NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 56

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

A London cable advises that the Australian cricketers have arrived m the metropolis, all well. . J Huseey, the ex-Carisbrook cricketer, who is now settled in. Auckland, where he .has been showing good form with the bat and ball, is in town for a short holiday. He speaks enthusiastically of the district scheme of cricket which prevails in Auckland, and thinks it would be an excellent thing for Otago. . The Otago representative cricketer, "Jerry" Austin, swung his bat to some purpose during the Easter holidays. Playing for a "mixed" team of Carisbrook at Queenstown, the Carisbrookian hit up 103 in very attractive style. By the way, Austin purposes playing hockey during the winter with the Dunedin gymnastic "shinty" experts. R. Wilkie, the ex-Otago representative, took part in the annual match between the shipping companies of New South Wales and Victoria. Playing for New South Wales, he scored 21 and 9, and m Victoria's, only innings he took four wickets for 24runs. Commenting on my remarks on "bulli" soil, a Sydney writer says: "Surely there is a sufficiently good soil for the purpose of making wickets to be found in New Zealand."

The Australians commence their first match against the Gentlemen of England at the Crystal Palace to-morrow, Thursday, May The cricket season in Victoria was brought to a conclusion on April 157" when the association pennant was won by the Melbourne Club, with "East Melbourne as runners-up. A case of importance to cricketers was heard at the Accrington County Court, when John Usher, cricket professional, of Crompton, near Manchester, claimed £50 from the officials "of the Lancashire Cricket League. Usher's case was that when he w.as cricket professional at Whaley, the Rishton Club wanted to engage him for one Lancashire . League match, but the chairman and secretary of the Lancashire League telephoned that Usher had been blacklisted, and Rishton must not play him. The league had refused to give any reason for this refusal. Usher said Haslingden signed him for £125 for one season, but through being blacklisted he had to take an engagement for £102 10s in the Central Lancashire League. Usher admitted having been fined £10 by the Lancashire League, and having apologised for having said to Riley, the Nelson cricket professional, at an important stage in the league competition that Nelson had no chance, and if Riley would bowl loosely it might bo worth a sovereign. Usher admitted having betted at horse-racing and cricket matches, but never against his own side. After hearing plaintiff's case, the further hearing was adjourned. A Sydney Referee reader, who saw "Boondi'e" notes on. some strange cricketirr items, 'sends along a case which would require a cricketing Solomon to decide. Two back-country teams — the Pike's Gully and 'Posum Flat — were wresting for fame, when the former champions, who were batting, had: two wickets to fall, and only wanted a few runs to win. At thie critical junctur e a Pike's Gully hero skied a ball to leg, and a 'Possum Flat warrior made a neat catoh. The batsmen attempted to steal a run, but the 'Possum Flat party, by way of making doubly sure, knocked down the wicket at the other end. Then the 'Possum Flat "or home team's umpire rose to the occasion with the lordly air of "another Daniel come to judgment," and gave hie decision thus: "One cove's run out ; the other- cove's caught ut, therefore the both of them is out." The Pike's Gully captain was doing his best to convince the 'Possum Flat •umpire' tEat he was a born ass, and his decision was simply absurd, when a lean and lanky youth in soiled flannels came up, dragging his bat after him, and drawled: "Say, Mister Umpire, where do I come in? If them two fellers is out, wot about me? I ain't been in at all yet, and aeeordin' to your jackass decision I can't go in coz I'm: the eleventh mac. I'll have no pardner, so we'll be playin' youse coves a man short." "H'm!" said the umpire, considerably staggered, but not in the least inolined to give in ;*" "this is a bit of a tangle, suttinly. If you haven't been in you can't very well be out, and yet you can't bat \>y yourself, becauz this isn't comic opera cricket — it's an important mateh — so- I think the best thing to doll be to mark you down as absent, or hurt too bad to play." "Yes, lam hurt, but not in the place or way you mean," was the reply of the ambitious batsman. But the umpire was two stone heavier than him, so the decision stood, and the home team went off to catch a wallaby for the cricket banquet at night. In the course of an article^on "Decadence of Sport," which appears in this month's Baily's Magazine, the author, "Spartan," has something to* say about the payments made to amateur cricketers. This remuneration may, he says, be a necessary evil, and may have come to stay ; but with the multitude of first-class gentlemen, university, military, and others, who now play cricket, perhaps in, the Drojportfoa ol

100 to 10, as compared with those in the 'forties or the 'fifties in the last century, he believes that the best sport in cricket might still be had if such payments were more generally discountenanced in the future, and if each county had to depend, as of old, upon the freely-given aid of its gentlemen in support of the paid professionals, who would always form the backbone in every team. The less, indeed, that cricket becomes a "cut-and-driecV game the bettor. Wo venture to deprecate the eternal sameness of the identically same eleven going from place to place, arriving half-fagged out, after a long night's iourney, going in to bat in one stereotyped and prescribed order, without reference to the bowling, or the weather, or the circumstances, matters which u°ed often to be a matter of generalship and management in other days, and used often to snatch a victory, or at least to prevent a draw, by putting the hitters and fast scorers to the front when the more correct artists would be losing time elegantly, and leaving the ratable balls alone in best scientific style. Less playing to the gallery and to the press, and an absolute disregard, not to say contempt, for the "averages" list in every Monday morning's newspaper, would be desirable. These are some of the items which we would like to press upon all who wish to preserve cricket as the manly and sportsmanlike game which it had been for nearly 200 years, until overdone lawn pitches and heavy rollers and, one may add. overdone means of locomotion for one particular set of players deprived it of that "glorious uncertainty" and variety which was notoriously its chiefest charm.

As the outcome of the conference of country delegates who met in Dunedin some six weeks ago, a team of town cricketers composed mostly of Opoho players, and travelling under the aupices of the Otago Cricket Association, journeyed to Waipiata on Good Friday. The team was met at the station by the representatives of the Maniototo Association, and welcomed by its genial secretary, Mr F. J. Crerar. On account of the train being an hour late, the game did not start till after 2 o'clock. A very cold wind blew across the ground, and made the game far from pleasant. H. Boddington, captain of the Maniototo Eleven, won the toss, and sent the Town team to the wickets. Kenny and Williams were the pioneer batsmen, and made 51 runs before a separation took place. The next five wickets fell rapidly, and seven were down for 65. Webb quickly ran up 20 runs before he was deceived by one from Boddington. Grant bowled very well fot the home team, having the fine average of five wickets for 29 runs. The home team could not withstand the onslaught of M'Gavin and Webb, though D. Marshall (17) made the fielding lively for a short space. He hit vigorously, three 4's being included in his score. Webb took seven wickets for 23 runs, and M'Gavin three for 21 runs. The Town team won the match by 67 runs on the first innings.

In the evening the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert by the Maniototo Association.

A match was played against the Patearoa Cricket Club on Saturday in ideal cricket weather. The local team batted first, and made 71 runs. W. Johnston (12), E. Carr (20). and J. Johnston (20) batted very nicely for their runs. M'Gavin (four for 4). Anderson (three for 15), and Williams (two for 13) had the best bowling averages. The Town team replied with 137 runs, of which number Williams claimed 54-, L. M'Lean 29. W. Kilgour 17, and Timlin 14. "W. M'Lean came out with the fine average of seven wickets for 29 runs, and E. Carr (two for 13) and J. Johnston also bowled well. In their second venture the Patearoa Club had the services of H. Boddington, who rode over from Naseby, a distance of 20 miles, thus showing his keen love for the game. The second innings of the local •players furnished 75 runs. O. Cambridge (22), Boddington (18, who had the misfortune to be run out just as he was going strongly), and MTDowell (10) were "the highest scorers. The visitors knocked off the 11 runs necessary to win the match with the loss of one wicket, and thus won a very enjoyable game by nine wickets. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a smoke concert by the Patearoa Cricket Club. The thanks of the visitors are due to the ladies of Patearoa for kindly stxpplying afternoon tea, -and to the Patearoa Cricket Club and the residents for all their kindness to them during their short soiourn amongst them. The team Arrived back in town on Monday night, all thoroughly pleased with their trip, looking forward "to meet again next year the many friends they have made. The following are the scores : Maniototo County. W. Jonnston, c and b Webb ..- .> 0 J. Hoare, b M'Gavin ...... 3 K. Marshall, b M'Gavin 5 H. Boddington, c M'Laren, - h Webb " 2 M'Dowell, c M'Kay, b Webb . . . . 6 B. Grant, c Henderson, b Webb.. 4= O. Cambridge, b Webb „s .. «. 1 D. Marshall, b Webb ..- i»- 17 H. Pearce, b M'Gavin .. .. A 5 ~8. Bell, not out .. ... .. .. i. 1 J. Johnston, b Webb . . .. .. •». 0 Total „ „ „ .. .. 44 Bowling Analysis. — W. "Webb, seven wickets for 23 mns; G. M'Gavin, three for 21. Town Team, Kenny, lbw, b Marshall ,«, „. „ 17 Williams, b Grant .. .1 , f t ~ 29 Kilgour, run out .. -, r , .. I. 0 M'Gavin, b Grant », 8 Henderson, lbw, b Grant -v >♦ 2 i M'Lean, c Johnston, b Grant ,«. 0 Wpbb, b Boddington .. ... Af: 20 M'Laren. run out „- „ s $7 0 Deans, b Grant - t j >". ,_, ■». 3 Timlin, not o\it . » *> .. .. $. 11 M'Kay, run out rt| i. „.« .. \\ 7 Extras .. jj.i. .. •• t« 14 Total „ « „- .. .. 11l Bowling Analysis.— B. Grant, five wickets for 29 runs; K. Marshall, one fox 11; H. Boddiugton, one for 28. Patearoa. First Innings. W. Johnston, b M'Gavin .. „ 12 F. Shriek, c M'Kay, b M'Gavin .. 5 O. Cambridge, . c Eckhoff, b M'Gavin .. .-. .. 1 J. M-Dowell, b M'-Gavin .. .. ... 3 E. Carr, c Kenny, b Anderson .. 20 D. Cliirnsida, run out .. .. .. l J. Johnston, b Williams ..- .. ;, 20 T. Johnston, b Anderson .<■ .';• -s. 1 J. Wilson, b Anderson .i .. •*. 2 W. M'Lean, not out *. .»«. 0 J. Kirby, h Williams. .. -».' :»• 0 Boddington, absent .. .. £. -i. 0 Extias .. .. .. .. .^ .. 6 Total n « « 71

fowling Analysis.— W. Anderson, three tickets for 15 runs; M'Gavin, four for 4; Williams, two for 13. Second Innings. W. Johnston, b M'Gavin .. .. 0 T. Shriek, c Kenny, b Williams .. 0 O. Cambridge, lbw, b Williams .. 22 J. M'Dowell, b Williams 10 E. Carr, c Timlin, b Williams .. 0 D. Cbimside, run out 3 J. Johnston, c Beans, b Anderson 3 T. Johnston, b Williams 2 J. Wilson, not out 2 W. M'Lean, c Timlin, b William 3 6 J. ELirby. b Anderson.. .., .. .. 5 H. Boddington, run out .. ... .. 18 Extras 6 Total 75 Bowling Analysis. — M'Gavin, one wicket for 17 runs; Williams, six for 39; Anderson, two for 13. Town Team. Williams, b M'Lean . . 54 Kenny, c Jonnston, b M'Lean .. 3 Ahlfeld, run out » ;. 3 Timlin, b M'Lean 14 M'Kay, lbw, b M'Lean .. .. „ 0 Anderson, b M'Lean 3 Kilgour, c Boddingion, b Carr .. 17 M'Gavin, c Bod-dingtcn, b M'Lean 2 L. "M'Lean, not out 29 M'Laren, hit wicket, b M'Lean .. 1 H. Eckhoff, b Carr .. 3V .. .. 2 Extras ..• 9 Total 139 Bowling Analysis. — W. M'Lean, seven wickets for 39 runs; E. Carr, two for 13.