The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, DEC. 19, 1881.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6493, 19 December 1881, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, DEC. 19, 1881.

Now that tho long drawn bargaining which, in these days, seems always to bo a condition precedent to a cricket match, is over ■. now that tho triangular duel between Mr Conway, tho Cantor* bury Cricket Association, and tho Lancaster Park Company baa been amicably settled without a resort to arms : now, in fact, that Lilly white's Professional Eleven have definitely settled to oomc, cricketers are beginning to bestir themselves, and tho public in general to toko again some little interest in tho groat summer game. Amongst players themselves regular practice, and tho merits and demerits of different performers are once more talked about; and by outsiders the question is frequently put as to whether any stand at all is likely to be made against tho formidable visiting team. Tho certainty of defeat seems to be placidly accepted on ail sides, and almost the sole difference of opinion appears to be whether an eighteen could make a respectable fight against the Englishmen, or whether the heavier handicap of a twenty-two ought to bo accepted by our mem Tbo bold spirits who, a twelvemonth ago, dared to hope for victory over Murdoch's eleven, have grown amazingly quiet since ttoso three hot days in January last. The palmy days of Canterbury’s victories seem a long way off, and with them has vanished any belief in our ability to repeat them. Forgotten are the cheery prophecies of a time near at hand, when Canterbury cricketers should no more have to accept odds from the strongest visitors. Nor is all this change by any means a bad thing. The exaggerated notions above referred to, which, by the way, were not entertained by players so much as non-players, were the very worst foundation on which to build a lasting popularity for the game. They were certain soon to topple down with a crash, and their fall to be accompanied with the usual concomitant of crashes—dust and rubbish. To go back no further than the Australian match of last season, they had no inconsiderable shore in causing its loss. The local men knew that they were going to inevitable defeat: they knew also that hundreds of the spectators expected them to win. The results were nervousness on the one head, disappointment and disgust on the other, and a much more severe defeat than ought to have been the case on the merits of the rival teams. From the one extreme there seems some likelihood of a rush to the other, and from an opinion much too high to one as much too low. To listen to certain critics it might be fancied that cricket in Christchurch either is or ought to be a thing of the past, that the present followers of the game neither possess skill nor give promise, and that the sooner we Wat our bats into rackets and change our grounds into tennis lawns the better. Now this is neither Just nor is it the way to mend matters. True, the game has not in one sense made headway daring late years, for, like Dogberry, we have had losses, and those no slight ones. The list of players who have either left the district or been prevented from taking any more on active share in the game, is a long one. Canterbury is just now in tho position of a school whose big boys have left and whose little ones have yet to grow up. In addition to the two well-known bowlers who have recently removed to a neighbouring Province, the present season has witnessed the departure of Mr Secreton, probably the best bat over seen hero, and the serious illness of Mr Oliivier, who can claim to have done more service to his Province over a series of years than any two other players one could readily mention. Mr Neilson’s name has not yet been forgotten, nor has his place been filled. Messrs Fowler, Leach, Lee, and Baker are, like Mr Seoretao, still in the district, but not available for regular cricket. Messrs H, W. Moore, Godby, Sweet, G. A. Turner, A. J. Ootterill, and T. E. Moore are altogether lost to the game. Barely, wo should fancy, has it happened to a small body of men to have nearly the whole of their leaders thus swept away in the coarse of a few years. Under these circumstances, it might have boon excusable if cricket had languished for a while. But quite tho contrary baa been the case, lb is more played, and, in some ways, better played than ever. If the leaders have not advanced, the rank and file have moved up to them. The spectacle is no longer to be seen of a dozen or so of first-class men standing out among a crowd of incapable*. The secondrate players are treading on the heels of those who are taken to be their betters. A few days since a practice match was arranged for in Hagloy Park, in which what was presumed to be approximately the best eleven in Christchurch was pitted against a picked fifteen. Three or four yearn ago the result would have been a maueaoro of the unhappy fifteen, followed by some hours of pleasant baiting practice for the eleven. On this occasion, however, tho parts were exchanged, it was tbo eleven who kept the field daring the greater portion of a blazing day, while tho fifteen, who hatted, bowled, and fielded well, thrashed their opponents handsomely. This state of things of coarse has its drawbacks. A dead level of commonplace is nowhere attractive. But it is an excellent foundation on which to build, and a sure premise of better things to come. Tho majority of our players are mere lads, and have all their days before them. Tho increase of competition lor places in picked teams may be troublesome to selection committees, but it gives the best guarantee for tho improvement which springs from rivalry.

i’or a your or two the elevens representing the Province may be wanting in experience, and may suffer from that bane of young cricketers, nervousness; but neither against LtllywbUe's team, nor against any other, are they likely, il bandied with judgment, to disgrace themselves. Cricket her© is never likely to bo seen at the perfection which it has reached in Australia or England. Nor is this to be wished for. A thorough mastery of cricket is only to bo attained by the devotion to it of an amount of time and thought whioh must necessarily interfere with the business of life- The men who stand supremo in the game are the amateurs who live to play, and the professionals who play to live. Both these classes are numerous enough in Great Britain and the Colonies of Victoria and Now South Wales. But in Canterbury they are entirely absent. Players here, almost without exception, have work to which to attend, and to which they do attend. But In cricket, kept in its proper place of an exercise and recreation, they have undoubtedly excelled in the past, as they doubtless will in the future. And the public, recognising the disadvantage under which they are placed, when meeting professional, or semi-professional elevens, will not expect too mnoh from their representatives, and will heartily appreciate whatever meed of success they may win.