CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1922, Page 3

CRICKET.

VISITS FROM OVERSEAS. ENGLISH TEAM AT CHRISTMAS. SOUTH AFRICA MAY COME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. At the quarterly meeting of the New Zealand. Cricket Council delegates, th a chairman (Mr. J. S. Barrett) said that since the previous quarterly meeting the management committee had discussed the question of wickets for boys, but had decided not to make any pronouncements. He felt the solution of the problem lay in a lighter ball, reducing the weight from s|oz. to soz. The committee might recommend that for the next season. He thought the eight ball over was a mistake for school boys. A six ball over for boys up to certain standard would be an advantage. In regard to the profits of the Australian tour the committee had decided to stick to its guns and to uphold the motion passed at the general meeting. It therefore did not distrrute anyth7?ig. An invitation had been eent to MacLaren to bring out a firet-class team and he had accepted it. MacLaren was making his own arrangements with Australia and the management committee had dropped out of that part of the scheme. He did not think there was any possibility of a loss, but probably there would hot be much profit. The team would leave England in September and would be here by Christmas. It would play probably eight matches in this Dominion.

There was a chance of the council getting a South African team to visit New Zealand.

Mr. Wilson said the council should take the whole of the takings and the risk of the MacLaren tour in New Zealand. He moved that the management committee he recommended in the event of outside teams coming to New Zealand to arrange for the council to take all the gate money, less a small percentage for the local associations on account of any energy they might show. The motion was carried unanimously. THURSDAY COMPETITION. WON BY STRATFORD. The final match of the Thursday competition was played at Midhirst on Thursday, and resulted in a decisive win for Stratford by 162 runs on the first innings. Stratford gave Midhirat a day’s leather hunting. Their win places them beyond doubt as winners of the Thursday competition, with Eltham next. It now remains for Stratford to play off for the South Taranaki Association’s shield with the winners of the Saturday competition. This match cannot be played for some two weeks or more, and in the meantime different matches will be arranged to keep players in practice. Cole’s 154 was a great effort and included three 6’s and fourteen 4’s. Until he had passed the century he gave no chances. Cole also put up a fine bowling performance with 5 for 29. TEAMS FOR TO-DAY.

Following is Old Boys’ “A” grade team to play Inglewood on Racecourse No. 2, at 1.45 pjn.:—Osborne, Bewley, Monteath, Colson, Eggleton, Billing. Bottrill, Papps, Wallis, Greiner, and another.

Following is the Old Boys’ “B” grade team to play Urenui and to leave Bank of New Zealand corner at 12.30 p.m. sharp: —Hawkins, McConnell, McLachlan, Burton, Crapper, Pellew, Hoffmann, Stevenson, Lash, Newell, and another.