NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 57

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Mr «George Mills, the erstwhile Otago cricketer and groundsman, left Duneuin for Auckland by the Mokoia on Tuesday. It is a pity that efforts were not made to retain his services.

By the departure of M. George Mills for Auckland this week the Dunedin Amateur Ground Company has lost the services of a valuable grounds man. The question of another to fill his place is the present concern of the Ground Company. An applicant for the position need not necessarily possess any abilities as a cricketer, but it is essential that ha should thoroughly understand the preparation of wickets. Cricketers generally, and the members of the Clarisbrook Club in particular, will wish the Ground Company overy success in its efforts to secure the services ol a first-class man.

The death i 3 announced of Mr George Gilbert, a veteran cricketer, who captained the first New South Wales team that played against Victoria. The deceased was a cousin of Dr W. G. Grace.

On© of Sydney's beet performers in the mid-week crioket competitions in the person of Mr E. J. Donahue- arrived in Christchurch recently. He is a school teacher by profession, and has secured a temporary appointment under the South Canterbury Education Board.

It is gratifying news indeed to learn thai the Marylebcne Club intends making definite arrangements for a team of English amateurs to tour New Zealand next season.

The Rev. E. F. Waddy has informed the New South Wales Cricket Association that the Melbourne C.C.. having refused to free him from his promise, he has formally withdrawn tbat promise to play for the club in the event of it inducing an English team to visit Australia in opposition to' the Board of Control.

Commenting on the almost forgotten "incident" in the match between M.C.C. and Otago an English paper says: — "It is sad to be obliged to add that the Otago captain consented to Armstrong's proposition, and thereby created the dangerous precedent of allowing an important match in New Zealand to be governed by local Australian rules."

Waverley and Burwood Clubs of Sydney have given practical support to the New South Wales Association, by suspending H. Carter, A. Diamond. J. O'Connor, J. R. M. Mackay, and G. L. Garnsey from all the privleges of membership. The players named will, therefore, not be able to play grade cricket until they have been readmitted, and that will not be while they remain disloyal to the New South Wales Association. The Burwcod Club strongly resents the action of its players, and has decided to ask the association not to award a pennant for this season's premiership. The members do not \sant anything which has been gained under false pretences, as it were.

.On the return of the M.C.C. English team from. South Africa, P. F. Warner, on being asked if he had any excuses to make for the defeat of his 6id© in the test matches, said : "I never make excuses when I am beaten, and there is no doubt that on this occasion we met our masters. Cricket in South Africa has made tremendous headway, and on tKe Wanderers' ground at Johannesburg I am not at all certain that the full strength of England would beat the colonials. They have a splendid side in all departments of the game. Their batting to the last man is sound and olten brilliant, while their bowling is of infinite variety, and their fielding magnificent." Asked whether he thought teat fixtures should be granted the South Africans in their next tour, Mr Warner said he wa« certainly in favour of three fixtures with England's full strength. He spoke enthusiastically of Mr Crawford, the Surrey amateur, whom he hailed as tho coming Jacks-on. "Indeed," he added, "I have never seen a player of his years with suoh wonderful possibilities as a batsman, bowler, and fielder. He was quite exceptional."

It would appear that the M.C.C. was backing down over the position it took up in connection with the cricket crisis in Australia. The M.C.C. authorities are now anxious to work in with the New South Wales Association, and have intimated that the agreement with the leading New South Wales players will be cancelled if the controlling body in Sydney will remove the suspension from the players. The M.C.C. i 3 desirous of cooperating with other cricketing bodies with the view, to securing the visit of an English team.

Commenting on the cricket crisis in Australia a Sydney contemporary has the following: — "In the meantime the majority of the delegates of the New South Wales Cricket Association have indicated that the suspension of the players does not mean that it will only be effective during the winter nxmths. It appears fairly certain that Mackay, Garnsey, O'Conner, Duff, Noble, Hopkins, Trumper, Cotter, and Carter will be debarred from playing next season, while from the statements made at a recent' meeting of- the association it may be gathered that at least one of the players mentioned will be disqualified for life. Tho association is in receipt of eortain information, and if more is forthcoming ono player will be debarred from taking part in all future matches."

PASSING AUSTRALIANS

Four of the historic players of Australia have now letired from the game — Kelly, Gregory, Howell, and M'Leod. Kelly, the oldest of these retiring masters, had a partioularly hard task allotted to him when asked to assume the mantle of Blackham. Kelly has %lwaya been a strong and plucky craftsman — a typical professional player, who always gave of his best, and a thoroughly sound exhibition it was. He was a safer catch than stumper — and since catches are far more frequently offered than chances of stumping, it were bettor so—by reason of the fact that hi 6 hands, "gave" very considerably in taking the ball, moro so than do those of most keepers. Hi* knarled and knotted appearance was that of a man over fighting uphill battles, one to whom batting and keeping alike were tasks rather than pleasures. I suppose, says Albert Knight, in the Athletic News, there could have been little pleasure in taking Armstrong last sea=on with batsmen smiting behind in imminent proximity to poor Kelly's head. Kelly made what was the finest catch at tho wicket I have ever 6een when he dismissed Tyldesley at Adelaide in 190*. and thereby contributed to Australia's victory. Tyldesley had glanced a ball from Hopkins well wide of the wicket, and immediately following the beautiful stroke, of which indeed his movement was oart, ran up the

crease a few yards ere he turned to look at the ball, which in ail reasonable anticipation should have been approaching the boundary. Prompted by some inspiration, however, Kelly had jumped wide out on the leg side, and stood stationary with the ball in the middle of his outstretched left hand. For several seconds both Fyldesley— yards out of his ground — and Kelly gazed at one another in amazement at the happening. Neither dared to realise it possible for the moment, until the congratulations of Australian comrades awoke them. The element of luck in co supreme a grab at a glancing ball must hav2 peen considerable, and can be variously estimated, but it was one of the finest catches and one of the most unlucky dismissals from which batsman ever suffered.

Great a batsman as was Gregory, it is, I suppose, as a unique cover-point that he will be best remembered. Only at rare intervals has it been my privilege to see him at his best in that position, when the easy silent swoop upon the ball, the pace 'and accuracy of the return — usually from the level of the shoulder — demonstrated how clever he must have been when the springtime of youth was his. It is curiously interesting to watch a. great player obviously past his prime, come out of his shell as we say, and say truly. It seems as though, like a hermit crab wandering in quest of a new shell, we have entered into a past habitation. Sometimes a common cottage window miles away will reflash like a very pharos light the gleams qi an autumn sunsot which seems the more' vividly bright in the reflection. After a series of small scores, and a series of very eevere press criticisms. Gregory in the match to which we have just alluded, played an innings which could not have been surpassed by him 10 years picriously. He has had 16 years of firstclass cricket. Like many a little player, he managed his most gracefully, .and' if you can imagine 8"o • correct a player as Willie Quaife accelerating to the speed . of a Jessop, but without departure from his traditional style of play, you get some idea of the accuracy and the power Gregory displayed at his very best. His late cutting and hie forcing play on the off-side were delightful, and for once he enjoyed an immunity from discouragintr fear when his bete noir, Bosanquet, the terrible, engaged him. Not often is it given to meu in declining power ,to blossom forth with such a delightful fulness of fascinating embroidery. I Bill Howell was one of tho most conspicuously winning men I have ever met; Entirely 'free from that cynical langnidity which in lesser natures his sublime indifference to gate would produce, he had all the largeness and breadth of view of a man. Others might get sick of bad umpiring—as eternal a problem as off-side in football,— but Bill Howell knew it to be all in a day's play, and bowled on with the persevering patience that outwearies fate. Oddly enough it was the charm of his hitting capacities which first won him representative honour, for in those/ days Alec. Bannerman. and other delicately tapping batsmen whom time and the tour never wearied had rendered the character of Australian oatting • as ploddiag as to-day it is vivid and_ swift. Only once, however, did his hitting prove lengthy enough to brighton up a somewhat prosaic record of small scores, for Bill intended 'always to find the boundary quite independently of the whereabouts of tho bowler's delivery. - A& a break-back bowler he was, at' his best, worthy of comparison with the giants of all cricket history. On matting, or any wicket giving any assistance to " bite," he could bowl that awful ball which pitches on the off stump and hits the leg bail, finding the blind spot 607- often. In his huge hands, strong and sinuous, the ball seemed like a poa, and not even the pcrf^t Sydney wicket could utterly exorcise that break. The granitic surfaces of Australian pitches strained him badly, and bandaged legs were often his portion of late, but to the last the unplayable break-back was a possibility. He was one of those rare and lovable men who seem for ever to be looking out for a common ground of kinship; every time he laughed — which was often— you had a glimpse of that liftht-heartedness of tho truest kind which is only seen in little children or in thoroughly healthy and cheerful men. He grew^ delightful melons; they were indeed fine and large, and I doubt not his honey was very sweet. Not more attractive were his fruits nor sweeter his honey than the generous giver of them. For he was himsslf like the rich fruit which, cut deep down ihe middle Shows a heart within blood-tinctured, of a veined humanity. I hope Ilcwell will be the most successful farmer in Australia.

A TEAM OF AMATEURS FOR NEW

ZEALAND.

LONDON. June 14.

After the receipt of Australian newspapers respecting th» cricket dispute tht Marylebone Club feels justified in making definite arrangements for a team of amateurs to play in Vow Zpn.ln.nd this season. MELBOURNE. June 15.

Major Wardill is of opinion that in fend ing a team of amateurs to Now Zealand th«> Marylebone Cricket Club does not intend to ignore Australia altogstlior. Ho looks upon the team as distinct from any team that would be sent to Australia. SYDNEY, Juno 15.

The Board of Control i= likely to invite tho team of amateurs after they visit New Zealand, to come £>n to Australia. The board has also invited the South African team.

SOUTH AFRICAN TEST MATCHES.

LONDON. June 11

The Marylebono Cricket Club has arranged that the three test matches during the tour of the South African cricketers in 19C7 shall be played to a finish.

A SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA.

LONDON, June 14.

The Standard's Capetown correspondent states that arrangements are progressing for sending a team of South African cricketers to Australia.