CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 15

CRICKET

WELLINGTON v. AUSTRALIA LOCAL TEAM SELECTED The sole selector (Mr. K. H. Tucker) has chosen the following eleven to represent Wellington against the Australian team at the Basin Reserve on Friday. Saturday, and Monday next:— W. S. Brice (Petone), captain. F. T. Badcock (Thorndon). C. S. Dempster (Institute). H. Foley (Institute). K. C. James (Old Boys). 11. M. Lambert (Old Boys). J. It. Lamason (Y.M.C.A.). T. C. Lowry (Hawke’s Bay). H. B. Massey (Institute). H. M. McGirr (Hutt). E. McLeod (University). The team is strong in batting, but weak in bowling, the absence of a lefthander of pace being a serious handicap. McLeod's inclusion should assist the attack, as his slow leg-breaks will lend much-needed variety to tlie attack. It would appear that the stock bowlers, McGirr and Massey, will have a heavy burden to carry. TEAM TO ARRIVE THIS MORNING The Australian Board cf Control cricket team will arrive from Sydney by the Marama this morning and will be welcomed at the wharf by officials of the Wellington Cricket Association. The visitors will be accorded a civic reception by the Mayor tMr. G. A. Troup) at the Town Hall at 4.45 this afternoon, and to-night will proceed by steamer to Nelson, where they play the first match of the New Zealand tour on Wednesday and Thursday. The Australian team will return to Wellington on Friday morning, and will play Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Final arrangements for the Wellington match were completed by the Management Committee of the local Cricket Association last night 'Messrs. J. Bodgers and L. T. Cob croft were appointed as umpires. WAIKATO WANT HELP AGAINST AUSTRALIANS THREE WELLINGTON PLAYERS SOUGHT A call for help was received by the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association at last night's meeting from the Waikato Association, who wrote, as follows: — "As you' know, the itinerary of the Australian team provides for a match against Waikato at Hamilton on March 7 and 8. Our cricket is extremely weak at present, and this season we have been badly beaten by two Auckland teams, by Canterbury, and by Wanganui. It is manifest, therefore, that we could make no showing at all against the strong Australian team. "At the same time, we do not wish to zase the opportunity of seeing them, particularly in view of the fact that there has been during the present season an increased interest in the game not only amongst the general public but aniongst players. This interest would be stimulated, and our cricketers would learn valuable lessons if the visitors could be pitted against a much stronger team than could be raised locally, and my association at its meeting last night unanimously decided to invito Messrs. Lowry, McGirr, Badcock, Langridge, Howley, and Playei; to join with five Waikato players in making up what we propose to call a ‘North Island eleven' for the local fixture. "I am instructed, therefore, to ask if your association will allow Mr. Badcock to take part in the match. You will readily appreciate (he vreat help he would be to us. not only from a playing point of view, but also as an attraction for the public, and I trust that your association will bo able to help us in the matter I have written to him inviting him, subject to your association’s approval to play." Permission was granted to Badcock, Lowry, and McGirr to assist Waikato in the match. WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION FIXTURES FOR NEXT ROUND A meeting of the Management Committee of- the Wellington Cricket Association was held last night, Mr. C. G. Wilson presiding. The Junior Committee recommended that the protest entered by the Wellington B team in the Junior C competition against the “Evening Post" team on the ground that short time was played in the match should be dismissed. The recommendation was adopted, and it was decided that the deposit with the protest should be forfeited. It was agreed to play a match against the Mercantile League at Faster time. The Wellington Cricket Umpires’ Association asked for a ruling on the following point: “In a full one-day championship match, should a new ball be provided at the commencement of each innings, or the same ball be used during the whole of the day, as obtains at present in two-day championship matches or must Marylebone rules be complied with in such cases?” It was decided Io reply that in an all-dny match a new. ball may bo supplied at the commencement of each innings. SENIOR FIXTURES The following senior fixtures were drawn for Saturday week: — Hutt v. Kilbirnie, nt Hutt. Old Boys v. Institute, Basin Reserve No. 1. Y.M.C.A. v. Wellington, Kelburn Park No. 1. Thorndon v. University, at Kilbirnie. I’eluue v. Midland, Basin Reserve No. 2. ADDITIONAL . RESULTS Following are additional results in connection with- lower grade matches on Saturday:— JUNIOR GRADES Junior A.—'Varsity, 479, beat Thorndon, 278. and 2(52 for seven wickets (Johnson 71, including 8 sixers, White 68 not out). 'Varsity won on the first innings by 201 runs. Junior B. —Porirua defeated Johnsonville by 143 runs. Porirua obtained 197, and 222 runs, for the first and second innings respectively, and Johnsonville 14G and 130 runs. Junior C.—Hutt, 321 and none for 36, secured a four-point win over Y.M.C.A., ’lll and 231 (S. Cults 57 not out, W. TT nwkcr 55). Bowling for Hutt, Buckley took six wickets for 59 runs. Third A.—lnstitute, 126 (A. G. Bale 28. Barclay 23. Fulton 21. F.splin 16), defeated Kilbirnie B. Bowling for Institute, IT. Bale took four wickets for 18 runs; A. Bale, two for 25: McDonald, four for 17. while for Kilbirnie B. Brownlee secured three for 18. Hathaway three for 27. and Gilbert two for 15. Institute, three-point win. MERCANTILE LEAGUE. B Grade.—Ballin vers. 175 (11 unbrow '3 not out. Green 38. Hawkins 32. Jacobi °5). boat Education B, 88 (Smith 29. Jamieson 21 not out). CITY AND SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. Selwyn. 173. beat Dutliias, 134 (Tlioma>. s'>. Jloltz six for 67). Snnlli A. 432 (C. Gell 164. retired. C Elliott 101, retired, L. Laws 61, T. Thorn

51, C. Gell, 11 for 63), beat South B, 103 and 103. South C won by default from Electric B. Collegians, 213 (Kershaw 49, Doherty 58, Macklin 44), drew with Miramar, 191 for eight (11. llatchard 63). 1.8. C., 312 for nine (Erskine 98, Currie 59, Whaler 48, Erskine seven for 55), beat C.C.M., 98. St. Thomas secured an outright win over Electric A. BOYS’ LEAGUE. Owing to the visit of the Australian team, no matches will bo played on Saturday in the Wellington Boys’ Cricket League. A COUNTRY COMPLAINT (To the Editor.) Sir,—The Wellington Cricket Association has the reputation for occupying a similar positiou iu relation to cricket in New Zealand as does the M.C.C. at Home. The Wellington team has rccentI” won in a decisive and unmistakab.e manner the cricket championship of New Zealand, and it is fitting that the New Zealand M.C.C. should carry this honour. However, it appears to me that in the exercise of the functions attaching to this high office, the Wellington Association falls Far short of the ideal. The association draws freely upon the good players of country associations without regard to 'he fact that, in many cases, important country matches degenerate into low-grade (and unattractive) fixtures, and wo never hear of the offer of the association b> send their coach to the country associations. Yet it is only a fair reciprocal arrangement, and. under the circumstances, I tm surprised that the offer lias r.ot been made to so loan the coach to the country. Again, the Town v. Country match is always played in 'Wellington. Why. Simply to build up the Wellington Association. Apparently no regard is taken of the fact that cricket in tho country requires building up a good deal piore than it does in the towns. It simply amounts to this, that Rugby, football has reached a high standard in nearly nil city and provincial towns, owing to the fact that t] le practice of the Kiigby authorities is to play the champion team against (if necessary) the lowest on the ladder. If the Cricket Association does not do likewise, we shall still see the four chief centres, baffling nwav eaeh year for ’he Grst-orade shield in fifty years time. This is not any good to New Zealand cricket as a whole, and I have vet to see evidence of the necessary statesmanship exhibited by the Wellington Cricket Association.

Wo all want an opporfunify to see Janies. McGirr, Dolev, etc., and we also want to see cur own mon tried out against Iho host of (lie bowlow. and our bowlers fried out in good cono nany. As if is, it nmv hnnnen that Wanganui. Nelson and Tfnwlm’s °’v ai-' oil rood enough to light for tlio Pbinkct Shield, and in any case you can not

tell when they are ready, for promotion unless you keep trying them out. How long is it since 'Wellington sent a team m Wanganui for a friendly exhibition game to help the Wanganui Association with the gate in return for the use 'Wellington has had of the best of the Wanganui -ricke.ters? This quite apart from the question of coaching, and I merely take "Wanganui as an example of the experiences of Nelson, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and others. No. sir, I am afraid there is a mg gap between the M.C.C. and the Wellington Cricket Association—the record of the latter lias been one of “cup-hunt-ing” for many years, and you cannot gain a national point of view by considering the immediate glory of cup winning.—l am, etc., WANGANUI. February