The English Cricketers.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2558, 19 March 1877, Page 2

The English Cricketers.

(by shoet slip.) . When it. was known that an English eleven would visit New Zealand, expectation as to how they played and what they "could do was rife among those who had not seen them but had heard much of them,. With these it was a matter of opinion Vhcther they were as much superior to Colonial cricketers as was made out, some holding to the idea that «they could easily - beat 'any number "of .New Zealand players, others fancying that they would find their match in a combined fifteen _of the.Colony. All, however, seemed to agree on this point, that it was a /very good tiling that they were coming, as whether they were the wonders they were refuted to be or only ordinary of extra skill, they would do'cricket much good by showing, especially to the rising generation; a style of play an improvement on its own, and speculation was busy regarding the best way: to play, Shaw or Southertonj ofstop the faster deliveries of the Yorkshire bowlers. The Eleven have been here and! departed; and it is scarcely top:txmch to say that they left a fesling of disappointment behind them; disappointment riot so much regarding their •actual' 'per formances, though doubtless'many who belie Ted they were really the best eleven in England expected greater things from, them, as disappointment concerning what; it was hoped they would do by their play, ; conduct, and bearing in the way of setting; an examgl^.to'cqmin^lcficketers.. They; were brought 6'veF here not so much toj win—most men expected they would do ; that—as to improve the "play of our; meu.'>! Without; making... .the.] sweeping! assertion that all .of them ■■ have; failed/- to I do i this, , fit may - P be! said that the general conduct of the .whotelotdidjQot set an example, whichit 1 is desirable to follow. They played; cricket, but- it was cricket of a peculiarl kind, a kind which no real cricketer cares! to see, and-which may ;be called exhibit tion cricket. We do not mean to say that they went in rfor sensation hits, or picked; up a ball ,with one hand when they might; used twp,.^:tfted ah^praerj means' t'p finJ'faTorv:with:Vth:6igallelfyi' but 1 it was top evident itbat they were there not because they, felt■".any.excitement in! the match, but. because they received a! sum of money for showing themselves,: and fo .instead of trying as harxl ,asr thej: couldtb win, and'that by as many rifhs as! possible, they, whenrthey had got as many runs as they thought necessary to save a defeat, took to larkiug and playing the] fool—it can be called nothing else—in the field, and; treating the whole affair more as-a farce than a match,, 'I he-robject and aim of these kind of matches- when Clarke first formed his All-England Eleven to travel the country was first of ail to improve cricket as it was then played.- 'He got together all the best men, and in the intervals between first class- eleven aiide> matches played against odds in vaxieni parts of-England. The ...play of such men as P: Pilch, Guy, G. Parr, Hillyer, Lilly white, Box' and others was eagerly watched, and as the eleven visited_ the ■ame parts jear after year they were able to-noteV-and did -remark <Jne'the improve-ment-.or the s reverse of theJoQal, t players. Moreover "is all of. them feelotiged to the same club, they had that esprit de corps about diem which is essential to the spirit of the game. 1 hey played to win, and to wia by as much and in as short a time as they could, and thus^they did good which fcpre its fruits in the large increase which soon became apparent in the ranks of^fir,st-rate players, and the still larger increase in the number of those who though^-, only second or third ratfe were,'^ at any ratej cricketers". ""They were paid for -their services at firsjt kittle <m 6/& than their expenses, afterwards the .remuneration, increased, and also the demand for their services; so that it induced' other players to travel the country not for the sake of .cricket but of gain, until"there were at one time no less Tthamfdur clubs each ready: to jsend A team to play any country district where they could get- a- certain sura- guaranteed, some of them ready to send two elevens I the same, day/ ,;Much of the interest'which attached "fo matches played against the strongest club, sometimes tlie ! strongest team-in England was therefore lost. Cricket matches \\fere got up by 'owners of. grounds, 'publicans and others' for the sake of gate money and liquor^ traffic, until one by' One supporters' of the game foftght'Shy of matches'against odds, and'there are not now as many matches of this'kind* played in .two years as Jhere were played ten years ago in one. ' Then came that' period of which all cricketers must regret of making too much of professionals.^.They were petted and feted until .tne'y'ttiotight far too much of themselves and too little of theijc dujjies, as .professionals, and by none of those contended Against them at odds was this system of heroworship c§f fjedi 1 to, a, greater extent than by thjg hospitable colonists of Australia. The consequenca has been whit might have been foreseen.—T-he-heads af Bpme players seem turned by too much kindness, arid instead of being conteijfe'to be-what, they profest themselves to be, wellpaid servants, they have acted both in Australia and in parts of New Zealand as if they could do what 'they pleased, and that none dare say them nay. Excellence in cricket was -with our visitors' -apparently made a secondary object, but laTe hours, plenty of liquor,' and other 'dissipations were more eagerly jSqtfglit after. It was notorious that at, .several places they visited' some of; ythem - were' really unfit to play well, and'^Ktis one? of the, chief arguments bf those who support" cricket, viz, that. to play it properly, a mau must be abstemious and temperate' ■was cut away by those who saw these things going on. The roofr of^all this state of things- is this, that- the Eleven., came out here to make money'and enjoy, ttremselves', and;-regard cricket aa the one ' drawback.-:It was a pleasant .thing to' proceed in state through the streets* of i Auckland drawn by six horses and accompanied by a band, and perhaps in the excitement of:the moment itf was unnecessary" for the'jjrtifesstbnals to cotit'rast theway they were received over ,here with the'way they would be.recldiy'ed ai-Lord's pr the Oval,jjv,here each man is to be on' the grouud at a certain time.^findingj.his way there .asbest;he may, and inateaa of lounging in carnages with, women of questionable morality, haying . for his place of retirement no more comfortable quarters than the small room label)ftd for play'er'sf pn}y\7, 'But. for the very'difJFefent treatment they received "here tliey might have been at least grateful, and shown by their behaviour that they knew how to ippreciate kindness. Grace's Eleven did not leave behind them a'good impres-

sion in Australia ; it is more than doubtful whether Lilly white's have improved it, and what is more whether the Colonies will care to expend in future large sums of money in entertaining men who seem to take it as their right, and who act in a manner they would never dare do in the metropolitan or even their own county grounds at home. ri hese matches between England and her Colonies might be made means of strengthening the- good feeling which exists, but that is not likely to be the case as long as those who are said to represent England consist of a mere scratch-elcjK£n, responsible to »& +ma except to him who invited them, and who has no control over them. lf> Jjbe Australians and New Zealanders want to see "thorough cricket, as -piayed*;.Bt^K>me, let them be Jess hospitable, avoid giving the temptalion^of' making-' !gate * money part of the'pay, and, above all, get twororthree well known men of auUiority-^ home, such as Messrs Fitzgerald,' v.ff.. Walker, G. B. Davey .and Lord Harris to select, an. eleven who .will.bo responsible to them for their conducti' "' 'i iJL<'C-.*■>--■'i-Tf 2b be Continued.JznzQTi'':