CRICKET TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 12

CRICKET TOUR

VISIT OP SPRINGBOKS

NEW PROPOSALS

(By "Not Out.")

Since Auckland's representatives did not perform to advantage in. their Plunket Shield matches, the question has arisen as to whether the side would be attractive enough to place in the field against, the South African cricketers when they arrive next month from Australia, '• and it has been suggested that in place of a match with Auckland the South Africans should meet a North Island team, at Auckland. It is practically certain.that the first-match of the South Africans' tour will be played at Auckland, and the^ present intention is that it should commence; on-the day of the tourists' arrival from Sydney— the 23rd February. That being the case, there is.a difficulty in. the way of arranging a North Island' team to play tho visitors on that date. Naturally Wellington would be represented iji the North Island team, but. Wellington's representatives, 'according to present arrangements, will be in Dunediii from the 17th to the 24th February for their Plunket Shield match with Otago, which commences on the 19th February. It would, therefore, be impossible- for those required for a North Island team to be in Auckland in time for the match with the. South Africans. However, if the idea of pitting a North Island team against the Springboks is favoured by the New Zealand Cricket Council, it would be possible for the dates of the Otago-Wellington match to be altered so as to leave such Wellington players as might be required free to play in Auckland. , . ■

There has also been a proposal from Otago that a South Island team should .-be given a match with tho Springboks. If. that were adopted the Test, which is set down to be played in Christehurch, would either have to be dropped or played in Wellington in place of the tourists' match with Wellington. The latest ■ suggestions certainly make for .quite an attractive programme for the brief period during which the South Africans will be in New Zealand. The itinerary would be as follows:—

23rd, 24th, 25th February.—v. North Island, at Auckland.

27th, 29th February, Ist March.—v. South Island,- at Christchureh.

3rd, 4th, sth, 7th ; March.—v. New Zealand, at Wellington.

The matter of a match between the South Africans and a North Island team was discussed1 briefly at this week's meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association's Management Committee. "In view of the Auckland team's debacle against Canterbury, does tho committee. think it worth while-entertaining, the idea of a provincial match with the tourists?" asked the chairman (Mr. E. Nalder). Mr. JNf. C. Snedden was in favour of making the match more of a .North' Island fixture by; co-opting somo members of the "Wellington team, provided Auckland was given control of the finances of the match.

As no definite word had been received from tho -New Zealand Council with regard to the final itinerary of the tour, it was decided to defer consideration of the matter for a week. In the meantime the Auckland selectors are to ascertain whether a fully representative Auckland team will be available If needed for a match with the visitors.