188 ON AND OFF IHE TURF. 



These enormous crowds are generally well behaved, 

 and the police have but little difficulty in keeping 

 order. To clear the streets would be a hopeless task, 

 and very wisely it is not attempted to disperse the 

 people. The excitement over this match rose to fever 

 heat, but it is typical of the interest manifested in all 

 important fixtures. 



At Messrs. Lassetter's large establishment in 

 George Street, Sydney, when a match is being played 

 at the Association Ground, every run is notified by 

 telephone specially laid on to the ground, and is 

 posted on the scoring board. Throughout the day 

 this board is an object of interest to some thousands 

 of people whose business prevents them from at- 

 tending the match. Every scrap of information is 

 eagerly snapped up. The evening papers publish 

 special editions with a couple of columns of description, 

 and the complete score at the close of play. 



On the cricket ground the scene is animated. 

 The Association Ground, Sydney, is a model cricket 

 ground. It is as perfect as any cricket ground in the 

 world, and Ked Gregory, father of Sid Gregory, the 

 well-known cricketer, is one of the best men at pre- 

 paring a wicket it is possible to find. I think the 

 members of the English Elevens who have visited 

 Australia will bear me out in this. The ground, even 

 in the driest summer, is a beautiful green, and the 

 wicket, thanks to Gregory, hardly ever becomes worn. 



