CRICKET.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7971, 7 February 1905, Page 3

CRICKET.

The Australian Team

Arrives At Auckland.

Per Press Association

Auckland, Last Night. The Australian cricketers left' for Kotorua this morning' and will'probably not return to Auckland till Thursday evening or Friday morning. They will be officially welcomed on behalf of the citizens of Auckland by the Mayor, and at 2 o'clock on that afternoon they Commence their first match of the tour, that against the Auckland fifteen. : The members of the team all look in fine health and condition. It was evident from a glance at them that the selectors had had in view the combination of cricketing skill arid physical powers. Noble has been elected captain and 0. Hill vice-captain until the team reaches England.

In the course of an Interview, Frank Layer, manager of the, team, while not prepared to discuss criticisms or touch on the non-inclusion of Saunders and others, whose claims have been advocated, spoke hopefully of the team's chance of recovering the ashes in England. He regards his side as a.powerful batting and brilliant fielding team, and while admitting that the presence of left hand bowlers might lend greater variety to its attack, does not admit to a weakness in this der artment. He says that some of hfo men do not like the idea of fifteeß.men fielding against them for Auckland, but do not object to. that number batting. Darling and Newland are not with the team, the former intending to go direct to England, while Newland will overtake his comrades at Christchurch. Howell is suffering from an injured finger caused in a match just before leaving for Now Zealand, so that the following will presumably be the team to play against Auckland:—Syd. Gregory, A. Cotter, B. A. Duff, A. J. Hopkins, J. J. Kelly, M. A. Noble, V. Trumper, G. Gehrs, C. Hill, W. Armstrong, and C. McLeod. The Auckland team will be as under;~Oliff, Mason, N. E. L.usk, Qole, Schmoil, Hemus, H, B. Lusk, Brook-Smith, Haddon, MoNeill, Jones, D. Hay, Sloman, Stevenson, and Stephens.