THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 34, 9 February 1905, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET MATCH.

COMMENCING TO-MORROW. The Australian cricketers return from Rotorua by this evening's express and the match against Auckland will be commenced on the Domain Cricket Ground at two o'clock to-morrow afternoon and continued at 11 a.in. oa Saturday and Mondaj*. The visitors will have no opportunity to practise, but as they have just come away from a season's cricket, and were playing in. an inter-State match the day on "which, the Manuka sailed, they are at the top of their form, and will not require practice. The Auckland 15 liad its final practice on the Domain Cricket Ground yesterday afternoon, and- after practice a meeting was held for the purpose of electing a captain. Messrs D. Hay (Graft-on) and G. Schmoll (City) were nominated, and on a ballot the former was elected. On Sunday the team will be the guests of the Auckland Association at an excursion in the s.s. Kapanui to Waiwera, tiirkets being available at 4/. The Education Board yesterday decided to grant a special half-holiday to city and suburban schools to-iribf-row afternoon to enable the ehildrtn to witness the match. The TCduftiti f* Board office will also be closed. " ' . .■ TO-MORROW'S MATCH. i , ■& The weather is now set fair, and therfc seems every likelihood of it being fine when the match coijamenccg to-morrow, afternoon. Mr Ya'tes has prepared a splendid wicket in front of the pavilion,, and with fine weather it will be as fast as any that has been used on the Domain, though not, of course, equal to the billiard-table wickets to which our visitors are used in Australia. The local men have been oa the Domain very assiduously since the declaration of the team, and. some fine batting form has been shown. The bowling, too, is by no means to be despised, and enthusiasts anticipate that cur reps, will make a creditable display against their formidable rivals. A little more practice in fielding and catching would ~ have been very desirable, but on the whole the fielding has never been better in Auckland than this season, and it is not likely that many chances will be missed. The Australians being absent from Auckland, it is not known which one of the twelve players will stand out of the team. It may be Howell, who injure* his tlramb in the inter-State match in Sydney yestei'day week, and who was still suffering from the injury when ht arrived in Auckland. Following arc the names of the AtH: tralian team:—M. A. Noble (N.S.Wi)!; (captain), C. Hill (S.A.) (virc-eag-tain). V. Trumper, R. A. Duff. W. ?• Howell, A. Cotter. A. J. Hopkins, S.;& Gregory, J. J. Kelly (N.S.W.), W. w< Armstrong and C. *E. McLeod (Vie.), and D. R. A. Gehrs (S.A.) The Auckland fifteen consists of the following:—A. Hsiddon, L. A. Henuis, F. Metfeil, E, V. Sale, C. Oliff. A. E. Sftg man, G. Selunoll. W. Stemson, S. '"P. Jones, D. Hay. F. R. Mason. N. B. Lusk, W. Brook-Smith, H. B. Lusk, and A. Stevens.