CRICKET CHATTER

Evening Star, Issue 15314, 14 October 1913, Page 4

CRICKET CHATTER

[By Onlookee.]

Who arc to constitute the New Zealand touring team for Australia? That is the question absorbing attention in cricket circles at present. We ought not to be kept in suspense long, for it is understood that the Selection Committee meet in Wellington to-day to choose the 14 players. Names that suggest theniselvos as certainties owing to their all-round form are Homus (Auckland), Snedden (Auckland), D. Reese (Christchureh, who will be the skipper), Bennett (Christchureh), Sandman (Christchurch), Patrick (Christchureh), Hick"J°tt (Christchureh), and D. C. Collins (Wellington, and ex-Cambridge University). Cyril Hopkins would, of course, have been selected hut for his leaving shortly to settlo in Sydney. Two wicketkeepers will be inolude'd. Boxshall (Canterbury) will doubtless be first choieo, and the other position should go to Condliffe (Otago), who is more likely to make runs than lattersall (Auckland) or Schmoll (Wellington). The bowlers mav be Joe Bennett (Chnstchurch), Robinson (Wellington), right-hand fast medium, and Torrance (Otago), though other tnind,™s - wlt ' l cna nces arc Tom Carlton (Chnstchurch) and M'Mahon (Gisborne), right-hand slow leg-breaks, lbose with claims to remaining positions are Horspool (Auckland), Tuckwell (Otago), Hayes (Canterbury), MFarJane (Otago), Don Hamilton (Southland), Siedeberg (Otago), Taylor (Auckland), Midlane Wellington), and Blacklock (Wellington). Tuck well'o prospects will not be improved by the fact that he only came to Dunediii last season, and has not been seen by the majority of the solectors. The latter ought not to overlook the promising colts," for the experience gained by them from such a tour would be of incalculable benefit in their later cricket.

No hint is yet given as to the probable manager, notwithstanding that the team will be leaving for Sydney m less than two months. Is this matter to be hung up till the annual meeting of the Cricket Council, which, 1 understand, will bo held towards the end of next week ? Should it be decided to send a member of the executive of the council, the appointment will not give anything liko general satisfaction. As I stated some weeks ago, cricket supporters would like to see either Mr Lusk (Napier) or Mr D. Hay (Auckland) chosen for the position.

The season was opened in Christchurch on Saturday. St. Albans were dismissed for 39 (Bennett two for 21, and Wilson seven for 17), to which Sydenham replied with 244 for eight wickets (F. Woods not out 137). Sandman and Hickmott played for St. Albans—West Christchurch put together 200 (Bryan-Brown 63), and then rattled down six Linwood wickets for 26 (D. Reese three for 11 and BryanBrown throe for 9).—Riccarton 276 v. Last Christchurch 21 for no wickets was the other senior contest. Entries for the various grades in Dunodin do not close till to-morrow. The season hero opens on October 25 later than in any other part of the Dominion,

T, 1 . 1 . 6 d Gath took place, at Kilbirnie, Wellington, on Tuesday last of Mr Will)*™.,.A. Fordham, sen., who settled in Wellington as long ago as 1876. In the cricket field the lato Mr Fordham had a somewhat distinguished career. Ho was one of the original members of the Middlesex County Cricket Club, oud took part in the match between the Gentlemen of Middlesex and Gentlemen of Kent at Mote Park, in which Vycll Edward Walker secured the whole of Kent s wickets. Amoug Mr Fordham's friends were W. G. Grace. J. C. Gregory, and the veteran Charles Absolom, and he a«d Gregory on several occasions played together in single-wicket matches. Mr Fordham was a member of the Wellington team in the first interprorincial match between Wellington and Canterbury in 1878. One of his most noteworthy feats was the bowling (first b a") of David Gregory (the uncle ?* °-T d - Gregory) when playing in the Wellington Twenty-two against the Australian team for England in 1878.