CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 52

CRICKET.

NOTES BY LO3G SLIP. The following re the averages of Lord Hawke's English team in all matches played on the the New Zealand tour: — BATTING.

* Signifies not out. BOWLING.

P. F. Warner took five for 3S runs, P. H. Johnson, four lor 8, J. Stan mg, one •or 0; A. E. Lcatham, none for 19; A. D. Wiatmaru Bfflae tat fij. Ec Ifa ?fiß& nous. for 6. J

In eleven aside matches the following are the averages of the team : Batting— Warner 63.3, Furie 52.62, Burnup 41.4, Stanning 39.75, Johnson 37.2, Thompson 34, Taylor 33.7, Bosanquet 18.5, Dowson 15.85, Leatham 11.25, Whatman 5.8, Hargreave 4.5. Bowling : Burnup 10.77, Thompson 11.5, Dowson 11.66,Hargreave 21.38, Bosanquet 22.06.

All grade matches were postponed last Saturday owing to the New Zealand Athletic Championship meeting being held at Carisbrook.

The Dunedin Cricket Club held a very successful smoke concert in the club's pavilion on Friday night. There was a large attendance of members, and all appeared to enjoy themselves. -

P. F. Warner, captain of the English cricketers, says that Howden, the Otago colt, with good coaching, would turn out a top-notcher. He had all the qualities which fo to make up a finished batsman. Of )ownes, the English captain said that unquestionably he would be a holy terror to the batsmen were he to get a wicket which would afford him any material assistance. Warner regarded Reese and Tucker the finest batsmen they had met. Albert Trott, the Anglo-Australian cricketer, was an interested spectator at the second test match in Wellington last week. TroU journeys to Australia with Lord Hawke's team, where ie assists them in the matches at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

D- Reese is reported to have been approached by Warner with a view to his playing for Middlesex, but Reese is unable to do so, as^he is leaving for Scotland. The New South Wales Association will entertain the members of Lord Hawke's team during their brief stay in Sydney while playing New South Wales. Mr F. C. Raphael, the secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, has received the following letter from Mr P. F. Warner, captain of the English cricket team: "Before leaving New Zealand I must write and thank you for all your kindness to the team during the whole time we have been here. I am afraid we have at times caused you a good deal of bother and your position has in many ways been an exceedingly hard one, but as regards the team, let me say that we have received nothing but kindness from you. At the luncheon on Monday I thanked the Cricket Cpuncil, and I now desire to do the same thing again to you personally." Of D. Reese's fine display of 148 against Lord Hawke's Eleven in the second test match, played at Wellington last week, we have read much and at this stage it might be interesting to give the figures in that performance. They are: 3111415431121112311 21421111334122444441141141411234144441343124 —148.

During his stay in Christchurch, E. M. Dowson, of Lord Hawke's team, was the guest of Mr Arthur Rhodes. On the morning of the third day of the test match in Christchurch Dowson was out schooling one of Mr Rhodes's polo ponies. The animal became restive, and threw the English cricketer on bis head, inflicting an injury which caused him to stand out of the game for the day, Leatham fielding in his stead. Dowson, however, proceeded to Wellington with the other members of the team, but did not take part in the second test match. At the Dunedin Cricket Club's smoke concert on Friday evening Mr W. H. Skitch, on behalf of the club, presented Mr J. Baker, of the Grange Cricket Club, with' some useful household articles on the occasion of his marriage. Mr Skitch referred to Mr Baker's many fine qualities, and the services he had rendered cricket in general. On all occasions he had 'proved a true sport and a gentleman. George Giffen, though in his fourty-fourth year, has evidently struck form again. Playing for West Adelaide recently Giffen compiled 167 not out, and with his companion, E. Bailey, carried the score from 4 to 312. Bailey made 141. Harry Trott is again coming to the front. In the* last four innings in Bendigo he has scored 215. 217, 19, and 43, giving an aggregate of 404 runs. Average 101 runs. Five members of the Hill family which claims the redoubtable Clem are in the East Torrens Eleven (Adelaide). Clem Hill is captain of the team. During the progress of an up-country match in Victoria an umpire who knew more about football than he did about cricket, on lieing appealed to by the wicket-keeper for a catch at the wickets replied: "Not out! because you were less than 10yds away." Clarke, probably the most stylish bat in Dunedin in his day, made his appearance in the Midland Eleven-Wellington the other day. After making 10 he was caught behind the wickets.

A Bowling Performance. — The feature of a recent up-country match was the bowling of one of the players, who, in his first over, captured a wicket; in his second he got wickets on his fourth, fifth, and sixth balh, and with his third over secured wieksts with the first, second, and fourth balls, finishing up with an average of seven wickets for 0.

Dear Long Slip, — Allow me to point cut a slight mistake in your cricket notes m this week's Witness. You state that "Warner presented the ball used in the match Wairarapa v. England to Cobcroft, and requested him (Coboroft) to have it mounted at his (Warner's) expense." Cobcroft obtained the ball in this way: — Towards the close of Wairarapa's second innings Williams felt unwell and left the field. Cobcroft came out and fielded for him and caught W. Frith, the last man. He thus secured the ball, and, as is usual in such cases, the ball became his. I may state that two balls were used during the match, for the first ball was so knocked about by Mr E. M. Dowson that I supplied a new one for Wairarapa's second innings. — Yours, etc., S. Nicholls, hon. sec. Wairarapa C.A. Qreytown North, February 28. It is said that the outlook for next season in Yorkshire is not too rosy. It seems te be uncertain how often F. S. Jackson will play, quite certain that T. L. Taylor will not play before 1905, very probable that Irving Washington, the most likely lefthander in England since the advent of Clem Hill, will not play, and, well, that Brown, Tunnicliffe, Hunter, and Hirst are not growing any younger. Still, withal, Yorkshire should have a splendid side.

The proceeds of the New South Wales v. Victoria match amounted to about £850, from which the association received £630, the difference being the ground uereentage and expenses at the ground and matoh. F. A. Iredale, the old international player, has given notice to move at the nest meeting: of the New South Wales Cricket Association that, when the proper time arrives, the association take st^ps to send the next Australian Eleven to England.

As the result of tho Lancashire and Yorkfliire cricket match at O\\\ Trafford, Manchester, last August, the proceeds of which .wereLseJLißarfc for the Bouular professional

Albert Ward, that player has received the net sum of £1719 17s "lOd. Early in Deoember Ward was paid the bulk, and the remainder has just been handed over to him, thus closing an account which cannot but be regarded as satisfactory under the circumstances. The popularity of the benefieiare among his fellows was shown by the handsome contributions from Yorkshire, Kent, Surrey, and Warwickshire players, while the Australians also left a cheque behind.

Mistri, one of the Parsee Eleven who played against the Authentics, took six wickets with six successive deliveries for the CD. Railway C.C. (Ajmere) v. the Mahommedau Anglo-Oriental College Eleven of Aligarh. the team to which the HampsteadMiddlesex cricketer, Ahsan-ul-hak, N belonged before he came to England. The College were dismissed for 32 and 56, Mistri getting twelve wickets for 28 runs in the match. Needless to add, his six wickets in six delivericE is a record for India.

It is rumoured that G. L. Jessop, the Gloucestershire captain, is going to accept a business appointment in Lancashire, in which case he would naturally qualify for that county. It would be a serious blow to cricket in the western county.

Apropos of the postponement of a visit to Australia by English cricketers, under MaclarenV captaincy, this paragraph from the London Express is pertinent. 'It touches the spot:— "Mr Maelaren has been criticised because he has not thought fit to take a team out to Australia in 1903-4. His stated reason, given in a published interview, that bowlers must practically take a rest-cure i 9 all.^ety well. as regards airy phraseology, but 13 scarcely convincing argument. He falls back on the precedent of the four years' break in visits. Precedent is nonsense, and quite too English. Australia wants to see us, and, is so keenly disappointed that she is asking Mr Maelaren to change his mind. Great Scot ! Surely every other year is a sufficient break to prov : de against international cricket being cheapened. As regards the rest which bowlers require, leave those at home who are lilasly to be crocked, and take others. We shall not lose part of our Empire if we are beaten. And, after all, we might win. Australian cricket » for the moment not at its absolute best, as the transition of veterans giving way to younger Payers is more marked at present ' down under than at any other time." The New South Wales Cricket Association has been informed by Mr P. F Warnar that he has made arrangements with Albert Trott to accompany the English team to Australia and take part in. the matches. Another item of cricket news is the announcement that A. C. Maelaren will a«rain captain the Lancashire Eleven. There were evidently some difficulties which have been smothed over, and Maelaren will be free to fulfil his cricket engagements right through the season. R. Abel has been unwell from an attack of rheumatism, but the Surrey professional is now better, and, m spite of failing eyesight, hopes to be able to play for his county foi several years A London cricket correspondent states that he has the highest authority for saying that the cole reason A. C. Mackrcn will not take a team to Australia next autuitnn is that he has not bowlers enough. The writer continues:— "With the exception of Rhodes, Hirst, and Haigh, there are no stars he can fall back upon. Mr Maolaren basn t to choose his team straight away, and he might in the coming season be able to add to "the strength with the following five: — Lockwood, Gill. Mead, B'raund, and Blythe. There would be some experience in thia team, too. Tc choose another nine he oould take — and ensure a bowling change — Jessop, Hayward, Abel, Lilley. "Ranji," Tyldesley, Jackson Brockwell, and W. P. Robertson. In the last-named he would have a, good all-round player, with an average last season of 23, and a capable wicketkeeper. If Mr Maolnrcn cannot go, the Hon. F. S. Jackson should be invited to select a team, and in the event of his refusal, then G. _L. Jessop .might skipper a side. He is> married ■to a charming Australian girl, and it would be a bit in his favour to etart with to have Australian sympathy. Besides which, as Bobby Abel told me last year, the "Idol" would come off on a second visit. He is essentially the cricketer of the day, and it should be engineered for him." In the review of the Australian Eleven in England Wisden makes the following remarks:—"No travelling team sver strove harrier for victory, or more completely subordinated all personal considerations to the prime object of winning matches. They formed a splendid all-round combination, the players new to England havin-g been picked with the nicest iudgment; but the team would not, with aTI their ability, have been able to show such consistently fine form week xfter week throughout a long tour if the men had not taken scrupulous care of themseh-ee when off the field. ... In this all-important matter of physical wellbeing they undoubte«Uy owed much to the pTeoept and example of their captain. In his own sphere of action Darling is a born leader. When he comes to England he comes simply and solely to play cricket, and he lias the rare power of being able to keep a whole team up x> something approaching hie own standard. The writer is of opinion that on a succession of hsrd wickets the team •would have been terribly hard to beat." Dealing with individuals, the review says: — "Trumper stood alone among the batsmen of the season, not only far surpassing his own colleagues, but also putting into the shade everyone who played for England." There is much more regarding the Sydney champion, and at the close the writer ext>rP6ses his extreme satisfaction that the efforts to secure him for an English county failed. "It would have been a paltry and unworthy thing o deprive Australia, by means of a money bribe, of her finest batsman." Of Hill it i« paid:— "Clement Hill played many fine innings, his "best performance beinp in the test match at Sheffield, but even allowing for the soft wicket* -I do not think he was so streat a batsman as in 1899. This opinion. I know, was held by several well-known cricketers who played against him. He hit hardier than before, | but even on srood wickets it did not eeem such a difficult (matter to get him out." Charlie Bannerman. one of the umpires in Ho Canterbury-England match, writes to Svdnpy Referee on fiie cricket "incident" : "I flood umpire in the match, during which a Hrt!e incident ocoiirrecl, the facts of which I shall give you. Mr Bo'wmqiipi) was bowling at my end. and Mr Pearce batting at the other end. Mr Bosanquefc bowled a ball which broke about a foot from the leg. Mr Pearce ptepped in front of his wicket, trying to hit the ball to square !p<j, thereby ob=onrinß mv view of the wicket. I was unable to give a locision. and appealed to I tb^6{mMfij£auanxßirei.wJiQjsEaß_ftl2o jin&blft?

to decide the question. A little delay then took place over the matter, after which the game was immediately gone on with. Mr Warner has asked me tx> stand umpire in the match England v. New Zealand, wfoich should be a fine contest."

After all it was a very small incident (says the Sydney Referee, commenting on the incident). The delay and the remarks subsequently made in the hea* of the moment would appear to have been the outcome >f the umpires not at once deciding the matter, for which it would appear that Mr Spencer was responsible. Charles Bannerman, being unable to give a leoision, carried out the law, which made imperative his appealing to the other umpire in such a case. The other umpire (in an excellent position to see what occurred) was bound to 'give a decision, but as he did not see it there is no doubt his decision should have been "not out." He was incorrect in referring it back' to his confrere. Aa the Englishmen saw what happened, and the umpires did not it is safe to presume that the wicket was bowled down, but that does not justify the wicketkeepei in regarding the not out decision as a reflection on himself, any more than a similar decision in answer to an appeal for a catct at the wickets would be a reflection. Another tiling, the umpire does not state that the Ball did not dislodge the bail. He roerelv did not ccc it do so. It may bo replied that as- his view was unobstructed, his not having seen the incident gave the Englishmen cause for being disappointed. Messrs Warner. Bosanquet, and Whatman, in a very manly way, apologised for remarks made in the heat of the moment. [Messrs Bosanquet and Whatman d\d not auologtse to Sims in person. — Long Slip.]" The best of sportsmen get a bit ruffled at times, but inly the best of sportsmen voluntarily" express regret for hurting another man's feelings in such oircum6 lances. In the New South Wales v. South Australia serie of inter-State matches, Clem Hill has made most runs (over 1700), and averages over 57 per innings. The next South Australian in the_ matter of averages is F. T. Hack, with 37.78. The other principal ones are: George Giffen, 35.10; J. Darling. 32.69; J. J. Lyons, 27.88; and J. C. Reedman, 27.31. Hill, Giffen (1299), and Reedman. (1229) are the only South Australians who have made 1000 runs. In the number of -innings played, Reedman (48) far exceedo anyone else in either State. Five New South Walee players have each, made over 1000 runs— viz . F. A. Iredale 1368, S. E. Gregory 1248, M. A. Noble 1144. and H. Donnan 1128. In the matter of averages, M. A. Noble stands first, with 54.47 per inning 3. Seven batsmen have scored on the average a greater number of runs per innings than any South Australian, with the exception of Clem Hill. In addition to M. A. Noble, they are: H. Mose? 46.30, R. A. Duff 44,54, F. A. Iredale 42,75, S. E. Gregory 41.26, V. Trumper 38.95, H. Donnan 38.69. Among batsmen of the present day. three others avera.ge over 30 runs — viz.. Charles Gregory 36.28, A. J. Hopkins 36.50, and J. J. Kelly 31.55. A. C. K. Mackenzie's average is 22, and L. W. Pye's 18.54. The cricket match bet ween Merers Hallenetein Bros, and Co.'s Warehouse and Factory was played on the Asylum Ground on Saturday, and resulted in a win for the Warehousemen by 49 runs. The Factory, bs-tting first, nut together ,77 runs-, Silletplaying well for 49. The Warehousemen compiled 120 runs (De la Mere 44. Corbett ' 35, and O'Shea,' who has the malcings of a good cricketer, 23 not out). De la Mere, O'Sullivan, and O'Shea shared the bowling honours for th© Warehousemen, as did Petit and M'lndoe for the Factory. Messrs de Beer and Johnston acted as umpires. A team representing Sargood, Son, and Ewen's Boot Factory journeyed to Mosgiel to play a friendly game against a team from the Mosgiel Woollen Mills, and after a close and exciting game won by five wickets and 10 runs. Mosgiel in the first innings made 46, Young (13) alone reaching double figures. Owing to tli© good bowling of Stoddart and Thomson, Sargoods could only put together 36. Mosgiel in their second innings made 72. With less than an hour to play and 82 runs to win, Sar goods started their second innings, and after some fast scoring obtained 92 for the* loss of five wickete. C. Chadwick (50, not out) and Jelly (15) played good cricket. P. Bourko and Chadwick bowled for Sargoods. A cricket match was played on Saturday on the Caledonian Ground between teams representing Messrs Stronach Bros, and Morria and the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association (Limited). The former batted first, and were not disposed of till the score had reached 127, towards which Latham claimed 54 by hard hitting, J. M'Lennan 24, D. M'Lennan- 14, and Littl»johr, 10. The Co-operative replied with 66 (Eadie 1b), and following on could only amass 29 (Hislop 12) asrainst the deadly bowKng of Mahone, D. M'Lennan, and Littlojohn, Stronach's team thus winning by an inning 3 and 32 runs. Hislop and. Welsford trundled effectively for the losers.

The Hokitika Club won the West Coast cricket championship on Saturday. In the final game, played against Rose, Hokitika made 18 runs in the first innings, Currie taking seven wickets for 8 rnne. Ross only scored 11 runs, Ongley securing seven wickets for six runs. The match was decided on the first innings. A Christchurch. telegram states that th© weather was fine and the grounds in jrood order for Saturday's cricket mafche*. Sydenharc and Aldington in their first innings made 175 (Kinvipr 48. Huns'ey 29). The United scored 63 for three wickets (Ollivier not out 32), Midland met Lancaster Park, scoring 359 for five wickets (Strnnee 106. Ward not out 54, Wheatley 50, Whitta 41). A Wellington telegram state* that the senior cricket match Midland v. Wellington was continued. Wellington in the first innings made 195 (C. Gore 68). Midland scored 83 for five wickets. In the match Phrenix v. Old Boy/?. Phoenix in their second innings made 193 (Waters 39, Naughton 35. Brio© 33). Th© Old Boys in their second innings made 61 for three wickets (Kircaldie 23).

INTER-STATE CRICKET. ADELAIDE, March 4. Tictoria, in their second innings, made 244 (Lavev 61, Bean, not out, 30). Giffen took eight wickets for 110, Travers two for 69. South Australia, in their second innings, have lost three wickets for 33. The South Australian team in their second innings made 222. Giffen was not out with 97. Other details are missing. Victoria won by 35 runs. THE WIDTH OF THE WICKET. LONDON, March 3. - ffhtt.-Marrkbone Club Committee tafl tte-.

cided to submit the proposal for widening the wickets to a- general meeting to be held - in May.

Inn. ] E. W. Doweoii ... ]5 P.F.Warner ... 23 D J. Burnup ... 24 F. L. Fane ... 22 B.J.T. Bosanquet 17 r. L. Taylor ... 21 P. P. Johnton ... 20 Q. J Thompson 19 I. SUnning .. 18 A. D. Whatman Ifi A.. E- Lejtham... 17 S. Hargreave .., 14 N.O. ] 3 3 6 4 1 0 4 3 4 1 a 4 Runs. 511 828 737 625 466 5)6 411 377 259 £08 187 H.S. 218* 211 82 85 136 105 88 €0* 35 56 28 14 Avg. 42-58 41*4 40 04 34-72 2912 26 25-69 23-56 185 13 8S 1246 46

KlllM. 1 O. J. Tlmmrson . . 1149 E. M. D.,w.-on ... 3>>2 S. Hnrgreave M) 4 C. J. llumup . ... 712 13. J. T. Bjsanquet ... 745 Wicket 3. ]75 &3 1-22 l>7 tit! Average. 653 683 7 41 8"i8 11-28