CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 3

CRICKET.

OTAGO BEATS CANTERBURY. By Telegraph. — Pres* Association, ; Dunedin, February 17. The Cantcrbnry-Otago cricket match was concluded to-day. Tho rain which fell yesterday afternoon and evening was generally regarded as all in favour of Otago, and an easy win was prophesied, which led to the attendance being small. The wicket, though alow, did not appear to have been much affected. Undoubtedly it would favour Downes’ bowling and probably assisted Hope, but FishcFabowlingwaastated by tho visitors to bo easy. The ground scorned to bo in surprising order under the circumstances. Under their misfortunes tho Canterbury men played up gallantly, and strained every nerve to avert defeat. Throe wickets down for 4 runs, and Downes’ record three wickets for no runs was enough, to clamp their spirits somewhat, and when tho fourth wicket foil at 13 defeat appeared certain, as tho score was still 38 short of tho local men’s. DoMaus and Ridley considerably improved tho aspect of affairs, and subsequently Fowko kept hia end up while DoMaus got runs. The lattor’a 52 was invaluable, but ho gave two chances. The innings closed for 114, leaving Otago 72 to get to win. These were got with the loss of Four wickets, Otago thus winning by six wickets. Tho following are the scores:— Canterbury. First Innings 145 Second Innings. R. D. Harman, b Downes ... ... ••• 0 T. Reese, b Downes... 8 , T. Malone, b Downes 0 L. A. Cuff, c Fisher, b Downes ... ... 0 A. K. Ridley, c Spraggon, b Downes ... 19 H. Do Maus, c Spraggon, b Fisher ... 52 F.’Wilding, c and b Hope 4 C. R. Clarke, b Downes ... ... ... 9 J. H. Fowke, c Haydon, b Baker 13 D. Reese, 1.b.w., b Baker .. 0 J. McFarlane, not out 0 ( Extras 9 Total H 4 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Balls. Mdus. Runs. Wkts. Downes ... 162 9 46 6 Fisher 132 12 22 1 Hope 66 3 21 1 Parker ... 66 0 5 0 Baker ... 28 1 11 2 Otago. First Innings 183 Second Innings. Johnston, b Malone ... ... ... ••• 8 Baker, o Wilding, b Clark 18 Boddington, c Wilding, b Malone 7 Spraggon, c Ridley, b Malone 3 Fisher, not out ... 2 Clark, not out 24 Extras .« 10 Total for 4 wickets 72 BOWLING ANALYSIS. Balls. Mdna. Rung. Wkta. Cuff ... 66 2 14 0 Malone ... 60 8 27 3 R. Clarke ... 30 1 10 1 De Maus ... 6 0 4 0 THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN FOR ENGLAND. OPINIONS OP AN EXPERT. Mr J. J. Calvert, Clerk of the Now South Wales.Legislative? Assembly, hasvisited Wellington on .a holiday. Mr Calvert, who was vice-president of the New South Wales Cricket Association, has been interviewed by ono of our representatives, who asked him bis opinion of tho Australian Eleven. Mr Calvert did not express an opinion as to the merits of tho team as a team, but as the men individually ho thought that Turner ought to bo a member the team instead of Jones, and that Jarvis or Kelly should replace Johns as wicketkeeper, whoso hands he thought would not last tho tour. Harry, as second wicketkeeper, should be replaced ■by Clem Hill, who, Mr Calvert said, is a far superior batsman. The team, Mr Calvert continued, had been picked too early—before the intercolonial matches were finished. Thirteen men were not enough—ls ought to b® • sent, thus enabling the beat man to rest when the very important matches wore coming on. It was a groat mistake to play a match tho same week as a tost match was to be played. As to the selection of the team, Mr Calvert thought it a great mistake that it should have been picked by a selection committee of so small a number. The different associations should combine, select and send tho team away, and thou there would bo 15 men sent. The teams sent hitherto were chosen too much from a monetary point of view. The more men sent the less money to divide. If tho Associations bad the management, the members would receive a certain amount for the tour, and the_ surplus would be divided among tho Associations. Tho younger Trott and Clem Hill, he added, ought to have been in tho team. The excuse made was that they were ** off ” this season ; but, Mr Calvert remarked, next season, if they were playing in England, they would probably be the two best men in the team. Mr Calvert, who has been president of tho Football Union since its inception, hoped that South Australia and Victoria would take up tho Rugby game, and in a few years Australia and New Zealand could send a combined team to England that would require a lot of boating. As to New South Woles sending a team Home, ho did not think that would occur, os it was useless for her to -do so. Mr Calvert ia greatly impressed with New Zealand and its climate, and thinks that tho Empire City has greatly progressed since his last visit here some > oars ago. A committee consisting of Mr C. A. Knapp, the secretary and treasurer of the Cricket Association has boon appointed to revise the rules of the Association. The following third-class fixtures have been drawn for the 22nd and 29th instant: —Karori v. Excelsior, at Karori; Kilbirnio v. Wesley, at Kilbirnie; College v. Midland, at College Ground ; Wellington v. Johnsonvillo, at Johnsonvillo; and Potone v. Thorndon, at Petone.