The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901. INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7002, 18 January 1901, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1901. INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET.

The cricket match between : WeH'imgton amd Canterbury, wihich! will be begun at Lancaster Park to-morrow, promises to be one of the most interesting of the many exciting struggles that haive been fought between the two provinces.. Both will be represented by strong teams. .An enthusiastic Wellingtonvxjri'tic- has declared that the combination which will do battle for the northern province' is the most powerful that Wellington has/ever placed in. the field. This may be a flattering estimate, but, there caa be little do-übtithat it is not very-far from the truth. In every department of the game the visitors are .worthy; successors to the. many accomplished; players ;who have represented Wellington. in the past^, and. if they play, up to ,tJieform. whiob they have displaced in club •matches 1 this season; they will give a very' good- account of themselves indeed!. To meet themiCanterburyis alsoable to put forward a powerful Efoven. The team which was selected 1 originally was perhaps the very (best wihacb could have been chosen. Since tihen two alterations have been made, boifibof wMch: are calculated to weaken it a little. Nevertheless it is still strong, stronger in fact than the combination which defeated' . Otago and AuoklaTlo., and -strong enough to represent the province with credit. ."• Its bowling is a great deal above the average of past Canterbury teams; its batting is fully up to the highest standard set by its predecessors, and in fielding it will not suffer by comparison With any previous, interprovinciar Eleven. Both teams aire strong, and! each is confident that it will win.' It remains now for the weather to be fine and; the wicket- to be good. If these pleasant conditions prevail the struggle,, as we haive ahready safd, will be a. very keen, one, and: possibly-^-although in cricket nothing is certain— the better team will win. We hope; tha* by observing the strictest punctuality and insisting upon the shortest intervals, consistent, with the comfort of the players, -the authorities' will afford the teams every facility for playing the match out. Unfinished games are unsatisfactory at any time, and oa the present occasion,, when the riyal provinces are so evenly matched,, it would be a misfortune if they were tfenied the opportunity of proving which is the stronger,' '