CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 160, 23 November 1912, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN ELZVEX. SID. GREGORY INTERVIEWED. Auckland, November 19. Sid. Gregory, who was a passenger by the Marama, which arrived to-night, en route for Australia, together with several other members of the Australian eleven, said, in the course of a chat about the tour, that the weather was largely responsible for their failure. They lost the last test on the spinning of the coin. Discussing the composition of the Australian team and the possibility of a better team had it not been for the exclusion of the recalcitrant six, Gregory said they undoubtedly missed Trumper on the wet wickets. He regarded Hcarne and Meade as the greatest batsmen in England at the present time. The present Australian eleven was the best chosen for the last, fifteen years, but it was not better than the eleven previous to that. Emery spoke enthusiastically concerning the triangular test match, and asserted that their failure was entirely due to bad weather conditions. He regards Bardsley as the world's best batsman all round the wicket.

SOUTH MELBOURNE CLUB. By a cablegram which was received on Monday by Mr. A. A. George, of Wellington, the authentic list of players who will represent the South Melbourne cricket team in its tour of New Zealand, commencing next month, is as follows:—Trott, Giller, Scott, Kenny, McCormack, Kyle, Pentland, Purvis, Deas, Kelly, Sykes, Gray, Baragwanath. In a letter which Mr. George received the same day from Mr. Harry Trott, captain of the team, the following information regarding the personnel of the team was given. Mr. Trott stated: — "I think we will have a strong side to play in New Zealand. "Jim Giller, whom ' you know, is a champion, and is bowling and batting as well as ever. He is, to my mind, easily fit to represent Australian in any game. "Billy Scott, I tip, will be the most popular batsman on our side, as he is a very fast scorer, and but for this New Zealand tour would be representing a State in the big matches. He got three centuries last season and a double century against East Melbourne. He is in great form this season, and is sure to come out at the top of the averages this year. "Harvey Kelly is a great fieldsman, a' slashing bowler and batsman. "Jim Kyle, who just missed a place in the Australian eleven last year, is coming, and will greatly strengthen our attack. He is also a very fair bat of the dashing order, and a good field. "Alf Kenny is a slow leg-break bowler and a fine batsman. He is about the size of Sid. Gregory, and almost as good in the field.

"Billy McCormack, our genial secretary, is a left-handed batsman and bowler of; a good class, and has represented State cricket here.

"Woodbury is only a youth, a splendid field, a googly bowler of the Bosanquent school, and a batsman who is expected to do well during the tour should he make the trip. "Pentland, our fiYst wicket-keeper, ! is also making the trip. "Purvis, a first eleven man, is also making the tour, so, with myself included, the above makes eleven of our first eleven. The, remaining probably be made up from our second eleven, so New Zealanders will be able to judge their I'orm against our best club elevens." v , ■ , rt.

It is rumored in racing circles that the King is about to make a drastic reformation of his Sandringham stables; that the manager of his Majesty's stud, Lord Marcus Beresford, will resign before the end of the year, and that the new manager will be Mr. Arthur Coventry. Lord Marcus' resignation lias bivn spoken of, for soma time past, and if it should actually take place Mr. Coventry has certainly qualifications to fill the ya<;an,t post. Mr. Coventry, who is a .gen.tlem.'.vrsler, i< a grandson of the..eighth earl of that name, and a member of a family which has figured prominently in the. annals of sport. As long ago as 1870 lie won the National Ilunt Steeplechase. He succeeded Lord Marcus Beresford once before in the oflice of starter to the Jockey Club.

A TIKORANGI MATCH. At Tikorangi on Thursday a match was played between the benedicts and the single members of the club. The latter, '•thanks to a line innings by IT. Cole, of 37 (not out) proved victorious by 37 'runs., For the winners L. Jupp and 11. Whitehead were the most successful trundlers as were H. Hicks and A. Soffe for the losers. The detailed scores were ; as under:—

" Single.—L. .Tupp 5, P. Scrimgeour 15, H. Cole 37 (not out), .7. Lye 0, C. Woods 13, A. Whitehead 0, 11. Whitehead 0, R. Whitehead 0, P. Sarten 11; extras 2; total. 83. . , v

Benedicts. —A. .Tupp . 0., W. ,Forem'an 0, 11. Hicks 10. A. Soffe 4. C .Sarten: 0, J. Whitehead 4, T. Jury 16, J. Sarten 0, W. Kilpatrick (not out) fi, R. Lye 2; extras 4; total 46.

A retyrn match will be played in a fortnight.

La jit Saturday's fixtures—lngJewood r. Law and United Service v. Xew Plymouth —which were postponed on account of the rain, will be played this afternoon. ■ In the Thursday competition, Inglewood A. easily defeated Inglewood B, ■ despite the absence of Clegg. R- Marsh, ■who is a steady colt, batted well for the winners to the tune of 20 runs. He is a young player who is coming on with plenty of promise. He ought to develop into a good, steady batsman. Xew Plymouth journeyed out to TJrenui and had the misfortune to lose the match by four runs. They were disappointed by two members of the team picked to play, who for some unexplained reason failed to turn up. In consequence two substitutes had to be played. There are some players who are keen on travelling any distance to play a game, and it would be only fair if. in selecting an eleven to play at home in Xew Plymouth, the local clubs found a place for the keener, though less experienced, men who never cavil at filling a blank in a team which plays away from home. As regards Thursday's match, a noticeable feature was the fact that altogether it took from 2.30 to o*2o to score 101 runs, the combined totals of both teams. The wicket was fair, but did not last too well. The writer was pleased to see Price keep,jnsr wickets again. He handled the gloves in good fashion, and it is to be hoped that, he will continue playing for the rest of the season. It is questionable whether New Plymouth made a wise move in taking Osborne oil as early as they did. He'got a wicket with his fifth ball, his sixth w-as blocked, and immediately afterwards he was replaced. The bull rose very fast, and a number of players on both sides were got out through mis-hits. It is pleasing to chronicle that Gwillim has joined the Xew Plymouth Saturday team. He should be a big help to that eleven, not only as batsman but also as a bowler. The trouble with the New Plymouth team is that it has too big a "tail." It is a pity that some of the older hands do not 'take the trouble to j coach the inexperienced players. The [ younger players contain plenty of good

material,' but there is nobody to conch them. It is painful to watch them practising and see them playing every ball incorrectly.

The wicket, on the sports ground is improving every week, and with each rolling that is given to it. One of the Thursday matches (Wait.ara v. High School) was postponed, the Waitara eleven generously falling in with the request of the boys, who bad to figure in a cadet display at the Central School Carnival. The match will be played at the end of the first round. A meeting of delegates to the Association will be held on Thursday evening to consider the invitations to play return visits to Wanganui and South Taranaki. The following, represent United Service against New Plymouth on the Recreation Sports Ground this afternoon, play commencing at 2 o'clock:— Mackay, Dinniss, Bain, Osborne, Sullivan, Perham, Sumner, Simpson, Ingram, Hooker, and Rev. Colvile. Emergencies, Huse and Hoby. The New I'lymouth, team for this afternoon will comprise:—Williams, Mason, Gwillim, Harding, Monk, Shepperd, Okey, Xewel'l, Stohr, Green and Packard.