CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 334, 9 March 1910, Page 8

CRICKET.

ENGLAND v. SOUTH AFRICA FOURTH TEST MATCH. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Pretoria, March 7. In the fourth tost match against South Africa England are all out for 203, Woolley On, Bird 57. Received March 8, 10.15 p.m. Pretoria. March S. The South Africans have lost two wickets for 03 runs. AUSTRALIA v. OTAGO. VISITORS WIN BY TEN WICKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The cricket match Australia v. Otago was resumed on the Carisbrook ground this afternoon, and resulted in a win for the visitors hy ten wickets. Australia, requiring 98 runs to win, sent Bardsley and Mayne to the wickets, and these two batsmen, after an hour and a-half's play, had acquired the number I necessary to secure victory. Scores:— AUSTRALIA.—Second Innings. Bardsley, not out 50 Mayne, not out < 40 'Extras 3 Total for no wickets .. ..99 ELEVEN OR FIFTEEN? "" ? Sir,—As one of the supporters of the proposal to bat fifteen and field eleven men in the forthcoming match against the Australians and in consequence of the adverse criticisms on the subject which have lately appeared in your columns, I 'give below some of the reas'ons which, I feel sure, are sufficient to Justify our decision in the matter:—(l) (North Taranaki has not yet done anything to entitle it to be placed on an equal footing with our larger Associa- , tions, for instance, with either Auckland or Wellington, and it seems to me great presumption to consider for one moment that we should try to meet on even terms a team of such great strength &i the Australians undoubtedly are. (2) If we have any chance of making our. game interesting, it should certainly be increased by the inclusion of an additional four players of whom three at I least would in all probability be batsmen. I take it that one of the chief reasons for arranging this match was to j try and induce our public to take a I keener interest in the grand old game j of cricket than has been the cass in j the past, and I think that everything should be done to make this game as; even a one as possible, for little enthusiasm or interest can be worked up over a one-sided match of any kind. (3) All the North Taranaki bowlers who have any claims for inclusion are almost without exception very weak batsmen, and, consequently, their place in the batting would be at the tail, whether our team comprises' eleven or fifteen players. The additional batsmen will thus have ample opportunity ior helping to increase our score. (4) The fact that we beat IWanganui and Manawatu here at Xmas, and that those Associations have decided to play eleven and thirteen men respectively against the Australians should have little or no weight as far as we are concerned, as the teams that came here were admittedly weak ones. Thi3 is borne out by the fact that onlv three of those who played for Manawatu against us have been included in the thirteen to play at Palmerston North next week, and I doubt whether more than four or five of the Wansanui team will be found playing against the Australians. Hopin? that I have not trespassed too lr>rgelv on voiir valuable snare. II am, etc.. ' ' AUSTIN BEWLEY.