Cricket 1903

CRICKET, JUNE 11, 1903. “ T og e th e r joined in C r ick e t ’ s m an ly t o i l .” — Byron. wo. «32. v o l . x x i i . THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1903. p r i c h a*. CHATS ON THE CRICKET FIELD. NEW ZEALAND CRICKET. IN T E R V IE W W IT H M R . D . R E E S E . At the moment with Mr. P. F.Warner’s team just back with all the kudos of a first English cricket visit to New Zealand fresh on them, a chat on the game as it is played in New Zealand com es very oppor­ tunely. Fortunately for the purpose, Mr. D. Raese, whose consistently fine batting was the moBt p rom in en t feature of the cricket New Zealand presented to the Englishmen during their recent tour, is over here on a business trip. Born and educated in Christ- olurch, Mr. Reese is able to speak with authority on the subject, having played in every cricket centre of the colony. Originally a slow left-hand bowler, he was only 16 when he represented Canterbury in inter-provin­ cial matches. Subsequently he developed into a left- handed batsman of more than considerable promise, and it was in this capacity mainly—though he was also a brilliant field — that he represented New Zealand first in Australia. It was on this tour, while still ic his teens, that he played a fine innings of 88 against Victoria, at Melbourne, and such good judges as J. Blackham and W. Bruce advocated his inclusion in the match, Australian X I. v. Next Best, then about to be played just prior to the departure of the 1899 Aus­ tralian X I. for England. Failure in Sydney against New South Wales caused him to be overlooked, but he left a good impression with Australian critics. Subsequently he spent two seasons in Melbourne, and it was his connection with the Melbourne C.C. dur­ ing this visit which apparently led to the erroneous report that he was only a New Zealander by adoption. As a matter of fact, Mr. Reese is proud of the colony in which he was born, as well as particu­ larly keen on the possibilities of cricket there. The chief cricket centres starting from the north are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. In Auckland the principal ground is the Domain, a very picturesque enclosure. It has a playing area of many acres, but for repre­ sentative matches it is roped off to the size something of the dimensions of the Oval. Beautiful wickets are the rule there. The only objection is that it is far away from the city. This is a serious difficulty with really no leisured class. Cricket, indeed, can only be pursued after business hours, and with tennis and boat­ ing both at hand, it is perhaps hardly to be wondered at that with the conveniences for cricket comparatively inaccessible, the game in Auckland has gone back a bit just latterly. At Wellington the Basin Reserve is the principal ground, with every advan­ tage in the way of natural accom­ modation. It is, however, open to the public, and the out-fielding in consequence suffers con­ siderably at times. As is the case with most of the other pitches in New Zea­ land, the soil is not binding, and the wickets do not last. Previous to the visit of the English team last winter, it was the custom to provide two wickets, either of which could be used at the option of the captain of the in­ going side. This practice, however, did not obtain in the case of Mr. P. F. War­ ner’s team. According to Mr. Reese, Christchurch is the paradise for cricketers in New Zea­ land. In addition to Lan­ caster Park, the best ground in the colony, there are two, one Hagley Park, some thirteen acres in area, the other belonging to Christ College. In each case the turf is excellent, and with all its advantages Canter­ bury cricket ought to be the best in New Zealand. Dunedin has two grounds —Cariebrook and the Oval. In the south of New Zea­ land there is so much more wet that the wickets gener­ ally are soft. Still, with the least advantages as far as cricket is concerned of any of the provinces, Dunedin has always managed to hold its own and more in New Zealand cricket. Thanks in a great measure to the possession of Fisher and Downes, both fine bowlers on sticky wickets, it used frequently to beat the other provinces. In respect ofj accommodation, Lan­ caster Park, which [is in the middle of MR. D. RKKSK. (From a photo by 8 tandish & Freese, Christchurch , New Zealand).