CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3076, 22 December 1908, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR ENGLAND. DATES OF MATCHES. By Telegraph —Press Association. Received December 21, 9.50 a.m. SYDNEY, December 21. The programme for the next Australian tour in the Old Country has been arranged. The test matches will be played as follows: — First—Birmingham, 27th May. Second—Lords, 14th June. Third—Leeds, Ist July. Fourth—Manchester, 2Sth July. Fifth —Kensington Oval, 9tb AttgUsti All will be three-day except the last, which may ber continued on the fourth day if the rubber depends on the resiilt.

PLAYERS DISSATISFfEL). FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS UNJUST, _ Received December 21, 9.10 a.m. ADELAIDE, December 21. Clem Hill, the South Australian cricketer, states that the financial arrangements made in connection with the visit of the Australian team, to England are unjust to the players. He would not think of going to England under the terms. Noble holds similar views.

INVITATION TO SOUTH AFRICANS. ; Received December 21, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, December 22. The Board of Control will invite % South African tea::) to visit Australia next season. SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM PROBABLY VISIT AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received December 21, 1.46 p.m.

LONDON, December 20. Reuter's correspondent at Johan- ' 'arff reports that the South Afri- ® "icket team will probably ac- " :> ? . offer to visit Australia if Hip * 3 a^ere d *0 1910-11, with a mtatal. - u * r L n 'r- Mar^?: bone team h. " d ™ T,a " South Africa. lU '

NEW SOUTH \ V at TA V * SOUTH: AU3TK. _ IA - A SODDEN W ICKET - 1 COLLAPSE OF HOM* TE AM. Received December 22, a,m * ADELAIDE, Decemtx 21.' The New South Wales b ou 'k Australia ; cricket match was continued to-day. Rain fell during the n ; ght, andT made the wicket sodden. The South Australians were disposed of for 97, Hill 28 being the chief scorer.

PLUNKET SHIELD CONTEST. OTAGO v. AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 21. The interest in the Otago-Auckland representative match for the Plunket Shield" is now beginning to j be aroused and the selection ot' the Auckland team puts matters locally in a concrete form. The selectors, Messrs N. Williams, R. Neill and C. Hay, have chosen the following eleven to represent the Province against Otago, at Victoria Park, on December 2Sth, 29th and 30th:— A. E. Relf, Eden Colts; A. iVI. Howden, North Shore: G. Curnmings, Eden A; E. V. Sale, Parnell: S. P. Jones, Gratfon; L. ,G. Hemus, Ponsonby; F. R. .Vason, Grafton; E. MacCormick, City; A. Hadden, North Shore; W. Brooke-Smith, Eden A; and W. Robinson, Ponsonby. Reserves —W. T. Stemson. City; and A. H. Francis, Ponsonby. The team is a strong batting side, no fewer than five members, Relf, Curnmings, Hale, MacCormick and Brooke-Smith, having made centuries in club cricket this season. The bowling will be supplied by Relf, Howden, Mason, Curnmings, and Hadden, while Brooke-Smith makes a gojd change. Robinson will be the wicket-keeper.

The following team from the combine Masterton Clubs will play Manawatu on the Park Oval on Saturday and Mondayßedmond, Mackellar, Logan, Perry, Morris, Rawson (Masterton), Waters (United), Moss, Swan and F. P. Welch (Carlton). The eleventh player has not been chosen, as a wicket-keeper has to be selected. The above players are requested to attend practice and prepare the wicket.