CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 3812, 13 May 1875, Page 3

CRICKET.

The long-talked-of visit of a team of Australian cricketers to New Zealand at last ? promises to be carried out, as will be seen rom a letter sent by Mr L. Goldsmith, secretary to the Melbourne Cricket Club, to Mr D. E. Rhodes, secretary to the Dunedin Club. From the tenor of the correspondence we should imagine that a similar letter had been sent to the leading clubs throughout the Colony. A meeting of cricketers in Dunedin has been convened for Tuesday to consider the letter, which is so interesting that we publish it in full:— Melbourne, May 1, 1875. The Honorary Secretary of the Dunedin Club, Dear Sir, —In view of the expressed desire from New Zealand for the visit of a cricket team from Victoria, several gentlemen, prominent supporters of cijcket here, of whom Messrs A. E. Clarke and W. J. Hunting are two, have been at some pains to ascertain what possibility there was of such an event being accomplished ; bnt finding that it would not be possible to get a fairly representative team from this Colony alone, they have associated themselves with several gentlemen well known in l\ew South Wales cricket circles, in order to obtain a team comprising six players from each of the Colonies to do the tour of New Zealand next season, and there is no doubt that a twelve comprising a majority of the best players of the two Colonies will be got together. So far as 'can be ascertained the Victorian players will be drawn from the following Allan (possibly), Blackham, Cooper, Cosstick, Conway, Goldsmith, Midwinter, and Robertson. There is less difficulty in getting players from New South Wales, and from there probably their best six will be obtainable, and of these Coates will certainly be one. Composed as above, it would be a strongly representative team of the two Colonies, and might properly be designated an “Australian Eleven, and tbe interest excited by such a combination (the first of the kind) of some of the strongest players of both Colonies will, without doubt, be great both here and in New Zealand, and excite far more attention than if a team from either Colony alone were to visit you. The present intention is that the team should leave Melbourne immediately on the conclusion of the Inter-colonial match, which commences here on Boxing Day, and play during January, 1876, a match at each of the following places, viz., Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, and Wellington. The question of how the team is to be worked is a most important one, and there can be no doubt that the best plan to be adopted is for each club in New Zealand desirous of playing a match with it to take the while management into its own hands, for by that means expense will be lessened, and the arrangements be much more perfect than they could otherwise be. Each club will probably desire that the team should be its guests during the time it remains in its locality, as thus the most harmonious working will be ensured. Under these circumstances the promoters have desired me to communicate -with you in order to ascertain whether your Club is desirous of arranging a match with the team, and in that event wha t sum you are willing to offer them for tbo privilege—it being understood that the promoters pay all travelling expenses and the cost •f the professionals engaged. An early reply will be deemed a favor, and any information which it is in your power to afford the promoters in order to make the tour as great a success as possible, will be received with thanks.—l am, &c.,

L. Goldsmith.