NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 52

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

-Thp rumour that certain nwSmbers of the Australian cricket eleven- a*e< not on an Wjual footing financially with the others has been officially denied. The writer in Cricket spok* as follows of Albert' "Trott when asked whether he supposed that the Australian player would fail this year against the Australians, as he did U 129&: — "That's a thing, bow, which has Interested me a great deal. Albert, he was lo my mind a bit too eager to get 'em all jcot in one over when they was over here last time, an' didn't keep- cool enough. But •it strikes me that this year he will have

learnt by experience, and that before the 'season is over they'll have found that he's a- real first-class Al bowler. All he's got to do is to keep his head. The dismissal of Surrey twice in the one Ttt«y by the Australians reminds "Short Slip" o£ the manner in which C. T. B. Turner and the late Jack Ferris disposed of Shaw's third ieam in their first match at Sydney, and ■particularly of the efforts of Flowers to aiegotiate Ferris. I had an excellent opportunity for close observation, for I stood at gtoint close in. It was a bowler's wicket, And the two who were destined to became 'famous in Anglo-/ -istralian cricket were kprite new to the Englishmen. Perhaps, had jScott's Australian team returned by the time that match was played one or the other of 'these two, or perhaps both, might not have been.included in the New South Wales team. However, the wicket was in favour of the ibowlers, and we — those who were in the ."nicinity of the wicket, could not help being amused at the attempts of the batsmen to the bowlers. Flowers on one occasion played forward to Ferris and the Shall just missed the off stump. The batsman walked out, had a look at the spot /where the ball pitched, patted it and returned to receive the next. This time he jplayed back and was again beaten, and again the wicket escaped. Then Flowers's face wore a peculiar expression. He stepped back a couple of yards, surveyed the bowler, examined and patted the spot, and returned *o his crease deliberately, and on his face •was a look of determination which probably Ibe alone could display. His brow was •wrinkled^ his eyes fixed, his lips firmly set, »nd thus he prepared to receive Ferris' s dew jlivery. . Again the bat was beaten, but this "fcime the ball crashed into the wicket. Turner also bowled grandly in. that match ; he took six for 20 and seven for 34. Ferris's return was four for 50 and three for 49. {Flowers had some ,revenge. however^ for he secured altogether five wickets for 11. New South Wales won by six wicketa. Alexander Kennode, the Sydney cricketer, who left for England in the R.M.S. Himalaya on Saturday, May 17. to fulfil an engagement with the Lancashire County Club, lias (says the Sydney Referee) had but little experience in important cricket. At the ■practice wickets and in the New Soutli :Wale3 matches against Victoria and Mac : laren's team, on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jie bowled -with sufficient ability to indicate that he had a future. On English wickets Kermode will probably prove a Bound bowler, for he spptos to possess a good deal more natural ability than roanv men Hrho figure with success in England. He Bowls fast medium pace, high ovfrarm. und makes the ball come across a bit from le:r. He has a good height, but is rather sKgkt. though he seems -vriry. Kenno^ will ne.-fl to reside in TCn?Tand two years be fora h&cotn'im'ouaH^d fo r-'av fo-.- I.anca'h're. Br that time he will doubtless improve all round under tbe eye of Maelaseu. E» will, titea h&

in his twenty-eighth year. On Thursday evening the Tramway Cricket Club presented the departing cricketer with a gold chain, and some Pyrmont friends gave him a travelling bag as mementoes of their friendship. May he have the best of good luck. A Nelson message says: — At a meeting to consider the proposed visit of Lord Hawke's team, the local association guaranteed £100, but it was intimated thai entertaining expenses would have to be found locally, »-nt\ that unless this arrangement were carried out the visit would fall through.

Ab Auckland telegram says: — A few months ago the Yorkshire Society of Auckland forwarded to Lord" Hawke warm congratulations on Yorkshire cricketers being the champion county team for two years in succession. Lord Hawke, in reply, says: — " Pray convey to the society my most sincere thanks for their congratulations on the late successes of the Yorkshire Eleven, and for the good wishes for its continued success. I can assure you that the great interest you take in. us will stimulate us more than ever to hold the championship for the third year, and if we fail it will not be from want of trying or. showing good old Yorkshire pluck, but that we had met with a better side than our own."

The Prince of Wales has invited the Australian cricketers to witness the naval review on June 28.