CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 67, 19 March 1910, Page 16

CRICKET.

Writing of the test match, South Africa v. England, a South African writer says: " From the victors' .point of view I -would call the match the ' property— of course the exclusive ' property.' — of Messrs. Yogler and Faulkner. I am inclined to class the one as the greatest bowler in the world at the present moment, and the latter as the greatest allround player. What a wc/aderdul performance Ernest Vogler gave us on Tuesday afternoon! He seemed as if he were bowling with an enchanted ball. Ha ceuld make it do-as he liked, and yet on the morrow he was not the same man, at least, for a time. It must not, however, be forgotten that on the Wanderers' ground he was, so to speak, on his native heath. It is here that much of his latterday play and practice have taken place. But no matter where the ground, may be I think Ernest is bound to be successful when he gets the spell upon him, and uses his head, as is his wont. There is no more ' heady' bowler playing cricket today. Faulkner is to mc the acme of patience in both batting and bowling. After all, this is but an exemplification of the first principles of the game as taught to all the juniors. I think South Africa is a -wonderful batting side, which is only finished with when the last man is gone. A Wellington writer says he has it on good authority that Relf would consider re-engagement by the Auckland , authorities if they talked, bigger money. An English journal of high standing in the cricket world has it that Relf was to receive no less than £500 for his three months' coaching in Auckland. Previously his cheque was £354. Now Relf is probably the finest "coach" now actively interested in the game; but ho is placing what looks to be a superlative value on his services when he would ask more than what amounts to above £40 a week. It is understood that in addition to this excellent remuneration he receives first-class travelling expenses to Auckland from Home. It is also given out by the same authority that Humphreys, of Kent, who gave every satisfaction to Ohristchurch cricketers in 190S-9, was not re-engaged this season, as he required an extra £100. the present tendency of New Zealand cricket associations to employ professional " coaches," there is a fine field for the English professional, who could put away a nice cheque in the colonies, but they must be careful not to close up the pockets of the associations by too large demands. They should remember that Australia is just next door, and there are some very capable all-round players over there who would be willing to offer their services to coach New Zealand budding talent for a reasonable salary. The writer has no doubt but that m eminently suitable man could be got from Australia for something like £250 cor the season, especially if there was a prospect of re-engagement. Gloucestershire do not favour Lord Hawke's plan for amending the conditions of the county cricket championship. file committee, like the Notts committee, iave unanimously decided that they caniot support it. The Yorkshire County Committee has ippointed as captain of the First Eleven, Lord Hawke, who will be 50 years of lge next August. He visited Australia 23 years ago. In England cricketers remain in first-class cricket far longer than they do in Australia. A curiosity in scoring occurred in the third grade match Leichhardt second v. ELandwick second in Sydney the other iay. Randwick second made 09, of which )3 were contributed by one man, Weatherlake. Only seven men turned up, four of them each scoring one run, and mc scoring two runs. It is an extraordinary proportion of the total runs for Dne man to score (writes "Not Out"). En a first grade match on the same ground in 1900, J. Robson made 74 out si 77 in 24 minutes, while he was in for Leichhardt - Balmain v. North Sydney. J. L. JeSSOT) once sonrprl sill fifi rrma i-n