CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 236, 14 October 1901, Page 3

CRICKET.

PROFESSIONAL COACH FOR HAWKE’S BAY.

(Special to Timks.» Napier, last night. Cricket in llawkc’s Bay is to receive a «jreut lilip by the engagement of Mr A. E. Trott as professional coach to cricketers in this province. Mr E. li. Williams, President of the Hawke’s Bay Club Association, now in England, was authorised to select a suitable mentor, anil he now cables that Mr Albert Trott will sail for New Zealand by the Waiwera next month. The Cricket Association has been enabled to secure Mr Trott’s services, through the support of about 200 players and sympathisers, who have given the necessary guarantee for two years. THE DISTRICT SCHEME.

(Notes by " Differ."! Tiio inauguration of the district scheme in connection with cricket has proved a more difficult task than was the case in connection with football. The chief trouble has been the scarcity of playors, ami an equal distribution of those who do play. Local players are to be commended for the manner in which thoy have tackled the question, and the boundaries as now decided on will, we think, be found to work admirably.

At the meetings on Friday evening last men were elected to the various offices who at least have the merit of enthusiasm. The United Club have a strong executive, and a glutton for work in their Secretary, Mr 11. E. Hill, wiio bids fair to become ns ardent and enthusiastic a cricketer us was ever iiis worthy sire. Mr J. V. McDonald, another new man, has been appointed scribe for the Association, and also for the City-West End Saturday team. If it be possible to make cricket in Gisborne a success, Mr McDonald is one of the men who will do it. He is an indefatigable worker, and loves the game for its own sake. - The first meeting of delegates to the newly-formed Poverty Bay Cricket Association will bo held this evening at 7.80 at the Masonic Hotel. Capable men have been appointed as delegates for the various clubs, and the Association should be a live body. This Association will practically have the full control of cricket in its hands, and with such competent and enthusiastic men as Messrs Nolan, Macdonald. and Miiler at the head of affairs we expect to see the standard of playraised to a much higher plane this season than has yet been seen in Gisborne. As all cricketers will have to practice on tile same ground in town this season, it would be a good idea for the Association to appoint a practice captain this evening, who would have control of the men at the nets.

We have no fears for the success of the district scheme. That is already assured beyond all doubt by the number of players who are taking the held this year. On Saturday afternoon, about 'JO players put in some solid practice on Victoria Domain, when we noticed several acquisitions to the ranks of local willowwielders. Macdonald. Neale, and Hood bowl well. The two first-named are express bowlers, while the last-named is a left-hander with a puzzling delivery, who sends down a ball that takes a lot of stopping. Hill and Lyttelton arc also useful irundlers. The former can bowl all day. while the latter sends along a tricky lob with yards of work on it from either side. Each of the players mentioned can also handle the bat artistically. We particularly liked Lyttelton's style. He has a tine off-drive, pulls anything short-pitched well, and keeps the ball down. Among the old hands, we noticed A. Crawford. G. 0. Johnstone. H. Cole, IV Porter. A. /.aehariah. W. MeCredie. and \V. Gibson all hard at work.

Local players will be delighted to hear that A. E. Trott has been secured as coach to the Hawke's Bay cricketers, and is now on his way to New Zealand by the steamer Waiwera.' Probably Trott at the present time is the finest all-round cricketer in the world. since he made a sensational appearance at the Adelaide Oval against Stoddard's first English team by performing remarkably well with bat and ball in a test match.he has been in the very first tli'-ht of cricketers. Trott left Australia after failing to secure a place in the Eight Australian Eleven, and was eagerly snapped up by the officers of the Marvlebone and Middlesex County Clubs. He was employed on the Lords ground stall, and lias also mane several trips to South Africa, where he also acted as coach. A well-known English cricket authority has declared that Trott has more variety of length and pace, and has more resources forgetting a batsman out than any bowler livin’". We congratulate the Hawke's Bay cricketers on having secured such a capable coach. When will Gisborne secure 1 the services oi & Trott as coach l