The English Cricketers.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2562, 23 March 1877, Page 2

The English Cricketers.

(by shobt slip.)

In the former part of this article pub-.; lished on Monday the general behaviour of the English Eleven was briefly treated on, their individual play and their success as cricketers passed by. . It is of these we would now speak, haying said what we deem to be sufficient on the other matter, and pointed out what we think would be the best^plan to pursue should it be thought advisable to again invite an eleven to our.shores.. The matches played by Lillywhite's Eleven in the southern hemisphere may be divided into two parts—those played in Australia and those playedin New Zealand. In the former such' successes as they achieved were more than balanced by the decided defeats they sustained, and though when playing on even terms with a Sydney eleven they had so much the best of the match- that had it been played out it seemed tolerably certain that they would have won easily, yet they were defeated by a combined team of Melbourne and Sydney playing on almost equal terms, and that too although these' two colonies played without their three .best bowlers, which, when we consider what a hardship it is considered to, be deprived^ of one good bowler, makes.the defeat all. the more decisive. They were unfortunate in loosing Pooley in this, match, and Jupp in the other matches, the latter being probably their best bat, the former ahost in himself as wicket-keeper. Still even these losses by no means account for their defeats if they were anywhere near as'good players as it 'was said, they were prior to their arrival, and it was quite evident to those who watched the issue of their- matches., that they were unable to give more,than the slightest odds to: .a,-well-selected Melbourne or 'Sydney team; certainly nothing like the odds of 15 to 11. They were hardly much better.-Shaw excepted, than a first-rate county team, and. we should much like to see a good eleven from the colonies go home and play the nine cricket' counties in England, our opinion being that they would win most • of their matches, probably all, unless Mr Grace got three or-four hundred runs in the Gloucestershire match. To prove what we said regarding the Eleven ■ being about on a par with a first rate county team, they may be fairly compared with Yorkshire, which despite its crushing defeat of last year by Gloucestershire must be considered as strong as, any in England. Let ua see how the comparison would work. In the English team there are no less than five Yorkshiremen— Armitage, Emmett, Greenwood, Hill and Ulyett. So that in this respect the teams would be equal, and leave Yorkshire to find six men to compare with Shaw, Pooley, Lilly white, Selby, i Charlwood and Southerton. As far as Shaw is concerned Yorkshire would have no one to compare with him unless Freeman—justly called the king of bowlers, as Shaw is called the prince—would come forth from his retirement, when the comparison would be in favor of Yorkshire; if: he did not play, probably Clayton would be chosen. Against the others Pinde,r might be fairly compared with Pooley, their wicket keeping being equal, though Pooley is the best bat of the two. Lockwood, besides-being a .good bowler, is a better bat than either Selby or CharU wood, while Kowbotham could be put against, the other with the certainty.that he being long-stop there would be not much fear -of byes. Ullathorne and Smith would compensate for the loss of Lilly white and Southerton, though, if Yorkshire wanted a slow round hand bowler, Barret would probably take the place of Smith, brilliant' field though the latter is. If Yorkshire could induce some of her few gentlemen players to play, such as Law, Verelst, Savile, or Carterif he is in form, it would strengthen the team, which, if Freeman did not play, would be much on a par with the late English Eleven, if he did, considerably stronger, so much difference does one.i first rate bowler make to his side. It. will be seen we have omitted to mention Jupp, for the reason thafc lie did .not play in Australia on their journey out; when he did play Pooley. was absent. Against this eleven—and Nottingham would have one about on a par—a Colonial eleven that included the three bowlers and Bannerman ought to have a very good chance, and

would easily defeat Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Derbyshire and Lancashire. As we have said, it would depend on Giace how the Gloucester match would go, and the match with Middlesex might either be a' burlesque or a close game, just as Middlesex could get all its strong array of gentlemen' players together or not. The matches would be sure to draw large attendances, and the Australians ought to have a chance of experiencing the hospitality of English * Cricketers. The difficulties in the way would be the expense and the getting together a good eleven able and willing to leave for a length of time.. The former ought to be easily overcome, and the latter ought not to be insuperable, '\( time admitted it, matches might also be played v. the north, and south of England, and if the 'Australians were victorious in_ these, they might then try the full strength of England on its own grounds. -Regarding* Australian cricket it has taught our players this that the time'has gone by for even the best eleven of England, to give long odds to Australians, who in Bannerman seem to have a'bat as good or better than the best professional bat in England} and i one who could be chosen to contend for the.second place amongst* living .batamen with such men as Hornby, Yardley, Ottaway and Mitchell, -when all, are; at their best. . :. :i:

(To, bd: Continued.}