BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 59

BY LONG SLIP.

'Ihe colt* giey of an in- -tried vprinj afternoon with a wind -! marine like ;i -whip 1 kish ami cutti.u- hk- st?~l i> m,i comforting I !<> tiie a.vtrag-3 rud^iei, d 1 withal fa.from inviting to; donwig flannels ard ! -t.ii,'Jin/r oui in the loD^-fi-ltl for the e*x- )<■ :tai.l catch. The co:n linor,* of .Saturday la-ii uei? wr.tchod in the c\ii<'ine. and the ■■"-non-ible compni^i- ef t.ho Or«".jo Cricket A--vcia;io)i shc.wd it-, wi rio;n in jyo-ip'm-i!'s the ripening of th<> * *a o" 111 til .1 w.< > - c an-;ji;-ii,ii- occa-v.n, which it 1-. <'^\out'ly ,0 I > wi.»lie<l 'i ill b <hi SauiJ.iy n?\t 'J'li"» «"j-on 15 alrcjd\ ijtc in lomii'C'cinjj, l/i'i with a firif -umiror ii.ai'\ thr»2> tl]''..c---ib!et l]'-'..c---ib!e to iiiak^ uo i<n tho uei.ix. Anjw.iy «\i' a.l hope A 1 i--'- .•!>! f 10:11 Sydn \ on Sjtuiunv w - ('. AVoid-wo c)i. ti.e p:-"*V-- ior ;tl, v. ! ;o li^ i*r.,> n ie piiyo'j- ,1 by tl>" OtP'^o Ci ick"T A - y )L atiori to .'.t a". i.'jci<iid L.jwlor ai 1 <o.i'h <3ui I'j-fr- ."•,-> -r\i-u,i Wcit'twi'tli arii\^d in tli- t'v-ili <,f a h-jwln^ y iL-i'-)t a \c\ <hf.>rful v-i'jr on for or. -> fiom Sjtlo\ — !,ut il 1^ jxp <| ih^t wl.^r tt li"l i" weather !a'-kf<l in wiii ii'*h. \\a> mi;-<'.' u]i l^v th" r. Co,. ,on <f !n^ olci f ,i rd- in Dim^diii '111? S\dli r 'V ikjwlli I- look 1 it: H.I!, o. J 1-. in <i much b-ttci -*«;-• of r>' t'th ihan v.i -n ln-t with u« Xo'v t! a pn a'l^^u.' » t-> iii\ c been n.ado for rt.a<.h"m ai '\ t! c (o.ichc^ 1 dutic- do£r.L-d w<> may re.i'-orabK l<-ok for an int«lliT-e:) J iiif'.^-t in tl'° work by t.l.e co!t^ who will he ~2lcrU 1 to come urder the immediate eye of tiu profeseional. ' Xow that it has been given out that C. , G. Macartney, the young Australian iiU«ri.ational criek-cter, is to fake tip h;\ lv-i-''"iice in Dunedin the critics are di.-cover- j mg other stars who purpose foi^akin? Australia for Xew Zealand. It is announced in W-ellington that a prominent Australian I will fake up hi* re=kl' inoe in Wellington aft-er Hie New Year. I-sn't it just about time we turned cul crickel/r 3 for ourselves? In past years the honorary secretary of th^ New Zealand C' ickot Council baa , favoured me with a copy of the annual j

| report and balance sheet prior to the annual meeting of the council. This year the little courtesy co fully appreciated has been overlooked. But this by the way. The annual meeting of the council, held th,e other day, created less stir than usual. The most important question — and the one in whioh cricketers arid the criebat-loving pufoljc are so vastly interested in — is that of the proposed! visit of an Australian team to New Zealand this season. Last year the finanoes of the council had not warranted any expenditure on foreign teams, but negotiations are in progress with the Australian Board of Control for a visit by a second Australian side during the coming season. There is reaJly nothing- to sayabout this more than at latest advices the board were consider mg tba proposition, and it is almost practically decided that an Australian team will come to New Zealand. It will, of course, not be anything like a representative side, but it will inolude sove-ral first-class players and others whose ©lass is higher than that of the majority of the New Zealanders. Our old friend Arnold Williams, of hittir.g fame, is still playing cricket in Wel- | lingron,, and demonstrating that he still has | a weakness for the big-driving game. | H. Aspinall, the young Star batsman, who was suspended for failing to proceed ■ to Ohristchuroh with the junior representative team la^t New Year, aifter promising to do so, attended the O.C.A. meeting on I Fridiay_ and offered an explanation, at the I same rime expressing regret for his action. The committee thereupon removed the suspession, and Aspinall will be able to play for Dnnedin, in whoso senior team he has been chosen. Ii would, perhaps, have been brtter, for their own sakes if the O.C.A. had- decided to nllot Woidsworth to the Dunsdin Club, a'- oi = of their number suggested. Wordsworth. Like all fast bowlers, needs very careful handling, and on ths good wickets 'at the Caledonian Ground' there is no ! doubt that C. G. Wilson— who nas 0112. of I the piime movers in the re-en a:ac>emeiii of I the Sjdney man -would havo .got the very ] bc=t out of him. I In connection with the coaching anran.geincnt> this season, the association have appointed Messrs C. G. Wilson, Hope, Siedeberg. and Wychei-lpy to attend' on certain evenings to see to the proper carrying out of th-e «chcnje. The rercrt of the management committee of the Now Zealand Cricket Council a(atocl thai a f>iea(, c'eal of disci>s«'on had I been occasioned by a misundei-standinsc regarding- the dates for tha Plunket Shield matches between Auckland and Otago, but j the nittttei had been satisfactorily retlled . Otago and Canterbury .had challenged for I tho shield, but after exciting matches it I had remained with Auckland. After reviewing the results of the matches, the , report went on to state that the- two professionals. Rolf for Auckland and Hum- , phreys for Canterbury, had been a feature lof tha Canterbury-Auckland match. Chal- ; lenges for tha Plunket Shield had been sent to Auckland by Wellington and Canterbury. A region of the rules governing the shield had been made by direction of the council, • and an amended draft was included with . the proposed now rules of the council. I With regard 'o a vu,ifc from ilhc South I African team, which would tour Austradia during 1910 11, the negotiations had not ro-ulted in anything definite being agirert i to, although there was every likelihood of 0 visit. There was every reason io bohe\ o that an Australian team, including. Bard^lev and liar.^ford, would arrive in Nf\v Zealand in Fe bruary. The comimtico proposed tha^ the financial arrangements shoul'l bo on similiar lino-, to those of the M (\C tains tour, and it wa-s not expected that tlio total cost yould exceed £650. The following offico-bearcis have boen fed to the council of iho Now Zoa'aivl Crkktr Association: — Pic-ad^nt, (he prosi- , dent of ih" Duller Association ; Mco-presi-c'onts presidents of affiliated association-.; ; honorary secicraiy, Mi F. C Raphael; I honorary lre:ti.urer, Mi R Vincent; man- j agoment committee — Messrs Young, Austin, Francis, Williams, and Rec^e; honorai > auditor. Mr F H. Labatt. At i\ o mortitiß of the Now Zealand f'ricket (Jounc.l an amendment was pio-po-ed to the rule= governing Plunket Shield j Matches lint no I'cach or a'iy person inipji.od at the e\[j?nse of any association smoulu bo eligllslo to play in any shield ni.i'ch uiti! ho had resided in th- Domimon | fui ti\o yea-'i continuourly. The^ijrojSosal j Has allo'vod to a=! a notice 01 motion , for a suhsequenr me^ring. Tiieic is m.iri. , to b^ said in unour of rlip piopot-ed ammd j ni^nt, :is tho=;c who givo> the question j (."iiou? coriiiderarion will 1-3al2.se AjJiopo-; of fch° foi Mg^cimj. ot a. lvc^nt iii->f'in-' of the Ciruerburj Cr ck a t A-.aoc.a-Tio:i, a inot'O'i thai iJele^afe* to (lie cou/ici' supnoi 1 th'^ proposal 'lh.*.t no pro- ' J fp^^innal cujli h nlm was not a poimapcn'- | ; it. id.'iii of the Doin.n on should bo allowed 1 1 to niko iau m rho Plunket Shield match was It -.r. j Drip;u> fh ■ admit tbl;- <ffoif> of the m»m- 1 l'^rs of tho Oiai, r o Cn.kcL At^ociai ion and | the ))i-'sid?;>t tli"ivf. t he m\*t."iy con'".-.,- t m>r "tli"'" nit'Tiiahoi'a l ci ic!:ori 1 liai be ;i , i-\"i!nJ to an exp.Hiant public. No !e--;t p^t-onagf tlrin Victor Trumpe-i ni- | ■• oivo'i Ih" 'how jimv, ' ,11 '•irrlmg |'^'" j lane 1 , aril tho in.-rciv !- ;' ni\->t^v no loneer. W'-11, thoiv 1- a <'_al to be think i fui fo>- Ir mi •_■■>' 1 h.\>> b >er \\oi-" TLr I fl.ck(tiii'^ jiublio v. '.- '> K'irninar to f<*ol I liU't. c>n I making a'l manner rf^\iM :ni- j i-a!cuLiiion-> l-sjicitn^ the i.'^utit\ of the j --: j'lirer. Oiu> tj'— - no cipilu foi hiMnp j „]cro(s-t-->'l (' fJ. Maf«nip.'-y a«> t'u" ]>o-~ bl" ' mtcrnrinonal who j.ii/pr.-/:i <Kiwti ■ in ])iip-!,;i. fir Tl,T 1 ,- name of tho Nov. Soi-th W-^hfim v.t, wl • \y\-A mi ; pa ilion- and ''lib loo'ne inntf fou mor.' 1:it:o Ain\\,i' w ■ lm\^ th.o \ni,n,' Ai'- ' n.tlian w ''co'ii" w ii?'..^ ci 1" eh.." - - to copw Our nip '"-. " ir. lint no", M."\t* D("-', idMnit.i ! ia> lireii mad- kr;j\\i> to . t'ii'iij will com- n! li." wa-\ of l ii~. tnl.i'i;,' vi) rc-M "ir" if Duii'dm a; 1 i b^cjiaii)" ci< !7en and an OU.fo t rick^t^i. Ir i.= encoir .)yi"sr h->ar f'om Mr t AVilliain?. pr- -lf'^n of tho Hav,k"V 13-iv Cricket Association, that it is almost firtain the Mnniebono team will inJuJo Xfw Zca'and in its tour of 1911. __ . Amonc'i other ramss submir.ted liavmi 1 (he recent di«cu«sion on the probable international rrick"ier tvTio was taking- up hi* residence in Dunedin was that of J. N. Ciawford. the Ei2rli«h amateur. Of cour.-^, wo know now that Macartney and not Crawford is the mysterious player, but Crawford has accr-ptcd the offer of the South Australian .Cricket Aseocia- ! ton for the maatershin of St. Peters' 1 College, Adelaide. How the Soutli J

Australian Cricket Association accomplished this passes my understanding. But no matter. It is of Crawford I would write:-— J.' N. Crawford, who was in Australia with the last English team, is mixed ) up in a quarrel with the Surrey County ' Club because he refused to captain the I county team in the return match against I tho Australians. He declined to do so J I because Rushby, Lees, and Davis, had been | I omitted, .and in a letter to Lord Alverstone, the president of the club, said: "I knew of nothing against any of the three, 1 nor could I learn anything of what you , insinuat3 I do not know who was rej eponsibl© for the selection of the second 1 eleven sort of team furnished up for 6Uch j an important match, but I apologised to I the Australians for it, and explained my ! reasons for standing down. There seems , to be some impression amongst a few of 1 the Surrey committee that- 1 am some youn^ ' professional instead of being a young fellow j who hai had an experience of cricket that j I has seldom fallen to .the lot of anyone, and I my request for an * alteration of the team j last Thursday should have had some weigh r , ! and was bul the outcome of a sporting de- ■ sire to avoid the criticisms which have alI ready appealed on the subject in most oi 1 the papers." After further correspondence. Crawford was informed that his invitation to play against the Australians at Scarj borough had beon cancelled, and that the I M.C.C v.ould not now require his services j as a member of the team to visit South i Africa. The eommitrea of the Surrey Club ' also passsd the following resolution: ""Thai in \ iew of Mr Crawford's conduct in de- , dining to play for Surrey on the morningof tho Australian match, after having previi omly communicated to the secretary his intenHon to play, and his subsequent letters . to Lord Alverstone, the- committee resolve that, he be not invited again to play for Surrey.*' In reply Ciawford sent the following- l'tter: — '-Kindly convey to tho com mitfceo my acknowledgment of their resolution, which surely might have hoen accomj panicd by thanks for past services. I 1 fail to s-^ why I should practically be ■ 1 branded as a ci iminal beoaufia as acting capI tain in the second match against tho Aus1 trahans I declined the responsibility of I skipporina; a team which did not include ; threo -'ssantial players in Davis, Lees, and Rushby— an ir dependence which I trust will etill remain, in spite of the awful example made of mo, to c-ery amateur in the United Kingdom " Mr Victo.- Truniper, a member of tho Australian Eleven, arrived at Fremantle on October 12 by the R.M.S. Macedonia. He said. >n ihe course of an int€.r\iew, that ! all tho team were fit and well after their i aaid time in England. He complained I lather bitterly of tha treatment meted out to the team by the Australian Board of Control. -'Nolle." said he, "is full up of it and won't play any more international cricket. In fact, we are all full up--tnat 13 all rhe plder players. Some of che I your, or players went to England not in a ! very happy frarno of mind. "We were ' i.wat-,d well by the English writers except i Mr E H D. 'Sewell, who, for reasons not i yet made public, was especially bitter I a»ain3t our i-eam. I gave him a good talki ing to about it, but others of our team took I no notice- of him. It was evident that our success hurt him, Wo let him down lightly • when we took no notice of him." Truinper ' \v«n,t on to complain of the way the players had beoa treated by the Sydney .papers i '-They have been," ho said, "with the Board of Control all the time, and havo n^er given us a chance. The Melbourne p-ijo'-s f.avo boon more considerate, an-l I not afriiiti to express their opinion*. Tho board should have admitted U estarn Austiaha to its conferences. Ho.v can it bo a B-ird of Control if all t.ho Australian ! St^e, a.re not repr.«-ited» In beard ! oiilv mvo re r ie.scntati\es to the Queensland , A«Wi»tion - as to gci for fc-outh Wales M I I If fiydn-v has the mucli-wantfid domen. , ! bowler or the batsman able to make runs , like a Tmmpcr. or a Mackay, should soon, j ho known now. There aio now t*o ccacnes t 1 on the lookout fcr voupg.-toi- a.nd io ffive 1 them any a^hice to help them onwa.r.l. , The N.S.W. A*s-=ociation has appointed aipc , Parinc'man as a coaoh. and he is to vj.-lt the various g.rourxU. Tho Sydney Cricket ; Grollr.li trustees, 10 be ahead, as usual, have j ' «-cued the e^rvicas of R. A. Duff for | . th.-'a-isfinc.3 of members, fcr whom special ■ wicket* a wd bowle.rs arc- also available-/ j Dii*? atif/i'.c'N th? Cricket roiuid each after- • 1' nron, (\<epHn^ Wednesdays and Saturday?. I I Th'cMe was a-, much excitement over the f I i-uiinintr out of Fry in the fifth te=l, match j ! a-. tilCie was O\er a similar yici^len-t so.iie t I ,c,ih ago. Ranptsinhji ran ort Jlaci Tv°r^n Thoie i- some! hint; humorous ii)"-."t'th" il'a-natrd d^ciiption- of the Fry nitx'mit, as will 13 -oc-n from th^ follow- | ii>ir lortfr to the Observer : — "To thoss who j <'[<! not hai-* tho pWiiii-i' of \\itiK>.s-iin? the ' 1 1-,'t t'-t match it is highly gialihing to . I ha\e the < ppcituiuty of 'c^ing incident = of { t'i3 match r^pro-luccd phoiocfTaphicallv in. | th" f'aily iwpoii. In two well-known papei s j 1 hot- _ijph- of C. B. Fry bs'iiK run oi'fc j „,>,, ii 1. Tho Dai.h Telrsrivsph of Aujrust '11 -hoy. -, him with hts bat woll in tho , n i.l lie of tho ci-'-a';e. whilo tho Daily ] . Mi .or of :he midp <lat^ depicts him lyin.jr 1 :r full If woll to the off <A the crease. i It i-. c-n-iou, thut he should he rim out I t ,we • ;ri (lie «ani3 innings. Ir i* also iniere ti"i t"> noto that, according tr the j i l>ti!v Trlco;irih. the Australian captain 1 ' \\ n \i-- ]- 2-~n->i<\=i when bovilinof" j I \ Giuld f oi-d (EnsrlaiJ) en- kct olevon. I I Tube a"d Rol)inson'.-. 6<-oi-.'d four runs ! a'/flin 1 rirlniifht on a rwrr Saturd«v. I Th--\ vrc diami=-;ed in 22 ha!'?, on- howlc- ; ijk'ns- "w:\.-mi wickets fcr r.o ri'ns, p"»rrorm- ' 1. / rh'* 1.-i^ trick- twice. Five wickets f.'H m the seer nd o\^r. I ]p K-nt i^oin --v»t th-> " =qrarc-!es " , ••:>ipk > i:i-i-tpd <■ n -t-mXr " "^tjuare" ' l« 1 11. ti "> i--a on bsinz ti it Blvth" hid fnit" :i miniboi- of moT 1 en tli-o 1"^- sklf, &• } t'i'tr h-^ uoul'!ha\e b" n in their rc-i-l. T. f cllov\n,<r i)la\" s hnve b°^n in.it^d m \i,i< S'ont'i Afri^ji und->i- th? a;i pics ' of I'.f M VC. n-\t \o\CP-.h-T--H. D. fi. , T."\ e -T'-'Jr <• or (ttuirov), captain. F. L , Fa'.o 'T*-*-,r\). O. TT. Fimpson-Havward j CVVo'c • -h >!•«). f'.-ipra'n E ii. W\nvaul j fF-i.-n 1,i.-). M. C P»ir,l ff'uirev). Strw'lv.cl- liivu es). *F. E. Wocllev (Kent). *G. .T. Tin 'T.p-c.v (Xoiitiiarnpton^hirc), D^ntom (Ye'].-=ni-->). -*Rhod?i (Yorkshire), *B!vthe . (Kent), and Buckenham (Es^ex). Several } cf tL- alxjvs pl-iy-si.' have accepted pro- j visruallv. Another choice has to be mado still the extra man beini t.hft second | wick-t K--eper. *Played for Engrlaiid v. Aus- 1 t»*alia this season. The Victorian season was opened on October 9. Richmond maclte 219 against Fran ran (D. Smith 103). Carlton lost cix wickcta for 250 a^aijiflt University (T.

Warne 117). Kortlang (formerly of Sydney) made top score (31) in the score ofi six for 93, made by Essendon apainst North-* cote. East Melbourne got rid of South' Melbourne for 111. Collins took seven wickets for 40. East Melbourne ran ud 83 for the loss of one .wicket. Melbourne was all out for 85 against CoilinsrwooA, Pitcher captured four wickets for 17, and Coxon fa new left-hander) three for 26l Collingwood lost edgOit for 33, Hazlitt getting four for 8 and) A. Johnson four foso 19. To Sydney cricketers it Is incomprehe-n* sible tftafc the opening of the cricket season in. any Australian State should be put off till October 9, out of deference to football and its financial solatium. But (says the Referee) it seems a mere matter of course in Melbourne and Adelaide. Are the eric* kete-rs of those fair cities so vastly inter' ested in football that cricket is, even t<| them, relatively insignificant? A curious incident happened in the Sus-< sex inning's in the match against Australia. Killick, finding* the wicket broken, and being- under the impression that he had been bowled, walked away, and had reached ' the ring 1 when the question was raised as >to whether lie was out. Noble appealed to j tho umpire, and Harrison decided in favour ! of t.he batsman, who returned, only to be j bowled six runs later. I ""The 1110s: amusing test match incident I can remember finds a setting on the Sydney Cricket Ground," writes L. O. S. Poidevin in the Badminton. "His Highness the Jam of Xawanagar, who is the ' central figure, was fielding at point, wjien j a high catch was hit up between tho wickets. It was obviously the bowler's catch, but Ranji, yelling, 'Leave, it to me!' insisted on having it, amidst general expectancy. Circling round and underneatK j in an> thing but a cool and collected manj ncr, he finally went to earth in an uncere- | nionious sitting position, Wihflst in the j very act of catching the ball, which meanwhile also reached the 'floor' in safety and in a hurry. As Ira picked himeelf up it was a moment of deepest chagrin for Ranji", but he soon saw t*be comicality of it all, and joined in the universal laughter; the 'hum' and "buzz' of voices discussing the incident were immediately so great and I disconcerting that the players had to wait I minutes fov it to subside before returning seriously to the. game." A team of Englishmen will tour Soutli Africa during the present summer, under ihe auspice? of tho M.0.0. Concerning the team H. I). Leveson-Gower, the captain, stated : — •"Thf men cho«en will be hard to ! beat. The bowler* are excellent, and though I it is difficult to predict what will happen on a matting wicket, tho batting men ought to gi\e a good account of themselves. We naturally have- done all we could to get a side together, and doubtl3ss it could have lx»3n done, but the eleven would have been so weak that it would have been an insult to South Africa to eend it out to meet them So many of our best amateurs who play all the summer through have to work through the winter months that we had to fall back upon professionals, so as to get a team worthy of South African cricket, for the M.C.C. thoroughly realise what South' African cricket is. As at present arranged, we are to play 16 matches in all. including: five tests, which will be played at Capetown, Johannesburg-, and Durban. During tho la^t tour we played many more matches, and the long distances we had +0 cover were rather a strain upon us. Still. I think that eleven ordinary matches will hardly give us sufficient practice on the matting j wicket, and I have suggested that four more should bo arranged. Wo leave England probably on November 13, .and play our first matches at Capetown, Kimberley, Blosirifotifcoin, a-nd Johannesburg. We exI i>2ct. to get bajk about tho middle of March. A letter was received in Melbourne last week from a cricketer who followed the I Australian Eleven dnirinsr their recent tour ■ in England, in which tho "writer 6ays : — 1 The tour has not been such a financial I failure as everybody thinks. The preliminary matches paid much belter than 1 on any previous tour and a record season .' was expected, but afterwards they liaa , wretched weather, and some of ifoa best matches, particularly thode in northern 1 counties, wove completely epoilcd, in one J instance only an hour's play taking place lin three day*. Notwithstanding this, they ■ have taken ju-,t on £13,000, and if the weather had only been a bit decent they ' are all certain that, tho Boardi of Control's 1 estimates of £18,000 would have been real1 i^d. I In connection with this the Argus said : Tht» oonclitiio.is un^loi- vxliieb tha team was sont Home by tho Board of Control were that after the payment to the Board of 5 poi cent on tho "(hat £6000, and 12i per cent, on tho balance, the profits should bo divided equally among tho> players and the manascr. The of the tour are no-t «=*i»tod in the letter, but it is thought he.ro that they nill amount to about £4500. The Board of Control's percentages amount to £1175 (Ic-s £200 as fchown), ard this will leave about £8500 for distribution among the player-. Dividing this sum into fiixteon equal parti fifteen players all-!, the manager vi ill each get about £5iC. It will bo seen that this by no mean^ agrees with Trumpor's estimate Lots of people in commenting on th j bowling strength of the Australian Ele\<-n compare it with that of past teams to the detriment of the present combinatioi . They said there was n6 Spofforth, Turtle., or Trumb'o, and their conclusions werj arrived at on the results of a given toui. ?Cow (says tho cricket writer of Sydney Mail), they lose sixht of a big fact. Turner in his day had no one to oppose him in tho bowling line, unless it Vras Ferm. In the daya of thoso, two Percy M'Donneli v.as th? captain, and, rightly or wrongly, )\f could se-e no oth-cr bowlers but them. Whether for New South Wale 3or fo*" Australia in England it, was Turner and Ferris always. They vere the first on, and if the" wicket =1 wc-e sticky no one els", got a try. If it happened that a chin go had to be made, a-nd' someofle else di*>ohed the partnership, off would go the partnership-breaker, and on woukf coitv! Turner and Ferris. No one else had: a chance to got fancy averages. Perhaps that was the best rxdi-cy to follow, for in. tho long run no one wo-i'd get such results as they. But the others never had half a chance, and in comparing present bowlers in the Australian Eleven it is just as well to remember that overv man who claims to be a bowler got a fair share of work. You have only to lcok at the number ot wickets each bowler, secured. In lßaa Turner took 314 wickets, Ferris 220, Trott 48, Worrall 24, Lyons 18, etc. In 1890, when W. L. Muidoch was captain,- the . working of Turner and Ferris wa 3 not

«w pronounced ; still, they get 215 wickets each. Then came H. Trumble «vith 53, Lyons with 43, Charlton with 42, and Trott 23. We know pretty well that there was no bowler in the present Australian team to hold a candle to Turner, but still in comparing- results one needs to look at the conditions. With SpofForrh is was different. He generally had with him a strong bowling side, nob co much in numbers as quality. In .the first team in 1878 the assistance was not as substantial as in laiter years, but they were short-handed in those seasons. They didn't take 15 with a manager-pla-yer, as now. Spofforth was a ■wonderful bowler. As to whether he was a better one than Turner it is hard >o say. The " Demon " was a champion, and so was the '" Terror.'' There is a good deal of speculation in the compari'on of bowlers of different time?, especially when there is co big- a margin of time as between Spofforth and Turner. During the tour just over Noble had a wide choice. If there were no Spofforths or Turners m his team, he had plenty to try, and they were not such an indifferent lot as some labelled them before they left Australia, and even then I do not think they were the best team that could have been $ent. Sa-unders would, in my opinion-, easily have secured the best results with the ball. Harking back to Turner, he will be having c testimonial match accorded him this season. It is rather late in the day ; still, ifc will be acceptable, and he undoubtedly Reserves it. How great a bowler he was yeu never knew until 3'ou faced him >n a bowlers' wicker. The following table shows the positions of the various counti-es fo^ the English 62ason just closed: — •

The mutches between E&sex and Leicestershire and Essex and Middlesex, both at Le; - ton, end Derbyshire v. Nottingham, p.t Glossop, were abandoned without a ball b?ing bowled, and are not included m the above table. Th© newly-appointed coach (Mr C. Words worth), who has recently arrived from Sydney, told the niembers of the Cricket Association Committee last night that he thought Macartney would come, and that he would bo a decided acquisition- not only to cricket, but to th© community. OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION. A meeting of members of the Otauo Cricket Association Cum in it tea was he.d at the office of the secretary (Mr E. S Wilson) last night. Thoso present were : Messrs J. Hcjpe (in the chair), L. C. Goo eh, A. - Nelson, A. Restieaux, .1. Haiaf, T. Ritchie. G. Wycherley, C. (>. Wilson, and H. G. Siodtfbpig. An apology was received from Mr J. J. Clark. THE XEW CCHCJI. C. Wordsworth, the new coach, who had just armed fiom Sjdr.^y, w?s introduced to the committee and welcomed by the chairman, \vj>o hoped that Mr Woid---worth would have a pleasant rime during his stay amorgst them. Mr Wonl.swor ii thanked tho committee for- its welcome, and expressed his appioval of the Coach Committee's leport that was und«»' coiii dci<ition. COACH COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The report of the Coach Committee was submitted and considered seriatim. Some amendments and addition? «ere made air-1 the report was finally passed in the following form: — Twenty plaj-r-rs to be cho=cn The first 10 bo mc-et and practise on Monday, "We<h.esday, and Friday afternoon*., from 5. The second 10 to pract.se on Tuesdays and Thursday.?. .Such playor.* to be chosen by the as.socir.rion. Wordsworth to bowl the firtjt fi\e minutes at each batsman a>ici during the remainder of the batsman's time to stand iir a position to instruct. That the coaches attend the High School evc-iy Monday and \Yodnes>ila\ from 2.45 to \ for coaching purposes only, and on Tuesday and Thursday attend the Chiistiarr Bios.' School from 2.45 to 4 for coaching purposes only. In the event of any bo\ :n the primary schools showing such promiso as would warrant his being ehcipr; fo r coaching, the association may includ-.' him in either of the above section*?. Any placer ohosan to play and abaentirrg himself from practice without a satisfactory written ■explanation shall forfeit his position. The coaches to bo (provided with an attendance book. GEXEPtL. Mr Wilson reported Hi at arrangements had been come to with the High Stboo 1 regarding the use of a wicket on the Asylum Ground — The re nor;, v. as received and it was resolved that 'the Grange Club bo called on to pay for the use of the ground in quo-lion. After oos.j-idGrable discussion as t.> whether Wordsv.orth shou'd play w ilh Ie Albion or Dune dm CJubs it wis lCs-olwd on ths casting vote of tho chairman, that he should play with tae Albion Cub. WLI.COMIMJ -IHV I'ItINIDKXT. The president of the association (Mi C It. Smith) arren led th° meeting for a shori time, and on taking his s-?at was co>dia'.ly received by tho committee. The Chairman congratulated Mr Smith on his reappearance at their meetincc so soon after hid leturn fiom his vi=it to ILO Old Country. Mr Smith, who wa , cordially \\"l<-omec'. thanked menik-r*. for then greet ma. and expressed hts pleasure in b, m<r amongst them one© moio. II" conn<atuh v d r'.^ association on its ljOMt.on. wlr.ch. ho thought, thowed wond-eifi'l ]noir\ r^~, ami he considered that the ourlook foi the c miIng season was veiv nood indeed — in f,u r, it was a long time since the association « <•- in SUCb a good position «"or p: emoting tl:~ interests of oricket. Referring to tho arrangements that \. oie bein,r maJa fo>the engagement of a coach, he c-.\pre-sed the hnjie that j (layers would show theninterest and enthusiasm in the game, so as to give the coach heart in his endea -sours to bring them on in the game. — (Applause.) If such encouragement was not (given, the coacfa would naturally cool off in

his endeavours. He thought th^ arrangement contemplated was an excellent one. ' Tbs gentleman likely to settle amongst ' them would not come amongst them as a, j prof<?s*sional player only, and if his own business arranp-^ments proved satisfactoiy ha would give his services to cricket without foe or reward. He (the speaker) hoped therefore that members of the a==ociation would if possible help their new- player in his business. He suggested that members | of the committee should attend practices from time to time so as to see that coachtng was well and efficiently carried out, for that would be a <jrreat help to the coach himself. In conclusion, he thanked them feu- re electing him as president duringhis absence, and said he would do all m his power to carry out the duties of his office satisfactorily to meinbeis.

13 i <f. Club. 5" S -S I .3 Kent .. 26 16 2 8 14 Lancashire .. .. 24 14 4 610 Sorkshire .. .. 26 12 410 8 Sussex 26 7 3 16 4 Surrey . .. 30 16 7 7 9 Middlesex .. . 21 6 510 1 tforthampton? hire . . 18 9 8 l l Eampshire . ... 22 7 7 8 — Worcestershire .. 20 8 8 4 — Kottinghamshire .. 19 6 8 5—2 somerset 16 4 7 5 —3 Warwickshire .. 20 3 8 9—5 Leicestershire .. 21 3 10 B—7 Essex 18 2 7 9 —5 Derbyshire .. .. 21 215 4 —13 Slouoeatershire .. 22 1 13 8 —12 .i £i Si! P- c 6 77.77 55.5." 50 00 •ib.OU 3iU3 9.^3 SSS — 14.-1S 27 27 —45 15 —53.81 — 55.55 —76.4 i —85 71