From latest papers to hand from Australia there appears to have been much diversity of opinion in regard to the number of the combination. Thirteen were originally selected, but at the Inst moment it was decided to bring fourteen players, and many people on the other side do not now consider that fourteen are sufficient. For thirteen would always satisfy me, is @ rare occurrence to tind a county min in England deprived of the services of two of its regular players. Thirteen have always been found sufficient to take to Australia, and under ordinary circumstances that number should suffice a team leaving Australia for England.
Let us suppose that the Australians commence well, when three men must.be left out; and as it is highly improbable that they will wish to make many alterations ina side that is going strong, thus two at least of the three may find it diflicult to get a place in the team, and one has only to look on ata very few matches to get out of condition and have small chance of getting into form, a state of things most depressing to any keen cricketer, as Walter Giffen knew when he was over with the team. There is also the financial point of view to be considered, and when someone in Sydney suggested that 22 should, be selected, Binjor Wardvill rightly remarked it would be a very good thing if that gentleman paid the 2nd XI's expenses. The Major, im returning thanks for the team on the occasion of their send off from Adelaide, refers to the kindness received at the hands of the South Australian Cricket Association, who could not be held responsible for the hoodlums on the ground, and Joe Darling, reit-crating his remarks, said the less said about the hoodlums the better, but they could not help thinking about them. This only goes to show how those larrikins still make themselves objectionable to players and spectators alike, and they little know how often they succeed in getting a batsman (more often than not on their own side) out. This rowdyism was in evidence far more during our last tour than our previous one, and if it continues will be the means of keeping ab home cricketers who otherwise would have gone to play in Australia.
Australian team a rong batting but the English ers: the tenth latest Australasian to hand states
weak in bowling, and how they arrive at such a conclusion is beyond my comprehension. I suppose the bowling analysis and the batting averages of the team in their own country have been compared together, and the batting looks very strong and the
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