ENEMY AT OUR GATES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 738, 10 February 1910, Page 6

ENEMY AT OUR GATES.

"THE AUSTRALIANS."

ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION. '

-V;aM-TEAM-AND'iTSrMERITS..; : , jAmorig'ithei passengers .:' by -the/.' s.s. liperaki from; Sydney; ; yesterday were: the ■niembers;of,, , tiib Australian cricket .teain •which;.is ,tb> tpurVtho .Dominion. Quito : a" .large inumJjerVo.f.loeal 'enthusiasts we're, on. the Wharf ovh'cii tho'vessel'Was .berthed. Oil ■ behalf :of the...-Now \ Zealand Cricket Council,>Mr; Raphael,-itheihon.'Seoretarjv warinlyv'Welcqnied.the ;yisito'rs,i who. were then','.driven up. to -■ the .Grand I ',Hotel, where; tfey;will , 'reside'during. thei^ : stay here: , ■; Following is the personnel'' of the iteam:— .Armstrong (captaiu)^Vic- ; tbriar■'•p.;;-Smith;-' Victoria;;' :,T.'■'.".'Warne, Victoria;:, A. i C. *■ Mackenzie . (manager), NewV-South 'Wales; >%! Bardsley, : 'New :?outh, WaltsrS. H// Emery; New -South i| vyalesi:C;'R.;jGorry ) New. South.'Wales; South' Wales;: C. ,!Kelloway;;; New-South';;. Wales;; :;E; : , E. ~ ;Whitty,' South'; Australia ;;'-Nv Dodds,;.Tasmania; A.. C.'■', FiicyV -Tasmania; C. E. V Simpsonj Queensland;'lt is interesting to note; that' prior, to 'their .departu'rb _,members .wero. each b,y,;.Spaldings.. with a ;-HaywardVßecord".;batr;;' "" \ : ■■■.-■'. ■■'■/■'

J .' . Interview, with the "Manager.' . i .'According.; .to \Mr..: A.'C... Mackenzie,-an. old' inter-State player, who occupies'! the p.ositianof : the toani is one ofthe'most powerful sides -that i has - ever: ivisited New ■!Zealand."; -It' comprises- four members . of : the,^ast!,- ; Australian, ;. team wliioh > toured England,:: vizi,, ' who is; perhaps .the /.,fines£ .fall-nrahd ericketer 'in', 'the! world fßaxdsley, who greatly distinguished ..himself with the bat/at Home; '.Whitty, .one'of; the .best bowlers in 'Australia. , : at' ipresent';'. and-'-Honkiris, .who.:.toured;-.England. ,on. .the,:last .occasions. -,'TKe/remainder of the, : team,' llr. ; Mackenzie .says, is/composed :;of rising, players. , Allj.the. members, of. the: team have, performed-.vevy. well, this year .'for'.their-respective" States;. '^Tkken'.as.. a whole,-the/.teimwiir ,lM,.fonnd;to; be-a: 'strong, combination" for batting, bowling, 'and-fielding. -\ . iv -■'"'■: ;^;,;; '■■''■■■./.'.■"'i ■ Averages iThjs' Season/ ": . I-_lt,,'will. .be -of interest I to: /'publish : the ..visitors'/averages in\: first-class , > cricket. :.this season, which-.are. as ;..:> : B y ■'' W;' : '■■■';■■';-■:>

BOWLIN<j.

imatcjiQS two : '"test3v:rOEe(«atwCh'ris't'ehurchift'andr/ the 1 '-lotheoj-it .\VVellißgtoni>i;Foll6winit-'!is the dayj- and J '3l6nday,VlJel)ruary;';ll,-12,. aiid"' ' 14; "■ Aus^ali>Vx.,:Auc]clandi./.Eriday,'.' Sat■■urday,:a'nd.,JSrondoj'isJ',ebruafy.>'.lß, 19;.' and' 21; *Australia;,y.-i'Canterbury;;. Friday',, Sat T ■urday,;'and Monday;' February 18, '■ 19, arid '28;;: Australia' Saturday,•'-. Siori-, day|/;and'^Tuesday,''Marcli,s,'.7, : .an'd. : "B; Australia; f.,' New-Zealandiifirst "test"■ 'at. ChristchufcK;'.' , .'.-'Saturday, , ; 'and. .Monday, March 11, 12,-ami 14; Australia'. y,-;Manairatn,- at vPalmerstbri'-.North,: Wed-. I nesd'By i .Australia.: r. ■Wanganui.il'riday -land , ' Saturday,,;.; March. ".18 ''andv.'ie; "Australia '-t'.; Tdranaki, at New,Plym6nth; : Tuesday-and -March ;22 .and' 23; Australia ■v. '■ New Zealand, second "fest! , -- at Wellington,.' Saturday, Monday/- and' Tuesday, ■March , .' 26;, 28,,, and;., 2D; .': Australia. >v. Ha'wke's 1 :Bay, :'at 'Napier, ITriday,' Satur-' day,- i and : Monday, ipril -I/; 2, : and.' 4. ;•-• V

% V^;NOTES >P^THE '*pi;AYERS.' : ::V-----;';;?v //WHAT THEY:' CAN: ;DCv :,.; ;-.' ; •:'Of "Captain "Arriistrongr little ■ need■ be 'said,.'.for. ■it'.is ■■generally: : recognised '.that no ..is'v inV:.tlie ■' forefront J , of v!tho ■ \vorld's : SreatestVcrickDtersV.;Be'si(les.,beiiigra'-\T.on-'derfully: fine;b'it;';lie : is the'hardest, ;Tjo\vlers):to,'score, , : bff..'ia, Australia, at' ; the timeii j/■•'■.: V;;'i>'»^.S ( . .•'>;,; ''■...■•■.,; conspicuous bats-' 'J"aii .tlie.i.lastVtAustraliau' team. ■-.WJulst at Home he ■ secured a century in : ;, both,-• iunings;.: of ■ pne.:of ; the .which is a.ieat lrhich had not previously been."pGribrmea.' It .is , un'derscoiM Vthat .he ■is.;^dt'.-, , battirig--s6vvreir : iibw.'-:as.-.Ho was: iprior to -,the Some ! 'trip.:,.■.;. ;., V ; : '- Whitty;is- ; a': fine natural bowler, whose inclusiou;;in-the;last:Australian's Xl' oc-" casioiied ;,considefable : -surprise .owing .to ,'lhe/fact "that; .he : was%.practically, -unknown. iii : first-class cricket..': Ho has undoubtedly: ■improved .'considerably , as ; a result of; the , 'experience.'.which ■he gained atiHome... , ..'■;•■...•..';i;-v\ ;.■.•;.•';••.. -: ;

j:Hqpkini.;is^well-lmownVasa , member ofthe: "last i three yAustralian-- , elevens. -•' Cap-al)lo-alike with-the; bat; and-the hasriiot played' a. great deal' since' the' :team !, ;'TCturned; to Australia. '■ It'is.'.probable • that he: ivill i do"; something : -meritorious .'on' , the-present trip.' .-: ■ ■'■■"■■ ■'■'.- Pacy,iis-the making of a'brilliant'fast ibqwler... Despite -the .fact ■ that he■ does hot, make' -the niost of''the- "run,", ho bowls 'with considerable'speed.-j In -Tiir-. ner's benefit, matckjibe' knocked .Noble's' bail:-47ft..tp; ; tbe'.rear !of. the , wickets.. /:. •

-•'/May'ne lias Represented -tliellest'-of''Aus-tralia for: the last two seasons. 1 ;>. ,-,lh" : the' last match; in Melbourne/ ho scored lOi' in the 1 -first: innings,' and , l is' i in, the "second.', He was a a,position 1 iu; the last Australian. XI;: \J.; ' : "','.-'.',"'•'..'.'. ■■.'

: Simpson .is•.a. : magnificent;field, and, a creditable', batsman.' ;:Wnen tne last 'Aus-tralian-XI: was- r selected; 'niany.were'dis-: 'appointed ■at".his.'-noh-inclnsion, as'.they' cpnsidered'hiin.a better.playerHh'an Har-. tigan.':.:v;,: ; ;. 'v: ; ;''viv.;^,; : : ;: ,-'-\-:'':-;?; .--.'. -'Dodds i.shapes' wcllJat; wickot-keeping, and iaVa'.fin'p.bat. '.''. '-This ; . season hehas done' particularly )vell. V ■ -,<{■'• ;rr;^'";,:.;/:■;::. V:Gon-y,'the wicket-keeperris, in the.-opin-; ion :6f ;niany, 'the';equal ...of ; Carter; :althouglv 1 not:so good a' bat.i; '^' ; 'i^i\.

/Emory lias been, responsible .for noteworthy trundling this season. He is;a "Bosey" :bowler;• and:on his day is almost unplayable.: ■ ■•v.-:-!..-;' /*'.••; .■.■..;.-'•.';■"■.'•:•■;

-Kelloway.iis a ,v gob'd .bat'aild- a good length bowler.; : , It-, is considered that he is one.'of the 'lnost..promising aU-round players/in'Australia. ■/■:<. ,' •' :' ':''.' .

ilias been of 'great- assistance: to Victoria this season. .A hard:hitter.'ho has a'variety of' strokes; but is somewhat weak 'in 'defence. :'■ '• .' ' ' : ' ■/ '.V '

: AVorne'/is a , most ..player; being a solid'.bat'and a'Jgopd slow .leg break bowler. ,'He! is one/of ,thoV;best all. round players;'that'- , Victoria 'has seon for some years'.-:; ../,;. .; '^(i'-','.'■:'.'•".';.';''■'■'::.'.■'■ '..' ■

RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL

'•.;. ,/ TO; TODR t pWN;"STYLE;" :' '.That' much- interest-is .being, taken in connection with; the. visit ;of'the Austra-lian.-'.XI .'was -i demonstrated;- yesterday, afternoon when sov«nl of local cricket:.enthusiasts,. , /including' ,: a sprinkling , of -ladies,.', attended , ' thev public rcenptiori'to'(thq- visitors/ .The ..Mayor (Dr. , Newman) prcsidwlr.and,-; irijaddition--'.tb members -of the touring team, the .Hon. J.; A.: Mi Uar, several; city--- councillors, • Mr. Itapliafll, rcprcsentinij;. tho ','Nevv'._ Zealand

Cricket Council,. representatives of the Wellington. .Cricket .Association, and other sports occupied seats. on. the. platform. Throughout, tho proceedings wore .very enthusiastic. ..... ■

lii tho course of a particularly happy speech Dr. Nowman, on behalf of the citizens, welcomed the team to tho Dominion. He declared that tho Now Zea- : landers did : not "blow" about .their skill at cricket because they' had no reason to.'.'.(Laughter.) It' was a.great wonder that, while: they did. themselves great credit .'in other branches of sport they could not play cricket for 'nuts. For' instance, they could play ; football and play it well, wero good "at amateur athletics, tennis and sculling,, but when it came., to cricket, thev ; could, not' brag. He reckoned that a Now Zealand cricket team could,.however,..be. got together which would lick portion's of Australia— the Northern 'Territory (laughter), West Australia; and ,: perhaps, Tasmania— bul ■ it would not-have. a.<ghost-of a chance against the other .States. The New Zea-' landers; were very anxious to see the visitors because they knew that they'included one or. .two of the leading players in the .world. "Of course, you will win, every match," continued Dr. - Newman, "but.l can't help that. 'As long as we , play only among ourselves and our boys, see nothing bettor than themselves,, they .won f'improve. ;(Applause.)'; It is , only when bettor 'teams come from outside and;they have tetter play to watch' that will bring about, an improvement in. tho standard of play here. But I hope that before I .die.l ; will see a New. Zealand "XI.; which will bo able to hold its own againsti 7ietoria ; and New South Wales." (Loud.'applause).- ■■>•■' ■ . ; "

Hon. J,. A. Millar, on "CoacHing," ; The Hon. J.'A. .Miilar, in , tho unavoidable; -absence -o!- the Prime Minister,-'Wei-' corned the.team bu behalf of-the Govern-' ment: . He : W ent; on .to say that if one looked 'back for; a few .years it would ,bt>-reen.. that; the interest, in^: cricket in New Zealand, had inoreaeed.;: ..They had seen.qne district.-,vying with another district -to'get'coaches from: England and Australia,'and time would show, that the lessons taught by these players would bo of; great benefit to future, cricket. . It was his opinion the matches in. this conntrj';by, a,team like the Australian Eleven would-do more. to train- the younger "generation .than' fyyo or three years of training by professionaLs: : Not only would New Zealand 1 players '. benefit "as a result of such matches, ..but'the .public/would see to what perfection .criqket,could be brought. : -'.Theft' , ' again,'-, there wonld be the. advantage which would accrue• as' a result of the people of Austi-alia getting to know more of the ; aspirations of the people of .New: Zealand; : (Loud Applause).: ■■...:■■•.■■'■,;!.■■:—■'■ - ■■■■,'.,„,■. . .

: : ', : ':':'•.•■. ; w Armstrong's Speech./.; .■.'.■.'..■, Captain Armstrong (in renly). said: that bofpre.' they 'land&l,;the" team had no' idea that they "would ./receive" suck . a 'stirring welcome; : Tliey'hud V very fine team,.he would, admit; but lie/ thought that .the Mayor, had .been "lather roughon New Zealand-cricket. ■'When..he visited tho Dominion on. t\yo previous occasions, 'he/came to the conclusion 1 , that in NonZealand. :they ■ did know, a little.bit about the game.,.He would ask any player who : was selected'to play against, his teamV not to think, that-; he 'was. "out" 'before ■ lie' went. "in. .. (Applause.).: ,"We . are. not .anything wonderful;" ,continuediMr.-Arm-'strong;, "and. New- , Zealand vplayers %will find/that we- are'really, not much better' than , some of, the, ordinary 'batsmen and bo.wlersvAvhpm ;-;they/ meet '■'.every, -week. (Laughter and/applause.) . ;When playing in' some places -1 have. often 'noticed the : xeal'.goo'd players .have'failed'to,do themselves .credit, v I,'therefore,' ask- all New Zealand; players to 'buck. up/ display, no anxiety, r .but: just :to: playvin .their .own ordinary ;■■ sty lev" and they! won't :regret it. (Applause.) AYo don't expect, to. win every. inatoh,,' but we: , havo . come, to , :.-try' and .'.teach you something !about 'the garnet What , - little '-we can'do we^'will be only too pleased to do, and we hope that .we will create .a favourable 'impression." (Loud; applause.)' .:"..;;.•. :.

; /'!'Wei Will Try to Play the.Game."^ <} ''■Mr.; Ma'ckMzie.i'.mahageri-'of tho', team,, also acknowledged'ithe\ warm- , -welcome; which the teani; had 'received. He , had observed that the/question of. the visit of" the team .had';'caused some of the associa- 1 tion, -and .particularly: the: Now. -Zealand Cricket Council;'/a'6reat.;Ueal- 1 6f,7ansietj; but'he hoped that-.long bofore-.tho time, cama for, the teamv. to take, its' departure that all anxiety would,bo at an end.' It would have been- a'jiity.'not-'to ha\O had a visit from .'the'team, l because it was'hot • day that such a fine team' could'be got together to make 'sucfi'-V lengthy trip, , .' (Applause.), Any. doubt .which they, might have .had as. to, tho.;warmth,-6f- ; £ne vel-' come, which'* would be accorded the\i, had been immediately.set at rest:by the large number,pf.telegrams -which they'-iiad'W iieived wishing'theni.i. pleasant visit. , Ke ! hoped that cricket in. Now Zealand'would benefit as a resnlt, of the '.visit ."i>{ ' t\.o. team. 'It iwas...unnecessary "for'.'hiin.itb : 'montion the ,vperf>rmarices, ;: ,which ~l'ad inadfe .Armstrong :Then, .'•iga'ih, :13ardsley's>feats; in'England'and Australia were' equally,: well;known. In :Whitty they 'had. one of "the , finest bowlers -in Australia at the present .time. "■ Of'Hopkins itwas also rnrienessary; for-him!.'to" say anything.. In:addition, the. team contained some'of''the cream.of the younger players in Australia; i.Of;, course in - tiina some;of the> leading players 1 '- dropping out of 'first-class cricket, -and it was his opinion that, the; visiting team included young: players, '-who..'Would vet acjjuit themselves with grtat. credit on the cricket fields of Englandin'-test 1 .Hatches;" On the occasion of the visit of-a previous team to New Zealand there, .was included a player who -.was., sot , very . prbmineiit,, and whos? performances,were .veiy.modest. A. few years, later he, proved him-j self a terror to.English'batsmen.with"the ball,. an'd.for) many; years'iad-.proved' a : terror' to English bowlers V.with the.'bat. He 'referred '•' to M. , - X. Noble;: who ; was probably, brie. of.:th'a , .greatest"'• cricketer-.' that the. world had ; ever, seen.: (Laud-.ap-plause.) It 'was, Quite'ipossiblo."that: included in the'i.pr'esent "team were .ofle'oi , ' more, players who hvould'. become '/qually, famous, or : at- least gain, a.ivery. high reputation. ... .'-TVe -.-; are. here to remewber; that we : are the representatiYes of'. Aus ; ' tivilia," added Mr/Mackenzie, "and that, wo' , have a dutytoperfprm both, to' Australia and-Now Zealand. •Wβ',will try to play the gamd iii."the true-.spirit of ■ the' sport, and'whether we win, lose, or draw tliere won't be ; any Svranßling;" ''..' . '

;.. !-''*:, : ;iis--;-'.V:fl , Hca''?' 1 1 . ■< Pacy .:l,.; ; 67 - : 140 ■ 46:6 Bardsley ....:...: 10 ' 0' v li9 4G0 ' > 46.00 Armstrong-/..-:"8' :-'0- /12i'vv v 339.'-.' 42.37"'.Oi 1O8.:..V 237 ;41 ;'j;: ; 57 ■, ■ 118,-'': 39;33 Simpson...:...;;. ■ i V!■. 0 : M02 ■ -121-:- ; 30.25 Moyne , ;.„...;...;: 8 ;v0 -63. 215 , 26.87 Smith;.;..:....;:.:10,V '0,'%-146'■;■■;,254 -. .25.10 Hopkins: ;;.....;.■ 0 ;--.13v'""..21 ! -:' 10-50 •EinCTy;-;.^;..;.iv.'.8- , aj'.i)" , ■ 30 f , : Gls' , . . 7.C2 , ■Q6rnr/K;;..^.; i --.9- / .<--(4i..- :10 ; ; "- ; : 7.C0. WMfty::.;....^. 23:- ,i 36'-,'' 7.20'

Hopkins . .;...„.;■. ; : 3; ;,; . 15.CG Emery.-;::.;;;i:.:A'121 ; .'12; Armstrong».;.i* 181 •5J-V-367 1 '' 22- ''21:23 1. 150 26", : . an^-.w- : 20.88 lKelleway. , .\;...; , .v'-81.>;Uv'.{262-/:-8-, 29.il , ITac^::...;..:..;.;.. , ;83'-':U; J 25t i "7' - '. 36.28 Simpson 'd:..::.- 11'- '■ 3 ; v .41.00 Warne : :....;;.;.;.. ! V 13:,2-: V 58i"' .'I- 1 ; 58.00