CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 10

CRICKET.

HOME INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS. ■ The following table shows tho position of the various countries in the series of Home international matches just closed:— WON BY ENGLAND. Points. W. L. D. For.Agst. England ...20.1 25 11 Wales 2 10 39 14 Scotland ...1 2 0 19 28 Ireland 0 2 1 3 33 ; I. ■'•' . ARMSTRONG IN NEW ZEALAND. The just concluded tour of tho Australian team is Armstrong's third visit to New Zealand, and although he played fine innings ; against Canterbury and .Otago, on the whole he has not been so successful as when ho was here with thei,l9os Australian team, or the Melbourne Club's team tho following year, as the following figures will show: — . Batting. • '■'.-. . *»■ »• ■§ • •** ■ aYew. £ £ g W g % 1905 ...... 8 3 307 126* 102.33 1906 ...... 12 2 930 335 93.60 1910 8 1 383 149* 54.70 . * Not out. Bowling. 'Runs. Wkts. Avg. 1905 297 28 10.60 1906 1025 ' 104 9.85 1910 ..........; 367 16 • 22.90 ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN TOUR . ■~- '■;: URGED. During a recent conversation (says the "Otago Daily Times") Armstrong expressed an opinion that a New Zealand team would provide a good game with I any of the State teams in Australia. It is 11 years since a New Zealand team visited Australia, and another visit should ho under consideration soon.-It is generally admitted that the visits, of the Australian teams to England and the English teams to Australia have been the.chief cause of the great improvement in Australian cricket during the past 30 years. Why should not'; a New Zealand team.visit Australia (during November, 1910? The time is most opportune. At the present time there are a great number, of seasoned men; who will bo playing the gamefor the. next'decade. Therefore,a visit to' Australia would mean a lot for cricket in tho Dominion. From another point of view the visit would be opportune. The South Africans will play in Australia at the latter end of the season, and accordingly players would be keen to play against New Zealand arid establish claims for the African matches. This would mean, too, that a good financial'arrarigement could be-made—"such that the New Zealand Cricket pouncil would not have to spend any money.' A match could be played in Dunedih, two matches in Tasmania, then Ballarat, Melbourne, and 'Newcastle; and-back to Sydney. The tour to Australia is due —considerably overdue —and the time has now arrived when Secretary Raphael should get to work on the matter. ■ .'■'

•AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEPART. ARMSTRONG AND WARNE MAY ' RETURN. Seven of the members of the Australian cricket team, viz., Warne, Hopkins, Armstrong, Gorry, Smith, Whitty, and Major Wain, left for Sydney by tho Moeraki- last evening. Before leaving Mr:' Armstrong, (captain) informed a Dominion reporter that they had had a real good time in Now Zealand, and wished us to express the team's gratitude to those in all parts of the Dominion' who had put themselves out to extend hospitality to the members of the team. I'iio departing cricketers 'last evening were quite a jolly party, and-to judge of their leavetaking they must, have made many friends during their short stay in Wellington. What will be of interest to all people associated with cricket in Wellington and -other -parts of New Zealand is the news that it is more than likely that Armstrong will take up his residence in New Zealand in the near future, rumour having stated that he has secured a billet here. If such prove to be • the case, cricket in Wellington should receive a fillip that it badly needs. It is also' stated that, Warne may be seen on .a New. Zealand cricket ground as- a professional coach next season: Nothing so far is definitely fixed, hut the arrangement is likely to be clinched shortly. With Armstrong and Warne in the field, one can already see prospects of New Zealand sending a cricket team to England, making a third oversea dependency to challenge the Old Country's supremacy with bat and ball.