TRIANGULAR CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 7

TRIANGULAR CRICKET.

DARLING'S VIEWS. ' IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSALS. ST TELEGRAPH —MESS ASSOCIATION—COPYItIGHJ Adolaido, Juno 3. Mr. J. Darling (tho noted Australian representative batsman and captain), referring to the cabled criticisms of "Sporting Life" and C. B. Fry concerning Australia's decision in'regard to tho triangular cricket contest' proposal, said he was certain that the money was absolutely a secondary consideration, and that the players had no hand in it. What weighed most with him was tho conviction that such contests- would not bo in tho host interest of tho game. He believed the other members of tho Board camo to a conclusion on tho same ground: The resolution not to take part in tho contests was unanimous. ' ' . A triangular series of games was impossible. "To .play them properly," said Dar'ing, "you must play home and homo matches in England, Australia, and South Africa'. No doubt it is possible, to do that in England, but just imagine two teams touring South Africa: or Australia at tho samo time. It would mean financial disaster. More than that, it wonld mean that tost matches in South Africa would be played on matting wickets, which would be unfair to tho visitiug teams. It would be no advantage to Australia to train young players, and then have them playing their tests on matting. It would not be a fair contest. It will bo time enough to talk about homo and home matches botween tho threo countries when South Africa gets turf, wickets." " From a crickot point of view," continued Mr. Darling, "South Africa has everything to gain and nothing to lose, and. tho position is exactly the reverso for Australia. Two teams in either Australia or South Africa at one time is out of the question. Tho only other place is England. It would, however, be unfair that triangular contests should take placo in England, because tho home team would have an sdvantago in playing on their own ground. , Considered from any point of view, tho proposition is unworkable. What weighed with ino was the impracticability of making the necessary arrangements satisfactorily. I look upon the suggestion convoyed in tho cablegram as a slur on Australian players."