CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 140, 4 June 1908, Page 4

CRICKET.

THE IRIANGUMK CONTESTS. Ai'STftALIAN EEPLY TO CRITICISM Adelaide, June 3. Barling, the cricketer, referring to Uie cabled comments on Australia's decision not lo take part in the inter national triangular matches, said he was certain that money was absolutely I a secondary consideration, and . that players had no hand in the decision. What weighed most with him was the conviction that such contests would not be in the best interests of the game. He believed other members- of the Board came to the conclusion on the same ground. The resolution not to take part in the contests was unanimous. "A triangular scries," he said, "is; impossible, to play them properly you must play liome-and-home maaches—in Kngland, Australia, and South Africa. No doubt it is possible to play them in England, but just imagine two teams touring South' Africa or Australia at the same time! It would mean financial disaster. More than I hat, it would mean that the test matches in South Africa would be played on matting wickels, which would be unfair lo the visiting teams. It would lie no advantage to Australia lo train young player? and then have tliem playing their tests on matting. 11 would not lie a fair contest. It will be time enough to talk about boine-and-home matches liotween the three countries when South Africa gels turf wickets, "From n cricket point of view South | Africa has everything to gain and nothing to lost;, and the position is exactly the reverse for Australia. "To have, two teams in either Australia or South Africa at one time is out of tile question. The only other place is England. It would, however, be unfair that the triangular-contests should take place in. England, because the home team would have the advantage of playing on its own ground. "Considered from any point of view the proposition, is unworkable, ft was the impracticability of making the necessary arrangements satisfactorily that weighed with me. 1 look upon the suggestions conveyed in the-cablegram as a slur on Australian players."