CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1166, 16 December 1879, Page 2

CRICKET.

WAIPA V. WAIKATO

To-MOERow the first county cricket match. Waikatd versus- Waipa is to be played on the ground of the Cambridge Cricket Club, aud with fine weather given in, a good day's sport may be looked for. Both counties jiave succeeded in getting together teams as good as they conld expect, and so'e\enly do they seem to be matched that neither side are great favorites, both expecting to make a good fight of it.' I think that with a good run getting ■wicket, "Waipa ought to be a little the better in the batting line with such men as Grierson, Soper, Gleesoo, Boddily and N". : R. Cox to stand the brunt of the battle, whilst the two Pillings, Connell and Hunt may also show up well. For Waikato, Forrest, Wood, Mcintosh, Eitzpatrick, and' Kilkenny ought to assist the score* Cooper may also do well, but he is much too uncertain for a big match, however well he may shape in Club contests. ' The Waikato are the better in the bowiiug line as far as I can hear, but I have not seen enough of that to pass a decided opinion. Wood is their best man in this line, with Martin, Stubbings, Kilkenny and Mcintosh to assist him, but I mast say that I think Ellisson ought to have been in the team, as he is a very fair change bowler, and at times plays a straight bat. For Waipa: J. G, Grierson, W. Grierson, N. R. Cox and E. Pilling can all bowl as can indeed Gleeson, whilst Connell,Soper and Bodilly have all at times tmndled for their clubs with success. Waipa has, therefore a greater diversity in the bowling Hue, but

are, if anything, a shade the weaker of the two teams. As regards fielding, ib is hard to fay how #o, as so many of the men are playing on so little practice that it is almost a question of condition on the day. J. (J. Grierson, Bodilly, W. Hunt, Gleeson and Soper are undoubtedly fine fields, and so are J. Wood, Forrest, Mcintosh, Pitzputrick and C. C. Wood, but I think Waipa the better of the two teams in this line of business, although they will feel the want of a vvicketkeeper such as Fort-eat very much. Altogether i think tbafc the chances are, if any, in favour of Waipa, provided they are Well captained and kept together, and also provided that good umpires are obtained for both sides. This umpiring business is a most impor. taut iterri in the game, and yet one which is much neglected as a rule, and causes many times great unpleasantness through the incompetence of those who undertake the 'duty. As a rule any one is asked to stand umpire whether he be a .cricketer or not, and the result is oftentimes the spoiling of a match. I hope, therefore, that care will b« I taken in the selection of umpires for this match, and that men will not be chosen simply because they are J.P.'s or R.M.'s as has been done here often before, the result being fair enough opinions of their own, but many times bad cricket., The following men have been chosen to represent the counties : Waikato: Mcintosh, Martin, Kilkenny, Cooper. Pi tz pat rick;, Sfcubbings, Clare, J. Wood, Forrest, C. C. Wood, N. J. Hunt and two others as emergency. Waipa : BodiJy, Grierson, Grierson, Bond, Connell, W. Hunt, Pil ling, Pilling, N. R. Cox, Gleeson, Lang, Soper, Sandes. I will try to ! attend at Cambridg to-morrow, and will supply you with a few notesjon the play.

( Stumps.