THE LATE INTER-PROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3730, 5 February 1875, Page 2

THE LATE INTER-PROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

Since some very absurd and unfair reports in reference to the late match have been put in circulation, it is only fair to the men who composed the Otago team, that I, as an uninterested person and close observer of the game from its commencement to the finish, should, so far as I am able, give them a contradiction j while the expression of a few thoughts that occurred to me during the three days I was ou the Hagley Park ground may not be without interest. There can be no harm in making reference te what has been the subject of correspondence before the return of the team, been in everybody’s mouth since they came heme, and, if I am correctly informed, spoken about outside the Province. The idea has got abroad that the team on the passage up to Christchurch did not take the care of themselves they should have done, nor, after arrival there, have kept as steady and quiet as men who have a tough battle to fight should hare done. It is, I think, greatly to be regretted that a public instead of a private denial has not been given by the team to these reports. I will dismiss a disagreeable subject by saying that they were in no way responsible for any unpleasantness that may have happened on board the steamer ; and that, to my knowledge, nothing occurred during their stay in Christchurch to warrant a comment, or the statements that have been made.

As to the game. No one will, I think, deny that the best men won. The beat that the most sanguine Otagonian could have wished wag that our team would have played something like a cVse match. But the fact is, Canterbury was too much for v<*. even if 'our team had been an equal one ana .. men had had- plenty of practice on the grouaa. With, perhaps, one exception, Canterbury brought out this year the strongest eleven that has ever played in an interprovinoial match. It was strong enough to have played our eleven, w.th halt-a-dozen more such as constituted the “ tail” of the Otago team, and would give a visiting team from Victoria a close run for it, if they did not heat them. Let those who may disagree with me ask the opinion of Downes, or Godby, or Paramor, or of any cricketer of standing. Downes admitted as much at the luncheon on the last day, when he made some sensible remarks and spoke a few plain truths. Indeed, it would advance true cricket if his observations were thought out. As well as my memory serves me (for the speeches were not reported) he confessed Canterbury was far “too many for us, and would be so so long as it seizes upon all available cricketing talent, or develops to tho utmost that latent in its young players while they pull together and practise as they do now—not like our men, whose idea of practice consists in strolling out from the pavilion to bat for balf-an-hour, and then to put on your coat and walk off the ground—paying the greatest attention to field practice of the severest kind. Moreover, Downes expressed the opinion that unless wtago discovered some strong talent within its bounds, or imported it, it would be hopele s for this Province to think of vanquishing Canterbury on its own ground, where it could show its greatest strength. And when it is added that many of our players warmly endorsed their Captain’s remarks, it will be admitted there must be some force in them. And of the play on both sides. In nearly •very department of the game Canterbury exhibited its superiority. We have not Ollivier s equal behind the sticks, where bis smartness gave an extra man in the field, .and so, in this match, saved innumerable runs ; neither have we suuh fields as Faker (who only excels our -’'ampson in that ho is such a splendid tpecimeu of a man, staaiding as he does considerably over six feet), the two Fowlora (J. F. in particular), Swaet, Corfe, or D’l'iuden ; nor auoh a terror with the ball as s weet, or so many good changes as are Lee (whom I rank first), Fuller (with such wonderful staying power)’ Mooro and Corfe, and, at a pinch, e! Fowler; while they have an arr'jy of batsmem good at any time for double figures to wit Corfe, the Fowlers. Ollivier, Baker Lee and Stevens. True, the latter was bowled for nil; but let him get over his nervousness at the start and once set, and see if you have not “a sticker” to deal with. Then on whom could the hopes of Otao o be said to luay® depended? On five men-Samprou, Allen, Collinson, Godby, and Paramor. hj s everyone knows, the two last mentioned came off rig’ht well, and Collinsoa did his best, be.ing unfortunate in the second innings. Allen never played with worse luck, and Sampson was never so much dissatisfied with himfelf, Of the rest little was expected,

and therefore their performances eannot he said to have been disappointing. None of our bowlers came off, though on the first day Downes’s average was the most respectable. The ground did not suit any of those who were tried, though Glen and Paramor bowled nil a^. was a decided mistake, and if Oodby or Rhodes had been put on they could not have been more punished than were the others; and every cricketer knows that a change, no matter its kind, is some* times effectual. Then the 'fielding. The number of misses was, to us a the mildest term, disgraceful. Leave out Sampson, and up to a certain point Allen, it was only second-rate all round. Lambert, too, was guilty of what should never be seen on a cricket ground. After Tait’s four-bar-relied wide, he became thoroughly careless, and took too many opportunities of exhibiting his indifference. I should like to see Sompson as longstop.. Tait, too, was in anything but a congenial position, and displayed an original style <f keeping pace with the ball, nntil it was nearly spent, instead of trying to at once stop it, which excited the youths of Christchurch to much laughter. A few other “thoughts” must be reserved for another occasion. Your Reporter.