CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 3292, 8 September 1873, Page 2

CRICKET.

The advent of spring and the near approach of summer naturally suggest to cricketers and the Y&tvons of cricket the inauguration of a season and the speedy prospect ol engaging Va or witnessing their favorite pastime. The Citizen’s Club are already on the qui vfve, and hold their annual general meeting to-night. The Dunedin Club have as yet made no sign, but their annual report and balance sheet will no doubt b« submitted at an early date, and the business o f the season entered upon with enthusiasm and energy. This club, with praiseworthy enterprise, have succeeded during the past winter in effecting very marked and satisfactory improvements on what can now at last be termed the cricket oval. To its president, Mr Rattray, must he accorded the credit of the success which has attended the efforts of its members to accomplish a much-needed reformation. Had it not been for his very strenuous and persistent endeavours to push the matter on, the neat and substantial fence which now defines and pro tects the cricket area would never have been erected, nor would any wicket worthy of the name have been available for the season’s play. Mainly through his exertions a sum of Ll5O was collected, which the Provincial Council Sierously agreed to supplement by a vote of 00. With this money in hand the work of improvement was set about in right good earnest. The centre portion of the turf has been taken up, re laid, top-dressed, and sown with English grass seed. A piece for practice wickets has been formed in the same way, and another piece is in course of formation, at the far end of the ground, specially designed for the use of those who may not be able to take part in the matches on Saturday afternoons, but who may nevertheless wish to have some practice. The outside portions have not been overlooked, and here perhaps more than anywhere else, the nature of the improvement effected on the turf is most observable. Innumerable stumps, the fruitful cause of much trouble and annoyance to fieldsmen, have been uprooted, and the ground at these points rendered comparatively level. The inequalities, in the shape of mounds and tussocks of grass, which made long-fielding, on the Caversham side of the ground, bo uncertain and disagreeable, are fast disappearing, and the oval is altogether assuming a more inviting appearance. The enclosure, however, is decidedly small for a cricket ground, and hitting over the fence will be of frequent occurrence. The of the D.C.O. has been moved to a more suitable part of the oval, and is at present undergoing repairs. The prospects of the club are good, and a considerable accession to its [roll of members may bo anticipated this season.

The attention of cricketers in the Colonies will this year be directed to the doings of the All-England Eleven, who will arrive inVictoria about December. There does not seem to be the slightest chance of their visiting New Zealand. Even were they able to snare the time, the money would not be forthcoming. We shall, therefore, be debarred from witnessing the sensational hits and the rapid three-figure scoring ©f the “ leviathan," and have to be content with reports of the exploits of himself and his team during their stay in Australia. Nor is the talked-of visit of a Victorian team to this Colony likely to eventuate this season, as no eleven could be got together to leave that Colony while the “ illustrious strangers” were still performing. The Interprovincial match with Canterbury, which takes place in Dunedin this year, will probably afford our players the only opportunity they will have of putting themselves against talent outside of Otago. The Auckland cricketers are meditating a tour to try conclusions with the Southern clubs, and have intimated their willingness to meet and play Otago at Christchurch. This seems reasonable and fair enough, but we are afraid that no team will be got to leave Otago this year; and if a match with Auckland is to come off, it must be played in Dunedin.