THE DEPARTURE OF THE ALLENGLAND ELEVEN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5027, 4 May 1877, Page 7

THE DEPARTURE OF THE ALLENGLAND ELEVEN.

(From the Australasian.) After a four months' tour through the Australian colonies, the All-England Eleven took their departure this week in the mail steamer Bangalore, and are now on their way back to the old country. They have had some hard work to go through, and have played a good many matches, and we trust they have both been pleased with their visit, and have found it a remunerative one also. As an eleven representing the cricket talent of the old country, they are decidedly the weakest by a long way that has ever played here, notwithstanding the presence among them of Shaw, who is termed " the premier bowler of England." If Ulyett, Emmett, and Hill are lair specimens of the best fast bowling in England, all we can say is, cither they have never been in their proper form in this colony, or British bowling has sadly deteriorated. Kendall is as good, if not better, than either. Southerton and Lillywhite are both very well in their way, but they are both rather passe; and we need hardly refer to Armifcage's slows, which remind us of a shocking bad sample of the Sydney grabbers 20 years ago. In batting the Eleven were very weak. Jupp never was in proper health all the time he was here. Ulyett is a brilliant Uitter, and Greenwood, Selby, and Charlwood are all good average

batsmen; but after them there is a long weak tail, unless we except Hill, who now and then proves himself of some use. How Lillywhite could ever have expected to beat Fifteen of Australia with such a team is past comprehension, as he should have been able to form a pretty correct estimate of colonial play. They were opposed to players many of whom were superior to themselves, and were always, it must be allowed, in better condition to play. An eleven representing the, full strength of Australia, could have played a Fifteen of England, if the other four were no better on the average than the Eleven; for, it must be remembered, we played a combined team, which comprised neither Evans nor Allan. We have a wicket-keeper better than Pooley, and in Bannerman we have a better batsman than any in the England Eleven. Thompson and B. Gregory and Kelly are quite equal to the best of the Englishmen, whilst a dozen others could be selected from' this colony and N«w South Wales a long way superior to the other members of the English Eleven. The Englishmen played better together, and fielded more like a well-drilled corps than the colonials, and to this fact their limited success is to be attributed. However, as far as this colony is concerned, some very enjoyable matches were played, and tome good cricket was shown. and perhaps it was more relished by the public, owing to the sides being more equally balanced than on previous occasions, when the England Elevens played against longer odds.

We would counsel whoever may enter into future speculations for importing an England Eleven to bear in mind the great improvement of colonial cricket, and not to imagine that anything will do for Australia. It would require the two Graces with a very strong team to stand much chance against a combined Fifteen of Australia. In another point, too, the colonials have greatly improved. They have learnt patience from their adversaries, and they can face a crowd better than in the olden time, when eight out of every ten players who emerged from the pavilion to test the British bowling either left their hearts behind them, or allowed that necessary organ to subside into their boots.. We have more nerve now, and have learnt to play the game better. However, the Englishmen will no doubt report when they get home what they think of colonial cricket, and explain why they were so often beaten ; and if they speak from their hearts, no' doubt the next Eleven that visits Australia will be very differently- constituted to that whicq has just departed.