CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 3

CRICKET.

TOUR OF THE AUSTRALIANS. V ITCH AGAINST WELLINGTON By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Nigbt. The Australian cricket team’s tour opened at Wellington to-day in dull weather with a match against a local eleven. Wellington won the toss and went to tbe wickets. All were disposed of for 218 runs. Middleton, Hiddleston, Warne, Brice, and Bruce being the principal contributors. Four thousand were present in the afternoon, when the weather turned cold, with intermittent drizzling rain. Australia opened the innings with Beyle and Richardson. The first wicket fell at 51. Then Liddicutt joined Boyle, and the pair were together when stumps were drawn. Scores WELLINGTON.

Total (for one wicket) ’ 84 The Governor-General telegraphed to Mr.. Howard, manager of the Australian team: — “Kindly convey greetings to the Australian cricket team and my best wishes for an enjoyable tour.”

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM. “A REAL GOOD SIDE.” "It is a real good side,” declared the manager of tbe Australian team, Mr. T. Howard, in the course of a conversation with a Dominion reporter. "I think it is even better than originally selected, although we are sorry that some of the other chaps are not with us. If any of your teams ar n able to beat tltis team, then they will be fit w# against any of the Australian States, not excepting New South Wales, which is the strongest. The team is well balanced, is a good all-round side, and all it needs is a little combination. All the players are on the young side. Kippax and PeUew ar& the youngest members, and they are both fine players.” Mr. Howard added that all of the team had played for their respective States in representative cricket this year, and, with the exception of Asher, Bogle, Forsberg, Ratcliffe, and Wnddy, they had taken part in matches' against the Englishmen. “The men are all in pretty good form.” Mr. Howard remarked, "and the New South Wales apd Victorian men have just finished playing in an inter-State match. They have all been practising hard for the Englishmen right through the year, and you can rest assured that those selected to meet Wellington will all be at their post on Friday.” Mr. Howard stated that the Australian Board of Control was only too happy to fall into line with the proposal made by . Mr. Heathcote Williams (president of the New Zealand Cricket Council), and Mr. C, G. Wilson (chairman of the Wellington Association), that an Australian team should be sent to New Zealand this year—that was evidenced by the short time in which the team was got together. "The Australian Board of Control is only too willing to iflke every encouragement to Zealand cricket.” observed Mr. Howard, "and it will be only too pleased to see a New Zealand teaim over there next year.” Mr. Howard mentioned that there was a possibility that A. Ratcliffe, one of the members -of the team, might be selected to proceed to England with the next Australian team, in which case he would have to cut his New Zealand tour short. Ratcliffe was found to be a very fine wicket-keeper. The following will represent Old Boys against High School on the school ground to-day? play commencing at 2 p.m. sharp:— Bertrand, Betfley, Billing, Bottrill, Colson, Eggleton, Johnson, Osborne, Papps, Quilliam, and Willis. Emergency: Inch.

First Innings. Hiddleston, c and b Hornibrook 46 Phillips, c Ransford, b Liddicutt • 0 Lambert, c Richardson, b Irertionger .... 6 Warne, lbw, b Liddicutt 27 Bruce, b Iremonger 14 Burton, b Liddicutt • *0 Middleton, run out. 70 Brice, c Kippax, b Hornibrook ... 22 Finlayson, c Lampard, b Hornibrook .... 7 Condcliffe, b Hornibrook 7 Barclay, not out 3 Extras 1C Total 21 s Bowling analysis: Hornibrook took four wickets for 35 runs, Liddicutt three for 73, Iremonger two for 55, Lampard none for 39. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. x Bogle, not out • 39 Richardson, b Middleton 37 Extras 2