CRICKET CRITICISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3004, 16 December 1896, Page 4

CRICKET CRITICISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—ln reading reports lately on Saturday senior cricket matches in the Evening Post, one cannot help feeling that some of the remarks are hardly fair, especially referring to the Rival team. There is no doubt that something is wrong with this club this season, but it is to be hoped they have not in any way displeased the mighty Post, or they are doomed. Surely their representative was on the ground on Saturday ? Still, the report gives Ashbolt as being out- before C. Gore, when exactly the opposite took place. As regards the Wellington Club’s score, the Rivals had a certain amount of bad luck. 0. Gore was missed behind the Wickets. Ashbplt should have been given out l.b.w, on two occasions. On the first appeal, when hitting to leg, he got in front of the middle and off stumps ; later on, an appeal woa made to the same umpire against O. Gore, and, although the bowling was round the wicket, he was given out. Holdship also should have been caught behind the ; wicket. The finish of the previous gaihe with the Midlands was a farce altogether. The Association’s arrangement of playing matches out at night had to bo complied with, and -when ready to start on the Tuesday evening no umpires were to be found for some time; the pitch was a disgrace to any cricketing body, a slight rain was falling, and the light was too bad to play slow bowling, -much more deliveries like Holdsworth’s and Hpham’s. Still, the game goes on, and the Rivals are expected' to make over 300 runs. On the second night the light was good, but the wicket was even worse, the bowling was bumped down at the fastest speed (which some bowlers on a rough wicket delight in), and all’jvas over. Referring to the latter part of the report, your ■ contemporary would perhaps like to see the senior matches confined to the Wellington and Mid'and Clubs, which would be very interesting. It would.be far better to try and encourage a club when weak than to put in a report such as appears in Monday night’s issue, which must make every cricketer it refers to feel disgusted.— I am, &e., Pair Peat. Wellington, IRth December.