CRICKET ON THE HORIZON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 8

CRICKET ON THE HORIZON.

The keen air of to-day and the programme of interprovincial football matches carry no suggestion of cricket, but here and there is a faint promise of spring, and in Australia, where apparently they never cease talking about their national game, they are discussing next season's team for England. In three States they are paying us the compliment of urging that the eleven that goes Home next year shall tour New Zealand first in search of experience. It is true that the chief argument for this preliminary tour seems to be the resemblance between our wickets and English ones; a round of matches in New

Zealand would help to acclimatise the Australians before they meet Tate and company on English grounds. If, however, such experience is to have some value, the- other side must be reasonably strong, and we may presume that in suggesting this tour through New Zealand Australians consider that the quality of our cricket is not beneath contempt. No doubt the good showing made against the Victorian team last season has given critics more respect for New Zealand play. The New Zealand cricket world would be delighted to see the Australian eleven play here. Many of our readers will remember vividly the visits of the 1896 and 1905 teams, when we saw such giants as Darling, Iredale, Trumper, Duff, and Ernest Jones in action. The play of an Australian eleven is an education both to players and spectators.