CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 95, 1 February 1934, Page 2

CRICKET.

WOMEN'S REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association). ; WANGANUI, January 31. . Last season Amalgamated Pictures donated a handsome shield for competition between women's representative cricket, teams, a condition being that all matches should be played at Wanganui. Acceding to a request from the Women's Cricket Association, the donors have agreed to make the conditions similar to ,the Hawke Cup. Canterbury, Wellington -and other centres, in addition .to Wanganui, will compete here for the trophy on February 21 and 22, during car nival week. ,

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. The following will represent their respective clubs in cricket matches on Saturday:— Ash burton. A team against Mothven, at Methven:—l. M. Hamilton, d'Auvergne, J. Pritehard, C. G. Harper, Keeley, Knox, Tulloch, Laing, Hanley, Pattle and Anderson. B team against Rakaia, on the Oval:—J. Browne, B. McSherry, P. Harper, J. Varcoe, P. Hynam, S. McElhinney, R. Sharplin, 0. Bathurst, A. A. Todd, F.. Fogarty, and L. Newton.

MELBOURNE PLAYER'S ENTERPRISE. ' ■■ $& RETAINER OF £2O A WEEK. Frank Warne, the 26-year-old Carlton cricketer, who left for England secretly last year because he was dissatisfied with his prospects in Melbourne, writing to a friend tells of the success which attended his adventure. Warne has just accepted, a five-year contract at £2O a week to play county cricket for Worcestershire. He tried out his talent in Lancashire League, and broadcasted his desire to get into the county cricket as a professional, with the result that offers came from three county clubs, and he had a selection from which he was able to make a lucrative choice. Warne is a son of Tommy Warne, a former inter-State player, who render-, ed great service to Victoria and th 4 Carlton Club.. Frank followed in hife father's footsteps, and has been playing with the club since 1924. His best season was in 1926-27, when, with his highest score 132, his- average of 98 was second only to Ponsford's.

Warhe is a solid left-hand batsman and a right-hand slow bowler with a good turn from leg and a nice "wrong'un."' In his letter to a Melbourne friend Wa'rne said he arrived in London on May 29. Three weeks later he travelled north to Lancashire,' and lost no time in finding the county ground. Be quickly found form in . practice and mid-week games on the Old Trafford ground. Be played with such wellknown players as Constantine, Dempster, McDonald, Richardson, Parkin and others, and was giyen preference over Bird (N.S.W.) and Merritt (N'.Z.) as a slow bowler. Warne was approached by * the Lancashire' County Club and asked to qualify for the county. Be replied that he wanted a position as a professional in ono of the League teams while he was qualifying. The county decided, therefore, that he should play with Blackpool while qualifying—the club which sought the services of Ponsford some years ago.

"I was just about making up. my mind to stay in Lancashire," continued Warne, "when Arthur Richardson asked me if 1 would go and see what Worcestershire would offer me. Be said that they were looking for d leg-break bowler, and advised me to go down. I did so, and look like being here for some time. I did so well with the bat and ball that they offered me a five years' engagement. I told them 'that I would take it. "'While they were fixing things up I received another offer from Leicestershire—a good one, too, but not so good as Worcestershire. Then came another offer from Rochdale (Central Lancashire League), but I decided that Worcestershire would suit me best; and a formal agreement was drawn up, which I signed. I have only to qualify 12 months, and will be able 'to play county cricket after August 8, late next season. "I have signed with a club as professional and coach in the Birmingham League for next season up to the. time I am qualified to play for the county. It will be worth about £9 a week—not nearly so much as offered by Blackpool, but they are granting

a benefit match to me to make up for the loss. "When I am finished with the League team, my four years' engagement with the county commences, and it will be worth about £2O a week to me during the seasons. <jln between seasons my idea is to go away to India, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, or any other place where cricket is played, looking for a cricket job. "All through this coming winter the club will pay me £3 10s a week up to the time I take up my duties with the League. I am satisfied with the way things have worked out.- I wrote and told Arthur Richardson how much they were going to pay me, and he said if they -were ready to give me £2O, a week tliese times I'-"would be worth £4O in the good times. , I did so well in some games that Pataudi asked why I had not played against the EngTish team in Australia."