THE PROPOSED CRICKET TOURNAMENT.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 225, 3 January 1885, Page 6

THE PROPOSED CRICKET TOURNAMENT.

The Lyttelton Times of Dec. 2nd contains one of the best leading articles it hay been my lot to read for some time on the proposed cricket tournament at Ohristchurch between Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago. The article laments " the waning'Tjfeatures of the game throughout New Zealand generally, and 4 in this province in particular." I learn from the same source that something like twenty of Canterbury's really good players have been lost to the game during the last five or six ears. "Of the fifteen with which Mr Neilson beat Gregory's Australian Eleven only one player, Mr Ashby, we believe, has managed to escape, being, put on the retired list. Over and above the fourteen thus lost we could mention other names, such as the late much-missed Mr Watson, Messrs Hartland, Dudney, Pocock, Beard, Turner, Kedmayne, and other useful performers." The Mr Beard referred to is at present in Auckland, and for the last two seasons has been playing for Holland's C.C. He is a rattling good bat and a grand bowler, with wonderful command over the ball breaking either way, and with a lowish, rather over medium pace, delivery. He fields well in the slips, and is fit to play in any team in Auckland, either for his bowling alone, or for his general all-round excellence. Had he been one of the " Supper suckle," there -would no doubt have been made a fuss over him, and he would have had more prominence given to his doings,; biit, as he is neither a bank clerk nor a " stiab" of any sort, he is, or has been,,,. " born to blush^unseen." However, I hbpjf the selection committee will not neglect him teamfor^ the Nelson