CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 22

CRICKET.

NOTES BY SLIP.

The editor of Lilly white's Annual has a good word to say for most of the Australians who visited England, and referring to J. Blackham, he remarks :— " Just as Murdoch is, perhaps, the best batsman, and Spofforth probably the best bowler, so, in the opinion of very many competent judges, i 6 Blackhamthe best wicket-keeper in the world. He stands unrivalled in the art of stumping. Not one the famous wicket-keepers, past or present, took the ball so quickly or so close to the bails, and the great achievements of Lockyer, Pooley, Pinder, and Pilling are not equal to the deedrf of the famous Victorian cri keter, who, during his three seasons in England, has honestly earned an undying reputation. His batting is still extremely useful, and he is nearly always good for runs at a critical moment."

A few weeks back Lloyd, playing at Hagley .Park, Canterbury, hit up 49 runs in three overe of six bulls each, 20 being made in one

over. This was fast scoring with a vengeance. But in India on a recent date this performance was beaten. Private Davis, of the 51st Regiment, stationed at Mooradabad, putting 50 together in eight hits— -oue 8, one 7, five sixers, and a 5. In Williamstown v. South Melbourne the latter made 248 for four wickets — J. Slight (82), J. Rosse (39), G. E. Palmer (not out, 86), VV. H. Cooper (25), all well-known men, distinguishing themselves. In Kew v. Melbourne the M.C.C. score reached 198. Dunne (20), Goldsmith (not out, 50), Dickson (76), and Logan (20) were top scorer*

The St. Kilda team is likely to suffer a oneinnings defeat at the hands of their Richmond friends. Their score amounted to only 16, being a succession of threes and singles, while the Richmond with Stokes (26), Fitzgerald (14), Smait (43), and Loughnan (15) totalled 109 in their fii ft attempt. Thornton's biggest hit is said to be 132 yards. Bonnor, while uraefcisiug on the Melbourne ground, hit a ball 150 yards. Mr Fred. Williams, manager of the Otago Ceptial team which recently visited Dunedin, writing to an up-country paper, says :—": — " The team did not claim to be a representative one of the whole of the Otago Gold fields, but by confining the selection to a certain radius it leaves other districts to form a similar combination. Probably you may ask, why was Cromwell not invited to asbibt with men and money ? Well, partially from the reast.n expresssed above, and partly because Cromwell has been conspicuous by her absence from the cricket field this season, even refusing to play a friendly match with the nearest club."

From what transpired in Dunedin I think we may confidently look forward to a visit of an eleven from Dunedin to the various Goldfields next seassion.

" One of Them " continues his article on the tour of the above team: — "On Monday," he says, " we met a team, Dunedin Combined, which included Charlie Frith, the premier bowler of New Zealand, and three or four other old Interprovincial men and Hayward, the ex-Sussex professional ; but owing to the good bowling of Ellis and M'Hutcheson, and splendid fielding all round, we disposed ot them for 50 runs, following ourselves with 65 — a lead of 15 on the first innings. After the fall of the Combined's fourth wicket in their next essay, the captain, Glen, walked to the wickets and audibly told Frith and Greenwood to knock down their wickets, and cries from players at the Pavillion of "get out" became frequent, and as a stand had been made, Williams, with commendable judgment, put on various changes of bowling with the object of playing out time, rather than exhaust the men he would require in future tnatchus. On the fall of Greenwood's wicket the most unpleasant episode of our whole visit occurred. Hayward, who from Jus long experience of cricket should certainly have known better, deliberately knocked down his wicket. W. J. Moore, an Interprovincial man, followed, and bounced out of his ground to get stumped. The next man, M'Crorie, repeated Hayward's performance, but without result, as M'Donald purposely bowled a noball, and thus defeated his object. Williams then went over and told Glen, their captain, plainly that if such a disgraceful exhibition was not stopped he would instruct his men to bowl "no-balls" until "time "was called. This had the desired effect, and the remainder of the innings was fairly played out. Frith was warmly applauded by us both for his wellearned 67 and manly conduct in refusing to play an unfair game. We had two wickets down for 19 when time was called, thus winning our first match."

The writer is again a little out in some of his calculations, but I heartily endorse every word he says in reference to the tactics of ' the Dunedin captain and some of his men.

In the match with the Southern the writer says F. Home (53) was lot off six times. The letter concludes as follows: — "There is do doubt in my mind that could the men we fi it expected to do so have got away, every club we met would have had to give us the palm, and possibly Carisbrook, too, would have had their work cut out to beat us. The batting average of our various opponents over all the matches was 7 9-10, our own 7 1-4, despite the big second innings of Dunedin, and that of Southern. I may stare that the total expenses of the trip is under £70."

Mathiashas the best average, 25-6,M'Donald, Gibson, and Williams following. Gibson, Mathias and Ellis headed the bowlers' list. Another writer finishes up his letter thus :— " The weather on Saturday precluded all idea of play, and the Cavibbrook match was accordingly abandoned, and without regret, that club having treated us with but scant courtesy. Considering their visitors had undertaken a journey of some 150 miles, rough travelling, solely in the interests of up-country cricket) and at no small expense and sacrifice to themselves, some little attention was due from the premier club of Dunedin. Granting our team was weak, that surely did not prevent them showing the usual courtesies of truo cricketers and —we are compelled to add — gentlemen. Our bowlers fared but badly at the hauds of the Dunedin Press. ' Very weak bowling' tmmined up their daily criticism. Now, M'Donald on Monday bowled 140 balls for 30 runs and 6 wickets, whilst Frith, agaiust half the batting score, only secured four wickets for 27 runs in 120 balls. On Monday, 13 of Excelsio made 116 and 117 against Carisbrook. On Wednesday we dismiss their eleven for 85 and 60 ! Except the the Southerners, who had the fielding entirely to thank for their score, the bowling was never collared, and if it was so desperately weak why in thunder wasn't it ? It now only remains to be added that Messrs Jenkins and Haskell umpired and scored throughout the tour to everyone's satisfaction. Indeed, to those gentlemen, and to Mr Shelter/, who so kindly arranged all our matches, we are under obligations which shall not readily be forgotten, and we here tender them our sincere thanks for the trouble taken on behalf of the Goldneldb' Team of 1883."

During the recent holiday season a team representing a club whose members generally claim to be folks of gentlemanly instinct and conduct, proceeded up country to play a match. Amongst a hundred attentions shown to the visitors was an invitation to a dinner, which I am informed would have been an unqualified success but for the conduct of one of the visitoro, whose uncultured idea of what fun is was exemplified by his hurling a tomato at one of his entertainers, whilst the latter was making a speech, the missile striking the speaker in the face. Imagine what a nice sort of follow that must be for a team of respectable men to havo to recognise (at any rate for the time) as " ono of us."-" Mid On " in the Leader.

From the late files which are just to hand I learn that the match East Melbourne v. Carlton was won by the latter by SO runs. Horan was absent from the ranks of the Melbourne Eleven, J. Blackham (34), P. Deeloy (not out 32), H. Groube (who played in fine style for 2G, run out) were tho highest scorers for the victorious team.

The South Melbourne v. Williamstown match was concluded on Saturday, tho 7th. F, Major, the last man, was bowled by Thompson for 0, tho imriDgs closing for the fine scoro

of 450, Palmer being not out for 204, made by first-class cricket. His score included 4 fivers and 16 fourers. There being twenty minutes' time before drawing the stumps the Williamstown went in, and when time was called three of their best men had been disposed of, and only 12 appeared on the board. Great interest was taken in the match, 3000 being present. South Melbourne Score. J Slk'ht, c Grubb, b O.imerjn .. ..82 H*» Freeman, b Juckci . . . . . 1 J Kwer, o Tnompson, b M'Alliater . . 39 G E Palmer, not otit 204 WII C mptr, <• Thompson, b Grubb .. 25 A G Major, b M Allistor 31 J Minchiu. b M'Alliater 12 M Mi-chin, bJuek. s 3 E D Htather, b Juckea 30 W H pkinaon, bJuekes 3 F Major, b Thompson 0 Sundries 20 Total 460