AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 19

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

(Rbutbr's Telegrams.) Sydney, August 18kh. It is stated that a cablegram was received to-day from Murdoch, one of the Australian Cricketeraj who says thai arrangements for an All-England match are not yet concluded, but a reply iB expeoted in a few days.

Mr J. Oonway on Monday received a letter from James Lillywhite, who is agent in England for the Australian team, and has been umpiring for them throughout their tour. The following is an extract from the letter, which is dated July Ist : — " Now for the Australian team. They are a very good lot, but in my opinion not as good as the team you brought here. They have played Eighteens where youra played Twenty -twos, and they have not met such men as yours did. They have not played a match in which their bowling has been collared, the wipkets always having been wet, and Spofforfch is | very awkward then, as you know. Palmer makes the ball do a lot, but he is as yet very short in the pitch. Boyle has bowled very well at times. Though the team have not yet been licked they have not yet played against anything strong. They beat Yorkshire without TJlyett, but the victory was won thanks to Yorkshire's bad missing of catches. They have not yet met a gentlemen's team, and there is no doubt that that Sydney affair was a bad thing for cricket iv both England and Australia ; though in my opinion the affair was made too much of."