CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 7

CRICKET.

APPRECIATIVE OF THE AUSTRALIANS. : The following letter was sent to the manager and captain of tho Australian cvicliet team )>y Wγ. F. C. Eaphael, honorary secretary ti> the New Zealand Cricket Council before their departure from the Dominion:—"l wish, on behalf of the New Keakud Cricket Council, to heartily congratulate you and the members of your team on their very successful tour through Now Zealand. The spirit in which the members of youv team have played the game, and their admirable bearing on and off the field, have placed them on 'excellent terms with the general public, more so than their magnificent displays of cricket. I can only add that-you have 'played the game' in every sense of the torm/that is. to say, you have all uphold tho best traditions of Australian cricket, and nothing ■ moreneed bo said in your praise. You will, one and all, return to Australia with the warm good wishes of the whole community."

NEW ZEALANDERS' AVERAGES. ' The following are the averages of the New Zenlandora who played against the Australians in the Dominion tour in more than one match:— Batting. Ins. N.O. Tl. H.S. Avg. Reese (C.) 6 1 257 ,108 51.4 Sims (C.) 6 1 185 51* 37 Midlane (W.),.. i ' 0 124 G7 31 Lusk (C.) 6 0 127 39" 21.1 Haddon (A.) ... G 1 . ]0i 47 20.8 Bpsshall (0... 6 2 78 21* 19.5 Siedeberg (0)... G 0 95 50 15.8 Brica (W.) ..:... 4 0 52 43 13 Sandman (C.)... 4 1 39 . 20 13 Salo (A.) 4 ,0 50 24 12.5 Bennett (C.) ... B 0 53 37 8.8 Olliff (A.) ...... i 0 23 ' 8 5.7 Howden (A.) ... 4 1 15 11 5 Macfarlane (O) 4 , 0 18 18, 5.5 * Signifies not out. Bowling,. Wkts. Runs, Avg. .. Bennett (C.) 16 370 M.I ■ . Olliff (A.) 6 173 28.8 Brice (W.) ....'. 8 193 . 32.1 Sandman (C.) ... 7 229 32.7 Reese' (C.)" 6 249 41.1 Hadden (A,, none for .106) and Howden (A., none for 127), also bowled. : PORT ALBERT SOIL FOR WICKETS. A suggestion was made-,'to Mr. D. Reese- at thq last meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association, that a quantity of Port Albert soil should bo brought down to Canterbury from Auckland, He said that somo of the wickets here would be greatly benefited if treated with the soil, which 'had been used with great success on, the Auckland wickets. Bulli soil had not been a success in New Zealand, possibly because it was brought from a hot and dry country to a comparatively, moist country,, Tho Port' Albert soil was not open to. this objection, and if it was used it would probably effect a great improvement on such grounds ,as Sydenham 'and Lancaster Park. There was no 'doubt that some of the Australian criticism of the wickets .was justified, and the. association should do something, to effect an improvement. Other members pointed out that the association had no'control over the wickets, and Mr. Reose then Stated that he would approach somo-.of ,the clubs about the matter. • ■ .. '•