, 1 maiden, 27 runs; HoldsAvorth, 3 overs, 1 maiden, 10 runs; Stephenson, 5 overs, 1 maiden, 19 runs; Tucker, 3 overs, 8 runs; Hales, 3 overs, 18 runs; Richards on, 1£ overs. 11 runs;

THE HAWKE’S BAY MATCH. NAPIER, January 13. The match between Lord Hawke’s English team and fifteen of Hawke’s Bay was finished this morning, the local -team in their second innings scoring 157. The Englishmen thus win by an innings and 198 runs. Additional scores:— Macassey, b Thompson ... 35 Hughes, c Bosanquet, b Thompson 4 Gibson, b Burn up ... ... ... 5 Orr, not out ... ... ... 9 Torkilsen, c and b Burnup ... 0 Extras ... ... ... ... 16 Total ... ... ... ••• 157 Special to the "Times.” NAPIER, January 13. Forty minutes’ play this morning saw the end of the match with the Englishmen. The remaining four wickets added 45 runs. Although Hawke’s Bay suffered such a severe defeat, they have the credit of recording the highest oneinnings score (157) put up against the visitors so far. in the colony, the nearest approach to it being that of South Taranaki (146). The game to-day was played under most disagreeable conditions. The wicket was enveloped with clouds of dust brought up by a strong north-westerly, and at times the ball was only discerned with difficulty by the players. Macassey topped the Hawke’s Bay score in the second innings with a total of 35, which included some good strokes. The notable feature of the innings was the stand made by the tail of the team. The best men were dismissed for a trifling score, and it remained for those regarded as doubtful players to bring the score up to something like a respectable total. Here came in the wisdom of playing fifteen men, for the visitors are a long way too superior for any provincial eleven in this colony. In view of the form shown by them, it ’s vain for any eleven, barring a representative New Zealand team, to expect to put the Englishmen on their mettle. The visitors are very strong in batting, Warner, Burnup, Bosanquet, Dowson and Taylor being perhaps the most dangerous in this respect. Hargreaves, the Warwickshire professional, is their most successful bowler, and is well supported by the other professional, Thompson. It will be interesting, however, to see what they will be able to do against the skilled batsmen they are likely to. meet in Australia. Burnup and Bosanquet are serviceable change bowlers, but the latter will provo very expensive with players wlio know how to use the bat properly. Tlio real strength of the Englishmen has not yet been seen, for they have -not met anything like a decent team. Their fielding is brilliant, and every man watches the ball so closely that nothing is missed. In this department especially will the New Zealand cricketers derive a useful lesson. There is every probability that Trott will accompany the Englishmen to Australia, where they will want additional bowling talent, which at present is not too strong. Trott’s engagement with the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association expires in March, and as the Englishmen do not leave the colony until then, his visit to New South Wales and Victoria would not interfere with his ebiigations to Middlesex, with which county he resumes his duties in May. The Englishmen leave for Wellington by express in the morning. PROGRAMME FOR THE TOTJR. CHRISTCHURCH, January 17. Following is the re-arranged programme of Lord Hawke’s team :—February 9th, 10tli, 11th, Canterbury match, at Christchurch; leave 11 a.m. Thursday (12th) for Dunedin; 13th, 14tli 16th, match against Otago; 17th. leave for Invercargill; 18tli and 19th, match against Southland ; 20th, leave for Dunedin ; 21st. 23rd. 24tli match. against South Island at Dunedin: 25th, leave for Timaru; 26th 27th, match against South Canterbury; leave same evening for Christchurch ; 28th Febru-, ary and March 2nd and 3rd, match against Ncav Zealand, at Christ church ; leave for Wellington after match ; March 4th, sth, 6th, match against New Zealand, at Wellington. The team will leave Wellington for Sydney on the evening of Friday 6th March, arrive in Sydney on the 11th, and in Melbourne on the 12th. On the 13th 14th. 16th and 17th a match win be played against Victoria; and the final match of the tour—against New' South Wales —will be played in Sydney on the 20tb, 21st and 23rd. On Monday the 23rd March, the team will leave Sydney by the Miowera for Vancouver, via Brisbane, on their way to England. NEW SOUTH WALES v. SOUTH. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, January 13. In the inter-State cricket match between South Australia and New South Wales, the latter won by ten w'ickets and 3 runs. New South Wales scored 545 in their first innings and South Australia 412. The latter’s second innings closed for 134 —Reedman 42, Hack 41. Hopkins took three ivickets for 9, Howell five for 40 and Mcßeth two for 54. Requiring two runs to win, Howell and Kelly opened the second innings for

New South Wales, but before either had scored, four extras Avere secured. LIGHTS OF OTHER DAYS. A gentleman residing in Wellington has shown us the scoring card for a big match he saw played at the Surrey cricket ground, Kensington Oval, forty years ago. It is interesting in that it contains the names of men aylio Avere literally giants of cricket in those days. The match AA'as tho County of Surrey against All England. The county Avas apparently considered strong enough to meet All England, but it Ayas badly beaten on this occasion. The county team Avas made up of three amateurs and eight professionals, one of the amateurs being Mr E. Dowson, father of tho amateur of that name AA’ho is now here AA'ith tho English ele\ r en. The professionals, Avere Mortlock, H. H. Stevenson, Lockyer, Julius Caesar, Cafiyn, Griffiths, SeAvell and Humphrey, ad Avell known to old cricketers. Lockyer Avas a fine av icket-keeper, and there are very feAV batsmen aa lio have been better than Mortlock was Avlien at his best. Tlie All England eleven contained >nlv two amateurs —the Hon C. G. Lyttelton and V. E. Walker, both in the front rank at the time. The professionals Avere Grundy, Willsher, Daft, Carpenter, T. Hayward, Anderson, Iddison, Jackson and Biddulph. One need only mention the names of Daft, Carpenter and HayAA'ard to recall three of the greatest batsmen, and the others Avere all distinguished players—Grundy, Willsher, Jackson and Iddison as boAvlers, Anderson as one of the liar dost hitters, and Biddulph one of the best AA'icbct-keepers” of the day. What seems noAV to be a curious feature in the match is that the neAvspapers of the day spoke very highly of the excellent long-stop-ping of Mortlock for Surrey and HayAvard for England. It Avas at this marcii that the now-famous 110-balling incident occurred. John LillyMiite was the umpire and Willsher the bowler. Io appeared as if the game would be stopped, but eventually a fresh umpire (Street) Avas pub on, and the game was allowed to proceed. It may also lie noted that the score (503) made by England in this match ay as the record scoro of the time.

Tho match between Lord HaAA’ke’s Eleven and a Wellington representative team is interestingly discoursed on in the cricket column conducted by “The Hittite.” Some original vlcavs are expressed as to the capacity and characteristics of the visiting team, and tAvo excellent suggestions are made to the Wellington Pricket Association as to hoAA r it may profitably expend the Avindfall of several Hundreds of pounds that accrued from the match in reference.