CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1618, 9 December 1912, Page 7

CRICKET.

THB AUSTRALIAN TOUR. A FINANCIAL LOSS. TRIANGULAR TESTS A FAILURE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyriteht Melbourne, December 7. At the annual meeting of the Board of Control, the manager's report of the tour was adopted. The report showed that the total takings of tho English tour wero ;£73G7, and tho expenditure .£'1507. Each member of tho team received ,£l9O Ms. 2d. The. tour resulted in a financial loss to the board of .£1287. The board is foregoing its percentage of tho takings. Tho loss will be covered by an appropriation of .£750 previously set .apart to meet such losses, the balance being made up by the New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australian Associations, out of their proportion of tho profits made out of the last visiting. English team.

The report stated that triangular tests, as anticipated, had proved a failure. As they could not be carried,out in Australia or South Africa, doubtless the scheme will not be heard of again for many years.

Mr. Crouch's report adds that there were members of the team with whom it was difficult to work. From' a national standpoint, and seeing that the teams come prominently before the public eye, it was desirable to send men who would realise the responsibilities of their position ' and be a credit to Australia.

The board endorsed the programme of matches between England, Australia, and South Africa, adopted at the Imperial conference last summer, and agreed to the Harylebone Club's suggestion that matohea against the various States should be limited to 4J days, and that test matches, both in England and Australia, should be played out. The-meeting adopted a rule that no trial balls be allowed ■ in interstate matches. All members of future teams are to be medically examined before leaving Australia, , and teams are not to bs finally disbanded till they reach Australia. Mr. Bean was elected chairman of the board.

THE CONDUCT OF THE TEAM. '. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS. . , London, December G. .. The "Daily Mail" say 9 that Mr. Crouch's report on the conduct of the team;comes as a bombshell. No complaints were heard in England, nor hints of ostracism. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says that the English cricketers noted with surprise the display of ill-temper on the field, particularly of one cricketer, but it was felt that Gregory was more distressed than any. Little notice, however, was taken of the matter. "Wo certainly never' heard of ostracism," says the. "Gazette." (Rec. December 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 7. A correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" says that practically from the time they landed, the Australian cricketers were divided into hostile camps. It was regrettable that Mr. Crouch's report was not treated as confidential. It was hoped that the inquiry into the matter would bo held in camera, otherwise some heroes in the sporting world would lose their, lustre. :'."./.