CRICKET.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 710, 28 September 1876, Page 3

CRICKET.

{From a correspondent of the Press.) In a few days I hope we shall see the cricket season, 1876-7, opened under far more favorable auspices than has hitherto been known in Canterbury, The new club (M.C.C.C.) have quite sixty active members; in glancing down the list I find the following names Sweet, Ashby, J. Fowler, Fuller, Alpe, 0. Frith, D’Bmden, Pilling, Sampson, Monck, Dixon, Maples, Reeder, and G. Watson., In bowling, this club will have no equal in Canterbury, for there are at least six first rate bowlers, viz, Sweet, Fuller, Frith, Ashby, Pilling, and Watson (the latter left hand), the batting and fielding will also be good, but there is not the slightest doubt that the strength of this club lies mainly in its bowling power. Of the above players, two are strangers to Canterbury, viz, Pilling and Watson; the former I understand has a good Auckland reputation ; while the latter hails from Tasmania, his last match there being against the Sydney Albert Club. Ho will be a decided acquisition in the bowling line, as he is the only left-hand bowler in the team. There ere several other members spoken of as good, but we will soon be able to judge of theif merits, after seeing them practise a few times. The senior club (U.C.C.C.) will be strong in batting, the chances are that Leech and H, W, Moore will play for them, but in bowling they will be very weak, having only Corfe, Moore, and Lee to depend on. I trust to see at least three matches between the rival clubs, when no doubt there will be some good play shown ; at any rate those trifling Saturday afternoon practices will be discontinued, and lovers of the noble game will have the pleasure of seeing some good; cricket. Our cricketers should have a busy time of it. What with the match against Otago, All England Eleven, and very likely a team of Victorian Bohemians, the cricketers will find they will have to attend practice to make a decent show against the array of talent that will be brought against them. Owing to the late rains and flooded state of the ground, nothing has been done to it but as soon as the ground gets a little drier, the contractors for putting it in order will commence operations, In visiting the ground lately I noticed great improvements had been made in the small pavilion, which has a nice picket fence surrounding it, also a covered verandah, and several, royvs pf seats for members and subscribed These, with the internal improvemeats, will be a great boon to those interested.