CRICKET.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 420, 6 December 1911, Page 7

CRICKET.

A match wag played at Taumarunui between the King County Association representatives and the Waikato Association players. The visitors batted first and scored the moderate total of 89. to which the home team replied with SS, the Waikato representatives thus winning an exciting game by the narrovV margin of one run. The last three wickets on the losing side did not add a singie run so the winners must he credited wi'h pulling the game out of the fire with a vengeance. The King Country Associatoin, which has been brought into existence by tbs Taumarunui players, includes the country from Otorohanga southwards to Waiouru. There is no doubt that as far as King Country cricket is concerned Taumarunui has taken by far the keenest interest in the game. Still, Te Kuiti should have been consulted with respect to inclusion in any Association district. However, there is no harm done, and a conference between representatives from each centre will no doubt arrange matters in the best interests of the game. Te Kuiti players owe a visit to Taumarunui and it is to be hoped an opportunity of paying the debt will occurbefore Christmas. The local men are anxious to get into form and with a week or two for practice should render a good account of themselves. Considerable attention has been de voted to preparing the wicket on Te Kuiti Domain, by club members. The roller, has been kept going and it is anticipated that at least a good playing pitch will be prepared, besides ample room for practice wickets. Some of the necessary material is already to hand, and when the wetaher permits the game should be got going in earnest.

The following expressions of opinion of leading cricketers on the merits of the M.C.C. touring team, now in Australia, will be of interest:— B. J. T. Bosanquet: "The team should have a very fair chance, and the batting is very strong, and of the right type for Australian wickets. Mead will get a lot of run 3, and so should Kennier, Hobbs, Gunn, Hearne, and Warner. The bowling should be good, if Barnes reproduces his best form. Hitch is always likely to get a wicket or two, but very much depends on Hearne, whom I regard as the chief factor of the situation. I am doubtful about Foster and Woolley, as I don't think either of them wiii be suited by Australian conditions." John Shuter (member of the M.C.C. selection committee) : "It is undoubtedly a very strong batting side, principally of the more stubborn kind"

H. D. B. Leveson-Gower (a member of the M.C.C. selection committee): "A good all-round side. . . ■ The batting should prove the right kind for Australian wickets. I look upon Mead as likely to turn our the success of the batsmen. . . . With the

exception of Brearley, Warner has got the best bowling talent at his command. Warner will, no doubt, use Hitch as Noble used Cotter over here bowling him repeatedly for a few overs at a time."

G. B. Hobbs, one of the team, says: "I am convinced that quite nine out of every ten cricket enthusiasts are under the impression that the team elected by the M.C.C. to tour Australia is not competent to undertake the task of recovering the ashes; and that, as a body, the side is inferior to many which have gone to the Antipodes before. So far as the inability to win the rubber of test matches is concerned, I don't think any side taken from England, no matter how it is constituted, could be relied UDon beforehand to accomplish such a'task, for the Australians here and in their own country are two entirely different nuts to crack; but the inferiority of the present touring team is quite imaginary." Lord Harris: "I think that it is as thoroughly representative a team as has ever left England. It may sound paradox ; cal, but to my mind the weakness of the team is its numbers. Warner will have to leave out of each match five good cricketers, and that leads neither to good play among those who are left out if they are suddenly called in to fill a vacancy, nor to complete satisfaction." Lord Hawke: "The team is quite up to the average of the teams which we s<md to Australia I think the batting is very sound, and the bowling good, owing to its variety." A. C. MacLaren : "I t is a fair side, which might have been improved upon. . . I should have preferred •a better fielding side and fewer players I hope that the selection of so many stonevvallers will not defeat its own object, in wearing out the bowling, fori understand Horde™ is an extraordinarily good googhe bowler The team lacks

possibilities, and would have been stronger with Jessop, Sharp, Brearley, Fry, Tom Hayward, Tyldesley and Spooner in."