CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4951, 3 February 1877, Page 3

CRICKET.

THE ENGLISH MATCH. ’ ' ' . ... (bt tom brown.) ■ I visited the Basin Reserve last evening, in, :the' bbpe that some practical work would be done in the shape of practice; but I was sadly disappointed, ’ When I went on the ground I saw about eight or nine pegging away! and 1 was 1 anything but edified with the . display of . cricket. The stumps kept tumbling down every few balls.; and even when the. batsman hit one, it went up in the air. The -batsmen appear to think that as long as the ball is hit it is sufficient, no matter whether it Js hit in the air or along the ground. This wrpn’t do, as they will find to their cost when ‘ batting against the Englishmen ; there will be ’ . little hope of a “let off” by a “ miss,” if it is ‘ within reach. This ■ hitting .at random is a great weakness of most colonial batsmen. It no doubt tells when there is an ‘ indifferent field ; but when such men as our twenty-two have 'tq meet to-day are in the field, it puts a different complexion on affairs, as very lew ~ chances of a catch are missed. The 'only bowlers practising were LysterBray’S and I. J. Salmon; and both wereon the wickets. Hood was wielding the willow at one end, and J. A. Salmon at the ‘Other; but* neither Seemed at home to the bowling. Two or three of the others also ‘ shaped with the hat, but with no better result. IJnless they show a better defence when they ' go* in to-day or Monday, it will be a case of *• - shelling peas for the Englishmen. I was rather surprised on looking round to see so many * menihers of the team looking so complacently *’■' ‘firi'afc'the others practising. I suppose they i have come to the conclusion that it will be all ■ * the. same in the end whether ’ theypractise or ; Perhaps it will ; hut ,still I,think as it was the night before the big match a little practice would" not have done them any barm. I had a look at'the wicket for.td-day, and wap 'surprised at it looking so well, which says a good deal for the energy of Agate, the asso- ; ■ clarion’s; curator. Messrs. Mace, and Arinitage ''''Mel'deSerying of praise -too, for they have a great deal of their : time seeing, ri.tHatievery thing has been : done'properly. The fielding ground is still veryrough, but nothing hJikei whatiit was, Our.-.twenty-tWo. will not only have to look out for the “ breaks ” in the . ground but in theTball too. There will have to be no going, to sleep on the field, as two or; ithree whose names I could mention are in-the • ’ habit of doing ; every; man will have; to' work; arid keep his eye on the’captain, to save him ; -having to call - out by name .any man he may to shift into another ‘position.’. If this is J,i 'dbhe ! ' considerable time will be' saved, as well as:annoyance. In fact, the captain should be watched more closely than the batsman,, v ahd' it should only require the motion_of his - hand to alter the position of any man in the field. 1' hope the twenty-two will take these . ' few remarks to heart and remember theiri, as ' it' will .greatly assist the captain in the dis-' charge of his arduous.duties. • About half-past 5 last night the team with a few exceptions met' at the pavilion,' and elected Mr.'Mace as their captain.. Mr. Knapp * declined the honor, as he considered the duties t(io onerous, and . he did hot think himself capable,of fulfilling them satisfactorily; however; he consented-to-act with Mr. Mace in ■ ~the~capaoity of~ lieutenant. 'ln erecting Mr. Mace the team have dohe the next best thing, as he is an old.stager at the game, and has led. - many a team to victory, not that; I expect he-will be able to do it bn this occasion ; but efil], “ you never can tell until the numbers ■ are- up.” There'is a great deal of 1 ick in ■ cricket, at any rate if our men do as well as Auckland in. the scoring they, will have ; i nothing to complain about, for I don’t believe - < ’the ■ Englishmen will make such a good score 'tera as they did .there. So boys, keep a stout ; heart,":'don’t get -funkey, arid go in with a de- ; -- termination to win, “ Faint heart never won , fair lady.” , '■ - - : V. I don’t think there will be much gamed by ■ ’haying the calico put on the top'of the fence, • because it is almost certain to be pulled or blown down. With a view to profit, a gentle- ... (?). has erected what he terms a grand (?) stand inside his fence at the south-east corner 'of the ground. He advertises admission to it 'lat'ls. per head. I hope his meanness and ; enterprise (1> will receive their due reward. ■ Thfi stand looks well enough from a distance, but still I would not like to risk my neck on ■ it. But this a free country, and people can do What they like. I think a great mistake has been made in asking the public to pay extra ■ to sit on the few seats in front of the grand •’ 'stand. It is but right that extra payment should be demanded for admission to the stand, . but I think it is hardly fair to expect a willing •"< -public to pay extra to the place mentioned. : ’T hope to see the unseemly obstruction in the ' shape of a fence cleared away by Monday. The Englishmen are expected to arrive this morning early. They will be met at the Wharf by Mr. Andrew Young, with a coach -and. six, and by all the cricketers and others ' interested. Should the steamer arrive in good .’ ’ tiine the match will commence at 12 o clock. • I expect to see a good attendance. ■ I;hear there is a probability of Cross and •Anson not being down in time to-day. Cross was to come by the Mariawatu, but as she was ‘ ixi'bur harbor last night He will not be able to come in. time by her. I heard something of their coming overland. However, I take this “opportunity of reminding the emergency men '* that their services may be wanted to-morrow, so, they had better be on the ground.