THE CRICKET MATCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11500, 5 February 1903, Page 4

THE CRICKET MATCH.

With the arrival jn Chrjstchurch of the English cricketers, interest in the matcu which begins to-morrow has perceptibly quickened, though for the last week or two there has been a refreshing absence of that apathy which has eometimee cast, a shadow over important futures. The fact that the visit of Lord Hawke'js team has been engineered solely by New Zealand, and that the Australian part of the tour is merely an incident thereof, and not its aim and object, gives it a local importance and adds greatly to the general interest. There is, too, a feeling of hopefulness regarding the prospects of the Canterbury team which augure well for a record attendance. The selection of the team led to the usual outbursts of criticism, but the arguments adduced against tha choice of one or two members and in favour of play ere whom the selector passed over, have not disturbed the general conviction that the eleven is a very good representation of the cricketing strength of Canterbury. That our men will do their best ie a foregone conclusion; that that bast may be good enough to make the visitors play thoir hardest ie the hops of all. In the interesting interview which Mr P. F. Warner, the English captain, accorded to our representative yesterday, he eaid that in a few years' tame the standard of cricket in JJW Zealand should be very ligh, if cricketers are "caugut, young," and brought on by good . coaches and professionaJe. A country's proficiency in cricket argues a cricket-loving public from which to draw the raw material. and nothing will pos>ukri» the genie co macn a« Tisita from teams euch as Mr Warner now captains. There (must be a "cricket atmosphere" in a country if He representatives are to do anything in cricket. Already Mr Warner has met some g»>d players in the colony, though he expects to meet tflill better, end his praise should act as a efciroulus to all New\ Zealand, erisketers, especially to those who live out of the chief centres of population. In this connection we may esjpreas a .hope, that the selector of the -New Zealand team will keep in mind what Mr Warner has said, of the West Coast bowler. Wβ can imagine nothing more calculated to- send the old ! game ahead on the Coast than the selection of Ongley to represent the colony at Chrictchurch or Wellington. It will be noted that our viators refer to the speed jhrjth they Jhuve been rushed oa to the ground at. some of the places they have visited. Here at least t&*y have breathing <tfia» before facing the. Canterbury Eleven, and -we trosb that both before and during tlve match, their vieit -will give them as much pleasure aa it will confer upon, many thousand* in C&ntwpbury,