ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1424, 26 April 1912, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET; TEAM FROM AUSTRALIA, MR. A, A. GEORGE'S EFFORT, According to Mr. A. A. George, who returned to Wellington from Australia on Wednesday, it is almost a certainty that a strong team of Australian cricketers will play iu Wellington and other New Zealand centres about Christmas time. Beforo Mr. George left for Australia he was asked by the Wellington Wednesday Cricket Association, to arrange lor tut visit of an Australian mid-wtek team. Mr. George says that he could not arrange for tho visit of a mid-week team, as he found that "the other sido" observed si universal Saturday half-holiday. However, ho set about to get a team of some. kind. JLo met Harry Trott, of whom New Zealanders know a good deal. Trott is captain of the South Melbourne Club, and, by_tho way, is "playing a beautiful game still." He was quite willing to assist in getting a team to come over provided it was a South Melbourne team. South Melbourne intend to apply to tho association for permission to como over, and the visit will be made while tho club has a which will be about Christmas time. Also, they will arrange' to have one match put back. So they hope to • bo able to spend a considerable time in this country. The secretary of the South Melbourne Club placed tho matter before his committee, and they wero all in favour of a visit being made! Tho president of the club (Mr. Baragawanth) said that he would take- a personal interest in getting a team together, and would come ovci with them in tho position of manager. The treasurer ot the club; (Mr. W. Dow) will accompany thoi. team as assistant manager. . The team it is proposed to bring will include Trott, Scott, Fa'cey, M'Corraack, Kenny, Fcntlaud' (all inter-Stiito men), and one other inter-State player. Those mentioned are certainties, and they all have reputations. Mr. George says that Trott made a capital 73 while he was over theroj that Scott recently knocked up 230 against East Melbourne; that he saw Facey take four -wickets for G runs against St. Kilda; that M'Cormaek is well known as an inter-State man; that Kenny is one of the finest bowlers coming along; and thatiPentland is a fine wicketkee.ner. The Tcmaimler of the team will bo chosen tc euit New Zealand requirements. They will be either first or second eleven men, end if.it is necessary to get a couple ol other good men they will. try to arrange for two University "players. : Tht- secretary of the Carlton Club (Mr. Melville) told Mr. George that he was prepared to assist the movement. He said that if South Melbourne wanted a man or so to mnkfi_ up a touring team with, and Trott applied, to' him, ho would do In's brst to havo tho necessary men found. Mr. George also saw Clem Hill at Adelaide and asked him to come over with the team, but the famous Australian batsman declined, snyin<j that business arrangements prevent him." "The preliniinar.r arrangements have been made," said Mr. George. "All that is recjiiired is a little work nt this end— for instance, a guarantee.. My idea is to get the Saturday pmmle to join in as regards the guarantee." He added that he thought that the Sn*.nrdiiy Cricket Association could do witli some such attraction this year, more than most yeaTS, as they had not any outside matches on the cards. v GREATEST BATSMAN EVER SEEN./ By Telejraph-Presa Association- <:opyrl>{B» London, April 24. The Mayor of Cambridge presided at a banquet given in honour of Hobbs, , theEnglish cricketer who was so successful during the recent Australian tour. Mr. Pelham Warner, captain of the team, in a letter, said Hobbs was <.no of the greatest batsmen and the finest c.'verjoint tho world had ever seen. .- .„