Cricket Notes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5426, 29 November 1895, Page 4

Cricket Notes.

[BY SCOBINJJ-BOABD IN " CANTHBBUBY TIHB8."!

Bad weather on Saturday again affected the game, and deadly, dull and treacherous wicketß shortened most of the batsmen's lives, and gave the bowler? and the fielding sides another advantage. In view of the close approaoh of the New South Wales invasion, the meteorological conditions are looked upon in most quarters with positive alarm. There is one ray of consolation, however, in the untoward circumstances that may tend to illuminate the gloom of cold, bleak afternoons, sodden and soaked wickets and general discomfort, and that is that our visitors may happen to strike us just in that Btyle and with exactly similar appurtenances. Australia ia suffering at present from a severe and protracted attack of drought, just as we are laid under the pangs of a visitation in the opposite direction. Whilst bemoaning the fact that our crackß are denied all chances of playing or practising upon fast wickets it would be aa well to remember, and to grasp the remembrance aB one grain of comfort, that the matches are to be played in New Zealand, and that the "cornstalks" are likely, through nonacquaintance with continuous rains, to be more at sea than the local men will be. This theory, of course, re6ts absolutely with the prolonging of our present spring weather. Changes may eventuate, but at the time of writing I have quite lost faith in the ability of our climate to behave itself even decently, if only for a month ahead.

The cup cricket on Saturday can be summarily dealt with. No one, after the rains daring the week, expected any brilliant or sensational batting, and in that respect no one was disappointed. The bowlers throughout were on top, and kept there right through— mores the pity. The senior game at Hagley Park between the Midland "and Lancaster Park produced very little interesting cricket. The prinoipal features of the play were another splendid innings , by Cuff, who seems to be in great form this season, a serviceable contribution from Pearce, a

characteristically plucky display by Wilding, and last, but not least, young Beese's demonstration of the fact that he is quite ahead of any cf our medium paced bowlers. For a lad of sixteen to obtain eight Lancaster Park wickets for fifty runs in the style that he did on Saturday must be a cheering fact to cricket lovers of all sorts and conditions, and when I add that he is a youngster not in the least likely to be spoilt by flattery, or to develop symptoms of "big-head," I think there ib every prospect of his proving a future treasure not only to his club but to the province. Speaking of Heese reminds me that he is one of the original schoolboys' team that Mr W. H. Wynn-Williamsi the president of the Midland Club and of the Canterbury Cricket Association, so generously attached

to the club, and the lad's big successes must be eminently satisfactory to . the gentleman mentioned.

Uninteresting play was the order of the day at Lancaster Park in the Senior match between . SydeDham and United. Tho former team bid well fora win towards the finish, bub were all too far behind after the first day's play to have much hope of an ultimate victory. Halley carried on his score well and quiokly for Sydenham, and Treloar, mingling caution with vigour, very happily lent good aid, but Smith's bowling supplemented by good fieldiDg ended the innings somewhat rapidly. Had the United wanted many more to geb to win, I doubt very much their ability to get them. The wicket was in a horrible con-

I dition and M'Murray waa bowling with a big off-break, whilst Maloney was coming in the other way. Helmore, who was missed in the field early, and Medlow, adaptedthemselves well to the surroundings, and although neither scored much, they saved the innings from a complete collapse. I do not purpose to say much regarding the friction between the Lancaster Park and Midland senior teams on Saturday on the question of continuing play past 6 p.m. I hear that the affair was practically a i " storm in a tea«pot," and was the result of : a misunderstanding aB to the. exact terms of an agreement entered into by Cuff and Wheatley, the two captains, on Nov. 2. I regret very much the occurrence of the • incident, and nm glad to report this week | that I believe the unpleasantness will be ■ allowed to die a natural death, and will ; not be heard of again. At the Bame time I may tell the respective captains that they ' were both wrong in the first place in fixing any time to close play outside of 6.30 as per regulation. They had no • power or right to do so: the umpires by i the ruleß of the game being the sole I judges as to the fitness or otherwise of the •' ground, light or anything else in this

! connection. ... .. Labatt hit his wioket and was bowled at the same time on Saturday.: , Malone, for the first time, tried his leg ' break in a match on Saturday. Beßult— | two wioketa for five runs. j I hear that the Callaway selected ao a : member of the New South "Wales team for

the New Zealand trip, is not the genial M Syd," but his younger brother.

A good deal of surprise was occasioned in junior circles by St Albana being defeated by Sydenham second. I hear that some really good break bowling by Stephens was an important factor in his team's success.

Cuff is in splendid form this year, and has greatly impressed me with his worth as a batsman by his last two innings against the good bowling of the Midland upon horrible wickets. I confidently predict great successes for him in the coming campaign.

Mr Ollivier was so much impressed with young Reese's bowling on Saturday that he immediately requested him to join in the practices for the New South Wales matches. The Midland colt trundled with an excellent length, broke both ways, and varied his pace with the judgment of a veteran.

I have- been asked to explain that the omission of De Maus* name from the practice list was'no fault of Mr Ollivier's, but the result of an accidental oversight by the person deputed to copy down the names and forward them to the newspapers. I willingly and cheerfully make this explanation public, as it bears out my contention of last week that a mistake had been made.

A dispute hsa arisen between the Midland and Lancaster Park President's Cup teams. From what I can learn, Spencer, the Midland captain, was shorthanded, and played a couple of onlookers, even then batting with only ten men. Pavitt, the Lancastrian captain, it appears made no objection at the time, but near the finish of the game, when his team was in none too good a position, he entered a protest against the Midland on account of their playing non-members of the club, and, curiously enough singled out for hiß objection a bond, fide member. The Junior Cup Committee meet, Favitt is there, but Spencer, although waiting to be called on, is not asked for his side of the question. The objection to the bond fide member having been discussed, and the Midland delegate having proved that he is a member, tho Lancaster Park captain is allowed to amend his protest so as to apply to the couple of undoubted nonmembers that were pressed into the service of the Midland team. Now comes the decision of the committee, and for a sample of absurdity it would Jje hard to beat. " The game is to proceed, if the Midland win the game is to be null and void, if the Lancaster Park win it stands good." A careful analysis of this decision will reveal the entire absence of logic amongst the committee, and will not go far towards recommending their sagacity. The game was finished on Saturday, and the Midland won easily, and now I hear that Spencer has protested to the Association against the decision of the Junior Cup Committee and has demanded a " fresh trial."

On Nov. 9, S. R. WaUord, who visited New Zealand last season as a member of the New South Wales team, playing for Central Cumberland against Ryde, made 307 runs out of a total of 588. He compiled this large score in four hourß and a half, and included in his figures were forty-nine fours. Tbe match was a oneday affair, and as Ryde compiled 89, no lesß than 677 runs were made for the day's play.

A match between a Country Fifteen and a Sydney Twelve was played at Sydney on Nov. 8 and 9, and ended in a draw. The Twelve batted first and put together 454. The 'captain (T. W. Garrett) decided to close the. innings . at one o'clock on the second day, and at the Bame time desired to give each member of t his team an opportunity to bat. In face of this several players were called upon to retire after occupying the crease for some time, and by this" means the whole twelve went to the wickets. The score was actually made for the losa of five wickets. Iredale retired with 106, Walters with 104, Toullwith7B, Gould with 57, and Caljoway with 23, while Burton was not out with 9, and A. Newell with 10. The county team scored 190 for eleven wickets.

A piece of pottery in the form of a plate has been designed specially to com. memorate W. 6. Grace's achievements in the crioket field. It is said to be of unique design and charmingly executed.

Lord Hawke has accepted the invitation to take a cricket team to South Africa. With the exception of three places, the team was complete when the mail left. The names are — Lord Hawke (captain), Sir T. C. O'Brien, C. W. Wright, C. B. Fry, A. J. Hill, C. Heseltine, A. M. Miller, H. R. Bromley-Davenport, with Lohmann, Hayward and Butt.

Richardson, England's champion fast bowler, was married on Oct. 10 to a Mies Edith Cheeseman. Amongst a regular host of presentß were a dining-room suite from the Surrey County Club, a set of table glass from members of the Stock Exchange, a piano from the readers of tho Morning Leader, a silver tea service from the Indian Prince, Ranjiteinhji, and a purse of sovereigns, and an illuminated address from members of the Mitcham Cricket and Football Clubs. The crack bowler is evident a very popular. fellow.

,We understand (says the Athletic News) that John Briggs will play for Accrington nest season when his county engagements allow. The Lancashire League clubs can. well afford to pay high wages to first-class professionals, for their presence means a considerable difference to the receipts. Professional cricketers do well to accept the offers, and when one knows that a man can earn £5 a week in addition to a benefit, which may realise anything from £50 to £100, it is not surprising to find the paid, cricketer preferring club to county honours. Sentiment goes a long way no doubt, but it does not provide bread and butter, and the sooner county committees take this into consideration the better. A few weeks ago we showed that all a professional could make out .of the whole of his county engagements was £140 a year, and from this must be deducted at least £B 0 for travelling and hotel expenses, whilst the same man, with a Lancashire League club, and not nearly so hard worked, could clear at least £150. The county cricket professionals are decidedly underpaid, and ought, at any rate, to have their personal eXDenees in addition to their fees*