INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH AND CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 3102, 28 January 1873, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH AND CRICKET.

By “Long Ley.”

The tenth Interprovincial Cricket match between Otago and Canterbury will be played at Haglay Park, Christchurch, about the I Oth of next month. The following synopsis of matches will show that Otago is at present tivo games to the good 1864. Otago won by 76 runs. 1865. Canterbury won by four wickets. 1866. Otago won by two wickets. 1867. Otago won by one innings and 37 runs. 1868. Otago won by nine wickets. 1869. (February). Drawn, Canterbury having 17 runs to make to win and 3 wickets to fall. 1869. (December). Otago won by four wickets. 1871. (January). Canterbury won by one innings ami 59 runs. 1871. (December). Canterbury Avon by ten wickets.

The Match Committee appointed to select our eleven have, no doubt, done their best to secure as strong a team as possible to represent the Province in the forthcoming contest; but looking at the names of the players chosen, it must be seen that the eleven is the weakest one we have ever played. It is to be regretted that the names of Turton, Fulton, Downes, Collinson, Macdonnell, Kettle, andlleade do not appear in the list, dowever, although it is very likely that Otjigo will suffer a defeat this year, I would urge on our representatives to work together and do their best to win; they can do no more. Looking at the list of the eleven, I should select Macfarlan, Andrew, and Hellicar as being the most likely men to score, and do good service for our side. As the captain of the team has not yet been chosen, I would venture to suggest that Macfarlan is the best man to hold that position, and the eleven would do well to place themselves under his command. A great deal of indifference has been shovyn in practising during the last week or two. This is, no doubt, owing in a great measure to the disgraceful and discreditable state in which the ground has been kept this season by H end ley, and also to a report that! has been circulated that Otago would, in all probability, withdraw from the contest for this season. I, for one, should be very sorry to see our cricketers show the “white feather,” and I have no hesitation in saying that there was no foundation whatever for such a report. In conclusion, I may add that great praise is due to Mr James Rattray and the other members of the Match Committee for the trouble, they have taken in being on the ground whenever an opportunity offered to watch the play, so as to enable them to judge for themselves of the merits of the various players. Although, as I have already said, our eleven is a weak one, yet' f hope to see theul, when the time co i.es, put their shoulders to the wheel, and do their best to place another victory to Otago’s credit. “ Fortuna favet fortibus.”

Next season I hope to see the cricket clubs on a more satisfactory footing as far as the ground is concerned. The tracks made by our Kensington friends across the centre of the oval are both damaging and disfiguring to the ground, and the clubs have no means within their power to abate the nuisance. They have from time to time laid their complaints before the Mayor and Corporation, but without obtaining any relief. If the complaints had been Tuiaalc by tKv> Caledonian Society, or by tbe Chinese gardeners, no doubt some remedy would have been found for then' grievances ; but the interests of our cricket clubs are altogether disregarded.