CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 3

CRICKET.

[By The Breaker]

Australian Opinion of Mew Zsalaml Team. ' Mr. Frank Mullen, a New South Wales crieketer, well known to New Zealande.rs, expresses his opinion of the New Zealand team for Australia in a letter to a Wellington player. Mr. Mullen is captain of tho Western Suburbs (Sydney) first grade eleven, and has on three occasions toured New Zealand as captain of tho New South Wales Teachers' team. He writes as follows: —

"My own idea is that though the batting will bo found fairly si.tisfactory, tho bowling will be weak. Of course 1 may ho quite wrong. I do not know enough of South Island cricket to be able to form a satisfactory opinion. But if tile weather is fino and the wicket hard, my idea is that it will bo nccessary for the bowlers to cultivate more real head-work than Now Zealand conditions usually call for. On tho other hand, I am suro your batsmen will find run-gctting no harder lierc than against i their own bowling in Now' Zealand, for the conditions are, generally' speaking, much more favourable." An Important Ruling. At this week's meeting of tho Wellington Cricket Association, tho secretary read tho following letter which 1m had received from Gisborne: — "Could you inform mo if a captain of an opposing team can object to tho bowler for 'delivering tho ball in black trousers.' If not. what is tho procedure of objection? Enclosed pleaso find penny stamp." As it was suggested that the press should venture an opinion on this question of tho hour, wc may say, firstly, that Gisborne is probably tho only placo in New Zealand where the ball is-decked out in black trousers. In Wellington, at least-, modesty has not been developed to such a high degree; we send tho ball down quite undraped. Secondly, it is doubtful if the penny stamp enclosed will bo returned. Tho Wellington Association collects wealth wherever it can lay hands on it.

Christmas Tour. Following thair usual custom, tho East Club intend sending a team to tour tlio Nelson and Blenheim districts during tlio forthcoming Christmas and New Year ho'idavs. Tlio team will leave on Christmas Evo and will return alter tlio New Year. Six (possibly seven) matches will be played. Saturday Holiday and Cricket. A Christcliurcli writer says:—"The advent of tlio Saturday lialf-iioliday in Christcliurcli is calculated to have a great effect on _ district cricket, and all the clubs anticipate increased membership, though from what can bo learned tliero will bo but a few changes from last season. There will certainly be a number of now faces, but I have not heard of any 'catches' by tlio clubs in regard to 'stars' from other centres. The Thursday Cricket Association is evidently still a live institution, and probably five tcama will bo found playing under its control. However, tliero aro rumours of numerous Thursday players being found in the ranks'of the Saturday brigade."

Question for the Experts. Tho Wellington Cricket Association was recently asked to dccido the position as to "the junior match, East v. Hutt, played at Lower -Hutt on November 8 and 15, in which an error in the scoring had been discovered. The executivo gavo a decision that the match should be replayed, but decided, also, to submit tho case to ccrtaiiii Australian experts in cricket law. Tho case is an interesting one, and tho following is the full statement which is being sent across tho Tasman. Tho statement was prepared by Mr. E. 51. Beechoy, the secretary of tho association, and is as follows:— Facts: —Hutt batted first and scored in the first innings G5 runs. East then batted and scored 124 runs. Hutt in. their second innings scored 160 runs, leaving tho East team 102 runs to got to win. AVhen tho East team had scored S9 runsr and there was only one wicket to fall, and they still required 13 runs to win tho match, the scorer, through an error, informed the teams : that sufficient runs had been scored, and the teams left tho field, stumps being drawn. It was then ascertained that 13 runs wore still required, and, as time permitted, East desired to play tho match out, but Hutt declined. Rules; —Laws of Cricket as revised by Mairylebono Cricket Club:—l. A match is played between two sides of 11 players each, unless otherwiso agreed to; each side has two innings taken alternately, cxcept in-tho case provided for in law 53. The choico of innings shall be decided by tossing. Law 53 deals with a follow-on, and "states: —2. Tho score shall be reckoned

by runs. . . . Any run or runs so scored shall bo duly recorded bv scorers appointed for tho purpose. 'J lie- side which scores the greatest number of runs mns tho match. No match is won unless played out or given up cxcept in the ease provided in law 45. Law 45 provides that the sido refusing to play when "Play" is called loses the match. ' Notes to Law 2 —Should tho umpires draiv stumps occasioned by an ' error on tho part of tho scorers, the match must either start afresh or bo proclaimed a draw. In a one-day match tho umpires should decide if thcro is sufficient timo left to carry tho game to a . further issue, after cach sido has completed an innings. Rule 28 of the Wellington Cricket Association — For all matchcs in first and second grades two Saturdays shall bo allowed. Such matches shall, if not completed within that time, be decided on tho first innings, but no win shall bo recorded unless cach side shall during tho two Saturdays have completed au innings or tho sido not having completed an in- - liings shall have exceeded tho score of tho other side."' I'or a win outright three points shall bo scored, a win on tho first innings two points, and for a tie one point shall bo scored. Contended: That the Note to Law 2 of tho Laws of-Cricket concludes tho matter, and that the match must therefore be replayed. Contra (1) That Rule 2S of the 'Wellington Cricket Association applies and that a win on tho first- innings should ho awarded tho East team. (2) That Law 2 of the Laws of Cricket applies only to two innings matches and not to matches in which points aro scored on tlm first innings. (3) That if Law 2 applies it applies as modified by Rule 28. The modification amounts to tho substitution of a new rule. Question: What decision should bo arrived at? Decision of Wellington Executive: That the match should bo replayed.