ANOTHER ENGLISH ELEVEN FOR AUSTRALIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3061, 19 April 1881, Page 3

ANOTHER ENGLISH ELEVEN FOR AUSTRALIA.

The colonies have been honored with visits from professional bands of cricketers from the old country, they have witnessed the skill of two "mixed" elevens, and more recently have been regaled with the presence of a "gentleman" team, captained by a real live lord. The pi'ofessional visits have been the most popular with the public ; the " mixed" assortment did not agree amongst themselves, and Lord Harris and his confreres were far too sublime heing3. They could not he approached without a feeling of awe and reverence. The public, then, will hail with satisfaction the news that another band of English professional cricketers will display their prowess against our skilled "knights of the willow" on antipodean turf. Mr John Conway, the well-known promoter of the first Australian Eleven, has been deputed by Messrs Shaw and Lillywhite to make the necessary arrangements for a visit of a first-class team of English professional cricketers to the colonies next season. All the men have not yet been selected, but so far Messrs Lillywhite and Shaw have been successful in securing the services of the best players in England. In Alfred Shaw and Morley the team will have the assistance of the two best howlers in England. The former came out to the colonies with Lillywhite in season 1876-77, but Morley has not visited Australia. He is a fast left-handed bowler of unerring straightnesß and good " break," with a high, easy delivery. The other selections are Barnes and Shewsbury, of Nottingham ; Bates and Ulyett, of Yorkshire ; and Barlow and Pilling, of Lancashire. Barnes is acknowledged to be the finest professional batsman of his day, his freedom of play being more often the dashing stylo of the gentleman player than that of the professional. Shrewsbury is a grand batsman with a good defence, and and a neat style of play, his cutting behind . point being the chief feature in his batting. Bates, who, like Shrewsbury, has not visited the colonies, is one of the best all-round cricketers in England, and is very nearly at the top of the tree in the county list. He is a fine free batsman, possessing plenty of punishing power, a good medium-pace bowler, and a dashing field. Ulyett, another Yorkshireman, has been twice here—once with Lillywhite's Eleven, and lately with Lord Harris's team. He is a sterling man all round, ranking specially high as a batsman and field, and at times being quite first-class as a bowler. In Barlow and Pilling, of Lancashire, we have two novelties. Barlow has the most stubborn defence of any man in England, and has been known to stay at the wickets for hours for a few runs, being content to keep up his wickets without attempting even the semblance of a hit. He is also a fine lefthanded bowler, and an excellent field anywhere. Pilling is the best wicket-keeper England has produced since the clays of Loekyer; many of his admirers go as far as to compare him-with our own inimitable Blackham. The remainder of the eleven will be selected from Lock wood, Selby, Peate, and most probably one place will be left open till the last minute, in order to see whether the approaching cricket sen son in England will develope any rising player. Altogether the eleven will be a most formidable one, the batting department being specially strong, and although Atistralia may be able to furnish a stronger eleven, it must be remembered the Englishmen will have the advantage of practising together in America, which will make the eleven work together like- a compact machine. Shaw and his companions purpose leaving England for America early in September next. After playing four or fire matches in tho Eastern

States of America, they will cross the continent to San Francisco, where they will probably test the mettle of the cricketers of the Pacific Slope. Leaving there by the October mail, they will (if suitable arrangements can be made with New Zealand) make a short tour through Maoriland. Journeying from Auckland and going south, they will leave Invercargill for Melbourne, where the first match will be played probably on New Year's Day. Or if the eleven do not take New Zealand on their way to Australia, they will proceed direct to Sydney, where they will open their Australian campaign early in December, against fifteen of New South Wales.