CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 3072, 23 December 1872, Page 2

CRICKET.

By “ Looker On The Tnterproviucial Match Committee have undertaken no ordinary or enviable task. They have many difficulties to grapple with, but they are men who .are not likely to be easily daunted, and will do all that lies in their power to send as strong a team as can possibly be got together, to Canterbury. For the good of Cricket and the honor of the Province, they ought to enlist the sympathies, and secure the assistance and cordial cooperation of all true cricketers. Without wishing in any way to reflect upon the Match Committee, we would suggest that two working captains be at once appointed, and practice in good earnest commenced under their supervision. Were the following team (who, by the way, are all on the cards to go North) to practise together, they would soon improve, and be in Interprovipcfal form before the end of January—Messrs Allep, Ferguson, Glen, Hellicar, Hendley, Johnston, Morrison, Macfarlan, Stewart, Sutcliffe, and TaitIt certainly is very much to be regretted that so many of our best men are precluded by business engagements from getting away; but it is just possible that some of them, before the timp arrives, may manage to join the team. But whether we can get our very best team together or not, both those who can go, and those who cannot, should work heartily aud harmoniously together to mafee t}jj affair a success. In some quarters there seems to be a lurking desire that the match should fall through. No effort should be spared to prevent this undesirable contingency. Were the Otago cricketers this year to shew the white feather—for, without mincing matters, that is just what it would amount to— the probability is that these mterprovincial contests would be discontinued altogether. This would be a result to be deplored, not only by cricketers generally, but by all those who take an interest in manly sports, fortunately, there are among us many who countenance aud support manly pastimes, whose views and feelings with regard to them are not influenced and warped by any narrow prejudices, and who, in advocating the promotion of out-of-door sports, take much higher ground than the mere definability of attaining excellence in any particular game or pastime. How best to improve the physique, and by so doing produce a correspoudently beneficial effect upon the minds of our youth, is a question of considerable importance, meriting the attention of those interested in the mental and physical development of Young Otago. The benefit of bodily exercise, of a training which braced the muscles and hardened the frame, was fully understood and appreciated by the great nations of a by-gone age, from whom we, as Britons, have taken many a’ salutary aud useful lesson The Olympic, Pythian, Nemcan, and Isthmian games or festivities of the Greeks, as year after year one or other of them was celebrated, were looked forward to, and prepared for by the flower of the Hellenic race ; and, while serving other purposes than that of mere physical improvement, they still undoubtedly exerted a most powerful aud stimulating influence in’that particular direction. The reliued and intellectual Greek was a perfect model of human symmetry. And, again, though le s ostentatious in the display of the feeling, the sterq and thoughtful Roman was equally alive to the necessity of promoting and'strengthening a desire for athletic ‘ exevcises among the youth pf hi? country. The pajestra of t|}e Romans was assimilated to, almost identical with, the gymnasium of the Gieeks, and was not unfrequently to be found attached to private houses. The hours devoted to healthful and renovating relaxation are not spent in vain ; the clear bracing air fails not to exert its purifying and recuperative influence, aud in improved physique and vigorous robustness, are seen substantial proofs of its beneficial and salutary operations. Nor does the healthful influence of out-door exercises stop here, —but, acting through the physical frame-work, imparts new strength and energy to the mental faculties, goes far to mould and sustain a healthy, manly, and vigorous character, and to cherish and foster those two things which, contradictory as it may appear, must go together—manly dependence aud manly independence manly reliance and manly self-reliance. U a nation’s practical wisdom is shadowed forth m its proverbs, its national character and tent i, J lea ditcerned in its brm*’ nastimes The pregnant remark of thv vetefan on obiriug boys at play, showed to wist cause he attnbuted h.s snocms in the most decided and glonoua of all his victories. Otago does well to fatw u)

her sons the love of manly sports, and our cricket clubs are institutions doing their work in their own particular way, aiming at the achievement of vigorous and sturdy healthfulness. Clubs, like individuals, exist and learn. To the wise, the resolute, and the brave, there is no such word as fail. Defeat lays bare their weak points, shows them the cause of present failure, and stimulates to still further effort. As the time for preparing for an annual trial of strength and skill in the cricket field has again come round, let it not be said that Otago, with so many victories already to her credit, was the first to back out. Nothing is more calculated to promote and stimulate a desire for excellence than a healthy rivalry, unmixed with petty jealousies and uncalled-for animosities. Let all our players then unite in supporting the Match Committee, and work heartily together for the welfare of Cricket, and the prestige of the Province. And if there is any jealousy or any animosity lurking in the breast of a single Dunedin cricketer, let it pass away with the year that will soon be called old, and let the merry Christmastime, and the New Year be inaugurated under happy and auspicious circumstances.

On Saturday, the Citizen’s Club played a match with the Warehousemen’s Club. The former club, I am glad to observe, is in a very good financial position, and has on its roil some 7G members. They are to be congratulated upon the formation of their Club, and it is to be hoped that every success will attend them, and that their career will be a highly prosperous one. —The Citizens won the match easily. Glen and Shepherd bowled well throughout. Clarke played a good innings for 27 ; Mills not out, 11 ; Glen, with 9. and Shepherd with, 6. —also batted well for this club. Ferguson fielded remarkably well, and made two smart catches. Appended are the scores warehousemen's eleven W, Lambert, c Ferguson, b Glen 6 Statham, c Glen, b Shepherd • 1 Peters, run out - - - 0 Morrison, not out • • -5 Moody, b Shepherd • -1 S. Lambert, c Ferguson, b Glen I Fuller, b Glen - - - *l3 Towsey, b Glen - • - 0 Murray, b Glen - - - 0 Hart, b Glen .... I Disher, run out • • - 1 Byes .... 2 Total - • • -31 citizens’ eleven. Thomson, b Statham - - 1 Shepherd, c Peters, b Statham - (5 Fagan, run out - - - 2 Ferguson, b Statham - - 0 • eake. c Peters, b Lambert • 4 Cole, c Disher, b Statham • 2 Glen, c and b Lambert ■ • 9 M'Millan. c Morrison, bPeters - 2 C arko, b Lambert - ■ -27 Mills, not out - • • -11 Scoalar, ran out - - - 1 Extras • - - - 11 Total - • • -76 Analysis of Bowling.—Shepherd bowled 54 balls, 2 maidens, 2 wickets, for 22 runs Glen bowled 54 balls, 4 maidens, 6 wickets, for 7 runs. A match has been arranged for Boxing Day between the D.C.C. and the Dido’s eleven, assisted by Messrs Turton, Reade, and Hendley. The D.C.C. team will consist of—Alien, Cairns, Thomson, Tait, Kettle, Hellicar, Morrison, Fulton, Macdonnell, Macfarlan, Brown, Lambert, Johnston, Clark, and Parry,