CRICKET

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 8

CRICKET

The English season was opened on April 13, at the Oval, where Surrey and London County played the match. Climatic conditions were anything but favourable, as on the first day a piercing cold and high wind prevailed, Paving as accompaniments ai fall of sleet before luncheon, and s'ome snow afterwards. One report states : —“ Huddled up in their overcoats,' the spectators watched • *he cricket, the men in the field wore double sweaters, blew their fingers, and eagerly awaited the opportunity of the ball : coming their way, Jn order to run, and promote circulation, and the members were content to watch the play from the windows or hearth of the pavilion, where a fire blazed merrily away. This was, indeed, ‘ cricket on the hearth.’ Thusi it was rather difficult to realise that £ the summer game ’ had commenced.”

Arthur Shrewsbury, whose death was reported recently, like many more Englishmen, first played for England on an Australian wicket. Being a member of Shaw’s first team, he played in the match

at Melbourne at the later end of December, 1881, and the beginning of January in the following year. Shrewsbury did not make a very bright beginning, being dismissed for ii in a total of 294, and 16 in a total "of 308. That match was the fifth one played by teams representing England and Australia. From that time Shrewsbury played in test matches until 1893, and very frequently he demonstrated what a capable batsman he was. His performances in test fixtures are :—Matches, 23 ; innings, 40 ; not out, 4 ; highest score, 164 ; runs, 1277 ; average, 35.47. In first-class matches Shrewsbury made 59 scores of a century and over. His highest score was 267, made against Middlesex in 1887.

Writing to “ Athletic News,” a correspondent with Lord Hawke’s team makes the following statement “ The cricket is at times very trying, for the umpires, in New Zealand are absolutely the worst in the world. No team ought to think of coming out. here without bringing an umpire.” Just so. When a decision is given against one always blame the umpire, it is such a sportsmanlike action.

The opening first-class match of the English season was played between London County and Surrey, the latter winning by eight wickets. For London County, W. GGrace made 43 and 81, Sewell 90 and 18? and Board 59 and 17. For Surrey, Hayward scored 107, Hayes 51 and 43 (not out), Walker 54, and Jephson 47 (not* out).

A correspondent writing to an English exchange upon cricket reform, says that “ If three points were enforced —(1) a natural grass pitch, instead, of an artificially prepared one ; (2) running out all hitffl inside the boundary ; (3) the batsman who ‘ wilfully ’ obstructs the ball with his legfii liable to be given out on appeal to the umpire—in my humble opinion we should see the game not only shortened, but made much more intetesting, and bowlers and batsmen meeting on more equal terms than at present.”

The April number of “ Cricket ” contains an interview with T. L. Taylor, the strongest batsman of Lord Hawke’s teain. The paper says that Mr Taylor’s strongest point is consistency. When he is at the wicket one never is anxious about him, however much the wicket may be assisting the bowler. He always looks as if he had come in with the express intention of seeing the rest of the side out. On any kind, of wicket he is a great batsman, but, without doubt, his value to a side is by far the greatest when the bowlers are apparently masters of the situation, for then he is almost certain to be seen at his very best. He adapts) himself to circumstances almost as easily as Arthur Shrewsbury, and perhaps, next to Shrewsbury, he is the finest slow-wicket player of the day. He has never looked back ; on the contrary, he has continued to improve, and at the present time he may be said to ba a better batsman than ever. Consequently it was with considerable misgivings that* Yorkshiremen heard the first rumours of his intended withdrawal from first-clasa cricket, and the announcement that he has gone to Japan, whence he is not likely to return until later inthe season, has not tended to lessen their uneasiness.”

The sub-committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, appointed to inquire into, and report upon the question of introducing the district scheme into local cricket, have completed their work, and recommend that Auckland and its suburbs be divided into six districts, to be •.ailed City, Grafton, Parnell, Ponsonby, Eden, anh North Shore. The boundaries th jy recommend for the City district are similar to those of the football district, except that instead of being jouuid by Symondstreet the district is to extend to Stanleystreet, and will take in the lower half of Grafton Road as far as the Cem.-ery Bridge. The western boundary of the Grafton district is Mount Eden Read as far as Windmill Road, and the eastern boundary ■ is Gillies Avenue. whict; runs parallel to Manukau Road and intersects Carlton Gore Road. Park Road and Callton Gore Road are the other boundaries. Ponsonby is similar to the football district, except that Point Chevalier is taken in. Eden includes Grey Lynn, part of Mount Eden, Mount Roskill, Avondale, and adjoining districts. The proposed Parnell' district includes Parnell, Newmarket, Epsom? Remuera, Otahuhu, Onehunga? and surrounding districts ; and in North Shore is included all the suburbs bn the north tide of the harbour.