STILL A CHANCE?

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1931, Page 8

STILL A CHANCE?

TEAM FROM OVERSEAS

SOUTH AFRICA OR AUSTRALIA

CRICKET ATTRACTION

By "Kot Out." Reports from South Africa indicate that the selection of tho South African cricket team to tour Australia did not meet with whole-hearted approval, considerable disappointment being expressod at the omission of Nupcn, Catterall, and Dcaue. It was recognised that the team was up against a stiff task in tho Tests with Australia, but, while the prospects of success were not viewed very favourably, it was expected that the side would do reasonably well. The South African team was due at Fremantlo yesterday, and its first match is to be with the West Australians at Perth, commencing on Thursday. During the tour five Tests will be played, each of them to a finish. EXTENSION OF TOUR. In view of the fact that the Australian Board of Control has turned down Kew Zealand's application for a visit to the Dominion by an Australian team, it is a pity that the New Zealand Cricket Council did not make representations to the South African Board of Control, as well as the Australian Board of Control, to have tho tour of tho South African team extended to include a visit to New Zealand. It will be on the 12th February that tho South AM-, cans commence their final Test with the Australians, this match taking place at Melbourne. There would be ample time after that for the team to come across to New Zealand and play several matches here, and the only amendment to the team's Australian programme that would be necessary to bring the team to New Zealand would be to delay or cancel the match at Perth, scheduled for the 25th February. Perhaps it is not yet too late to make representations on these lines to the controlling bodies concerned. It should be an easy matter for the South African team to leave Sydney on the 19th February for Now Zealand. The tourists would be here on the 23rd February, and that would give' them plenty of time in which to make a good tour of the Dominion before the close of the cricket season here. A visit from overseas is needed in New Zealand this season, and if made by the South Africans it would be an exceptional attraction. Earlier action might have made the way easy for such a visit, especially as the South Africans are finishing their Australian tour in February. WHAT X OF AUSTRALIA? The fact that the final Test between South Africa and Australia is starting on the 12th February makes the action of the Australian Board of Control in regard to New Zealand's request more surprising. The Australian Test players, other than those required for a couple of Sheffield Shield matches, will have completed their big cricket before the 19th February, and it should have been possible for an Australian team to have been . selected to proceed to New Zealand on that date. As already pointed out, that would give ample time in which to make a tour of the Dominion. There has been a_ report that Bradman is keen to bring a team across, but this is in no way official, and, in fact, is discounted. It does seem, after a study of the South African team's programme and the Australian and Stato list of engagements, that there is no big handicap to either the South Africans or an Australian team coming to New Zealand in February, and it is to be hoped that further representations are made in this direction, without delay. SOUTH AFRICANS' ITINERARY. The following are the South African team's fixtures in Australia: — 22nd to 24th October. —Western Australia, at Perth. 30th October to 3rd November.—South Australia, at Adelaide. 6th to 10th November. —Victoria, at Melbourne. 13th to 17th November.—New South Wales, at Sydney. 20th .to 24th November. —Queensland, at Brisbane. 27th November until . finished.—First Test, at Brisbane. sth to 9th December. —New South Wales, at Sydney. 11th to 14th December. —Combined New South Wales country team, at Newcastle. ■ . ■ 18th December until finished.—Second Test, at Sydney. 2fith to 28th December.—Combined Victorian country team, at Geelong. 31st December until finished. —Third test, at Melbourne. Bth to 11th January.—Tasmania, at Launceston. 15th to 18th January.—Tasmania, at Hobart. .. 22nd to 26th January.—South Australia, at Adelaide. 29th January until finished.—Fourth Test, at Adelaide. 6th to 10th February.—Victoria, at Melbourne. 12th February until finished.—Fifth Test, at Melbourne. 25th to 27th February.—Western Australia, at Perth. TRANSVAAL GRIEVANCES. In its annual report the Transvaal Cricket Board states that the brilliance of Nupen's first Test match performances against the M.C.C. team "makes it impossible to understand this fine all-round player's omission from the third and fifth Tests, and more especially from tho South African team selected to tour Australia." The board is of opinion that the exclusion of Deane, Catterall, and Nupen from the team to tour Australia is, to say the least, most unfortunate. "The Transvaal matches with the M.C.C. emphasised the strength of Transvaal cricket, which may make it necessary for more than three days to bo allocated to theso matches in future tours," the roport states. The Transvaal Board has ascertained that the constitution of the Australian Cricket Board of Control provides (a) that representation on the board is in proportion to the cricketing strength of tho affiliated associations, the three largest associations having equal representation, and the remaining associations less in proportion to their cricketing strength; (b) that all representatives on the Australian Board of Control must be direct representatives actively associated with tho association making the appointment.