CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 301, 21 December 1907, Page 5

CRICKET.

COMMENT OX TIIE TEST MATCH. MOST EXCIIIXG OX ItKCOKD. Sydney, Deeeml>er 2(1. The Herald says: "There luve lieen a few exciting finishes on the Sydney ground, but none ijuite up to yesterday's; for anything might hive happened up to the last ball, li.nl lla/.U-tt lost hM wicket, there was only Saunders to come; and, though he batted well in the mat.'h between the Englishmen and the Victorians in- Melbourne, it was almost as reasonable to expect that the lightning would strike twice in the one spot as that the team would get a Second, though moderate, score from him. Everything at the finish depended upon Hazlett and Cotter. Cotter batted as a thorough veteran should. There wai nothing terrible about the bowling, though the wicket favored a lot of work being got on to the ball. After Armstrong and Macalister had been dismissed, the excitement of the spectators gradually increased until it reached ferer' heat. The wicket was getting easier and easier, and the Englishmen looked anxious as they saw Carter and Cotter piling on the tens. Then Carter was out after the finest innings, as far ■a it went, for the match. Fifty-six were required and two wickets had to falL The ruiw were got under the most exciting conditions on record. The foregraoad of the scene at the finish is one ttat will live long in the memories of those who witnessed it. The cheers last- i ed for a long time." 1 The Englishmen expressed great surprise at the recuperative powers of the ] ground

The total takings for the match amounted to £3OOO.

The Daily Telegraph says: "The rule to be deduced from experience that English cricketers play better in a pinch game than the Australians, owing more than anything else to a considerable proportion of well-seasoned professionals in their teams, found its exception yesterday. On form and in face of the weather conditions it looked any oddn on the visitors. Whether they were overanxious, or whether the Australians played above the form they showed in the first innings and have displayed generally this season, are interesting but debatable questions. The best guide, after all, is the performances, reparoling which the Australians are decisively the better team, since they led on the first innings and in the second saved the Batch in spite of the strain such a situation most subject the nerves to and tV disadvantages of the pitch, both end; ,01 which had been miniature lake> the idajr before."

THE FIJIAN TEAM. Melbourne, December 20. The Fijian cricketers defeated the YieBarracks team by (i!i runs to 72. Per Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. K a meeting of the committee of the Cricket Association, it was decided to ask Dr Orchard, Messrs Raphael, Thornton and the secretary to act as snb-com-arittee to collect subscriptions towards the cost of a professional cricket coach (or Canterbury.

Bie-fcHowißjf is the Fire Brigade team vf play against a team from the Government Buildings on the West End ground to-day:—Coppen, Priar. Cudby, Hooker. Vewnm, Rneh, Billing. Henderson. Prmw. V*7, A. Bnllot, and Drinkwater.