THE CRITIC ON THE CREASE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11499, 4 February 1903, Page 8

THE CRITIC ON THE CREASE.

The following notes on the Canterbury team are eupplied by "Truth's" cricketing expert: -rV. BOXSHALL.-i.xie nabob of wicket ktipirs (anyone with views to tJw contiary can argiß- tli* point witli Air Boxshall). It is ;i solemn spectacle to see Buxshall keep wicket. Nothing Ices agile Iban a streak of lightning hws ever been known to dodge him successfully throughout a long and epotkis carter. Also he is a remarkable bat; in fact, the only thing in the world more renwrkatm? than Boxshall's batting is BoxKliall's bowling.

CALLAWAY.—A substantial relic of the past, whose reputation at a period subsequent to the Crimean war was immense, and is «till going strong. In fact, Callaway'e i«pututiou is » long way better than Calliiway niroeelf. If Callaway'e reputation eouid only b:it and lw tried to bowl it out on his present form, it could stay at the wickets for a wetk, and if Callaway's reputation could bowl ami could only get one over in at him, it would put him out twice or vanish for ever. Which is another wa-j of saying a good reputation is a useful thing.

FRANIvISH.—A capable bowler until the "Australasian" called him the goodlooking New ZeaJander, since which rapturous moment Frankish has thought a litt'o too lnuoh about the impression the goodlooking New Zealander is making on the oLh?r fellow's girl, and too little about the impression, the good-looking New Zealand<?r'.s bowling is milking on the fellow's wicket. But when Frankliii forgete alwut the ,good-iookmg New Zcuhvnder «nd his limp leu limb gets properly unlimbered, he somotimos get.s a wicket or two. Would be a more successful batsman if the crease were elasUc.

GARkARD—A b.iisman with a pedagogic air, who sometimes makes runs, but plays with a cautiousr.ess that is very discouraging to weary bowlers about 6 p.m. fins been accused unjustly of being a "safe" bat, but * has frequently successfully disproved the assertion while on tour. If anything a worse judge of a catch than tlie Emperor of China. LAWRENCE.—A hero at practice and. in club games, whose hist re age hath not dimmed, nor custom istaJed, but apparently too overwhelmed with bhe sense of the importance of his wkket in big matches to be able to score. It line been suggested thai- i>e should try half a tumbler of cy'ld water filled up with something stronger just before batting. Has a strong partiality for bowling "Yorkers" that don't "York' worth (i cent.

ORCHARD—Xot co verdant as siis name suggests, end with a lane assutnption of judicial aiiiUiolity, ac be&ts the man in cbarjfe. Ikits xr.th his left hand, but is avid, to be able to win a toss with, eiiiher. Quite tie Adcnjs of tiie team, and a most arniazing fine figure of a man in th© field. Now, if the "Australasian" had only but enough, said.

PEARCE—Elegantly termed "the biflfer," wliicb. being interpreted meanetb, the smiter, and adequately describes th« Antipodean Jeseop when his eye is in. Wli*n Pearoe gete "eet" the field spreads into the next paddock, and hae an active and industrious time. He bowla with tlie bump of destructivenefis, meet of his deliveries having a knack of reaching the batsman's fifth rib,' which as a very unpleasant thing for the batsman.

D. REESE—The ei'her one of two heroes of t\he pitfih of tihe same name, who, strangely enough, ai« aleo brothers. Beliered to be a first-clans engineer and a better cricket-er, but tiltis may be a mere rumour, because he hasn't been attending practices at Hagky Park during the lasit tiiree yea*s wifii any regularity, having been othenvise engaged in Melbourne. Should recollect that the greatejst of virtues is charity, and not flog young bowlers to the boundary., but. poke them encouragingly into the slips. Can't _ cay anything about bis 'bowling until he lias bowled somebody out.

T. W. EEESE—A cheerful fielder, with a magnetic attraction for "hot 'une," and an eye for " gallery" effects. Believed to specially prepare hie hands with coal tax and glue oefore ac comes on the ground. Might rank ac a decent bat if ne hadn't the misfortune to have a recurrent brother, with a faculty lor acquiring all tho limelight.

SIMS.—A very accurate imitation of an eccentric windmill when bowling, and just about as successful in getting wickets. In fact, Sims with the ball is a eerioua flight in tha face of providence, but &ims with the bat is- an inspiring hope—that is to say, except on those occasions when Sims isn't an inspiring hope, but a depressing "duck's egg." Then the most depressed looking party on the ground is Sims himself. STRANGE.—A chrysa&s half hatched. Hie haJf thatt is out is very Diablo to get runa, particularly if it can find a bowler toft tJia-ugh to bowl to the off. Suad to have aspirations to be a bowler, whdt'h he nobly keeps to himself. This ie remarkable, as the only instance of this kind ol modesty in the team. By the way, the hybernating half of the chrysalis is the only half that goes out to field.