THE CRICKET MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 739, 11 February 1910, Page 8

THE CRICKET MATCH.

•AUSTRALIA AND'WELLINGTON. VISITORS LIKE THE .GROUND.. ; There was every promise 1 last night of fine weather' for.- the cricket: match, Australia v. Wellington, which commences on the Basin Keserve' this afternoon. Both iu.tho. moruing and tho afternoon yesterday,; tho: visitors had practice on the ground in the presence of-a: number of.interested spectators. '•.

Members of the tduriiig team with w-hom a Dominion reporter, came in contact'spoke in high terms of the ground, which was apparently much better than somo who had not previously visited New Zealand ivero led to expect. : The manager (Jlr. Jlackonzie) remarked that' there was rather riiorc grass .on the pitch than Australians were accustomed to, but ho understood that 'it would' receive' the attention of a' mower this morning. He added, that the visitors'.would find'■;.the ground slow,, although it was, .from a local point of'view, comparatively fast. In the "morning,'most of: tho visitors batted for twelve minutes apiece, Bards-' ■ley in particular: making-fine strokes: Of the bowlers, Whitty ; did well, but Emery's :.trundlin'g was marked by"'a fair, proportion ..of loose■ stuff. During the afternoon practice 6ome of the players who had been ..'cut' ,in the'morning did not; participate,: perhaps'■ because they considered that they had, done .enough for: ono day;'",: , : ' It. has been- arranged '.that the match shall commence at- 2. p.m. to-day and that, the game shall continue without.intermission..until G. p.m. when stumps will ,bo. drawn. ,On Saturday, when,the spectators,.will include his Excellency tho Governor,, play -will begin at noon. If ; it happens to 'bo necessary, play oirtho third: day (Monday) will start at 11 a.m. . : . . ; ," ; : . j ; '. ;Thero has been/constderable speculation as to the composition .of the team which; is- to represent Australia to-day, but the official list: will not',be available until this morning. With a view of taking a. "rise" outofohe of "the TashYanian' representatives', ' soiiio" of 'his pasted up a "bogus" team in. the hotel last night, making him" the thirteenth man.. There, is every reason' to"believe, that three outof:the four: Australian XI players will, be included in'the'-team,'! the , abseutee.,being..Hopkins; It is''. : of • course, probable "also.'. that .one , of the. two w;icket-keepers—Do'dds'. it is believed. —will'. stand .down for; tab' match.' ■ . ■ If the; foregoing :prove:, correct, '' tho teams?will:.be as:under — ;'; : . : "V''-':Vv :■:' ,' Australia" •—A rmstroiig. / (capt.),'; Bards-. ley, ■ Whitty,. Mayne','; Facy, Emory.-'Kel-leway,, Warhe; Gofr'y, Sniith," and Simp,son. . ~• '".'.■.!• ■-~;• ■'-.' V'"'"''''■'■:'y. : . r Wellirigton :-Bricc, ; .'Patrick,".' ■Midlaue^'Hickey;'Jlahoney.'Lan's,, Tucker (capt.)- 'Foster, vßlacklock.'and. 1 Kinvig;' - Tho.Government! offices "'Vvill'.'.bc'clbse'd this afternoon'for "the" uiatcli';'":ite'ssrs; D;' ! M'Ken7.ie , a.nH'J..,Varnharii have bedhTap-' pointed':th'e'-'uiripires: /-The", visiting : "'6ric-' keters will;be ;takeh to:the':Opera,House :on. Saturday evening, as the. guests of the Wellington,-Association. On. Sunday they will be. taken 'for a drive; "'■ ■':.'■ (By, Tolegraph.-T-Press : Association.) ~;:■. '•' ,': Auckland, February: 10.:■ :Howden;.: one' of'."Auckland's '.."best'bowlers/ has injured : a weak: knee and has' intimated' that he will be'unable'.to play: in the match against Otago. : Taylor will'take his.place. . ":.''.:..■■','.',''-,: v-.":':; :■ ■■•,