THE CANADIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9197, 16 August 1880, Page 2

THE CANADIAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLAND.

Yesterday will bo memorable in cricketing annals for the annihilation of the reputation of one of our colonies. Two years ago Australia sent over a team which excited the surprise and admiration of English counties. Canada, fired to emulation to this fact, has this year seat over a team which, after playing with indifferent fortune in the proviuces, yesterday put in an appearance at Lord's. On this ground, on the 27th of May, 1878, the Australian eleven astonished English players by defeating the M.C.U. and ground by nine wickets. The Canadians acknowledged their weakness by playine fifteen against the M.O.C. and ground. The latter went in first, and scored 192. Canada followed, and went out for 33, beiDg absolutely incapable of playing against the bowling of Shaw and Morley. Of course the Canadians had to folloTir'iDu, and, to give them some little hope, the captain of the M.C.C. eleven put on Barnes to bowl in place of Morley. The change, however, made no difference whatever, and the Canadians only managed to score a total of 36, making 69 in their two innings, M.C.C. thus winning in one innings with 123 runs to spare. A more wretched cricketing fiasco than this was never witnessed, and judges of the game are of opinion that luck, which has so great a share in cricket, had but little to do with the result. The Canadians were beaten hollow, simply because they could not play cricket in tlia scientific sense of the expression. They could neither bat, bowl, nor field. We should imagine that after this we shall hear little more of the Canadian cricket team, for they are inferior to the poorest of our country elevens. It is by no means surprising that this should be so, since in the colonies there are fewer men than at home able to devote_ a considerable portion of their time in the summer months to the practice of cricket ; but it is clear that, until a very great improvement takes place, the Canadian cricketers would do well to. spend their time in learning cricket at home than touring about the country making an exhibition of their incapacity. — Standard, 11th June.