WHAT LILLY WHITE THINKS OF OUR CRICKETERS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 822, 9 February 1877, Page 3

WHAT LILLY WHITE THINKS OF OUR CRICKETERS.

“ Wretched weather for the match,” exclaimed our special artist, as be threw him self carelessly into one of those luxurious chairs that adorn the smoking-room of Coker’s Occidental. “ I guess you’ll not be able to finish it, or that if you do go on, some of the Wellingtoniaus will be so disgusted with the score that they’ll not show up towards the end. I hear, too, that in Canterbury the weather is equally bad, and that our men are not only unable to practice, but are also quarrelling amongst themselves about something or other, which to my mind seems exceedingly childish.'’ The person addressed was: Lilly white, the captain of the English Eleven. » “If this goes on much longer, and they don’t practice as frequently as they ought to, knowing they have to meet such formidable opponents as you are, I fear very much that this disgraceful exhibition of the Wellington men will be repeated by the Canterbury cricketers.”

Lillywhite : There is very little chance of it. I can assure you we have the highest respect for your Canterbury men, and hold them by no means as cheaply as people might imagine. Special Artist: There arc certainly many good men amongst them —men who are good at everything, either at the wicket, bowling, or in the field. A few weeks ago, the Otago men came to Canterbury, and were confident that their victory would be an easy one, but they returned to their own part of the country slightly crestfallen, 1 guess. Lillywhite ; I have the report of that very match in my pocket-book ; and apert from any other knowledge of your men, the scores that some of them made would be quite sufficient to prove to us that we shall have to play well to avoid a defeat. This we have sustained in Melbourne and Sydney, and we have no desire to leave New Zea land with a licking. Special Artist; I w'onder very much that they did not follow the example of other places, and play twenty-two against you, Lillywhite: In fixing the number at eighteen they have acted very judiciously. Believe me that it is bettor to play eighteen than two-and-twenty, because four more in the field would just have the effect of p acing everybody in everybody else’s way. Besides, what four third-rate men would add to the score is neither here nor there, and as the saying goes, ‘ ‘ their room is better than their company.” Special Artist: I must say there is a good deal of force in what you state, but at first sight the odds of two to one would seem to indicate a better chance of victory.

Lilly white : Not at all. With eighteen in the field, of course we cannot help giving chances, and these will be taken with greater certainly, depend upon it, than if there were twenty-two on the qui vive. In that case there would be a rush and a scramble and constant collisions with each other, and the “misses” would be recorded more frequently than would be the case if these chances were given to the smaller field. I expect that in Canterbury there will be a display of really good cricketing on the part of the local team, and it is wrong to suppose that wc by any me a as hold them cheaply, or that wc think we shall bo able to dismiss them with a discreditable innings. Special Artist : Then you mean to play your best ? Lillywhite: Decidedly we do, and we should never dream of doing otherwise. We confidently expect to win, but we shall have to play well to score a victory. You sec ■with eighteen in the field, we may anticipate that almost every chance will be taken, because we are aware you’ve got a smart lot in Canterbury, and some excellent stayers once they get well set. Some of your men are personally known to us. There is Moore, for instance, a well known gentleman bat, He has a fine defence and magnificent hitting powers. Then there’s Leach, who is well known in the county he comes from as being a most powerful defence and a patient player. Young Ashby, too, is well known in Surrey as being a very promising player. He has played against some of the best elevens in England, and was considered by his county as a coming man. He is a very dangerous bowler, when his day is out. If the weather is only line, I believe the public of Canterbury will see some good cricket on both sides, Qur men are very anxious to see Canterbury. Special Artist: It was your vwcle who played iu the team that Mr Shadraeh Jones

introduced to New Zealand—let me sec, in 1864.

Lilly white: Yes, and he and others who have been there have told us that the place so much resembles home, and is so thoroughly English in appearance, that we have a longing to see Christchurch. Special Artist; I have been all over the colony, and I am not boasting when I say Give me Canterbury before the lot. Depend upon it, you will go amongst people who know how to treat strangers, and who take a very lively interest in the national game of their mother country.

And so saying, with a familiar nu revoir, our special artist retired, prouder of Canterbury than he had ever been before.