CRICKET GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4916, 23 December 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

CRICKET GOSSIP.

(BY TOM BROWN.I Nothing appears to have been heard of the final result of the match between the All England Eleven and the Newcastle District twenty'two, although there can be little doubt as to how 'the match went, for it is very improbable that the twenty-two would put together 143 in their second innings, the number they wanted to ; win. I am at a loss to understand why the finish of the match was not telegraphed as well as the first part. Perhaps their defeat was such an ignominious one that the resultwas kept dark at least as far as this part of the world is concerned.' In another part of the paper is published the full scores of the match in Sydney, and. it.,will be seen from them that the Sydney men played a very plucky and uphill game, and they well deserve the encomiums lavished upon them by the Sydney Press. A 3 showing the stubborn defence offered by them, I. have been favored with the 'following extract from a private letter from Sydney, received by a friend of mine here. The writer says:—" Sydney has been aU excitement the last few days, consequent upon the cricket match. I never saw so many people on the Albert ground before; there must have been something like 40,000 people visited it on the four days. Our men are awfully delighted at scoring a win, and it certainly is very credit,able the way they pulled up their lost ground. The first innings they seemed to be regularly frightened from their wickets by the bowling, but the second they recovered their lost nerve and went in and won like bricks. Evans played a most extraordinary innings, he was in for nearly five hours; he stood against seven out of the eleven bowling against him; his score was small considering the time he wa3 in —3B only." The bowling on both sides was remarkably good, Evans' bowling to my mind was equally as good as Shaw's, taking into consideration the relative merits of the batsmen. The Englishmen are now in Melbourne, and will open against Victoria on Tuesday next. In connection with the Englishmen's visit to New Zealand, a letter has been received by Mr. J. O. Eva, of Dunedin, from Mr. Bennett, agent for the All-England Eleven, advising him that the team leaves Sydney on the 17th January for Greymoutb, where they play first, and then proceed to Auckland, playing there about the 29th, then coming South again. The reason why Jupp did not play at Sydney was that ho was suffering from disease of the kidneys. It seems that the Interprovincial match between Otago and Canterbury is to take place after all. The Otago Witness says:—"A meeting of cricketers for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of foregoing the usual match with Christchurch this year, was held in Wain's Hotel on the 7th. Mr. W. D. Meares occupied the chair, and about eighteen gentlemen were present.". After a great deal of discussion it was carried, —"That in the opinion of the meeting it is desirable that the usual match with Canterbury should take place, and that it be remitted to the Otago Cricketers' Association to carry out the same." I notice also that the Dunedin eleven played a match last Saturday against a combined eighteen, comprising players from the Citizens', Albion's, Brewers', and Carisbrook's Cluba. The eighteen went in first, and only made 60, while the eleven had lost three wickets for 40 runs. Paramor did most of the execution against the eighteen, securing six wickets at the expense of 15 runs. The match is to be resumed to-day. I think Wellington might take a leaf out of Dunedin's book in this respect and play a like match. I see by a Nelson paper that the Wakefield and Nelson Clubs have had a match, and the latter club suffered defeat, the brothers Eden doing all the mischief. On Tuesday and Wednesday next the return Interprovincial match between Wellington and Nelson will be played at the latter place. The Wellington men will leave here this evening by the Wallace. The team, which was chosen after a great deal of difficulty, is a fairly representative one, and as good a one as can be got to go away at this season of the year. I think they will give a good account of themselves. The following are the names of the respective teams:—Messrs Knapp, Bell, Bryce, Edmunds, Garwood, Armitage, Foley, Bond, Lockett, Williams, Mac-, kenzie, and I. J; Salmon. Nelson—Messrs. H. Cross, S. Powell, Fowler, C. Knapp, H. Knapp, K. Knapp, H. Halliday, C. Halliday, T. Eden, W. Eden, and Coles. In connection with the match we may mention that Mr. H. D. Bell has very generously promised a bat to the highest scorer on tho Wellington side. It is to be hoped for the credit of the Empire City that the gentlemen whose names appear above will not disappoint their friends on the other side of the Strait, especially after all arrangements have been completed. • Last Saturday the costume match suggested by me was played on the Basin Reserve, and although the day was very cold about £5 will be the result to the funds of the All-England Eleven. I understand that the match will be repeated on an early date. It is due to Mr. I. J. Salmon to state that he was instrumental in getting the Artillery team together, and also the service of the Artillery band, which itself was a great attraction. To-day the eleven that go to Nelson play a team chosen from all comers, the later under the captaincy of Mr. J. A. Salmon. The eleven are very strong in bowling, and the match should be an interesting one; besides it will give the Interprovincial eleven an opportunity of fielding and playing together. _____________