NOTES ON CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 3

NOTES ON CRICKET.

[By The BnEAKEn.]

A First-class Start. ... . Wo have all been gratified l.y the very successful start made by. : 'tho Neuli Zealand team against the Northern Dis-J tricts of Now South-Wales. Tho Northern" Districts, are, of course, not up to int :>rStato standard, but tlio all-round success of tho Now Zealand team —not of j one or two individual members —has' been very ehefrring to experienced crick-' etcrs here, who, like the public, :.«rcs| watching tho tour with interest. At--! tontion is, of course, now centred .on the Queensland match, which started' yesterday. A fair idea of the merits of* onr own team will be obtainable from; this match. If our boys are successful, the achievement will add considerably to the interest of tho three principal;-; intcr-Stato matches against Now South.: Wales, Victoria, and South. Australia.-''S Wellington Team's Tour. : Tlio Wellington, touring team cliosen l ' by the selector (Mr. F. Midlane)-is a. good all-round combination,' and should' fiivo a good account of itself. Indeed,, the prospects of Wellington lifting tho Plunket Shield aro hela to lie bright-. Tho matches to'bo played -'are as -.follow: —Canterbury, January 1, 2, and 3 ; Southland, January 6 and 7; O+ago, January 9, 10, and 12. C.'G. Wilson has been appointed captain, and man-, ager of the team. Auckland's Behaviour. , Auckland's behaviour appears t-o'bo very bad just now. They-propose/to' cry off their southern tour because they, cannot induce Wellington to break engagements. which were mado somo time ! ago. Wellington and Auckland agreed | to play hero at Christ-mas time, Wellington wa3 to play Canterbury in. I Christchurch at New Year, Southland at Inver'cargill on January G and 7, and Otago in Dunedin on January 9, 10, j and 12. At tho eleventh hour Auckland requested Wellington to allow .them tho New Year fixture with Canterbury, and suggested that Wellington could fill in timo by playing Otago 011 that date, and meet Canterbury a week later. Tho rearrangement suggested by Auckland compared with tlio arrangement entered into by tho various provinces would be disadvantageous to Wellington. Canterbury now holds the Plunket Shield. It is quite possible that Auckland will beat Canterbury, 1 and if they played the holders before Wellington did they might go .right back to Auckland, and Wellington would not have an opportunity of playing for tho trophy this season. Again, if, when Wellington arrived in Christchurch tlio Shield had been removed to Auckland, tho interest iu their match' with Canterbury would bo small, and tho "gate" likewise. Then, for Wellington to play Otago as suggested by Auckland, would mean clashing with ■ a big Caledonian gathering, and again tho "gate" would suffer.

It is clear that Auckland aro taking a very (pieer stand. They have repeatedly threatened to cry off thoir trip south if Wellington did not give them their way. Quito properly Wellington have resolved to keep to their programme. It is just possible) that tho sun will continue to shine,' oven if Auckland do not go on tour. By tho way, Auckland have an undertaking to play Wellington this year in Wellington, an undertaking made to secure annual matches between the two cities. 1 Perhaps they will bo reminded of this. A Young Wicket-umkef. Bcrnau, tho star bowler ■ of - tho Wanganui Collegiate School team, is a player with a promising future. But seventeen-years-of age, he has represented bis college for three seasons, and has put up some line performances, both

!-»sya. b3ismarifiand,f,as/ v a : . bowler.../:.! lis" | 111■ nc!!i::is-.t ill s. y<•'' as" 11' i' mo?.; iir.- • . I""'"." ii e t i> t"r ii) y t inKytuf§tlio;i iii ; ; ■ lege n ings?n mlffiOjni iis:f Ibn-miiir... ■..i i' '- 1 - ■ I >.'-'-*i.i V-'Vi ? KtVii tXclo w ii'J:;\is., o-v' 65 s ■ ('ll o '* ■J? 1 ! 1 ' i. 4 J V 1 ■ ickot s; j'tiiqfJspcpntlKinni'n<Vsil.w'a h;;Cte j ll^.'^3:].snnt' ;^.; Wo\vn^(':!^2 : oi'ri. which" ;1 ;!^w;woJinnidciis; : . and too Id live' j vucki'i'i ior I". riiii;!. Wlirn it i.rnien (•tioncd^hatjh^inaVlg'^rnns'JoryWansa-j----mii in : (In-! 1•. 1 ::ii.l sis ; ' .in thp. tcanity;'iil|. bo^.roali. year,.' ■ ; 3 ,a ! n *'^' w *i : :so' l tliat;;liO!:u'pj:ea':re4(£b^^cM 'good pe!;foi;njor;|£HWa! til) runs ;in i'ly" in'aii 'nyagaiii.it, >to.isjlast|;'soasb£ i; iii'fiM, Cct Ni"n on Te t r jtineraryj which has been arraii!';?!! for tho'annual Iwli;)(lay»it<iui'£l>y,>'Ea i st^Club-i , eprosent i atives. \.Nelaqji : ':W.4 : ;v^ f -;r. /^ C"iiris::i!as;. j'Jyt'.-r-I/<'ave'' W.elliiigt-ou '.by' ; :Patecnasfoi : iNelson "and j mo tor;/to/Brighiwater SK »vvFrtday/V , c-ka and back'to Brightsvaier..-/' Bright-' ■.water.' ./(?; ■ Sunday,'.. December.-'? 28.'—At-/ Brigatwater.. '■'. Monday,*' Decciab'erjCT'^PJay^Wakc^'' field,' at Wakefield/ . Tuesday. .'■■.'■ Wednesday, December 31—Play- countrv representatives: at Tirightwutor. ■ Leave} Brightwater for ''J3!eniicim.';£^: ? i^;N'7.V Friday.and ; ; Saturday;\\Tamiary 2_ ani * | 31—Play' Wairau:'' Club, at Blenheim-— .'returning ;io.'i3yclUngton;ithat';.iiisbt;iby. ' Pateen a The Crand Old Camo.

!' Tho efforts' 'of "' the.'present ment Committee' in putting the finances in order; and infusing lifo into the game are bearing 1 fruit/- The association is very keen :pn ! 'enlisting a. large number of honorary ■ members. . The subscription is £L Is., for which. one gentleman's and two ladies' tickets' are given. Here is-a- I ' golden'opportunity, for tlioso' no, longer active enthusiasts.; of .helping, along the grand old game.. .. •. ..

College antl East A. East A made a"fine-start against Collogo .on Saturday, 1 and.-had the cream of the College batsmen' out—five for 31 r—wheii "'dropped catches and poor .fielding began to make themselves.felt, with the result that • tho -remaining ■ College batsmen stayed' long, onough to make a ' rcspcctablo score, "awl get East A into a struggling, almost.; hopeless position. Until tho Younger'players—and'some of tho "old-mis," too—realise.that cricket does '• not'.consistf solely of making a fairly respectable''scoro .or of bagging a few.wickets, tho game will never reach a very high standard." ... It 1 rather seems as if the cutting up of the: East senior players into, two teams hns ; .'intcrfored< greatly" with ..tho general success of the club,', ami tho dub might'possibly act wisely next season if it cut ';;out ; tho'. '.'l3" team, and concentrated ■ its''..efforts on' -one strong senior team,■.with correspondingly strong junior mid third .elevens. .. . - ' East B and Central. East fi made as,strong it start against Central with their .■ batting.V:.as.';',the A team with, their' bowling against College, and, strange' to say, their end was almost ■as disastrous,> Bowles.and Hughes ' went'' at tho -'bowling in' good style, and were ably.'seconded by Walters, 'who, however, lost .his' wickct:to faulty .running'*-between - wickets.,. A word of advice to Hughes! . ' Don't' run for every stroke that-is nsadei '.

I IntCfCSIIRR. - , ' ' | ' .Tlii'• sen Wr •'championship is.■ in an.inj li'Vi :,t ini; position, and the ; ultimate .-.winner. is .very. hard to pick. . Present : .judications point to a struggle between tIi,,.GUI lioys, and Central. I A Happomns- ; K':-Ah'|iiniisua> jfincident. 1 -'' happened ■ in ! .'('hristchnrch last Saturday ■ in the St/ ; ."Albans'," second! innings, ilmnton' was' ;g!ven,"otit 1.b.w., and when lid..was.on ■iiis. !: ivay. . back, the bowler, Young, told :.lho"'uiiipiro'"''hb had. not appealed, and Ksiifcgested bringing tlio batsman 'back. "This was' done, and tho bowler's sport|!ing;. action'.was rewarded by Ills getting ijinmtoir. caught,and-, bowicd tho very {"next' baU.".^?*' 1 ,.5.-rt 1 . ... v.-

An Invitation. y Tho Upper Ilutt Cricket Club would lie pleased to meet any town 1 teams in friendly matches oil Saturdays and Simjays''from timo to time, when any club ,oi\ A toam could conveniently arrange to go. out and play. Mr. E. Pilling, tipper' Hutt. is hon.''secretary.' ' ■