INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2762, 23 December 1871, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

The annual contest between the two Provinces will he commenced on Wednesday next, and be continued on the two following days, if necessary. It will be remembered that this date was agreed to rather than allow the match to fall through. The premier town club—for it for years past has Virtually had the management of the arrangements so far as Otago is concerned—has thought for some time that in the interests of cricket it was advisable the match should be played later than the usual date, January —say in March—as when it is played early in the session, .cricket dies out in the City almost immediately after it is played. Another reason was advanced in favor of the change, that the ground would ji >t be in good order this month. But Canterbury could not see its way clear to putting the match otf till March, because according to the Lyttelton Times, to do so would be depriving their players of the best part of the season, and at no other time of the year could the Province collect together such a good team as it can at Christmas, and fue date already stated was lixed on. En passant, Messis Cotterill and Stevens have Been appointed by Canterbury to arrange with a like number of the Otago committee about future matches. A sketch from the Times of the players in the Canterburytcam who did not figure in last year’s match will not be uninteresting. They are Corfe, Saville, Stevens, and Wood ; and they are said to add very greatly to the Strength of the team. Corfe, who has not played in Canterbury before this season, is a great acquisition to the cricketing community. He is an excellent bat, a good Held, and a fair change bowler. He comes from Jesus College, Cambridge, where he used to play in the eleven. Savile is another good man. He also comes from Cambridge, and played for the University in 1567-9, at which time their eleven was the strongest they have ever bad. He has not had much practice, but bis style is very good, and with another week’s play we expect he will be about the best man in the eleven. He Helds well, and takes the wicket fairly, btevons and Wood have played in previous matches, bub last year were not in good form. They have both itnpioved this year. Stevens, w'hosc weak point was his lidding, has been doing very well in this important departmentof the game. Of those who played in last year’s team, we think they are nob in quite such good practice as then, but we expect the week they have at their disposal will see a great improvement in every way. Cotterill is as good as last year, and if the ground is in good order ought to get some runs. Fowler, owing to an accident, has not been able to obtain much practice, and is not in such good batting form as last year. Lee is also not so good in batting, but is bowling remarkably well. Lougbnau lias improved, and if the ground suits him, will trouble the scorers more than before. His fielding, if possible, has improved, and he is now undoubtedly the best field in the eleven. We would ivci mm end those who aspire to become proficient in this branch of the game to imitate him as far as they can. There is no hesitation when once the ball is in hand, and the batsman would have very little chance of p’olonging his stay at the wickets if he attempted a run. Maples is no better than last year, but if the bowling is at all loose Mill be hard to dispose of. He is very energetic in the Held, and generally saves a lot of runs. OHivicr is playing very steadily this season, going in more for defence than before, ■which is a good thing, as it is an old maxim at cricket that if you keep your wicket up runs will come of themselves. He is more certain than last year, and we expect to bear favorably of him in the match. Pierce is bowling much steadier this season, ami can be relied on more than formerly. On his day he is very difficult to play, and is certain to be very destructive if he is on the spot. He has much improved iu batting, and Helds M r ell at short-slip. From the above remarks it will be seen that Canterbury has quite as strong an eleven as last year.