CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1, 26 September 1907, Page 14

CRICKET.

By "Breaker."

Tho winter games liavo run their allotted span, and cricketers aro beginning to mako preparations for tho coming season with an enthusiasm which promises 'well for tlio sport. Tho season's programmo contains nothing out of the ordinary, and it is on tho club fixtures wo will have to depend for tho sport. The senior clubs will probably bo strengthened all round, and as far as can bo seen at present competition will bo keen.

No definito dato has been fixed for starting matchcs, but it is probable that a beginning will bo mado at tlio earliest possiblo dato. It may turn out that play will bo commenced without giving clubs an opportunity of practising.

It is stated by experts that tho Basin Reservo is ill better condition at tho present timo than it has been for years past, and somo good wickots should bo procurablo.

Tlio annual meeting of tho Criokot Association is set down for Monday next, and somo interesting- business is likely to bo brought forward. Dr. Izard is to mo'vo "that in tho opinion of the Association tho fact of creating a byq is not sufficient reason for refusing a club sonior status." Sir. Worth (Newtown) intends bringing forward a motion that all senior matches shall be confined to two Saturdays, and in tho same connection Mr. Lukio will go a step further and ask that tho four leading teams at tho end of the season play a semi-final and final as a means of maintaining tho interest in tlio competition right up to tho close.

A motion will also bo brought forward for tho purposo of hurrying along tho men who- aro slow to hand in their subscriptions. Tho effect of tho motion, as it stands at present, is that .all subscriptions must bo paid before a player takes part in a game, ft is probable that an amendment will bo put forward to mako a certain part of tho subscription payable before a man commences to play, and tho balance at a later period. Tho subject is an old one, and should eauso somo discussion on tho conservative 3ido of tho chambor.

■ Tho energetic secretary of tho Cricket Association, Mr. 13. L. Salmon, does not intend to seek rc-olcction this season on account of business ties. Mr. J. Vanco is mentioned as a likely succcssor, and ho should make a livo secretary.

Tho Canterbury representative team has an engagement to keep with AVellington this season. : Wairarapa and Otago also owo Wellington a visit, _ but nothing has boon arranged in either of theso last-men-tioned cases. Auckland will probably go to Cnterbury to try and lift tho go to Canterbury to try and lift tho Plunket challongo shield, and an effort

may be made to'get tho northerners, matter for tho now committeo.

A local enthusiast who will visit Australia this season intends to endeavour to urrungo for a New South Wales team to pay a visit to New Zealand noxt year. He will doubtless approach the ..Now Zealand . Council before doing anything in the matter, and should not have any difficulty in getting their co-operation. Mr. P. C. Raphael, of Canterbury, met with a serious, accident when inspecting a houso in courso of construction recently, and is laid asido for the timo being.

Rumour has it that there is a possibility of J. Moore, tho Johnsonvillo bowler, throwing in his lot with Phoenix this season. Gibbs, who was on tho sick-list last season, will again turn out for Phoenix.

It is understood that Patrick, of Canterbury, who has b?. ; 'u playing football for Poncke, will wield tho bat for Midland this season. Otherwise the Midland senior team will bo practically tho same as it was last .year, all tho old hands remaining in tho field.

Upham, tho Midland express bowler, has a record which few can comparo wickots this season to bring his total wckets this season to bring his total wickets in first-class cricket up to 1000.

Numerous rumours of now men and changes aro floating about, but although I repeat some of the most interesting I will not guarantee that thoy all como from the fountain-head. Newtown aro alleged to have secured a New South Wales senior player of fivo years' standing, named Thomas. Thero have been several stories in circulation that Tucker intended cutting adrift from Old Boys this season and playing for another team. When tho teams enter tho arena he will, 1 think, bo found in tho Old Boys' ranks. It is said that S. J. ltedgravo, of Australia, a brother of W. Redgrave, may bo found in ono of the local clubs.

Tho ambitious Thorndon club is after senior honours this season, and it is freely stated that Sisson, of tho Midland club, and Hill, of tho Wellington club, will bo on tlio new club's list. It is also stated that Thorndon are -approaching Mahony.

Petono also intend entering a team for the sonior competition this season. Brico, a I'hconix player, will help tho team along, and there ie oaid to ho a possibility of Cobcroft also going in with tho suburbanites.

Tho Oxford and Cambridge Universities have played 73 matches to dato, with tho following result:—Cambridge won S3, Oxford 30, drawn 7. Worcestershire defeated Sussex at Brighton by six wickots. Scores: — Sussex 299 (C. B. Fry 125, R. Rolf 4S, and C. L. A. Smith 47 not out) and 204 (C. B. Fry 99 not out and H. L. Simms 39); Worcstershiro 415 (G. N. Foster 74, Bowloy 65, Arnold (55, W. B. Burns 55, R. ID. Foster 45, Pearson '14, and CufEo 30)' and 151 for four wickets (G. N- Foster 37 not out and Bowley 37). Simpson-Hayward

for tho winners, and A. E. Relf for the losers, were the most succcssful with the ball for their respective sides. The above was the third occasion that C. 13. Fry has missed scoring two separate hundreds in a match by a single run, as in IS9B ho mado 09 and 133 against Hampshire, awl in 1903 ho scored 99 and 127 not out against Leicestershire. Fry, however, holds the record for the double century, having performed tho feat four times, W. G. Grace, 11. E. Foster, and T. J-lavward coming next with threo each.