NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 55

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Un the illustrates pages of .this week's Otago Witness will bef ound a capital reproduction of a photograph taken of the English cricketers on Adelaide Oval on November 5. For the picture we acknowledge the Sydney Mail. x Mr D. Thomson, the energetic secretary of the Otago Cricket Association, left for the south on Saturday on a well-earned holiday. Mr Thomson expects to be back in town in a fortnight. The annual match between Canterbury . and Otago was fixed to take place this eeason at Ohristcbnrch on December 26 (Boxing Day), 27, aa'cl 28. The Canterbury Association originally suggested these dates to the Otago Association, and the latter notified the northeners that they would &uit admirably, and that it would send a representa- " tive team north to fulfil the fixture on the above dates. This arrangement was come to ■ a considerable time ago, and things went smoothly until last week the local association received word that our Canterbury friends had decided to alter the dates, and suggested to us that the match should taka place towards the end of January. The lecter was brought before the Otago Association at its meeting last week, and that body decided that it could not fall in with tho alteration, and the secretary (Mr D. Thon> son) was instructed to reply asking the Canterbury Association to adhere to the dates originally fixed.

It does seem extraordinary that, after dates had been mutually agreed upon bjboth associations, the one which originally suggested them should coolly send notice that it had decided to alter them withoui consulting the other association at all as to whether it was agreeable to the alteration or not. I do not think for one moment, that the Canterbury Association meant in any way to slight the Otago Association, or act in the high-handed manner which its decision in altering the dates seems to savour of. It is more the want of thought than anything eke, and I feel quite sure thai. Canterbury, when the matter is pointed out in its true light, will readily admit that Otago should have been consulted, and that if this province were not agreeable to an. alteration, then the fixture shojald take place on the original dates." I -believe that it isusual for the team which is visiting to select the dates, aud this is as it should be,' because, generally speaking, any" dates canbe made to suit the home team, while the visiting team has to choose a time which will suit the players who aro selected to make the trip. Such a rime is (he Christmas holidays, when I suppose anyone selected would be able to go ; but if this match is left over till the end of January, probably some of our men could not get, or, if able to go, at great inconvenience to themssh es and their employers. Consequently, we would not be able to send a thoroughly representative team, and I am sure our Canterbury friends wish to meet the strongest team we can possibly send.

But leaving out of consideration this question altogether, it certainly is not right that the home team should notify the visiring team that it has- altered the date to suit itself, independent of whether such alteration will suit the visitors or not. Canterbury will see the reasonableness of the stand taken by Otago, and will doubtless agree to have the match played on the dates oiigivially agreed upon. If something unforeseen had happened after the dates had been fixed, and Canterbury had notified Otago of this, and requested our association to agree upon an alteration, no doubt it would have done its best to oblige our neighbours ; but the notification of alteration, coming as it did, left no alternative for the local association but to adopt the course that it has. Cricketers in botb provinces look forward with a great deal of interest to this fixture, and I am safe in saying that Otagc attaches more importance to tt than meeting any of the cth^r province 5 :, because/ i$ has come tc be re%aided as a time-honoured historic event, and we do not want any misunderstanding between u> mi si eh i matter as the date on which it is to be played. [Since the above paragraphs weie in type the Canterbury Cricket Association have held a meeting and decided tc adhere to the oiiginal dates — namely, December 26, 27, and 28. The match will take pface at Hagley Park, Lancastei Park being unavailable. — Loxfi Slip.]

A Yankee, in. visiting our =bore-> Tj uum*

ber of years back, was asked, on returning to his native country, what sort of climate New Zealand had. His reply was, "No climate; all samples." This tersely described •what we were subjected to last Saturday. In the morning we had some fairly heavy rain, but towards noon it cleared up, and gave promise of a fine r.fternoon. The sun phone -out brightly about the time cricket matches were commencing, and the atmosphere was nice and warm, but up to about 6 o'clock we had two or three light, warm Showers. . After that, till the games finished, \t turned decidedly cold and wintry"; but in £-he evening again, it was warm and clos?. Bo that, altogether, we had a fair supply jof samples for one day. I i The Dunedin v. Carisbrook match, on the Caledonian Ground, drew a fairly large number of spectators. More were present than ! is usually fotind at a cricket match on a i afternoon, and one could notice ! tmongrt the spectators a number of visitors : trom the country— men who no doubt. were down tp see the agricultural show, and axe with the cricket clubs in their reBpective districts, 'and who wished to make H comparison between cricket as played in Ahe town and- country. To such it must tiave been an eye-opener to see the lovely Wreen, closely-cut sward and billiard table aspect of the Caledonian Ground, with a arioely-sheltered grand stand to witness the rtkree matches from, as compared with the (very often Email enclosure, rough out-field-ing, and long grass which obtain in a number of the country grounds. Not that I, for l>ne moment, am disposed to find fault with our country friends for the state of their grounds. I simply mention things as they, exist to show that there is a wide difference between cricket as played in the country and in. -the town. We cannot expect the same perfection in -this respect in rural districts, as the players have not the same "facilities as we 'have in town, and they have no Jregular Saturday afternoon matches to excite a healthy rivalry between them. I think it is 'greatly to their credit that they, as a rule, get along t<* well as they do, seeing the handicaps that they have to submit to. While on this subject, I may say that I will always be pleased to give pubbcity Jto short reports of any matches which take place in the country. I know that keen interest is taken in these contests iby a number of persons, and if some one will supply me with the results and short ;eommenfs on anything interesting, I will see that they obtain a place in my notes. I should also like to say that now the Christmas holidays are approaching, and (numbers of our players from the town will 'be glad of aS trip to the country, and vice , .versa, I will ]m glad to notify in this column any teams which wish engagements, and (thereby iiclo to arrange matches between Kome couniiy clubs and town ones. H secre•taries ■ frots cither town or country will notify me of t^rir requirements in this matliter I will pubiis'li them, with the hope that ; a mutual interchange of matches between (town and country players may take place. •

Re Dunedin-Cajasbrook match. Dunedin |3)ct£ed first, and opened with Latham and ■Sk-oss. with Fisher and Monk bowling. Cross picas soon dismissed with a 'leg-before dcci- . eion. bufe Latham remained at the wickets lfor three-quarters of an hour for seven runs. tEkis scoring is too slow, and to see a player jetaad at the wickets for over after over jfwithoufe, scoring a run does not help to snake the game bright and attractive from a 'spectator's , point of vie-w, however valuable. at may be' to his side. Latham ; plays in" a 'lather attractive style, with a very straight feat, and makes some pretty strokes, but he deep not seem to have the knack of placing tte ball, and was seldom able to get the ball (past the fieldsmen. Dunedin Club players ere not noted for being first-class judges of a run, but in this respect Latham takes the cake. He must have lost at least a dozen runs through slowness and bad judgment, and he badly wants a livening up in this matter. , I

R. Wilkie played with his usual dashing Btyle, and was not long in running ut> his t2l runs. He is the class -of player who wakes cricket interesting to tiie spectator. JSuch another is "Jock" M'Kenzie. Everyone is on the gui vive when he apj'ears at the Wickets, expecting on Hie delivery of each mil to see something sensational happening. Me made some hard " taps " on Saturday, and soon knocked up his 13, but was unfortunate to be caught by Siedeberg from a bard drive. Tliese 'two players — R. Wilkie jHid M'Kenzie — just- made half the runs, and the innings closed for 68.

None of tl»e other 'batsmen did anything .tfhieh calls for special mention. The bowling of Fisher and Monk seemed to be too much for them. On -what was really a 'batsman's wicket, 63 is a miserable score, and Vines not .reflect a very great deal of credit on ihe run-getting:' ability of the Dunedin "Club batsmen. To watch them at practice, hone would' say that the club contained a [number of excellent batters, but when the crucial test — a mateh — comes, tEese men are 'simply "not there." They seem to leave Jfcheir btrokee on the practice- -field, and play an altogether different game in matches. Jf some of the younger players, not caly in jthis ?!üb, but in others, could only for the )time being forget themselves aad imagine 'they were going in to have a practice, I am 'Sure the result would bo -very different from .what it now is, and we would have bats>neis who now miserably fail Saturday after Saturday come out with respectable averages to their name. I Fisher and Monk both had grand averages, jttie former coming out with four for 13 and the latter five for 24. Monk bowled throughout the innings, but Fisher was relieved by G. Austin, who obtained cue for 21. ; The fielding of the team was first class all round, but special mention should be made »f Siedeberpr, who picks up and returns hard jhits with lightning rapidity, one specially fcniart piece of work by him gaining a round of applause from the spectators. Certainly he nijsssd one hard ;hance, but to an ordiaiary fielder I doubt if it would be considered as such. The ball was hit hard over' flus head, aad by running back and jumping up he managed to bring it down, but failed to retail it in his hands. • I cannot cay chat after the ten minutes' interval th© Carisbrook batsmen appeared at the wickets, because just as the ten minutes /were up it seemed to strike some of the incoming batters that the wicket would be jlhe 'better of a roll, and forthwith they proceeded tc the other side of the ground to obtain the roller and toll the pitch. Thus it was close on 20 minutes before the Dunedin appeared in the field. To the ordinary mortal, cricket is not the most attractive and sensational game in the world, and if the cricketers wish the public to patronise them they must make the game as attractive as ■possible, and these unnecessary delays, both In commencing_ and during the game, do not tend in this direction. The playing time is in all conscience short enough during an

afternoon without being further encroached upon in this manner. Umpires should see to it that closer punctuality is observed than has hithertc been the case. A rather lax. system seems to obtain at present, and the sooner it is remedied the better for cricket in general.

There was nothing very striking about the batting of the Carisbrook men, and the Dunedin Club boys cao. claim the satisfaction — if it is any good to them in case of almost certain defeat — that they got rid of their opponents for the smallest total which they have made this season. Siedeberg, Mills, and Fisher were out with the total at 19, but when G. Austin and Cuff got together, the score was carried up to 64 before the fourth wicket fell. This considerably changed the look of matters. Cuff played some nice cricket for his 19, his leg-hitting being especially good. G. Austin was badly misled by Skitch when he had made 22. The ball came sharply round into the fielder's hand?, but Skitch was off the alert, and the ball was on him before he realised it. It was a palpable chance, and cost the home team dearly, as Austin is still going strong with 49 to* his credit. He plays good cricket indeed ; in fact, he is one of the most finished batsmen we - have in Dunedin. Peerless added 11 runs in nice style, although he gave a chaoce to Cross; and Rattray contributed 14, one of his hits being a gallery one into the gpand stand.

The fielding of the Dunedin was not by any means zss good as that of the Carisbrook. A few chance^ were missed, and the picking up and returning was nof always sharp and neat.

I would warn cri#keiers to beware of carrying any valuables, in the shape of money or anything else with them to f&e cricket grouacis. In one of the pavilions a boy was caught in the act oi trying to relieve some of the wi elders of the willow of any surplus ca*h — I doubt if he would stop to inquire whether it was surplus or not — which he could lay hrs fingers <uj. He does not eeem to have got away with anything, but if he had not been disturbed probably there would be a different tale io tell.

I understand a few of the schools aTe availing themselves of the generous offer of the Cariebrook -Club to give free admission to a representative boy from each town and sxirburban school. One of these young hopeful* made his appearance for the iirst time a week or so ago. and after introducing himself was duly given his hand in tarn, after whicb he quietly put on his coat and quickly made tracks for the gate before the rest of those practising had realised what was happening. Very likely want of thought, and no doubt he will have been by this time told that it is his duty to do some fieldiflg as well as batting, as he will require tuition in the one as much as the other.

To impliasise what I said last week about players not turning up to matches, and failing to notify the secretary of their intended absence, a player in one of the Junior Cup teams did this on Saturday, and a man -had to be picked up on the .ground to fill bis place. The absentee's side lost the match by 4 runs ; but the probabilities are that if he had turned up, hi 3 side would have won, as he is a considerably better player than the man who supplied the vacancy. This ie a serious matter to his team, as it formerly occupied a prominent place in this Cttp contest. If he had only taken the trouble to -inform his «ohib that ive would not be present, care would have been taken to uut a suitable man in bis place.

In the President's Cup contest a few Saturdays ago an umpire gave a man out for assisting to fix the wickets with his bat. The wickets were knocked down during play, acid the wicket-keeper was attempting to put them in with hie gloves on, when the batsman standing by obligingly knocked them clown with the handle of his bat, and when he was ungratefully appealed against by one of the opposing side, the umpire gave him out. The decision, was disputed by his captain, but the batsman had to retire, as the umpire insisted that his decision was right. The umpire seems, however, to have changed Ids mind, or better counsel prevailed, and the man was at a later stage of the game allowed to continue his innings. Fact ! Who says after this that we have no need of men as umpires who know at least the rudiments of the game? Sooner or later it had to come — A. H. Fisher went out for a "duck" on Saturday. An average of 101 wae a little too near fever heat to be, healthy, and something was expected to happen. .The average at 68 is coining nearer normal. E. M. Bundle's score of 88 for Carisbrook D against Dunedin No. 2 was a very fine display, and was not marred by anything that could be called a chance, although necessarily there was a weak stroke or two. His hittiag to leg was really first-class, and his style of batting generally is good, and I daresay more will bo heard of this player as the season advances.

The Dunedin A.A. Club have prevailed on the Cricket Association to have the matches postponed for Ilccoinber 7, and it now remains for the clubs to do all they can to help the D.A.A.C and a sister sport to make a success of the gathering. The 220 Yards Handicap and Throwing the Cricket Ball should bring forth a number ot entries, and no events will be more keenly watched. The 220 yards race is to be run in flannels, and no D.A.A.C. or other running " guns " are allowed to enter. There are a number in the Dunedin. clubs who can throw the ball a good distance, and there should be no lack of entrants.

Messrs Austin and Siedeberg, of Carisbrook, will doubtless be seen in some gymnastic evolutions at these sports on Saturday, and as those who have seen them perform know, they are as well worth seeing on the horizontal bar as on the cricket field.

Rather a coincidence in scores happened in Saturday's cricket. At the close of play there were four senior men with innings in the " forties," and they were all " not out." These were Austin, Geddes, Downes, and M'Gaviu.

In the Dunedin-Carisbrook match, Fisher and Monk turned out with very fair averages — four for 13 and five for 24 being the record of their trundling. Monk had rather a bit of luck, I hear, as he had bowled a good while, and although no runs to speak of were knocked off him, and he had bowled a number of maidens, and was keeping a good length, he war getting no wickets, and his captain was just going to take him off when he decided to give him another over. That over and the next accounted for three Dunedin wickets.

Some of the Carisbrook players were noting the slowness of the Dunedin wicket in comparison with Carisbrook and the matting wickets. This is>, no doubt, accounted for by the bicycle track not letting the water away so fast, as generally speaking

the Caledonian Ground is considered drier than Carisbrook.

Two junior team? found themselves on Carisbrook's best wicket on Saturday: the Albion men preferring to play the Caris,brook B on their own ground as fixed rather than to take advantage of the best Carisbrcok wicket which was offered them, if they oared to have it.

As* showing the difference a wicket makes in the score, the Carisbrook D (which was almost entirely composed of U team men, who generally are satisfied with making 30 to 40 runs of a Saturday) put up a score of 160, and their opponents replied with 172.

Len Monk kept a good length on Saturday, and his chances for representative honours are very good. His average now stands at eleven for 98. Out of 16 overs on Saturday seven were maidens. J. S. Columb'p score of 34 on Saturday was a fair display, but this player will have to learn that every ball is not bowled to " biff at," and if he wants to improve in Ins cricket and become a "top notcher" he will need to play a bit steadier, and only try to put the easy balls and those that are off the wicket out of the ground.

J. Burt's score of 17 on Saturday was good, sound cricket, but he was evidently tired from the previous day's performance in the Bank of New Zealand v. Ironmongers' match, in which lie both bowled and batted with a great deal of success, securing seven wickets for 4 runs with the ball and knocking up 55 with the bat. The scores that he has made lately have practically assured his inclusion in the representative team, as no exception can be taken to them, for they were compiled by cricket and style that others would do well to emulate.

Lost, stolen, or strayed! The Carisbrook Club are looking for a lost cricket cup, the old one tha,t mod to be competed for before the preseni shield. It was voted to them by the Otago Cricket Association, as they won it the largest number of times, but the O.C.A. cannot find it to hand over. Strong rooms throughout the town ha'^e been ransacked without result. Any private person who knows anything about i< or can put them on to its track will earn the thanks of the club.

Fo far Carisbrook Club has been only moderately sucoesslul in the " boy .scheme." Only four schools have sent along a boy — viz., the High street (Master Frank Lomas), Forbury road (Master J. H. Aitken), Albany street (Master George Thomson), and Arthur strcci, (Master Clifton Osmond). Those that have turned up on the ground show that they will prove an acquisition to the club, as they all shape very well indeed, and with the training they receive from Messrs Mills, Siedeberg, Harraway, and Liggins (the junior coaches) will soon develop into first-raters. A number of the schools have not thought it worth while to reply for some reason or another, which seems a pity.

Harry Harraway seems to be scoring with o, good deal of consistency for Carisbrook B this year. Now that he knows that his average of 22 odd will take some taking down, be ought to show a little more, •confidence in his own prowess, and less nervousness, which latter is the only thing ■wbioh prevents him doing even better things than he has already been doing this season.

-W- Munro " bobbed ivp serenely " with 57 to' his credit in the Bank of New Zealand V. Ironmongers' match on Friday, compiled by very nice cricket, his off-driving beingXL marked feature. The bowling was good, too, and nothinsr second rate about it. Cuff batted nicely for the same score — viz., 57, in the same match. As mentioned before, Burt compiled 53 in good style, and took seven wickets for 4 runs in even better style.

The Dunedin gave a very feeble exhibition of battiug against the CarisbrOok A. Everything was io favour of run-getting, and they failed*. The Carisbrook. with the exception of Jerry Austin and Cuff, were about as bad. These two players played nice cricket, though I have seen Jerry stronger on the leg- side than he was on Saturday, as he missed a lot of balls to score from there. R. Wilkie played another good innings on Saturday, his strokes all round the wicket being very clean. Hamaon was shaping nicely until he popped one up. With constant practice he should yet develop into a good bat. Latham played a very patient innings on Saturday, occupying the wiokets for 45 minutes for 7, but he should have scored more, as he got some good balls to score off, which he only played. T. De la Mere, a young player in the Dunedin No. 1 Junior team is a very patient young batsman who should develop into a good player when he gets a little more hitting power. He played a nice inninge for 31, and made some very pretty off strokes. The Junior Championship should prove a good contest tliis season. The Dunedin No. 1, Hendley, and Albion No. 1 are all going strong, the Dunediu holding a slight advantage so far. The Hendley are showing great batting form, and are making big scores every Saturday. Mr M. A. Noble has been appointed to represent New South Wales in selecting Australia's team for the test matches. The first test match, England v. Australia, i< to be commenced in Sydney on December 13. Two accidents occurred on the cricket field at the north ground on Saturday. During the progress of the Albion-High School match, a player in the former team was struck on the nose by a flying cricket ball ■which laid that organ bare almost to the bone. The other one occurred in the AlbionCarisbrook B match. Young Kay, who was making hie first appearance in senior cricket for Albion, in fielding a hot one from Columb, had the web between the third and fourth finger split open. He retired at once and was escorted to the hospital, where several stitches were put in. The Carisbrook captain very generously allowed Alexander to bat in place of the injured player. The Barry, sen., and Barry, jun., who are so consistently making good 6cores for Midland in Christchurch cricket this season are cousins, and not brothers, as is popularly supposed. Barry, sen., is Bob Barry, the one-time popular secretary of the Merivale Football Club.

A cablegram announces that "the New Zealand Cricket Council is sending an invitation to an Australian team to visit the colony this season. It has also been decided to cable to Major Wardill asking if the Englishmen could include New Zealand in their tour." If the message refers to the Australian Eleven goinpr to England, says Sydney Referee, there is, little hop* of its acceptance, since the first-clas3 matches of the English team will tiot finish before the middle of March, immediately after which the Australians will £rqbabjx set off, £qj

England. The programme of the Englishmen is already fixed up to March 18, and they are to leave for England on the 20th in the Omrah.

Mr S. M. J. Woods is expected in Sydney on the 30th ir.st., says Sydney Referee of 27th ult., in the Rimutaka, from England, cv a visit to his relatives at Manly. He is an old Royrton College boy, and with his brother, Mi H. D. L. Woods, went to England m 1883 to continue hit. education. Sines that time "Sammy Woods" has become known throughout England as a great footballer, cricketer, amd sportsman. He has played for and captained England at Rugiby football, and played for Australia against England at cricket, having helped the 1888 Australian Eleven. A great, all-round sport, he is at present captain of the Somerset County C. C, and ccie of the most popular sportsmen in England. It is 18 years since he left Sydney, which has undergo^ improving changes that will surprise lam. The association considered an application for a permit to play him from the Manly Ciu-b, but it was decided, in accordance with the rules, tc await Mr Woodi's arrival a>~ui receive his personal application, which will oe dealt with by the executive committee. Should he play with Manly, ho will figure in Second Grade cricket; but he will also be eligible for the North Sydney Club in tue first grade. Wcra S. M. J. Y\ cod? r.ol a thorough Australian in the tpnit, he would have visited Australia prior to this as a member of an English team. At Castlemaine (Vie.) on November 11, an extraordinary feat \va« performed, by a local player. A team from Dayiesford was disposed of for 13 runt. A. M'Xeil taking eight wickets for no iuu>.. Five of the batsmen , were clean bowled. * I The Melbourne Club has erected a noble; | structure for a scoring board. It co=t £800. and the main building is of red brick. The figures are .white on a black background, which a writer in Sydney Mail fancies is less trying to the eye than blaeb figures on a white background. The only information it possesses which cannot be claimed for that on the Sydney Cricket Ground is that it ahows how a man loses his wicket, as for instance, " Worrall, c, 3, 134," would mean that Worrall was caught off the third bowler tried for 134 ; the bowling section would show " 3, Barnes, 2, 50," which would mean Barnes was third bowler, and he had taken two wickets for 50. This boaTd was used for the first time on the opening of the match between England and Victoria. Consideration of the proposal to estab-. lish an international board to represent Australia in all qtiestione affecting ihe laws of cricket, and in other matters relating to , international cricket, has. been deferred by tho association until the new year. The proposal is — *' That a committee consisting of Messrs C. F. W. Lloyd, R. Shute, and J. C. Davis be appointed to draw up a scheme for the establishment of an" international cricket board, to act in conjtuiction with the Marylebohe Cricket Club in ques^ tions affecting the laws of cricket, and in all • matters connected with international • cricket; such board to consist of three representatives each New South Wale*, " Victoria, and South Australia, two each to be elected by the associations and ono each by tho players taking part in the Sheffield Shield matches each season."

Barnes, the English team's fast bowler, is thus described by a writer in the Australasian : — Barnes is the tallest man in the team — tall, strong, big-bonen, just ■what""" a fast bowler shoiild br\ ll> moves off to bowl with two long strides. Ihen a hop, the spasmodic hep of the walker who is unconsciously trying to keep ptep with a companion. BrauHd, fairly tall, thin, spare, and aniewy of build, looks like a runner, and bowls every way. His most puzzling one appears to be nr] ■*.> the hand gets ahead of the ball, which seems to have slipped oni somr/ivhero between, the little finger and tlio wrisi, .ird j^ following up. The one th^t doesn't escape that way comes along straight and fairly fast. "I never heard of him as a bowler," said Clem Hill before the match, but for an hour he kept Clem dancing hornpipes and taking 1 standing jumps down the pitcli in the most wonderful-looking efforts to do something.

Writing of Hiist's performances the Sheffield Daily Telegraph pays: — Last year those of us who watched Hirst closfly saw that he at times palpably made the ball «werve in the air. On the morning of May 6, sending down the first over of the Yorkshire season to W. L. Murdoch, he virtually bowled the old Australian skipper six times, and yet failed to get him out. Every ball the batsman tried to play, yet failecl, and afterwards he declared that never in the whole of his career had he faced such anover. What we saw then we have seen repeatedly since. Beadly to' the point or absolute destructiveness for the fh-st 10 overs or so of an innings, and unquestionably helped by the seam of the ball, Hirst gained more power over his swerve, and "" there stand to his credit very many wonderful achievements during the summer.

Interstate references to the recent England v. South Australia match. — " Felix, "' in the Australasian: — "I cordially congratulate the South Australians on their decisive win against A. C. Maclaren's team-. At the same time it must be conceded by every one that the Englishmen, playing :o soon after their long voyage, cannot possibly be thoroughly fit in any department of the game. Indeed, the failure of the batsmen in the first innings makes manifest either that George Giffen struck a spot, or that our visitors have still some of their sea-legs on. I think we shall have much better news tc tell by-and-bye as to the form of the Englishmen, Clem Hill was the batting lion of the match, and I pat him, on the back accordingly and right heartily. As to George GifEen — well, I'm proud of him, and hope he will show us more than once this season that there's heaps of life in the old boy yet. 'Superfluous lags the veteran on the stage' does not apply to George, despite the 42 years at his back." The Referee: — "George Giffen's hard practice has evidently, despite his 42 years, brought him into something like the old form with the ball. At all events, 7 for 46 and 6 for 47 against the Englishmen are performances worthy of Giffen at the eighties. His great success with the ball is the greatest surprise of a rather surprising match. George Giffen did not play against Stoddart's last English team, and as his bowling since that time has been very expensive in interstate matches, we were hardly prepared for such performances. For South Australia against an English team he never before did so well with v the ball. Those 'three hours' daily practice,' of which we heard, were not in vain."

In the English team's fourth match in America, Philadelphia compiled 312, Brown making 103. The English team were dismissed for 166 (Bosanquet 57 and Mitchell s&i»__ J2J4U|dclphia^ jUMk

More capturing 6 for 62. The Englishmen made only 93 in their second try, and were beaten by 239 runs. Clark, who captured eeven wickets, took the last four without a run being scored from him. Prior to this match they defeated Philadelphia by 61 runs. J. A. Leslie with 46 ancf 73 not out was the chief run-getter for Philadelphia 1 , and A. M. Hollis 44 and 32 for the visitors', foi whom More captured six wickets in, each innings. Of the first four matches the Englishmen won two and lost two.

R. A. Duff, the Sydney player, who rivals Jones at his best In fielding at mid-off, in tht match New South Wales Eleven v. next fifteen did a piece of work, the description of which by "Not Out" is worth reading: — The catch by which. R. A. Duff got rid of Farquhar is one that will stick in the memory of all who saw it for all lime. Farquhar let drive, at a ball from. Clark, and hit in the direction of extra long-off, but at a tremendous height. Duff, fielding at mid-off, turned and followed tho ball in the direction of the boundary. Many of the spectators lost sight of it altogether, and only knew that it was in the clouds', from the manner in which the fieldsman ran. With his face turned up to the sky Duff kept moving at his top pace until he gofc within about 20 yards of the track. Thea lie swerved a bit, went on about 10 yards, t>nd finally got under the ball, which, caught by the wine 1 , dropped straight down, and when he held h the cheers might have come from 50,000 instead of 2000 people, so thun^ derous were they. If you were not present, and desire to gain an idea of the hit and the catch, remember that Duff was fielding at mul-off, yet tool: thp catch with "hi* back to ths bowl< r within 10 yard* of the I'ack at extra long-off. Tin* catch is an example of what c<*'i be done Ly a fieldsman who tries all-out, and never a&aumea that anything is impo3siblp. The Hawke's Bay representative cricket team will play Otago at Dunedin on December 31, January 1 and 2. They will be accompanied by Albert Trott, and thus strengthened they should prove a formidable combination, and the match bhoul-d attract a large attendance.

At a mooting of the Canterbury Oriek'it Association it was decided that the Canterbury representative should play Wellington in Wellington on December 26, and should return in time to piny JEawlce's Bay i>i Christchurch on the dates sug^r-sted by the Hawke's Bay Cricket Absceiaii'.n, January 4, 6, and 7. The secietary -iTas instructed to write to the Otago Association and arrange the Otago v. Canterbury match for some Friday. Saturday, and Holiday in the latter end of January.

A Wellington telegram says: — In the senior cricket matches the Midland Eleven, with a first-innings lead of 53 from Wellington, were all disposed of for 113. Tuck< r topped the individual score's with a cavc-hil.,. - compiled 43. Holdsworth hit hard ainl ;n - rily for his 34, and caused a small scnsatfo'i by driving one ball away to Adelaide, road. Connell headed the bowling average with six for 44. Wellington, requiring 172 runs to win, only made 84, Midland thus winning by 87. Stevenson took four wickets for 14. In the Old Boys game Phoenix resumed their first inning. Midlano- ran hi? score io 146 with fine free cricket, being finally given ous lbw to Douglas after missing one which ho endeavoured to puli to log. Waters put up 82 in fast time before being stumped. The innings closed for 366, t'-« best bowling average being Kircaldie's (Hue: lor 16>. but he sent dowa only six over-. Tho Old Boys, requiring 280 to avert .» i ■ 'irmg-; defeat, bejrau caiefnlly, but at t'.u ra^ of time had lost six wickets for 1?."-, Staples being not out with 51.

A Christchuroh tpleirram says: — In t 1 a senior Cup cricket match United v. Lancaster Park the United have six wicbets down to- 249 fFran^it-h £5 not out, Ollivier 75 no: out, Wigl.-sy 52;. In the match Sydenlia'n v. MidlnLd Nydenhai-i scored 193 A 6). Midland has losl four wickets for 116 (Barry, sen., 33, Barry, jun., 33).