CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8181, 14 August 1906, Page 2

CRICKET.

(Bv "Cover-Poiss.") It is a moot point whether the proposed visit of a M.Q.O. team will eventuate or not. Auokland is apparently lukewarm in the matter of paying the New Zealand Cr cket Council the sum of £250, which sum is asked by the latter body for a match in the Northern city. Napier does not seem anxious to try conclusions with the visiting team, and Wangumn also shows apathy in the matter. Tlie general idea prevails in cricket circles that as the names of the visitors so far selected savours more of a picnic party than of one to teach any of the finer points of cricket, nothing can be learnt from a visit. I certainly think myself the proposed team will have to be materially strengthened, particularly in the bowling department, to either teach the colonials anything or to follow in the stops of Warner's team, and escape defeat.

I hope, however, to hear of Hawera moving in the matter of a Ikture with the visitors, or a West Coast team might, philips, be belter. There is no chance of New Plymouth getting a match owing to want of a ground, Altogether I am afr.iid the Cricket Council will have a dilliculty in arranging for fifteen matches, the number proposed to bo playod in New Zealand. The sum to be paid as "expenses" by the Cricket Council is the respectable sum of £2500.

Cricket iii England seems to have a firmer hold on the affections of the public than ever, and immense gates hare been the order of the day. At the present tune tho four leading counties are Surrey, Notts, Yorkshire and Kent, which are al! equal with two defeats each. With tho immortal "Fry hors de combat, and llanjitsinghji an absentee, poor old Sussex is low down on the list.

Giving to tho unfort'unato and childish squabble in Australian cricket circles an English team is unable to visit Australia during coming season.