INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3109, 5 February 1873, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Now that the eleven have gone, it may not he gut of place to offer a few remarks on the players, and on the probable result of the game. Before proceeding, however, we think it is a matter for congratulation that Otago lias succeeded in sending an eleven. At one time there was every prospect that a team would uot bo got together ; in fact, so many players refused, or were unable to take part in the match, that wo were not surprised at a report, that there would lie no match this year, should have been so generally accepted as correct. By the exertions, but principally by the personal inlluonce of the members of the Match Committee, all obstacles were at last removed, and on Saturday afternoon Otago sent a team to do battle with Cantcibury for the tenth time. 'That thp 'team is a very weak one wo cannot for a moment attempt to disprove ; but the chances of cricket are so great that wo hope our men will, bearing this in mind, fight bravely. Of the Eleven, Allen, Macfarlan, and Hendlcy only, have played before. Allen is tho captain, and was elected by tho Eleven, ; therefore we refrain from commenting on their choice. He is a capital “point,” very active on his pins, and quick with his hands. Should lie take the wickets, a post for which he lus a considerable weakness, he will make a mistake, fn batting he is successful, more so than he ought to he, as he docs rot play with a straight hat; npG withstanding, he generally scores, and has on two occasions dope good service with (lie willow agaiiist Gant-I'l-ury. Macfarlan, g'od in the Held anywhere, is the best batsman we have sent. He is a cautious player, having plenty of wiist play, and a icaoli which would enable him, if he only hold bis bat a little longer, to hit any tiling. Ho hits all round well, and is, when on the wicket, a fair change howler. Last year he topped the score tor Otago. I iendley is not what lie was, still he is good with the leather. He has promised to show our opponents that “ tho old man has got something left in him yet,” He is bowling well, and will, we think, get wickets. He is a safe catch in the field, but does not cover much ground. Wjtli tho hat he is seldom dangerous. Of those who have uot before played in these matches, taking them alphabetically, Andrew comes first. He hails from Merohiston, and lias evidently once played exceedingly well. He is now out of practice, and is a little slow in the Held. In batting, wo consider him next to Macfarlan, and expect that he will score. He is an effective player to the off, has nice wrist jday, and makes the poke to the on with great judgment. Heliicar should he wicket-kecner—-not that either ho or Allen ever the wket,

They both stand—as all Otago’s so-called wicketkeepers have stood during the last eight matches—viz., a short long-stop, Hellicar has a long roach, and is not frightened of the ball, and by going behind the stumps, Allen is able to take point, where, we think, he is invaluable. To Hellicar we look for some runs. If cool play, hard hitting, and a good clear eye can do it, then we shall have anticipated rightly. Olen is another howler, and is undoubtedly bett ,, r than Hendley. His delivery is high, and on the Christchurch ground he ought to be difficult to play. In fielding and batting he is weak. Muir, who went into the team at the last moment, must be judged of by his performances last year, as ho has so seldom put in an appearance this season. Ho is a left-handed player, and hits like fury at everything. .Should he get two of his ordinary swipes, he will be able to retire with double figures. In the field ho exerts himself to the utmost, and plays pluckily. •Johnston will do as a change howler. He fields well, and, although weak in defence, takes rank with the first four or five batsmen of the team. Khodes is a dark horse, only just having arrived from Home. He is active in the field, and has evidently run in good company. Clarke is one of our best in the field, covering lots of ground, and therefore good at long leg and cover point. Short-pitched bowling he hits across ; beyond this he cannot bat. Tait will be the first change bowler. With an easy delivery, he howls straight, but short. If the Canterbury bowling is not straight, lie will score to the off. In the field he is not strong. Sutcliffe, we think, should have been in the team, but as he goes as twelfth man, we presume he will score for Otago. Fred itussell (he is always called Fred) will make an excellent umpire. He has one rare qualification for the office, which is that he never gives a l.b.w. unless the ball pitches between stump and stump. On the whole, the Otago team is unquestionably the weakest the Province has ever played, whilst Canterbury is playing the strongest eleven she has ever got together. In howling, our opponents are stronger this year than they have been before, having received a valuable acquisition in Fuller, whose pace is little short of the late Tarrant’s ; Pierce, Corfe, and Moore, who bowls with a fine twist from leg, are also in good form. In batting, Canterbury is as strong as last year, notwithstanding she has lost Saville, who in himself was a tower of strength. His place is taken by Wootner, a good hat, being a hard-hitter and steady player. The fielding of the other team is weak ; very little attention having been paid to this department, but, bad as it may be, it cannot be worse than that of tho Otago players. Judging of the two elevens on their me.its, Canterbury ought to win in one innings. We trust she will not. We hope that fortune will smile on our team, and that they mry pull off anotlr r victory for Otago. We wish our representatives every success, The match will commence on Thursday next, and will be played in Haglcy Park, on a ground which, we are informed, is in perfect condition. lor the information of our readers we append a synopsis of the various Internrovincial matches that have been played, and we also give the names of the players who have composed the several teams which have represented Otago. The highest scorer’s name in each match appears in italics : - First Match.— Dunedin, 27th, 28th, and 29th January, 1804, Otago won by 04 runs. Morris, Jacomb, ('. Mace, Hope, Kedfern (captain), M‘Donald, Jama Fulton, J. Mace, Coulstock, Turton, and Maddock. Seconii Match. Christchurch, oth and 7th February, 1800. Canterbury won by 4 wickets. H. W. Cairns, Chapman, Hope, Horton, Worthington, Jas. Fulton (captain), Murison, Maddock, Crump, Hendley, and Parker. Third Match.— Dunedin, 18th and 14th February, 1800. Otago won by ft wickets. Turton, H W, Cairns, Richardson , Hope, Horton, Fulton (captain), Downes, Worthington. Murison, J. H. Harris, and Hendley. ForiiTH Match. Christchurch, 7th and Bth February, I*Bo7. Otago won by 1 innings and 87 runs. Turton (captain), M. Creagh, T. S. I’aikor, Downes, Hope, Murison, Fulton, Chapman, Olasgow, T. Lutterworth, and Hendley. Fin'll Match. —Dunedin, Hth February, 1808. Otago won by 9 wickets. Turton (captain), Macdonnell, Ciump, Glasgow, H, W. Cairns, Downes, A. E. Cairns, J. C. Fulton, Fred Fulton, Hendley, and Chapman.

Sixth Match. —Christchurch, Bth and 9th February, 1861). Drawn- Fred Fulton, Glasgow, Collinson, Hendlcy, Macdaandl, Maddock, Turton (captain), J, C. Fulton, Kettle, and James Campbell. SIiVKNTH Match.— Dunedin, 3rd and 4th December, m. Otago won by 4 wickets. Collinson, A. E. Cairns, Kettle, Macdonncll, F. Fulton, Downes, J. C. Fulton. Muddock (captain), Allen, Hendley. and J. Wills. Eighth Match. —Christchurch, 23rd and 24th January, 1871. Canterbury won by one innings and 29 runs. Hendley, Macfarlan, Rcadc , Collinson, Macdonndi (captain), Kettle, Allen, A. E. Cairns, Holmes, Brown, and Aris. Ninth Match.— Dunedin, 28th and 29th December, 1871. Canterbury Avon by ten wickets and one run. Macfarlan, F, Fulton, Kettle, Collinson, DoAvnes, J. C. Fulton, Turton (captain), Macdonncll, Reade, Church, and Allen.