CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 56, 7 March 1901, Page 3

CRICKET.

[Notes by “Biffeb.”]

While taking a constitutional beneath the shady glades of Childers Road “ in the hush of the golden twilight ” an evening or two ago, my attention was arrested by the -eccentric behaviour of a group of rninahs in the boughs of the pinus insignus directly opposite Victoria Domain. The buds were evidently greatly excited. They kept up an incessant chattering, and gave vent at frequent intervals to shrill and angry calls. Each bird had its neck craned in the direction of the cricket ground, and I followed their gaze to try and ascertain if possible what was exciting their attention. Imagine my feelings of stunned bewilderment and unspeakable horror when I discovered the cricket field tenanted by a number of white-robed figures. 11 Who are these arrayed in white ?” I gasped to myself. Full well I knew that the cricketers of Gisborne never practised cricket. Many, many moons had waned since such a thing had been heard of. The only conclusion I could come to was that the players I saw before me were visitants from Mars. As I gazed, the conjecture almost appeared a certainty. The players seemed to my distorted vision to be magnified threefold, and these tall, phantom spectres dashed about the field, and did marvellous feats with both bat and ball. My reason forsook me ; I turned to flee, but my traitrous knees refused to obey me, and I sank to the earth a miserable, grovelling wreck. As I lay prostrate, my courage gradually returned, and I stealthily crept up to the fence, and raised myself carefully until I could see between the ground and the bottom wire. Picture my joy and relief when I discovered that the supposed celestial demons were after all really only Gisborne men. Wonder of wonders 1 Yes, there they all were in the flesh. Gordon Johnston was batting,

“ Dick ” Cole and Jimmy Hussey wero bowling, and Wally Howard was standing with an intensely expectant look on his

face somewhere about tho position of extra-forward cover, while a tall, lanky youth (whom I found afterwards to be H. Sharp, a recent arrival from Stoddart’s County) and young Gordon Witty were strolling about in tho country. It appears that the lady rninahs had been regularly in the habit for the past two months of regaling their male friends daily with the minah substitute for afternoon-tea—“ devilled ” slugs, which were to be found in abundance in the vicinity of the pitch—and the pronounced outcry I had heard was their expression of disapproval at what they considered the inconsiderate action of the cricketers in preventing thorn from indulging in their usual social function. The genial secretary was amused when I expressed my amazement at finding practice being indulged in in Gisborne, and informed me that it was the intention to continue the practices every afternoon till the close of the season if the weather permitted. A very noticeable feature about the batting of the local men is the scarcity of the strokes they possess. This was particularly apparent in last Saturday’s match. Most of tho men can drive all right, a few can cut, fewer still can log-glanco, but none can hook or pull to advantage. I would adviso them to cultivate new strokes while practising at the nets. Dozens of short-pitched balls were simply played straight back to the bowler on Saturday which would have added four to tho batsmen’s scores had they boon able to pull them round to tho on side. This is tho great scoring stroke, and is cultivated to a fine art by the greatest batsmen. Why should not Gisborne players be thoroughly up-to-date, and add this to their other strokes ? Wally Howard (Gisborne) and liis contemporary, Fred Smith (Ormond), kept wickets well on Saturday. There was scarcely an extra allowed to either side ; but, of course, long-stops were employed. We should never be satisfied until wo unearth stumpers locally who can dispense with the long-stop, and allow tho side an extra man in the field.

Barton fielded splendidly on Saturday. Had it not been for the safe and clover manner in which his ground work was performed at long stop, Gisborno would have had a larger total. Tho trip to Tolago has been indefinitely postponed. It is possible that the journey up the Coast may be made towards the close of tho season.

Lovers of tho game will be pleased to hear that a combined team from AVairoa and Frascrtown is expected to arrive here next week. They will commence their tour with a match against Ormond on that club’s ground on Monday nest. On tho following Thursday, they play an eleven from tho combined Thursday clubs on Victoria Domain; and on the Saturday, .they play the Gisborne Club on a ground to bo selected lfttej on. If the AVairoa men bring over as strong a side as that which represented them on tho occasion of their last visit, Gisborne players will have to look to it that the “ ashes ” are not taken back to AAhuroa. AVe trust tho visitors will strike good Weather, and have a pleasant tour.