CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 297, 23 December 1901, Page 3

CRICKET.

CRICKET COUNCIL.

PLAY IN THE COUNTRY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Sydney, Dec. 22. The Englishmen in the first innings against Goulburn made 192. uunn scored 21 and Braund, not out, 40. Lillo.y was absent. Goulburn in their second innings had 10 wickets down for lbo, and declared their innings closed. Newtown scored 52, Grogan 23, and Clifton 28. Jones took four wickets for 49. Braund three for 44, Robson six for 41, Quaife 3 for 12. England, in their second innings, had four wickets down for 104 ; Tyldesley 30, Jones 41, Garnett 44. England won by six wickote.

DESIRED VISIT OF ENGLISH TEAM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. At a meeting of the New Zealand Crickot Council on Saturday night the question of the possibility of an English team visiting New Zealand was discussed. Major Wardill wrote, stating that in view of the fact that the English professionals mu6t arrivo in England on May Ist in order to fulfil County engagements, and that the presonco of amateur County captains, six of whom arc included in the English team now in Australia, is indispensable at the boginning of the season, if was impossible that tho English team would visit Now Zoitland this summer. Major Wardill suggested that the only chance of obtaining an English team would bo in tho Council writing for a team of English amateurs to visit Now Zoaland, as they would not ho restricted to time. A great factor, Major Wardill said, against obtaining an English team such as tho present one was tho objection of tho playors, who are bad sailors, to making two sea trips. In the ensuing discussion opinions wero expressed as to desirability j of action on Major Wardill’s suggestion. | Finally it was decided to write to tho j various Associations affiliated to tho j Council, asking whether they would support the proposal to guarantee £SO per |

match, or tho not procoeds in the ovent of tho Council arranging with Lord Hawko » or any other prominent amateur a series of matehos with English aniatours. With rcferenco to a match against Australia, it was decided that tho Australian team visiting England next season bo invited to play matches in New Zealand on return from England, tho Secretary, Mr F. C. Raphael, being instructed to arrango terms. It was decided to play the intor-Island match in Wellington on February 28th, March Ist and 3rd. Mr Baker, of Dunodin, will select the South Island team.

CLUB-ROOM GOSSIP.

|Notes ity “ Bikfee.’’] No matches wero played on tho Domain on Saturday last. Both tho County and West End Clubs, who were to havo played United and City respectively, were unable to place olovons in the held, owing to shearing operations and tho holidays depriving them of a numbor of their regular playors. A scratch gamo was played on tho Domain on Saturday afternoon, sides being chosen by Krotohmer and Grant. Tho latter’s side batted first, but could only total 33 against Eyttleton’s bowling, Gibson (11) being tho only player to reach double liguros. Raymond played a fine innings for Kretchmer’s, and retired after knocking up 28. He is a batsmau with sound defence, and has a number of good scoring strokes. Kretchmer’s side won easily.

Great interest is being taken in the match to bo played on tho Domain on Boxing Day between the eleven composed of Old Boys of the English Public Schools and a Native Born eleven. Tho teams will be the same as published in tho Times a few days back, with the exception that N. G. Glassford takes Gaddum's place in tho English team, and Sheridan replaces Smith, who left for Christchurch on a holiday on Wednesday, in the Colonial eleven. Tho game between Whataupoko aud City on Thursday last was productive of the tallest scoring in a match this season. Whataupoko’s creditable total of 132 was distributed evenly among four of their batsmen. Rowland had tho honor of making topscore, and the manner in which he compiled his 35 mado one wonder why it is that this batsman does not come off with tho bat oftenor. His worst fault is a tendency to lift the ball, and the fieldsmen wero generous to him once or twice on Thursday. Haworth mado a numbor of forceful strokes to log in knocking up his 29. This batsman has lots of defonce, and a most attractive style, and wero he to curb his impatience would put up longer scores. Hodge was suffering from a weak knee, which handicapped him considerably, but his 19 was made wiuh tho full faco of the bat, and his cuts were crisp, aud his offdrives well-timed.

Barlow proved that tennis is not ths only „ game at which he excels. He made a jr-i-Tjumber of good strokes in knocking together his 17, and he was also active while his side were in the field. The City bowling was weak on Thursday, and was backed up by bad fielding. Whataupoko owe their largo total in a measure to the number of catches dropped in the field. Cole’s record of four wickets for 9 runs, including the “ hat trick,” against Whataupoko on Thursday makes one wonder why this bowler's services are not oftener utilised by his club. His victims included a coublo of the best bats on the side.

Half of tho City total on Thursday was scored by Glenmo. He went in when things wero going badly with his side, and carefully played himself in. When ho got tho measure of the bowling, he put on runs at an alarming rate. He utilised the “ drag ” stroke with tolling effect against Hodge, and hit 12 off the only over sent down by the Whataupoko captain. When in form, we have an idea this batsman would put together some long scores. I am told that Glennie, who scored 5'2 for City against Whataupoko on Thursday last, is tho possessor of quite a number of medals and trophies for batting and bowling performances in the country districts of New South Wales. West End and Kaiti had a close finish on Thursday, only three runs separating tho totals. The rivalry was keen, and the finish exciting. Hood bowled splendidly for West End, and Gibson, for Kaiti, showed tho only form he has displayed with the ball this season. Saturday, competition matches will not be resumed until January 11th, when United and County play, and City moets West-End. The cable published by the Timks on Saturday morning last, informing us that tho Marylebono Club has approved of a proposal to widen the bowling-crease one foot each way, fills one with alarm. If these alterations and amendments to tho laws of the game come so rapidly one after the other as they havo done of late, ■wo shall be wholly unable to recognise tho grand old game in a few years’ time. “When wo of the present generation stroll down twenty years hence to see tho little 11 biffers ” bat. and bowl, we shall wonder what modern game thoy are playing. Perhaps they will oven spell it differently then. , , How would it do for the Marylebono Committee to adopt the system obtaining in Gisborne, and abolish the return crease altogether. The local ground man deems the bowling crease to be liko the popping crease, "unlimited in length,” and always tn-akes it so when marking the creases. We -feel sure that were one or two of the Marylebono committeemen to take a few overs from Hood on our local wickets, they would be only too ready to retain the bowling crease at its present length, aft 4in. , The tall left-hander, who has an arm like tho wing of a full-grown albatross, bowls round the wicket, and takes full advantage of the fact that there is no return crease to prevent him delivering the ball as far from tho wicket as his sweet fancy wills. It is absolutely impossible to take centre to him, and ho knocks the wickets over liko nine-pins. The Marylebono Club are legislating {pr players who make cricket the serious

business of thoir life, and who become so proficient with constant practico on the artificially prepared wickets that it is almost impossible to get them out in good weather.

But what are players in the colonies to do if they are to ho prevented from “ artificially ” preparing the wickets, and the howling-crease is to be lengthened i The majority of cricketers in the colonies only play the game us-a pastime. They do not get sufficient practice to give tho bat complete ascendancy over the bull. It is the other way about with us. Look at the result of tho first test match in Sydney ! What would tho Australians have scored had the bowling-crease been a foot wider each way ? Goodness knows, it is difficult enough to score runs on Victoria Domain with the laws us they are at present, and “.Biller ” enters his humble protest against these continual alterations to tho laws of the grand old game. I hope tho Marylebono Committee will be influenced by it, and stop their nonsense. I learn from a private source that Albert Trott has a high opinion of Tom Dent, of Napier, as a bowler. Dent has surprised others besides Trott in his time, including a numbor of Gisborne men.