CRICKET.

Kaikoura Star, 26 April 1904, Page 5

CRICKET.

L ondon, April 24 Marylebone Club entertained Warner’s team at a banquet. The team plays Rest of England on 9th May. In Blackham’s opinion George Giffen is without doubt the best Sood wicket bowler Australia has ad. “Very awkward to take; always changing his pace and pitch, and you never knew what was coming next. George very often succeeded in knocking out the and that particular ball often beat me, for it would come across from the off, and get mixed up with bat and legs anil stumps and finally got on your ‘ blind side’.” Blackham considers the greatest bowler in his day that Australia ever produced was the “ Demon ” Spofforth ; and a close second to him was the “Terror” Charlie Turner, but both men wanted the wicket a little bit in their favor to make them at their very best—not so Giffen. Jones, he added, is the fastest bowler for the first few overs he ever saw. Tommy Horan, talking about allround cricketers, said : “A long way ahead of any I have seen stands George Giffen. There was a cricketer. He could go in, bat nearly all day and come off the field, get under a shower, go on the field and start bowling. He was never idle. He spent precious little time in the pavilion. He was a powerful hitter, and had a defence as solid as a rock. His bowling was a work of art. Yes ; George was a wonder, and was nearly a whole team in himself.”