CRICKET CHATTER,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9386, 12 March 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

CRICKET CHATTER,

By ir The Englishman."

Any disputes in cricket may be referred to " The EnglUhman," and all quenes reaching this office by Monday will be replied to in our following issue. Any notes, or country scores and notes, will be gladly received. Peiformanee with the ball, any averages, with name and date of match, ground played on, and not exceeding two runs per wicket, will bs published at different intervals.

Cricket, like wooden leaa, runs in families. When I read Cave* 5 in tbe Wanganui-Patea district match, it struck me it was almost a record. I do not remember, in my varied experience ori'any cricket ground in the two hemispheres, five brothers representing any district. Certainly it may be said that the races had much to do with it, and whilst on that topic I would advise the Assocfatiou at all times to give the gees gees best. Cricketers are nearly always quod fellow, and what good fellow does not enjoy a " good horse race." The races never suffer, but; the cricket invariably does. Some sudden engagement — birth ia the family, mother's illness,or some other well-known Colonial incident is the cause. Of course these matters cannot be fixed "up to date," still they come. I shonld very much liked to have visited Wayerley— but mother was ill ! so I can give no details. Patea were successful by a few runs. Izird scoring 98 out of a total of 175.

Canterbury has at length vanquished their old opponents, Otago, after several defeats, and honors are once more easy, With 158 to make Canterbury's chance looked none too rosy.- A'ex. Duwnes is their blunoirt-he almost always secure» wickets against them, and in the"fir-*t innings was very successful. A. E. Sedley, 'anolher good cricket family,' scored 76 out of 158, an 1 in conjunction with Wilding may be said' to have secured the victory for Canterbury. What a good player is Wilding and what a ' plucked one.' It is now 17 years since I first met him in a Dunedin - Christchurch match, almost the first year tnat Lancaster Park, Christchurch was open. Neither of us were chickens then.

Among the Press weekly snapshots I noticed the photo of Charlie Frith, one of a celebrated pair of brothers— Charlie and Willie Fritb. In the days just referred to they were household names in New Zealand then. Charlie I saw last sea son in Dunedin, at the time of the QueeDslanders' visit, he was in company with Sammy Jones, of New South Wales and Australian Eleven fame. Billy is now in Wellington, 1 ground man to one of the Association Clubs ; he still plays. A public ' colonial robert subBcription has deen started to present Clem Hill with a momento in the shape of unearned increment on his 21st birthday, March 18111. He is the first Australian to score 1000 ruue in one season in first class cricket, H-;re|is auother cricket family — bis father, John Hill, was the first bats man to score 100 runs on the Adelaide Oval; his uncle jack was a good cricketer and liKe all the family an enthusiast. Besides, Clem has two broiti6re, most promising young players. A smokers v. nou-smokers match

is on tapis for Saturday afternoon. On another cantury man be found

for the occasion; they are rather scarce this season.

Firty-six runs were knocked off three couspcutive overs from one end

in a Senior Cup match on Cook's Gardens last Saturday. Very near a record. Bannister started and had '18 hit off him; then Shields took the ball and 19 werefioored. of which Haldane hit a five and Martin three fours and a two. Handyside next tried, and 14 runs were put up against him. The "Wanganui and Marton Clubs will play their retura match on Victoria Park on March 17 th (St. Patrick* Day.) A rather unique match is on the tapis. ,A'team from one of our local churches, included in which are to be five ladies, will try conclusion, probably on -aturday next, witli the Excelsior Club. A definite reply in tbe affirmative has been received by Mr Francis, «euretary of trie Wangauui Club, from the Phoenix (Wellington) Club anri the match will be played on Victoria Paik at Easter. A Sydney writer says that N F Druue is oue of the most aiylisn batsmen ever sent to Australia.