THE AUSTRALIANS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5714, 6 November 1896, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIANS IN NEW ZEALAND.

The arrival of the Australian cricketers at Auckland will, it is to be hoped, stimulate our local players to a sense of the importance of getting into form to meet the visitors, who commence their match here on November 26. To-day they will meet an Auckland fifteen, and the form displayed by the northern province will give cricketers some idea of what may be expected from Trott's men on New Zealand wickets. At the same time it mu6tnot be forgotten that the Australians wi 1 ! be called upon to play twenty-four hours after arriving from a long sea voyage, and consequently cannot be expected to do themselves full justice. Tl<e present team is the fourth fully accredited one from Australia that has visited this colony. The first arrived here in 1878.

This, it will be remembered, was the famous eleven that established the reputation of Australian cricket by defeating the Marylebone Club^ at Lords; bittsuch was the energy and enthusiasm of Canterbury cricketers in those days that the visitors suffered defeat by six wickets. The result was largely due to the efforts of Messrs Seeretan, Watson, Frith, Ollivier and others who will long be remembered in connection with cricket in Canterbury. The next team to visit here — that captained by Murdoch in 1880— avenged this defeat by beating Canterbury in a single innings. Many of those who are looking forward to the arrival of our present visitors will remember the manner in which the Australian captain defied the efforts of the local bowlers, finally returning with a century to his credit. The only other team to visit New Zealand was that of 1888, and on this occasion Canterbury cut a very respectable figure, having .all the best of the game, which was left unfinished. It will be seen that this province has hitherto held an excellent record against Australian elevens. This time however, the prospect is, unfortunately, less bright, and those picked to practise have not entered upon . their work with anything like the energy which the selector had a right to expect. In view of the fact that the proyince w?U this year have a handicap of four men only, instead of seven, as hitherto, it is doubly necessary that an improvement should be shown in this respect, and that the public should be given some indication that they may expect to see at least a creditable display against the Australians. We hope the visitors will have a successful tour, both from a cricketing and a financial standpoint; but Canterbury will have to bestir itself if it is to contribute to this result.