CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 43

CRICKET.

NOTES BY SLIP.

" Ned " Gregory, whe recently died at Sydney, where he was the curator of the finely appointed cricket ground at Moore Park, took part in 14 intercolonials against Victoria, beginning in 1863 and finishing in 1878. During that period he batted 25 times, twice not out, made 409 runs, and averaged 17.78, his best score being 65 not out in 1875 on the Albert ground. It was m that match that E. Evans made his sensational first appearance in intercolonial cricket. The baiting of Ned Gregory for the Combined Fifteen of New South Wales and Victoria against the 1878 Australian Eleven on the Melbourne ground is often spoken of, and is now a feat of historic prominence. In the second innings he made 41 out of 97, and the finish of the match was a tie, Evans bowling Kendall when the scores were equal. Ned Gregory was a brother of D. Gregory, captain of the first Australian Eleven, and father of "Sid" Gregory, of the team that is now in England.

A correspondent has contributed the following to the Sydney Mail: — "They were mostly cricketers, and as usual the subject was cricket. A few tall yarns had been, told, when one, who had hitherto observed the closest silence, who had apparently swallowed everything, remarked that once he had a rather novel experience. ' What was that?' And they gathered round. He replied, ' I flatter myself I know something about the fine points of the game.' One of the company said that he so far was not prepared to admit as much as that, but suggested that he might get along with his story. ' I was playing in a particularly exciting match ; we wanted 5 rum f to win, and the last two men were at the wickets, and I was one of them. You know, I was never much good at getting runs, b,ut I won tbe match this time for our side.'

" How did you do it?' ' Well, it was^this way. I played a ball into the opening of my shirt. I had one of those loose-fitting silk shirts on — you know, like Ranjj wears — and nobody for the moment could tell what had become of it.' 'Become of what — the shirt?' 'No, no, the ball, but I of course knew. Before, however, they could arrive at its whereabouts I had started off in double-quick time- for the pavilion. They couldn't make out what was the matter. I went on, but when I had got beyond the boundary I took the ball out of my shirt and dropped it on the ground, then I picked it tip and called them all in. As, however, they made no attempt to leave the ground. I returned with the ball in my hand.

"How's that for handling the ball?" shouted they. "Not out," says the umpire. "The ball was dead when handled." " How's that for a hit out) of the ground?" says I. " Right," says the umpire. " Five to you," and he drew the stumps. That's how we won by one wicket.' ' Would you mind telling us if you were chosen for your bowling,' said one of the bystanders when he had recovered his composure. ' Oh, no, I could never bowl.' 'Well, if you couldn't get any runs, what did they pick you for?' ' You see, I have a rather good voice, and they selected me for my singing.' 'Did they? I think they ought to take your imagination, to put it mildly, into consideration, for you can score at that.' "