CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 757, 4 March 1910, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE DOMINION TEAM. 'By TelenraDh— Press Association.) Auckland, March 3. Mr. Hay, sole selector, has chosen the following cloven to represent New Zealand against the Australian cricketers :— Bennett, Boxshall, Lnsk, Reese, Sims (Canterbury), Hailden, Howden and OlliJl (Auckland), Micllnne (Wellington), Macfarlaue, and Sie'deberg (Otago).

[A gratifying feature in regard to the I composition of the team to represent I i\'cw Zealand against the Australians in ] the first test match, to be played at 1 Christchurch, is that it comprises only i true representative cricketers. ' It may i be that tho sole selector, Mr. D. Hay, of Auckland, had not chosen the best pes- | sible team, but from the players who i were available for the occasion he has : got together an eleven which is fairly formidable. A first glauca at the names reveals the fact that the team is weak ill attack, inasmuch as it does not contain | a single "express" bowler. In batting, however, the eleven should make a good showing, although it would have been considerably strengthened had it included Hem us' and Sale, who, presumably, were unable to play. It will he noticed that the combination includes only ono Wellington player. That Midlane well deserved a position in the team no one will deny. He is undoubtedly the "star'' batsman in local club cricket at the present time, and- his form is almost, if not quite, equal to that of a few seasons ago. It is, of course, disappointing ' that Wellington is not better lopreseated, but it must not be forgotten that the standard of cricket in this province is not so high this season as in some previous Of the other local a?piraats for Sow Zealand honours, there wis Briee, why is a capable bowler, and did well against Auckland and Canterbuiy, but did not prove suetesiiul in the Australim match- As' a rat;man, Brice has a "record," but is not up to his best form in that direction this season. There are many who wouhi have liked to have seen Patrick givcu a chance.' On the whole, however, this player cannot yet claim to. have reached New Zealand form. It will be remembered that in. tiro Australian match he trundled remarkably well in tho first innings, but did not "enme off" during the visitors' second term at the crease. Upham was the only ether local player who was considered in tho running, but the fact that he did not play against the Australian Eleven probably militated against his chances. Coming to the team as chosen, there is, first, 'Bennett, who is undoubtedly the best bowler. With a medium pace, and capable of breaking. both ways, the Canterbury trundlcr can be relied upon to keep a splendid length, and what is also a great point in his favour is that he does not readily tire. Boxhall, the "keeper," was certain of inclusion in tho eleven, on. his current form. Of- course, there are a large number who would like to have seen Arnold Williams behind the wickets. Upon his showing in the Auckland match, however, when ho.allowed 3S byes to be recorded against him, besides missing chances, it is evident that ho is out of form. As a batsman, Williams has, at times, done big things, but it must be borne in mind, that Boxhall invariably gets into double figures in important fixtures. Lusk is voted as a good scorer, especially in club cricket. • The only large total he has compiled in representative cricket this season, how-, over, was 102, against Otago. Of Reese's brilliant batting powers nothing need be said. ' Ho is also a good change bowler and a splendid field. Against Wellington and "Auckland he was not successful with tho bat, but, in the Australian match, he secured 108 and 41. Sims, tho remaining Canterbury representative, did not take part in the recent tour northwards, and has done nothing wonderful this season. Of the Aucklanders, Olliff . is a good all-round man—a solid bat, . always bowls a fine length with plenty of "twizzle" on the ball, mixing his de-' ! liveries, and is a good field. Howdcn can lay no claims to being a strong bats,rnan, ami is weak in the field, but does . well as a break-bowler at times. He did ! not' take' part in tho Auekland-Canter-i bury match, having injured his foot, and ■ this mishap is said to have handicapped I him in the' match against Australia. „Ho . might have been replaced by a better ' all-round man. The Otago reproserita-. ■ fives, MTarlano and Siedeberg, against . whoso inclusion nothing can be said, can look back upon a number. of fino performances in southern club cricket this ! season.]

CANTERBURY AFFAIRS. Christchurch, March 3.' The Canterbury Cricket Association has decided to accept, the Otago Association's proposal for a match at' Dunedin ,at JSastertiriio provided the.expenses of..the Canterbury team are. defrayed by. Otago. The Otrigo 'Association, however, are to retain-all profits. A sub-committee was set up to purchase a suitable present for D. Keese in recognition of his splendid play in tho niatcS Australia versus Canterbury.

TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW. The. Wellington North 6ciuor team to play at the. Hutt to-morrow afternoon will be as follows:—Blacklock'. Williams, Finlayson, Luckie, Sheridan, Charlesworth. Phillips, Wyiiyard, Twohill, Manson, and Waters. . '■-./-.

Victoria College—Senior v. East B, at Petone; train at .1.20": Niven, Monaghan, Do la' Mare, Berendscn, Miller, Findlay, Stainton, H. Griffiths, Dcmpsey, Broad, Jameson. Junior v. Johnsoviile; Athletic Park at 2.10: Mackay, Simpson, Salrn'ond, Williams, Macartney, Darrocli, Low.Fitt, Willis, Von Haast, Melody.'

The senior team chosen to represent Tetone against Hutt,' at Petoue to-mor-row, is as follows:—Brice, Cate/Dalgleish; Isherwood, Bennett;. Joyce, Bold, Powell, Hey, Wilks, Southgate; emergencies, Wnson and Bowman. Petone juniors will play St. John's on No. 3 wicket. ■

The following will represent the senior teams/for the East District Cricket Club on March 5 and 19:-Seuior A v. North, at Waiwetu: Mahoney, Tucker, Midlane, Mickey, Gibbes, Wilis,. G. 0. Hales, Hutchihgs, Burner, Bowles, and Dickson. (Train leaves Lambton Station at 1.10 p.m.) Senior B v. Victoria College, at Petone No. 1: Collett, N. Hales, Griniinett," Claridge, Miller, E. A. Wilson, Nash, R. AVilson,. M'Gill, Goldfinch; G. Day... (Train at 1.10, -Lambton Station.)

Central teams for Saturday aro as follow:—Central Senior (v. South) at Athletic Park: v ßeechy, Birch, Hawthorne, Laws, Hickson, Kobcrts, Kinvig, Miller, Mason, Naughtou, Wilkinson. Central junior (v. Wellington College), on the College ground: Audinwood, Dry, Fauvell, Gourlay, Paterson, Stevenson, Murphy, Mitchell, Sander, Wilson, and Wighton.

Anglican Cup—St. Thomas's Cricket Club v. St..Paul's. St. Thomas's team: Cell (captain), Kerr, Bell, Jeffs, Milford, Grindrod, Zom Faldor, Twist, Lees, Severn. Emergencies: Parkin, Hollis. The match will be played at Duppa Street Reserve at 2.30 p.m.

Junior Association. —Templars v. Albion, at No. 1 Duppn Street, at 2.30:Tcmplars: Wright (2), Dooley, Brown, Gray, Blenkinsop, Cresswell, Patterson, M'kenzie, Lambert, Greig, Shields, Batcnburg, Pooley, and Drydeu.

THIRD-CLASS FIXTURES., The following third-class fixtures have been arranged for March 5 and March 12:—North v. Victoria College, at Newtown Park No. 1; Wellington College A 'v. Y.M.C.A., at College ground No. 2; Central v. St. Patrick's College, at Athletic Park No, t; East v. Aspland, at Athletic Park No. 3; Wellington College B v. St. Johns, College ground No. 3; Knrori v. St. Mark's, lvarori; Hutt v. South, Ilutt; Petonc, a byo. Fourth-class.—Johnsonvillo v, Petoue, at Newtown Park No. 2. • BOYS' LEAGUE. The following are the matches of the Wellington Boys' Cricket League arranged for to-morrow ■.—Senior grade: Y.M.C.A. v. Marist Brothers, at Kollmrno Park; Telegraph v. South Wellington, at Newtown Park; Northland v. Y.M.C.A. B, at Newtown Park; St. James v. Boys' Institute. Junior grade: Y.M.C.A. v. Northland, at lCclburnc Park; St. AJloysius v. Y.M.C.A. B, at Newtown Park; Wesley and Vivian, at Newtown Park. Special attention is drawn to tho fact thnt the Northland v. Y.M.C.A. A junior match has been transfwred to Kelburno Park.