NOTES BY 10 G SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 53

NOTES BY 10 G SLIP.

The SyJenham (Christchurch) cricket team," who had" intended visiting Dunedin at Christmas, have wired that they are unable to make theatrip. The colours of Lord Hawke's team of' English cricketers, at present in New Zealand, are the fame as those previously adopted in -tours organised by the Yorkshire captainlight and dark blue and gold. English crack cricketer Jessop, who recently married a New South Wales lady, is reported as coming out to Australia in the Oruba, due in Sydney shortly. En route to New Zealamd, Albert Trott called in at Sydney and had some practice on the Sydney Club's ground. The AngloAustralian, who is reported in fine health, and thicker and more powerful than when he last appeared in Syc'ney, did some big hitting, demonstrating his form. Particulars are now to hand of the accident to Lord Hawke, which acciden' and the illness of his mother have prevented him making the trip to New Zealand. Lord Hawke had intended being present at the eend-off to the Eiig'-ish cricketers from Liverpool, and was to have followed them three weelw la'er but the accident which he met with when, in company with Mr C. Heselrine, the Hampshire a-icketer. following the York and Ainsty hounds nrevented him. When the hounds were in full iry his lordship's horse stumbled, one of his forelegs having become embedded in a rabbit warren, and it came down with a crash. Lord Hawke being violently throw l over the animal's head and alighting with {treat force on hia left shoulder. Dr Shorebind, who had been paying a professional visit to Lady Huwke, cli^nced on hi« lordship returning home. After making an examination, the doctor found that Lord Hawke had sustained a fracture of the left collarbone — in injury which would necessitate his leading a life of quiet for some time. Arrangements are now u'ri -DrostrefS for Archie Maclaren to bring an English team to Australia next season. It is expected to be more representative than the last cine. Fry end Jackson will probably be included. The ground bowling staff of the M.C.C h»s just .suffered a severe loss by the death of George Davenport, who for 20 years had been engaged at Lord'?. It is no secret that good offer's were made to several members of the Austrclian team to accept engagements in South Africa, hut thcueh Jones pud others have their-= under consideration, it is understood that inducements are not sucii hj will cause any of the Australians to return. What it i.s coming to? The fellow ing from Free Lance: — "I have been asked to recommend a funior clerk to a niei entile house, the principal qunlifiVation being that he can play cricket Any lad who lias recently left Fc-hoo! or oollege, and ran give a reference ap to his cricketing abilities, i« invited to send his name along. The opportunity is a t;ooil one. An openiner for a prominent cricketer a year or two older than the above is also at my disposal. He need not necessarily hfcve clerical abilities." Principal qualification for a junior clerk that he can p^y cricket ! Also an opening foi a prominent cricketer a year or two older Need not necessarily have clerical abilities: No! What is wanted i 1 - that he be able to knock up his "century in 60 minutes on wickets wet or dry, ta&y or difficult. . An English ..professional erickete-r named A. E. Jones has settled in Chrigtchureh, and should, if reputation goes for anything, be 1 of importance to Christchurch cricket. Prior to leaving England Jones was head groundsman and coach to the Enfield Club, North London. The new arrnal's strong point is batting. Sir Joseph Ware! ha; made arrangements that a railway ticket, available all over the colony, should be granted to Lord Hawke's / team at a cost of £20. j It H~fc S»bled ftt tk» beginning of. Novem-

ber that S. F. Barnes, MaelaTen*s dis- -/cry, was co-respondent in a divorce suit. _ay lor. v. Taylor. Later files to hand state that the* jury found for the petitioner, and awarded 1 £350 damages. The petitioner, however,' only sued for £300, and tho jury reduced tha verdict to that amount. It was stated iff evidence that Barnes had expected to make £400 out of test matches, but that he had not made near that amount. The Hon. F. S. Jackson was on October 28 presented with a set of handsome silver bowls by Lord Hawke on behalf of the Yorkshire County Cricket Committee on the occasion of his approaching marriage. Mr Arthur Appleby,. the , Lancashire oounty and All-England cricketer, was buried at Clayton-le-Moor on October 27. He was a county magistrate, a county alderman, and a wealthy cornniiller of Liverpool, Blackburn, juid Clayton-le-Moor. The Lancashire County . Cricket League sent a magnifiecent wreath of bats, wickets, and ball, composed of chrysantheums. At a recent meeting -oi the New Zealand Cricket Council a cheque for £100 was received from Balcluthn, on account of the South Otago Association's guarantee. f was also asked whether tho visitors wouloi objept to play on an asphalt pitch. The r latter matter was referred to the sud-coio,-mibtee. The team' chosen by Mr "Wheatley to- p'.ay - for Canterbury against Otago at Dunediu at Christmas is about the best available, al-^ , tlfdugh Callaway's, inclusion would strengthen-"! it. Taken all round, 'Scoring Baarld's ! fancies it'is hardly as strong as former ones, but on the whole ifc gives general satisfac? I tion amongst cricketers. After his previous j failures against Otago bowling some surprise ' 13 expressed at Reese being again chosen. i Howell appears in the team for the first | time, and after his recent successes with the ; ball he well deserves his plfteC On the arrival of the English team of • cricketers I hod a chat (with Mr P. F. Warner, the captain (wires my Auckland corres-ronde-nt). . Asked as to how he would class the team as compared with an English county eleven Mr Warner said: — "It in rather above the average of the county elevens, with the exception of Yorkshire. It is a very good batting side, a fairly good bowling side, and our fielding ought to be excellent." | "Will you say something of the individual members?" — "Well, Hargreaves is on© of tho best -left-handed bowlers in England. Many people consider that on a hard true wicket he is equal to Rhodes. Thompson, the other professional, 13 a good all-round man. Bosanquet bowls well, and sends down both fast and slow leg breaks. Dowson is another left-handed bowler. He was a great trundler at Harrow, and was captain of the Cambridge Eleven. Burnup's dolivery is fast right-handed. In Taylor and Whatman wo have two very good wicket-; 'keepers." Mi' Warner had nothing to say of his own'" prowess, but it is known, aH the same, ; that as captain .of his eleven he -is one of ' the -best all-round, cricketers in -England. - "Did you have a good trip?" 1 - •> "The sea trip was delightful, and I think;. we have all landed in good trim. Of course we want a day or two to get used tc-» the land again." "Did you play any 'matches on the way out?" "Yes; we played one at 'Frisco against 18 of California. They made 120, and we put up 160 for eight wickets. Bosanquet secured all the wickets on that occasion. We were to have played a match at Honolulu, but the steamer arrived there too late to allow of it." "You were presumably not aware that negotiations had fallen through for an Australian series- of matches?" "No, not until we arrived here." "Do you expect to play, and where, on the way Home?" "We are pretty sure to play matches *t Honolulu and Vancouver." "Doubtless you all regret Lord Hawke's " absence?" "We regret it as much as New Zealanders do. Unfortunately, not only his mother's illness, but an accident in the hunting field, whereby he sustained a broken collarbone, made the journey impossible for him." Mr Warner expressed the hope that the effect of his team's visit to New Zealand might be to cultivate a keener interest in the game among the people of the colony. The matches to be played would provide, he considered, a means of testing the abilities of our players. The net practice of the English cricketers j was watched during the afternoon (wires my Auckland correspondent on December 17) by many, interested spectators, ' including several of the local team- selected to play against the Englishmen. It was seen at once, despite the sea trip, that the visitors strength lies in their batting. One oi two of them — notably Warner, Dowson, and Burn vp — a*e hard hitters, and all play with the utmost freedom and confidence. It will • be a revelation to local cricket enthusiasts to see the wonderful driving and cutting powers , possessed by almost every member of the team. Their strokes, too, have a deal of power behind them, and loose balls are - sent away to the boundary with deadly certainty. It i 3 yet too early to speak of the visitors' bowling capability, though sufficient was seen e.t the nets to show that Thompson, Bosanquet, Harccreaves. and the captain are trundlers of the first water. Other members of the eleven, notably Dow'on nnd Burnup, also displayed ability in this line. Judging the Englishmen on thcit initial performance at the nets, it ia perfectly safe to say that they are a docidedW strong batting team, and will be very hard tn eet rid of. — ("The above came to hand after we went to press last week. — LoxG Slip.]