CRICKET.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2648, 2 October 1882, Page 4

CRICKET.

The opening of the orioket aeon on is a n event of considerable magnitude with a certain section of the community. For six months of the year the thoughts of a large number of persona are more or leas seriously bent on averages, both bowling and batting, or indications of promise in young players, and on the various larger events which distinctively mark one season from another. As far as weather was concerned lost Saturday, it was by no means a model opening day. A sharp easterly wind was blowing,which made fielding anything but a pleasant operation. Both the Hagley Park and the Lancaster Park grounds, however, were looking in splendid condition, and with more genial weather, although better cricket might not have been displayed, the opening of the season would have been more pleasant. On the U. 0.0.0. ground the match on the card was the Slleven against the Club, The U. 0.0.0. has the name of being one of the most unpunctual clubs in existence, and on this occasion it fully acted up to its character. Although the match was advertised as starting at two o’clock sharp, it was fully three o’clock before play commenced, and then it was found that the Eleven were represented by only nine men, and that the remainder of theolub numbered only eight. The latter were the first to take up the willow, and only succeeded in putting together 50 tune. B. Higgins—who, by the way, should prove an acquisition in the batting line—scoring 16, and W. Q-. Ootterill 14. Boss, who appears to have found out the “ spot” daring the recess, and who judiciously puts in an occasional fast one, took most of the wicketo. The Eleven sent in Ashby and E. J. Ootterill, who remained in until time was called,, making tuna very fast. The bowling they had to deal with, however, was of the feeblest character, nearly every man of the devoted eight men repreing the club trying his hand with the balk Ashby scored 86, and Ootterill 64. Eleven extraa made up a total of J. 61 with no wickets down. The Midland match was also the Eleven t the Club. There was a good muster, the Club being represented by twenty-one men. The Eleven took the field. Barnes, Washer and Fairhurst handled the boll, and disposed of their adversaries for the -email total of 53 runs, there being no double figures made. For the Club, Fuller—who was playing with that side as captain—and Grossman trundled, and succeeded in lowering six wickets for a total of 90. Barnes scored 16, Philpot 16, Buchanan 17, Washer 12 (not out) and Fairhurst 13 (not out), The Lancaster Park Club opened their season with a considerable flourish of trumpets, A number of ladies were present, and, throngh tho kindness of Lady Wilson and the president, creature comforts were not neglected. A warmer day was alone wanting to have made the affair a moot marked success, as players mustered in strong force. The match war the first Eleven versus the next Twenty-two. The latter went in first and put together 82, Smith scoring 19 and G. Beeves 14. The Eleven made 101 rnna with the loss of six wickets, Dunlop carrying his bat through for a score of 40, while Poooofc made 17 and Taylor 15.

The opening match with the Addington Olnb was Batsmen versus Bowlers. The former won the toss and elected to take first innings, hut they made no lengthened stand, the bowling being, for the most part, very much on the wicket. Their innings closed for 61 runs. The bowlers, on the other hand, gave their adversaries plenty of leather hunting, Flowers with 38, Wheatley with 21, and H. Ogier with 20 keeping the field constantly on the move. The bowlers thus won the game with great ease. Since the last annual meeting of this club there haa been a very large increase of members, forty new names having been entered upon the roll. A large amount of money hoe bean spent, and in a short time the dab will not only have a good ground, bat an extensive plant. The lower portion of the ground has, owing to the manner in which it has been oat np by the traffic to and from the Exhibition, been topdressed, and will not be fit for cricketing purposes for some little time to coma.