CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 3745, 23 February 1875, Page 2

CRICKET.

We are requested by the Match Committee of the Dunedin Cricket Club to state that the fifteen recently selected by them to practise for the forthcoming Canterbury match were chosen by plurality of votes of the written selections of each member of the committee. From this it appears that “One who ought to know,” who furnished information to a “regular attendant on the ground ” knows very little about the matter. On the subject of the umpire’s decision in following :“I have read in yesterday’s Saturday’s match, “G. K.” sends us the Guardian’ a letter from ‘A Lover of the Game and Fairplay,’ commenting on the advisability of the committe of the D.O.C. providing competent umpires for their matches. In a place like Dunedin, where so little knowledge of, or even interest in cricket (as in* all other manly sports) is shown, it is very difficult to obtain competent umpires. I have not, for the last six years, met a player who knew the rules, yet nearly all will tell you they are competent to act as umpires. The umpire referred to by A Lover of the Game, &c.,’ I have known for a long time, and I am sure he would never intentionally give a wrong decision, I heard the two appeals to him on Saturday. The first was dearly wrong. (See Rule 2i). The second decision lam doubtful about. XJnder similar circumstances some years since, on Lord’s (if I remember aright), Heame, the professional umpire of England, decided exactly as was decided on our ground on Saturday. Of course the batsman had to go out, but the decision was appealed against, in order that on any future occasion the point should not be considered doubtful. The decision on appeal I have not yet been able to find, although I believe it confirmed Hearne’s ruling. When I find the case I will send you a note of it for the information of cricketers. In conclusion, I would suggest to ‘ A Lover of the Game, &c.,’ to make his complaints to the match committee, and not hastily rush into print, as the latter course only tends to create bad feeling in the club. The match committee have made several serious mistakes this season but I believe they have decided according to the best of their limited knowledge and ability, and consequently I support their decisions! The mistake in electing such a committee lies with the players themselves.”