NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2653, 18 January 1905, Page 56

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

During their visit to Dunedin in March tiext the Australian cricketers will probably be quartered at the Grand Hotel. Arrangements in ,that direction are at present being made by the local association. '• The New Zealand team to meet the Australians will not be selected for some threo or four weeks yet. .Players mentioned as .having claims for inclusion are Callaway, Sims, Ollivier, Boxahall, of Canterbury; t>owne«, Fisher, Siedeberg^ Austin, Graham, and Baker, of Otago; BlacHock, Tucker, •Upham, 0. Hiekson, of Wellington; and Eemus, IViason, and Stemson, of Auckland. The old-time Otago representative cricketer W« Parker played for Grange on Saturday last in place of Alex Downes. He ■received a great ovation when he went out to' bat; but greater still was the* applause' -which greeted him when he caught ■Siedeberg out at point. Parker was . more or less of a hero. , While it is an "excellent thing to nave 'an Umpires' Association connected ' with local cricket, it & also v»ry desirable that before an intending umpire is elected to !the membership of that useful body, he ehould be- put through a preliminary exami- ( nation as to ""his "qualifications. The foregoing Temarks are Occasioned by an incident ( which occurred in a senior match on Saturday last, -when an umpire called short run 'to a boundary hit! was trouble && week over, the

Grange wicket oil the North Ground, and a sub-committee was appointed to make- an inspection of it. The report was unfavourable, and the match Carisbrook B and Grange was therefore set down for Carisbrook. Quite apart from the fitness or otherwise of the Grange wicket, in view of the approaching visit of the Australians it is essential that our cricketers get all the practice possible on turf. , I understand that the little difference be- , tween the Old Boys' Committee of the High School and the local association in reference to Harry Graham's services in interprovincial cricket has been got over by the Old Boys accepting the sum of 3 guineas from the association, and the balance tip to five guineas from private individuals I in the Canterbury and Wellington matches ' respectively. There was an entire absence of grumb- ' ling by local cricketers about the weather on Saturday, and even those who had to put in the whole afternoon in the field under the blazing sun lia'd some kind things to say about its warmth. In very truth, it was an ideal day for the summer game, and j if we could rely on anything like the con- i 'tinuance of the weather prevailing last week cricket would go ahead here by leaps and bounds. In acldition to perfect overhead con- ( ditions, wickets were true and the outfields fast. These remarks apply directly to the Carisbrook and the Caledonian Grounds, where the Senior Grade matches were Splayed. . } Albion on a batsman's wicket made a ridiculous showing against Dunedin, and the north-enders are now probably hanging their several heads in very shame. The j poorness of the batting and the consequent paucity of the 'run-getting is hard to ex- ' plain away. I do not purpose at this stage to attempt to solve the problem. Out of a total of 40, one batsman claims 16, extras 4, which leaves 20 runs to b& j made up by the ten remaining players, [ whose average works out at twe runs apiece. ,- Truly a wonderful performance, and on a perfect or cket, too t Cricket is a " funny ' game." ' j • Can Shacklock have taken a new lease of ( bowling life?' His splendid figures on Sat- i urday after his^ performances during the j earlier i^art of the season would indicate j that such is the case. For his own' sake and also for that of. his olub, I sincerely hope that he is coming back to form. To secure six wickets, three of them clean bowled, for 13 runs with the conditions all in favour ' of the batsmen, is a splendid performance, ' and should go far to provethat the ex-Notts ! player retains a little of that talent which made him -such a conspicuous figure in county cricket in, England a few years ago. ' The fielding of Dunedin was quite of the best class and a. decided improvement on previous effort* in this important department. The' fielding practice which the team now goes in for has not been in vain, and 'Dunedin "will find it to their advantage to ' follow it up. I At this stage it certainly looks as if the ' Grange were going to bury Carisbrook B ' in their own turf. They made good use of the wicket provided by scoring nearly , 200 runs, and! are now, no doubt, pleased ' at coming , off their own* wicket on the i North Ground, where they could never ' have hoped to reach anything like that total, j The backbone of Grange's score wwar*s r * cer- I tainly the masterly innings played by Baker for 84. The veteran started badly, which is a failing with the majority of our bats- | men ; but once he got going he never looked I baok^ and fcaye a splendid exhibition of i cricket. A feature of. Baker's innings was his powerful off driving — -.his favourite stroke. I The big Grange man was at the crease nearly three hours for his runs, and was \ going well for the century when he lifted a ! ball into the deep field into the safe hands of Austin, who was fielding just inside the boundary. Austin brought off a good catch in Grange's innings, dismissing Roberts. Theball was going away from the fieldsman and dropping quickly, when Austin made "a dive for it, shot out one hand, and secured what looked like an almost impossible j catch". ! The perfect understanding at the batting , crease which existed last season between Siedeberg and Austin has this year not been so noticeable, and; the harmony has on more than one occasion been disturbed 1 . Austin has been the unfortunate viotim, and again on Saturday he was run out. It was a cheap wicket for Grange, md the north-enders can thank the fieldsman — if he deserves thanks — in another team for accidentally stopping the ball. Possibly this untoward incident was the indirect cause of Siedeberg's downfall also, for he appeared; much perturbed at -thus losing his oluhrnate, and did not play with his uSUaI caution, losing his wicket shortly afterwards, caught at point "by the retired veteran "W. Parker, who was playing in place of A. ,Downes. Save for one or two individual' exceptions the- ground fielding by both Carisbrook elevens on Saturday was tired and spiritless. The picking-up was slovenry. and the throw-ing-in anything bufc accurate. The ex-Carisbrookian Hussey is "doing things" in Auckland. Playing .for North Shore against Poneonby he secured four wickets for 34- runs and scored 4-1 off the bat out of his side's total of 102. The total receipts for the match New South Wales v. Victoria were £872 Is 6d, as against £768 17s 6d for the same game last season. It is peculiar how some cricketers have continuous bad luck. During the North Island tour last year Weston, in four innings, was once run out and iwice wrongly out. At Carisbrook last week (says a Canterbury writer), in his first "rep" game of the season, he was given out by what his opponents admit was an error. Arnold Williams, the Wellington captain, promised Sims a Bat if he made 50 against Otago. He only made 4-7, but Williams considered Sims's performance deserved reoognition, and gave him a bat which had been especially made for himself in England. Arnold) Williams, captai»-» and manager of the Wellington representative team that toured the Southsjisland recently, has written the Wellington Association complaining of published! statements derogatory to the- conduct of ,th& team while away from .home-. In his letter he toid. the conduct of Ihe -team on the tour was exemplary, and the proprietors of the hotels where the team stayed gave unsolicited testimony to the gentlemaaly behaviour of .the players. The j association decided that the letter be published in the press with a request that unless any direct evidence could oe given in support of the statements that had appeared, full denial ghculd' be published 1 , It wag fur-

ther decided to ask that if any evidence could be produced in support of the derogatory statements published, it should be immediately forwarded to the association. — [So far as the conduct of the Wellington team in Dunedin is concerned, the Wellington Association can be assured thai no inquiries are necessary, the men being on quite their best behaviour. — Lo>fG Slip.] ' If rumour is correct, three members of 1 the Australian Eleven will take their 1 brides with them to England. It is known that O. Hill will, after the match in Sydney, proceed to Tasmania, where he will be married, and that Mr and Mrs Hill will be members of the party for the Mother Country. Various reasons were given for V. Trumpcr's absence from the New South Waks team which was at Adelaide, and it is said that j;he real cause for his staying at home was preparation for marriage, prior to leaving 1 Australia on the trip. In Adelaide it was stated that P. M. Newland, whose selection, along- with that of J. Gehrs, was very popular, contemplated following the example of Australia's two grandest batsmen. Therefore, it is within the range of possibility that the trip of the twelfth Australian Eleven to England will be known as "the l&ridal tour." A couple of sah-ent features- in the late inter-State cricket match between Victoria and South Australia (won by the Croweaters by an innings and 72 runs), were the 170 runs scored by Gehrs (which secured him a place in the Australian team), and the huge bowling success J. Reedman proved to his side; the veteran South Australian taking seven wickets for 51 and six for 95. In connection with the recent most unaccountable "dropping" of Harry Trott out of Victorian inter-State teams by the Selection Committee, the following pertinent "advt." appeared in the "Missing Friend's" column of the Age on Wednesday, December 28 : — "LOST, from Melb. Cricket 'Ground, a well known and capable- cricketer named . Trott. His return will be welcomed by the general public. Anyone finding him, please return to the Selection Committee." The manager of tbe first Australian team, says "Short Slip," was Jack Oonway, a fine cricketer in his day, and also a fluent writer on the game. He was, however, too old to be of any use to his team as a player. Geo. Alexander managed the second team in 1880, and he was a regular player. The famous 1882 team, with its handsome blazer, sash, and cap, was controlled off the field by C. W. Bsal. He was also manager in 1888, when the colours were the same as in 1882. The complete list of managers is: — lS7B—.Tohn Con way. 1888— C. W. BeaJ 1880— George Alexan- 1890— H. F. Boyle der 1893— Victor Cohen i 1882— C. W. Beol 1896— HaaTy Musgsrove 1884— George Alexan- 1899— Major Wardill der 1902 — Major Wardill 1886— Major Wardill 1905— Frank Layer With the exception of 1893 and 1896, in which years the Australian Cricket Council appointed the manager, the principal players have done so. The teams went to England every two years from. 1878 to 1890, and they would probably have so continued had not an intimation been received from England) that it was advisable to wait until 1893. Mr Victor. Cohen had everything . ready for the trip in 1892, and it was a disappointment to him and to the playere to defer the tour. ■Since then periods of three years have separated the visits. ' The following is Noble's letter on the selection and management of the team: —"I want to remove any feeling that may have ' been oaused by recent criticism that the leading cricketers in Australia were anta- > gonistic to the associations. The players have never had any other idea of the action of the associations than that they were acting m the interests of cricket. We have never suspected that there was any ulterior motive in the offer of financial assistance, and we are sure that when the New Soxith Wales Cricket Association offered, in conjunction with the Victorian and South Australian Associations, to finance the team, it was not with the object of forcing the | money on the players, but merely to let us know that if assistance in that direction \ were required __it would be forthcoming. I j am sure the New South Wales Cricket As- I sociation did not want to appoint a manager, ! and perhaps it would have been be-tier had \ the players, in the first instance, advised the associations of the appointment. We have never had any intention of going against the selectors appoirited by the. associations, j Personally, I am an executive officer of the New South Wales Cricket Association, and . I am responsible to that body. There has been no friction. We diet not know what the associations intended to do, and so perhaps there may have been some misunder- j standing. The- team will be picked by the- ! ' official selectors, it will then ratify the ap- ] pointment of the manager, and that ap- ■ pointment can then be adopted by the three ] associations. The question of tho- financing i i of the tour by the associations has never been raised by the players; the probabilities are that we shall not require financial assistance. Of course, we have certain privileges which must not be interfered with ; but as for quarrelling with the associations, nothing has been further from our minds. If the associations and other responsible bodies, suoh as the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trustees, care to quarrel, we, as players, have nothing ■ to do -with it. As long as the best men go to England we do not care under whoso control the team goes. The Maryiebone Cricket Club has recognised the associations, so why should not we, so long as our rights and privileges are not interfered with?" Commenting on the selection of the Australian Eleven, a Sydney writer says: — One cannot see where the batting comb^Nation necessary in an International team lies. In England there will be bowlers' wickets, on which our ordinary bafsman will be at sea. MTDonnell, Massie, C. Bannerman, Bonnor, and Lyons have shown that a hitter or two is invaluable on the side. In my opinion R. N. Hiekson should have been selected. But he cannot get a place in the New South Wales First Eleven, you say. Quiteso. Give the New South Waks Second Eleven a battle to finish with Soxith Australia, and let us see on which side the difference of strength lies. Howell, we are told, is practically certain of selection. Well, there is a young player in New South Wales who possesses greater possibilities than -any of the right hand medium pace bowlers, exoept Noble, and if he were taken to England he. would, I believe, be as good as any bowler on the side for the whole tour. I His name is A. Single, of Mudgee. Of course, he lacks experience in first-class cricket. As two of the selectors have never seen Single, who has never played in a first-class match, his chances of inclusion

that doesn't matter. Australia, in my opinion, possesses cricketers capable of forming an eleven as powerful as any that ever represented this country. But w& have not sufficient first-class cricket to bring all the men with the best talent before the public, and therefore before the selectors.

i One finds it difficult to write glowingly of the prospects of the team (says "Short Slip," another Sydney writer). The success of the 1902 combination was in a large measure due to the extraordinary consistency of Victor Trumper. He was then at the height of his career, and it would be too much to expect him to do likewise in 1905. The next man to render a good deal or . service was Hugh Trumble, who has dropped out of big cricket. What a relief it would be to the Australian public if he could 1 even now be persuaded to make the trip. It will strike most people "down under" that we are practically sending over the same old players. It is scarcely true. Would it were so. Luck was with us in 1902 ; we will want it all to win back those ashes in 1905. In fielding only will the- team be ; improved. Syd. Gregory may be expected 1 to be as good as ever, and now he will have Gehrs, who is hardly his inferior, next to him. Trumble, notwithstanding his success 1 in 1902, was getting weak at short slip. A young man to get down, more quickiy than did our old friend H'U'ghey would be a vast advantage, though we cannot fill the vacancy at the bowling crease. Short slip is the most- important place in the field. Look at the services rendered by Braund in that position for Warner's team. In batting and bowling the team will not be the equal of that in 1902. I do not think "Reg." Duff is as good a man as he was. Syd. Gregory is not getting younger. It was not thought three years ago that he would be going this time ; now, however, he will not have the responsibility of business upon him. Most people are aware of his misfortunes in former tours. Everything has ■ always gone against him. 1 Another centurion, this time in the person j of H. W. Hilton, who scored 101 (retired) while playing for Naseby against Ranfurly on Saturday last. In the same match H. A. Boddingto-i, the ex-interprovincial, scored 63. Boddington is batting splendidly this season, and though retiring on several occasions his average is well over 60 runs per innings, and it might be worth the attention of the Otago Selection Committee , to consider his claims for inclusion ir the team against the Australians. A Wellington telegram states that in the match Old Boys v. Phoenix, the latter's first innings realised 159 runs and the second innings 133 (Naughton 48, Houston 27, Wright 25). In their first innings the Old Boys made 140 runs, and in their second innings also 140 (Dixon 54). The Gas Company, playing against Newtown, made 321 in their first innings, while New- I town made 220. In their second innings, I Newtown made 109 for seven wickets. In the- match Midland v. Wellington, the former compiled 63 in their first innings, and 122 in the second innings (Williams 36, Quee 46). Wellington's first innings realised 108, and their second innings 39. Upham and Stephenson each took four wickets for 16 runs. A Christchurch telegram states that the weather was fine for Saturday's matches and the grounds in good order. Syden- ! ham met United, and had 58 up before a ■ wicket fell, but they then collapsed, the ' total reaching only 76 (Patrick 27 and .' Reese 25). United lost eight wickets for ■ 120 (Sims not out 72). The Lancaster Park Eleven, playing against the same club's Thirteen, made- 275 (Bishop 72, Callaway 41, C. Ridley 34, Orchard 32, Boxshall 27). The Thirteen have Jost six wickets for 64 runs (Washer 30 not out). In their first attempt against Midland Eleven, a Midland Thirteen mad© 84 (Homer 46). The Eleven have lost four wickets for 158 runs (Ellis 77 and J. Lawrence 50). OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Otago „ Cricket Association was held in the secr-etairy's office on Wednesday, and attended by Messrs A. C. Hanlon (in the chair), A. M'Lean, W, Maclean, F. H. Campbell, J. J. Clark, J. L. Jamieson, and E. S. Wilson (secretary. Apologies were received from Messi-s O. W. Rattray, C. R. Smith, and W. H. Skitch. Letters were received from the Carisbrook and Grange Cricket Clubs stating that the j grounds for the Oarisbrook A. Amd B. j matches with the Grange had not been j arranged at the meeting of secretaries, and ' asking the association to arrange the matter. — It was left in the hands of the Championship Committee to decide. The Carisbrook Cricket Club wrote asking permission to play Dr J. B. Thomson in championship matohe<s.-<-It was resolved that the secretary be instructed to write to the Carisbrook Club referring them to Rule 6, and to state that the committee regret that under that rule Dr Thomson is not eligible to play. The Maniototo Cricket Association wrote re a conference to be held during the visit of the Australian team. — The secretary to reply stating that the association will intimate to them later on the date of the conference. — A leter was received from the j South Otago Association on the same matter. A letter from the New Zealand Cricket Council re> the visit of the Australian team was received. j The Grange Club wrote asking for a grant j towards their pavilion fund.— The secretary to writ© to the Grange Club asking for a i statement of moneys received towards the pavilion fund. The Secretary submitted a statement of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the intesprovincial matches. Aftei* paying expenses the association was left with a credit balance. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr W. Maclean, secondied by Mr A. M'Lean — " That a sub-committee consisting of Messrs A. C. Hanlon, O. W. Rattray, C. R. Smith, and J. J. Clark be appointed to obtain a guarantee for the visit of the Australian team." — A deputation consisting of Messrs A. C. Hanlon, O. W. Rattray, and C. R. Smith was appointed to wait upon the Re-toilers' Association to see if arrangements could be made to alfcea- the Wednesday half-holiday to the Friday in tbe week the Australians play here. The same gentlemen wea-e also appointed) to interview the traffic manager re excursion fares in connection with -the visit of the Australians. MANIOTOTO CHAMPIONSHIP. A team from Ranfurly visited Naseby on Saturday, when the second round of the Maniototo County Championship waa commenced. The weather was splendid, and the -maifih JKa& actable, for a <#r#i}ry being re-

corded—the first scored by a county player this season ; in fact, the only one for some years. H. W. Hilton and M. O'Driscoll started the Npscby innings, but the latter was clean bowl-od after scoring 9. H. A. Boddington joined Hilton, and the two carried the. s-ore to 130, when the consistent ex-interprovincial representative (who had played splendid cricket for a quickly put together 63) was smartly taken by Bell off his own bowling. With the assistance of V. Lawer the total was taken to 180, when Hilton completed his century and retired. The ex-Lawrence batsman has seldom played a better innings. Playing steadily and confidently throughout." he punished any loose balls with telling effect, and well merited the applause accorded on returning to the pavilion. Lawer mad 20, and, as none of the others gave much trouble to Hie scorers, the innings closed for 210. W. Cooper (six wickets for 70 runs) and D. Bell (three for 75) wore the best of Ranfurly's bowlers. The visitors, evidently tired by their exertions in the field, did not make a lengthy stand, all being disposed of for 46, J. Pottinger (12) and J. Cromb (not out 10) being the only batsmen able to make any stand, and both played pluckily in fch£ir endeavour to effect a draw. Boddington again distinguished himself, this time as a bowler, securing an average of five wickets for 8 runs. D. Marshall, with five for 20, also bowled capitally. Some good fielding was shown on both sides, O'Driscoll {for' Naseby) in particular doing smart work, and making four remarkably clever catches. On the conclusion of the game the visitors were entertained at dinner.