CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

THE ENGLISH TOUR

The announcement that Maclaren ia to bring- out an English team is decidedly good news, yet one cannot help, wishing that the team was an official one, sent out by the JSI.C.C. If, as the M.C.C. says, a representative cannot be got together by them, how is Maclarea g-oing- to do it. Perhaps the explanation of a Melbourne writer is correct* namely that Ranjitsinhji is at the bottom of the M.C.C's. trouble.

There is one aspect of the case that seems to have occurred to no one as yet. Lord Hawke, the Yorkshire captain, has expressed himself strongly against the system of playing test matches, in. which England is represented by "Mr Stoddart's Eleven," or "Mr Maclaren's Eleven." and strongly favours all test matches being con* trolled by the M.C.C. If I remember rightly, he even threatened that York« shire would not permit Her players to play in test matches not so controlledi And if Rhodes, the best bowler in Eng* land, and other YOrkshiremen are to be ex/uded from Maclaren's team, well; it had better not come out. But I suppose Maclaren has made it all right with Yorkshire as he has expressed his ability to get a team together. Say« "The Town and Country Journal" oft the subject: "MacLaren's team will certainly include Ranjitsinhji, and probably C. B. Pry., It is impossible t<J make anything- more than a mere gtiesj at the names of the others who willbfl asked to join, as much will depend upon the form shown this season, which began on May 1. Johnny Briggs, who has already made six tripS to Australia, would probably hatd made one of the team but for a recurrence of the unfortunate calamity which struck him down during a test! match in 1899. The wicket-keeper will probably be W. Storer, who came out With Stoddart's last team; and th«l bowlers will probably include W. B« Rhodes, S. Haigh, J. R. Mason, and W; H. Lockwood. These would form * good, strong basis for the attack. T. Richardson was paid an extra £200 over and above that paid to the othef professionals in Stoddart's last tea.nV because his services were considered W be indispensable. He was a fast bow* ler, who had done great execution oil the English cricket fields the previous season. For this reason it was thougW that the team was invincible, but whefl the Australian batsmen began t<J knock the renowned bowler all over tha field, his mana weakened. It is not' likely, in view of that occurrence, tftsf MacLaren will rely upon any phencn menal bowler,'but 'that he will be cdtf* tent to get together a really good dofll* bination. There need be no doubt bu< that MacLaren's team will be thor* otighly representative of the best Eng4 lish cricket of the day, and any vie* tories gained by our men will be hon* ourable indeed."

In an interview. Major WardiH, Sec* retary to the Melbourne Cricket Club, has stated that the eight professionals in the last English team were paid £ 300 each, and £25 extra for incideu« tal expenses, and that Kichardson re^ ceived % 200 extra because his service* were indispensable. The passages, railway fares, and hotel expenses of the* whole team were paid, and the amateurs received £50 each to cover small expenses which could not well W totted up. He added that there was n* truth in the statement that the amateurs were paid anything beyond whw was stated. „ - J