ABOUT CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 260, 7 November 1906, Page 5

ABOUT CRICKET.

INTERVIEW WITH ME, A. E. KELF.

Albert E. ftelf, the Sussex and AllEngland cricketer, who arrived froni England via Australia on Sunday to coach the Eden D.C.C. Club's players and also those of the other district teams, is one of the finest all-round cricketers playing the game, and during the six months which he will spend in Auckland he will probably do much to assist in the progress of the game. He is as full of enthusiasm for the game of which he is so able an exponent as on the first day he was chosen to represent his county, antl being still only 32, he is- just the man, as Lord Hawke said, 'in writing of his appointment, to forward the game.here. During the tourse of a chat with a "Star" representative to-day Mr. Relf expressed the hope that he would be able to assist in this direction. Not only a.t the nets, he said, would benefit be likely to. follow his engagement, but in the miQuie of the field improvement would probably follow. Young cricketers, he said, frequently went out without confidence when facing the bowling of men who had performed well on other wickets, but when they found, as they probably would find, that they could make runs off him, their confidence would increase and their cricket improve accordingly. Mr. Belt' was very emphatic on the necessity for good practice wickets. "They are even more important thanmatch wickets," lie said, "and you know how important those are. It is- impossible to make cricketers stand up to the bowling and play each stroke correctly, which should "be the aim in practice as well as in matches, if the ball comes off the pitch at all angles and heights." Speaking on the subject of the M.C.C. team for New Zealand, Relf said that the side was a very good one. He did not know the strength of cricket in New Zealand, but understood that P. F. Warner and other cricketers who had visited New Zealand, had been consulted by the M.C.C. in the selection of the side, the object being that fairly even matches might be secured. It is no use sending out a top-notch team,' , he said, "who would be able to beat every side that came against them with ease.. That would discourage rather than encourage cricket. But when the local cricketers compared well with the visiting side, their confidence in their own powers and their liking for the game would increase. I do not know all tbe players, but those with whom I am acquainted are all good players. There arc some very dashing bats in the team, notably de Trafford and Captain Wynyard, and the bowling is good. May and Douglas being the best. The fielding of the side is good, and Fox, the wicket-keeper, is a very good man indeed.

The subject of the interview expressed the opinion that much good was likely to follow the visits of such teams. "You have shown us that you can play football," he said, " and there is no reason why you should not play cricket quite as well. The South Africans arc now first-class cricketers, and they have not as good conditions as you. for they use matting wickets only, while here you have turf. It was the interchange of visits with England which lifted Australian and South African cricket to the high plane they at present occupy, and there is no reason why, with, proper encouragement. "New Zealand should not reach the same level."'

The subject of a visit of an All-Eng-gland eleven to Australia, next season, was touched upon, and Mr. Rolf expressed the opinion that the M.C.C. would send out a team next year if invited in time.. There was just a possibility, however, that a team would be sent to South Africa next yea.r, in which event no team would come to Australia, because no two representative elevens could be on the field at one time. A re-arrangement of the financial position would probably be required before another team was sent out to Australia.

Keif will make his first appearance in Auckland on Friday next, when he w'il play for Eden against Grafton on the Kingsland ground.