VISIT OF THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS TO WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1491, 24 January 1882, Page 2

VISIT OF THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS TO WAIKATO.

After many perplexities and communications innumerable, a match has hem arranged between the English players and a 22 of Waikato, to take place on Tuesday next, the 31st inst., in the small paddock belonging to the Cambridge Jockey Clnb on Fanthams farm. The English team will arrive in Wnikato on Monday evening, arrangements having been made for running the 4.15 train through from Mercer to Hamilton, which arrangement will, no doubt, also suit many persons who would wish to remain in Auckland to see the regatta, or the greater portion of it, on that day. It is unfortunate that the match could not have been played at or near to one of the centres of population, but at none of these places could be found an enclosure in which to play where the gate money could have been collected, and on this gate money the association depend, to a very large extent, for the wherewithal to carry out their programme. Sydney Square in Hamilton, undoubtedly the cricket ground of the future fbr Waikato, being quite unenclosed, would not do, and the same thing applies to the cricket ground in Cambridge, which, also, is too small. It remained, therefore, for those Avho took an interest in getting up the match to go where they could best get a good ground properly enclosed. The Cambridge Jockey Club have given the use of the ground free, and arrangements have been made for making a good wicket, and also good fielding ground for the players. Booths will be erected on the ground, and a band will be in attendance to enliven the proceedings. The whole affair will cost the district some £130, of which the Englishman get £80 ; all their expenses being paid as well. It is therefore to be hoped that the general public will come forward and support liberally those who have undertaken to provide a day's sport sxich as will be seldom witnessed in our midst. Of course no one is insjne enough to dream of the Waikato cricketers being successful, but the lessons to be learnt by watching the play of such eminent exponents of the game as the Englishmen will surely not be lost on oar players, and we may expect, in course of time, to see anEmmett, a Bates, or a Slmw spring up in our mid^l, who will, no doubt, date their circor as successful cricketers from the day they s.nv the match, England v. Waikato 22 played on the Cambridge r.i uscom oc. The following players have bet'ii selected, from whom the 22 will be chosen.. il though aelnnsre or two may very hkoly take place in the pononnel of the team between this and Tuesday next :— (inerson, Bodilly, Benge, and Lang (Alexandra CO, Cotton, Longbottom, A. Stubbing, Fitzpatrick, and M. Stubbing (Cambridge C.C.), Wood, Tonks, Gleeson, Forrest, Browning, Pilling, Palmer, Langdale, W. Hunt, N. Hunt, and Percy (Hamilton C.C.), Stafford and J. 15. Smith (Waitoa C.C.), Soper (Ngaruawahia C.C.), Pearson (Hautapu C.C.), and Sheath. Active practice will be the order of the day all over the district, and wp think we can safely rely on our men to do their duty in the field and play up, even though opposed to one of the finest teams in the world. The Steam Navigation Company propose to run a steamer up the river to take spectators from Ngaruawahia, Hatrilton, and intervening places, and we feel sure they will be liberally patronised, given good weather. We understand that subcommittees have been appointed to carry out all details, and no doubt all will go smoothly and well. The public will be charged at the gates at the rate ot one shilling each for foot passengers, half-a-crown for horsemen, and rates for traps as at races, and no dead-heads except the teams. Subscriptions have been solicited, to make up about £50 or £60, the amount which will probably be required beyond the amount brought by the privileges when sold on Saturday next by Messrs H. E. Cotton and Co. at Cambridge, arid a liberal response has been made by the supporters of the game. After all the opposition made by a few of the Auckland committee, certain members of which threw all possible obstacles in the way of any arrangements being made, we feel glad to say that the determination of a. few gentlemen, who are generally to the fore when anything is to be got up for the public good or amusement, has triumphed, and the Waikato public will have an opportunity of seeing first-class cricket at their own doors. May the weather prove propitious, and Jupiter Pluvius hide his diminished head for a week or two.