Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 21, 24 November 1900, Page 13

Cricket.

ALL cricket matches were postponed last Saturday on account of the weather, which up to noon was anything but pleasant. The afternoon, however, was fine, and but for the decision of the Committee the matches in progress could have been resumed. The more preferable course to be followed in future would be not to postpone the matches until the time set down for the recommencing of the games. * * * Another point involved here is: — Are not the matches in progress in the hands of the umpires, and should not these officials be the judges as to whether play should be resumed? I am of this opinion. In the cases of games that have not been commenced the Committee, of course, should have the power to say whether the weather is good enough for them to start, but with regard to matches in progress the umpires should be the judges. I take it, once a game has been started, the umpire is the official who should order the resumption of play, or otherwise. Clem Hill is considered the best batsman in Australian cricket. Midland resume with Wellington on Saturday, and Phoenix with Old Boys. Both matches should be interesting. Wallace has started practising with Phcemx, and it is probable that both he and Naughton will be playing in the next match. Frank Ashbolt got a nasty knock playing against the Old Boys on Friday night, and he was pleased there was no cricket last Saturday. Beported that Boxshall, who was the wicketkeeper in the New Zealand team that toured Australia a couple of seasons back, is returning to Christchurch. It is to be hoped that the Wellington Cricket Association will fall in with the proposal of the Canterbury Association, and play the representative match on the date suggested by the latter. The Beferee calls this something worthy of Jessop. Robson, batting in a Senior Grade match in Sydney, scored off 31 balls as follow :—4112044045500450104504440544000w. (74). The stand of Wigley and Sims for United against Lancaster Park the other Saturday at Christchurch is described by one writer as " in every way a memorable one." Sims scored 108 and Wigley 106 (not out). Dug Hay played a great innings of 132 in the match Last Year's Eepresentatives against the next Twelve in Auckland. "Harrier" says he batted right up to concert pitch, and throughout the innings he played with great care, and displayed good cricket. In reply to a query, a Sydney scribe says Trumble and Noble are the two best all-round players in Australia at the present time, he considering Trumble the best bowler on all wickets, and Noble probably a little better on best wickets. New Zealand cricketers are well satisfied with Trumble's capabilities on their wickets, at any rate. Thus the Bulletin : — Albert Trott is a breaker of records. Last year he made one by taking 200 wickets and making 1000 runs in the season, and this year he has repeated the feat. It has not been mentioned, however, that in 4£ months he played 62 innings, and had close on 5000 runs scored from his bowling — both probably records.

A writer in the Sydney Referee is of the opinion that Plunkett is a better rider than Sutherland at unpaced work, and is greatly taken with his graceful style of riding. Playing in a football match in South Africa, W. Pitt, more recently of Auckland but formerly in the Athletic Club, scored 19 points out of a total of 25. The score was made up of three tries, all converted, and a goal from the field. Stan Rowley enthuses over the manner in which the Yankee athletes train, he stating that their trainers even did the thinking for them. Rowley went with the English team to Paris, but on account of the poor manner in which they were trained they hadn't a chance with the boys from the " States."