CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 21

CRICKET.

[By The Bkeaker.] CLUB NOTES AND PROSPECTS, rhe Date of Opening. i With every morcer's shop displaying ivhito flaimels and coloured blazers, and ivory 'sports emporium exhibiting a lazzling array of bats', wickcts, balls, md gloves, there can be no 'mistaking ■ho season close at hand. Spring lias Urcady painted our- bright little world ■vfth its delicate pigments, and . tho 'olden ha'A& of summer is just over the :asteni hills. All .of which means that ;ho cricket season is upon us once more. Did hands have their new bats, in oil, ind new' players aro already wondoring :f : they-' roally aro' embryonic Nobles, 1 L'lem Hills, or Armstrongs, as ' they jyo tlio verdant field, and feel the rush, )f spring in' tlio blood. Cricket'joys ivill soon be theirs—the joy of hitting i ball squarely on the blade and lifting, t over "the Caledonian" ; the bowler's joy . of removing the middle stump of ioiu<3 obstinate batsman and the exhilarating feeling of taking a high inu'tling ball with one hand in "the xrantry." Practice iR to commence 011 the Basin Mid other city reserves 0:1 Saturday next, aiid, in all probability, the Aampionsliip games will be commcnced jn the succeeding Saturday, October 11. It will bo interesting to' cricketers to watch the constitution of the various senior teams this season, now that the district residential restriction is removed. Possibly on' the reason after next we may Tiavo the Old Midland, tlio Wellington, and Phoenix Clubs resurrected from tho ash-heap 011 which tlioy wore thrown a fow yfcars ago. Anil then? Well, won't Sir'Sontiment smile? Playing Areas. 111 another fortnight the Basin Enservo will be in the best of condition. For the past week tho ground lias been under the hand of Mr. J. V. Saunders. Five, areas have been laid out—following tho usual order. Wellington East Club. Prospective 'senior players: Gibbs, Midlane, Tucker, Smith A., Grimmett, Johnson, Watson', Wagstalfe, 'Baker, U'Girr, Bowles, Collett, Nasli, Hutcliings, Smith, W. Hales, O'Shea, Wighton, Dooloy, Stcyenspn, C'ornfoot, Tonkin. This club has, also the promise of "Teddy" Roberts 011 his return from California. Conifoot is new to Wellington, and has the name of being something out of the ordinary in the way of hatting. Tonkin is also a new man, bailing from the .south. The junior grades have been strengthened' by '20 new members, nearly all of whom are from tho Y.M.C.A, Wellington North Club. Prospective players: Cronibie, Wynyard, Bray, Phillips, Buckie, Soutliall, iliddlestone, Casey, Berendson, Twohill, Quinn. Twohill comes with a reputation from lilveruargill. 1 Quiiiu is playing again after a spell of two seasons. Lambert, who was playing for this club Inst vcar, lias left Wellington. Gullett, "little known in Wellington cricket circles. but well known in Melbourne and Auckland, will in all probability take a place in this team. Wellington Contral. Prospective players: Hicksen C., Hiekson S., Kinyig, I'alcrson, Naughton. Little, .Jackson, Holiinson, .Mi'teheil, Beechey, (iourlay. Cooke has liil't Wellington, and the team is the poorer by his absence. S. Uiekson is u new man to the Central seniors. Last year lie played for Wellington East Club. College Club. Prospective players: Dempsey, Fanning, Howe. Macintosh, Saunders, Birch, Dickson, Caddick, .Jopliii, Atliiore, Heecbev F. It is uncertain whether 'limns and Griffiths will be- playilie t-liis- yc-ir.. I l '. Bceche.v is a brother of the Central player and has. recently arrived troni ilastertan. (