CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 14 February 1902, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE TEST MATCH TO-MORROW. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Feb. 13. The weather is cool, but cloudy. The teams will be picked in the morning. The Englishmen returned to-day from a trip to the mountains, and had some practice at the nets. It is taken for granted that Barnes will not play, and McGahey takes his place. Darling being absent, Trumble will probably captain the Australians.

The Australian Eleven of 1902 will leave for England in the Omrah, which leaves Adelaide on March 30th. The Englishmen will return by the samo vessel. It is said that tho Australians will be unaccompanied by a manager this time.

Writing of the later stages of play in the third test match, “ Observer ” says : “ I doubt whether Darling will take part in the other two test matches. Domestic affairs and the busy times on a sheep station call him back to Stonehenge, in Tasmania, at the close of this game, and it may be that he will be unable to go with the Australians to England.” Maclaren, the English eleven captain, has decided that Blythe shall be given a rest, and the bowler will consequently not be in the team to represent England against Australia in tho next test. The ligaments of Blythe’s hand have been found to be badly strained. Barnes ie also in a bad way, and it is unlikely that he will play again this tour. With two such bowler’s laid up Maclaron’s team will be in a bad way in the next two test matches.

Recently a dispute arose on the Melbourne C.C.’s ground as to a cricket rule, and not a single copy of the laws of the game could be found on the ground! Earlier in the season a dispute arose on the Sydney ground, and not a copy could be found there either.