THE CANADIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 199, 21 August 1880, Page 4

THE CANADIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND

(Standard, 11th June.) Yesterday will be memorable in cricketing annals for the annihilation | of the reputation of one of our colonies. Two years ago Australia sent over a team which excited the surprise and admiration of English cricketers, and found itself capable of holding its own against the best English counties. Canada, fired to emulation by this fact, has this year sent over a team which, after playing with indifferent fortune in the provinces, yesterday put in an appearance at Lord's, OnTibis ground,

on 'the 27th of May, 1878, the . Australian eleven astonished English playf ers by defeating the M.C.C. and ground by nine wickets. The Canadians ' acknowledged their weakness by playing fifteen against the M.C.C. and Aground. The latter, went in first, and scored 292. Canada followed, and went out for 33, being absolutely incapable of playing against the bowling of Shaw and Mor r ley. Of course the Canadians hlad: to follow on, and,.. to give them some] Kttld hope, the captain of the M.C.C. eleven put on'-Barnes to bowl in place 6f!]\iorley. The change, however, made no difference whatever, and the Canadians only managed to score a total of 36, making 69 in their two innings, M.C.C. thus winning in one innings with 123 runs to spare. A more wretched cricketing fiasco than this was neV6r witnessed, and judges of the game are of opinion that luck, which has so great a share in cricket, had but little to do with the result. The Canadians were beaten hollow, simply because . they could not play cricket in the scientific sense of the expression. They could neither bat, bowl nor field. We should imagine that after this we shall hear little more of the Canadian cricket team, for they are inferior to the poorest of our country elevens. It is by no means surprising that this should be so> since in the colonies there are fewer men than at home 'able to devote a considerable portion of their time in the summer months to the practice of cricket ; but it is clear that, until a very great improvement takes place, the Canadian cricketers would do well to spend their time in learning cricket at home instead of touring about this country making an exhibition of their incapacity.