NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 66

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Lord Hawke wrote to the Canterbury Cricket Association under date June 25, 1908, with regard to a professional coach, as follows: —"I have received your letter, and also the cable ' Yes,' thus I shall proceed to do my best, to select a good cricketer whom I think most suitable. I think it would be as well to get your shipping- agents to cable a passage by the Connthic, leaving London in September. Relf gees by that boat, I believe, and it would be nice for them to travel together. • You, must remember, I have always considered A. E. Relf & most exceptional man in every way. I will try to find his .equal, but you must not be disappointed should his name not rank quite so -high in the cricket world, bat he will bo a good man, of that you may be sure. I can explain it is only for. one season, and that if be gives entire satisfaction he might be retained for two or three years. You mayrest assured I shall be only too glad to. heli*. you at all times. Wishing you every success. —"Toots truly, HkwKE." It was resolved that the hon. secretary arrange far a passage' by 'the Gorinthic as suggested by Loir A" Hawke, and* that a casbTegram to-that effect be sent to Lord Hawke, also a letter thanking him for, acceding so readily "to the association's request. Applications^' ,from players in Australia for the* position of professional coach * were -read. The secretary was instructed to notify the applicants that the selection of a coach was left in the hands of - Lord Hawke. Ther secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association has been instructed to challenge, the Auckland Association for the Plunket Shield, the match to be played on December 25, 26, and 28, 1908, and also to notify th© New Zealand Cricket Council of the challenge. G. B. Fry made his appearance in first-class cricket this season by"-.playing • for Sussex against Cambridge University, and put up the Teapectable total of 67 nr his first innings. A first-class batting display -was given by Hutchings and Woolley for Kent against Northamptonshire. Without making a false stroke they put on 296 for the fourth wicket in a little under two hours and threequarters. Hutohings -was at the wickets 165 minutes, and scored 132, including 21 fours. Woolley, whose hitting was; excellent, scored 152 in 160 minutes, included in which total there were! 24 fours. Going in when the score was less than 200, they made the third century in 45 minutes, . and 50 minutes afterwards. hoisted the fourth. The innings eventually closed for 561, while Northamptonshire's total for the two innings was only 275. - _ - . ■ A London, writer is- responsible for. toe" following interesting remarks ■ concerning W. G. Grace and Ranj.it9inn.ji,. the Jam of s Nawanagart —"Ranqi" is the one-man „ who may be- considered the equal of W.tr. in pure skill. - The names oi others^ SJwews.-. bury, Ricbaro! Daft, W. W. Read, Truroper, , Maclaren, may • be-: • mentioned honoris causa, but no one* of them, can fieriooaly challenge the supremacy of. Grace. Most people would put- • Trumper first- out_ of these- five> but even, he has not exercised anything like the influence on the- batting of his generation which the two champions of champions have produced. It is they who, in their respective times, provided the models which young cricketers in- their dreams succeed va. imitating. If we may regard W.G I. and "Ranji" as equals in pure skill—for perfection implies, equality— we may also admit that *he older man has been the greater mn-getter, when- allowance hae been mad-a for the difference in the grounds of the seventies and those of to-day. But run-getting is not entirely a matter of pure skill; temperament has much influence on a man's scores. E-yer since "Banji" mad© secure his position amonir the great cricketers of hi* age, hehas always been a batsman of moods. Fine weather and* perfect- wrekete for the most part delighted- English, -players in their county engagements for the weelc ended July 2. The rival teams, Nottinghamshsre and Yorkshire*, gave an uninteresting display at Nottingham' Yorks only macfe 179 in their first attempt, and Notts, , for vrhom- J- Hardetaf was" top scorer, with 81, replied with 207. In their ! second .attempt Yorkshire^ collared the bowlinff. inohzddrig that of.W^s, «J*f°»piled 374 foi- six wiobe*s r when they declared. Newsfcead remained not out ,mth a century, and Hirafc was still batons !ft£ makiiur 71. Notts had lortr four ! wickets for 66 when time- was called. Lancashire had an eirar victory over Somerset at Liverpool. The wai»"«* made 154 in their first try and So™«*J really did -worse, only making }36 vnto the wicket and weather good The twoinnings were concluded on tie one day Lancashire was ably assisted by Sharp fl36> and A C- Maclaren (51) in the second mI ninV and when 400 appeared. on the (five for 14) and Dean (three for 14). -thus KddleL. for whonf P. P. W*m« o»I the^expiration of time were unable to play a second innings.