CRICKET.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 186, 13 January 1875, Page 2

CRICKET.

INTERPROVINCIAL CRICKET MATCH.

The time for the match pf. the season; has been fixed this year for. the 27th and. 28th instant, and, if necessary, the following day. As is the usual custom a match committee has been selected, whose duty it is to make all arrangements for the match, and appoint a committee to choose eighteen players to practise, from' whom the eleven is finally selected to uphold the honor of the province. The~ selection committee, as hitherto, consisted of three persons, regarding whom there is no doubt as to their playing in the eleven, so that they should not be influenced by any consideration for themselves in the selection of the team to represent the province. Those appointed this year are Messrs. Fuller, Ollivier, and Sweet, and no doubt they wish that others had the unpleasant task to perform, as the eleven this year will be, from various causes, more difficult to select than on any previous occasion. The names of the eighteen are as follows:—Messrs Alpe, Baker, Barker, Corfe, D'Emden, Fowler E. f Fowler J., Fuller, Lee, Loughnan, Maples, Moore, Neilson, Ollivier, Sooter, Sweet, Wilson, and Wood. We believe B that owing to press- of business Messrs Barker and Maples have reluctantly been obliged to withdraw their names. It will be seen from the above list that there are plenty of good cricketers, and if they will only take the trouble to practice, an eleven selected from them will take a very strong team to beat it. At first the committee appointed Tuesdays and Fridays for practice days, but finding this insufficient they have notified that practice will T take place every evening. At present "all who come up take their fifteen "miuutes'_ batting practiceraObe net, j after which they take positions in the field, and slows are. bowled, hit abbot, and fielded. This is a very good way |of practising, but unfortunately all the eighteen do not attend so regularly as they ought, and consequently are not in such good form as could be wished. The match, which was concluded on Saturday, turned out a very hollow affair, the\Tjill winniug by 100 runs, owing to the collapse of the Shorts in their second innings. It clearly showed that, very few players,are.in either good batting, fielding, or;, bowling practice; but no doubt ail these may be greatly improved before the match, but they will require all the attention that can be bestowed upon them.' In the match referred to Messrs Ollivier, Baker, and Sweet were the only ones who showed good batting form, all three playing good inningsfor their respective totals. In the. bowling, Moore was by far the most successful, but whether he could keep it up is a doubtful question, as ha has not been up to practice, and would soon tire in consequence. Sweet and Fuller both bowled well, but had difficulties to contend with. On the first day the latter had an easterly wind tp bowl against, as also on Saturday last. Sweet was more unfortunate, as, in addition to the wind on the first day, he had to bowl all through a heavy rain, when the ball was in anything but a pleasant state to bowl. The fielding generally is not good, but of this more will be said ou another occasion. I'bere are three countrymen in.

the eighteen,- viz., Messrs Baker, Lee, and Neilson.. «As all these have promised to come to town and practice for a week before the eleven 4re selected, th«y should get iato fair form before the match. They have all had tome practice ou the U 0. 0. C. grouud, and have shown good cricket, Lee being ptirtieularly successful in bowling, while Baker and Neilson have, put together a good number of IUDB. The latter is also a f;<ir change bowler, and both are good fields. The.uQJagonteam; i 8 ivery strong one,''arid that has ever, represented that province,-«Q,that.if Canterbury wishes to save a defeat, more regular attendance. todet'be**observed than" has hitherto* been; the ca. c e. Otago will be very strong in boHing, there being no...less than eight bowlers in their eleven. 1 heir fielding is also good, and there^ara-.some, good batsmen amongst tber». Judging'from "the probable players for each province,-the.-match should be one of the best ever played on the ground.