CHEERFUL CRICKETERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 94, 22 April 1926, Page 7

CHEERFUL CRICKETERS.

LUNCH WITH JOURNALISTS. LONDON, April 21. The Australian cricketers are seizing every opportunity for practice in order to be in readiness for their first engagement. This-will be a three days' match against the minor counties at Maiden-l-ionr. pnmmoncinff rw\ _pril 28. The- members of he team spent, a Liort time at the ets at Lord's.yessfday. The weather vas showery and lie wicket dead. Chey were^later the ;uests at a ' lunheon given by the iondon District Institute of Journal's, at which there vas a large and r ..<>...-;. —-..-..,distinguished c0m- .,_.........._._._-_- . . _..__, The. chairman read a message from the Prince of Wales conveying his good wishes to the visitors and expressing the hope that lis would meet them this summer.' - ". :. ' ■ The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, proposed the toast of the team in felicitous terms. He recalled the cricket "giants" of the past and said nothing . imported into Australia from Britain had flourished like cricket. He gave the Australians a most cordial welcome, and said he hoped the' forthcoming games would'• be played out to a -finish in the'most sporting manner, and that the best side would win. The Australian captain, H. L. Collins, responded. The manager of the team, Mr. Sidney Smith, said the men -had come to England in a spirit of optimism born of the fact that they • had kept the "ashes" since 1912. They did not forget that they were to face a stiffer proposition this year. THE ADMIRABLE BARRIE. Sir James Barrie, the novelist, proposed the toast of "Cricket." He was accorded an ovation when he began: "How much sweeter this applause would be if one could have received it for lifting Mailey over the ropes." Proceeding Sir dames made a brilliant and humorous speech, in which were many, quips and quirks. He- visualised a Test match and. declared he was able to announce that the English Selection Committee was relying on new blood. "So far," continued" Sir James, "we have kept hidden away in our cellars our fast bowler, 'Mr. W. K. Thunder,' who has never been known to smile except when someone mentions Gregory -as a fast bowler. "As far as batting is concerned I only need to mention that Hobbs is 12th man. In my opinion 1926 will be- a season of one syllable words, namely, 'Test,' 'toss' and 'tail.' "Even if the Australians do win the Test match%i I have still another rod in pickle for txiem. I will choose my own Scottish team to play them. ■"Tliis team shall comprise Oregorv (whose name- is obviously McGregor)", also Mac Donald, Macartney, Macaulay, Hendry; Andrews, Carr, Douglas, Lyon, Haig and Armstrong. With this Scottish team I shall challenge any Australian to play on our native Scottish heather." : "PLUM'S" DREAM. Mr. . P..F. Warner said that after reading the Press eulogies of the Australians he went to bed despondent. Then he dreamed that it was 5.30 p.m. on the third day of the first Test match. Hobbs hit a four and England won br five wickets. Colonel F. S. Jackson said Sir .Tanie. •Barrie should be added to the Selectior Committee. He strongly supported a time limit for the Test matches. Un limited matches were an abomination like endless speeches.—(A. and N.Z.. Reuter.-"Sun. M ) OPENING MATCH. MINOR COUNTIES' TEAM. (Received 11 a.m.i LONDON, April 21. The. minor" counties' team which will play the Australians in the opening match ,of their tour at Maidenhead on Wednesday is M. Falcon, G. Colman, R. Meyer, A. Ling, H. Ferens, L. Crawley, J. Buchanan, W. flazelton, W. Franklin, and the professionals F, Edwards and. W. Hetherton.—(A, and N.Z.)." "