CRICKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 119, 22 April 1925, Page 9

CRICKET.

GILLIGAN’S TEAM. THE WELCOME HOME. CHANCES FOR NEXT YEAR. LONDON, April 19. When the English cricketers who have been playing in Australia returned to Victoria station and were welcomed by u large crowd Gilligau was the first to appear. A stentorian voice chaflinglv ‘shouted: “Thanks for the lovely winter you gavo us.” Gilligun retorted: “Yes, summer out there was just perfect.” Someone called out: “What about- the Ashes?" Gilligau pleaded: “Don’t mention them or I may become rude, but I think we will lift them in 1926.” Gilligau, in a special interview with the Australian Press Agency, sairl: —-“Tell tho Australians we ire glad to lie home, but we wili never forget their kindness and sportiness/ It was all so wonderful.” Asked what about 1926, Gilligau replied: “Well, as this is for Australia, 1 only say wuit and see, but we are going to have at Home great gan.c-s, and 1 hope they will send Collins as captain.” When asked what about Grimmett, Gilligau shrugged his shoulders and said. “Tell them to leave Grimmett behind.” Gilligau thinks Ponsford would do well ‘in England, and added, “But Taylor is the batsman I like. lie is beautiful!” Gilligau scorns the [Kissibility of Gregory not accompanying the team in 1926, and says, “1 simply refuse to believe it.” M. W. Tate, the young bowler, who was singled out for a special ovation as he fought his way to the train going to Brighton, said he was sure Grimmett would do a lot of damage in England in 1926. J. B. Hobbs remarked that Australia had no new fast bowlers, but has a few good young batsmen, though not stars. He thinks that Falkland is sure to win “the Ashes” in 1926. He was of the opinion that it would be madness on Australia’s part to exclude Warren Bardsley in 1926, as he would be as good as ever on English wickets. .Mr P. C. Toone, the manager, picked out J. W. Ry.uill and D. E. Pritchard (both of South Australia) as the finest coming batsmen in Australia, and thought that both should be included in the 1926 team. The attendances and takings had been a wonderful tribute, but the Englishmen's greatest joy was that they made thousands of friends and no enemies. In a special interview with the Daily Herald, Gilligau stated that Grimmett was admittedly a fine bowler, lie sent down fewer loose ones than any other Australian, but much of his success against the Maryleboue players was due to the batsmen not knowing him.—A. and N.Z. cable. EIGHT-BALL OVER. FAVOURED IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

SYDNEY, April 21

A meeting of the New r South Vales Cricket Association expressed itself strongly in favour of the retention of the eight ball over. Reference was made to Gilligan’s recent cabled opposi'- on. It was pointed out that the English captain had no statistics on his sale. 'He, himself, was not fast bowler and Howell teas seldom used. The advantage from a slow bowler’s pci?B of view was beyond question.— Press Association.

' f When the English team ’ arrived at M arsc-illes Gilligan, in an interview, said that while the eight ball over

made no difference to the batsmen and fielders, it was too fatiguing for the bowlers, especially fast bowlers. GREAT BOWLERS: GREGORY THE FASTEST, GRIMMETT A WONDER MAN. LONDON, April 20. There will be a great denmnstration at, Pudsey to-morrow in Honour of Sutcliffe. He declines to prophesy regarding 1926. He y says that his chief impressions were that Gregory is the fastest bowler he lias met and that Grimmett is a wonder man. Tate is remaining in county cricket. He says: “While Gilligau plays for Sussex 1 will bo with him.’ —A. and N.Z. cable. COUNTY CRICKET. LANCASHIRE’S PROSPECTS. LONDON, April 20. Sir Edwin Stockton (Hon. Treasurer Lancashire County (.'ticket Club) ((peaking at the opening of the Lancashire Players’ practice, said that the county would continue to be assisted bv tho Australian Macdonald. Their prospects were brighter than for many a year. Extensive alterations were being made in the ground in order that when the Australians carno Old Trafford would be second to none in the country.—A. and N.Z. cable.