CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7892, 23 December 1903, Page 3

CRICKET.

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. The annual contest between Otago and Ca.nterbu.ry will be begun on Friday. This year especial interest is attached to the game, as it ia tbc only interprovincial match which enthusiasts will have the chance of witnessing here this season. Furthermore, although for- years Canterbury had a big lead over Otago in point of number- of wins credited to eucb, of late Otago has done so well that now jb 'has won twenty-one gomes as against Canterbury's twenty. Seeing that the present fixture will take place on the local team's ground, the latter ought to have a slight advantage to help them to make up their leeway. Strange to say, however, of the last four contests Otago lias wan the two played hero and Canterbury the two played at Dunedin. Another important feature from the public poinb.of view lies in the fact that the Otago team includes Graham, the distinguished Victorian batsman, and Shacklock, the ex-Notts professional fast right-hand bowler. From 1889 to 1893 the latter did excellent work for his county with the ball, In addition tb making runs. Graham >ha« visited New Zealand twice previously, once with, the 1896 Australian eleven and again with the Melbourne Cricket Club's team. On the latter oocasdon he played a brilliant innings of 169 against Canterbury, ftnd those who had the pleasure of then seeing him realise^ how he paralysed the English bowlers when he went Home with the eighth Australian eleven. Fisher, Downes and Baker are old friends; none the less welcome because all three have done well thie season in club cricket and bid fair < to again do yeoman service for their< pro- j vince In its chief yearly fixture. The same remark applies to Austin and Siedeberg. These two fine cricketers lave yet lo give Canterbury a taste of them highest skill, inasmuch as neither has been really successful when playing aigainat us in the. past. Geddea will captain the team, and: Williams, of course, will keep wickets. Howden. anade hia debut against Canterbury la*t year, when Ma sterling display was in striking contrast to the form shown by his older and mor© tried comrades. Rearden, a player new to interprovincial honours, is said to 'be a useful bat and' a tricky bowler. In spite, however, of this team being regarded as the " strongest that has ever left Otago," they will tavei to show muchimproved form, to* their display twelve months ago if they wish to score another win. With the local bowling, 3? . S. Frankisfo 'being in good iorm and Calaway as tricky as of yore, our attaok on a hard wicket is certainly not inferior to theirs. Lawrence and Bennetts, oar change bowlers, too, are men whose work is not done when they leave the bowling crease. With the bat Sims and Wlgley can be expected to repeat their old first-wicket stands for Canterbury,'' while Orchard, Gairrard' and Lawrence have all during the last two years showed their ability to score against the two Otago cracks, Downes and Fisher. Weaton i» th» only n*w man in the team, and his claims to inclusion are beyond doufot. Kinvig is the eleventh man, and if he plays as well against Otago as he has done in the past against Canterbury tlie public will hay© no occasion to cavil at his selection. In response to the expressed wish of many supporters of the game, the Association has again decided; that the game shall be played at Hagley Park. For picfcuresqiieneßs this ground is unsurpassed in New Zealand, but it labours under the drawback that the Association cannot cn T force payment for admission to it. Two years ago, while the attendance was excellent, the small takings at the gate showed that tfc*> majority 6f the public contributed little or nothing toward!* the oost of the game they had the pleasure of witnessing. It would foo a matter of regret if the public, by again adopting; similar tactics, forces the Association to play all future representative games at Lancaster Park.