CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 19062, 3 October 1925, Page 3

CRICKET

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM I • NOT TO VISIT DOMINION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and K.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, October 2. The Australian Board of Cricket Control decided that tho team going to England next year should not go to Now Zealand on route, but proceed direct, playing matches in Tasman and Western Australia. PLUNKET SHIELD MATCHES [Special to the ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, October 2. Tho series of Plunket Shield matches for tho coming season have not yet been arranged, but it is probable that the programme will he tho same as that carried out two years ago. Representations were made on behalf of the Otago Association that, in view of the Exhibition in Dunedin, the three matches against Otago should be plavcd there. This, however, would interfere with the regular programme ol matches now in force, under which each association gets either one or two homo matches ea.ch s©<ison, *l-his tilrangonient was really brought into force for tho benefit of the game in Otago and Auckland, for under the old arrangement of teams travelling north one year and south the next Auckland and‘Dunedin had either three borne matches in ono season or none at all. It is not likely that tho arrangement now in force, which is working satisfactorily, will ho interfered with, and if that is the case tho matches will bo played at the following centres;—, Canterbury v. Otago, at Christchurch; Canterbury v. Wellington, at Wellington; Canterbury v. Auckland, at Auckland. Wellington v. Otago, at. Dunedin; Otago v. Auckland, at Auckland; Wellington v, Auckland, at Wellington. The suggestion that will probably be made on behalf of the Canterbury Cricket Association is that the Otago v. Canterbury match should he played here, commencing on Christmas Day, and that then the Canterbury team should go north to play Wellington at the Now Year and Auckland the following week. This is the arrangement that was carried out two years ago. In view of the Exhibition, a return friendly match will probably be arranged between Otago and Canterbury, to be played later in the season at Dunedin ‘if tho above programme of matches between Canterbury and the other provinces is carried out it will be whilst the New Zealand team is in Australia, and the Canterbury team is therefore likely to be very considerably weakened. Of course, this will Mvo an opportunity to players who are “knocking at the door” as far as representative honors are concerned, but if both Cunningham and M'Beth go with the team to Australia Canterbury’s attack will not he'at all strong. UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION The annual report of tho Otago Umpires’ Association, after referring to the loss sustained by the death ot Mi C. H. Wilson, states:—Tho committee congratulates the members on the excellent manner in which they earned out their duties during the season. "Whilst tho membership is not as ns it should be, the committee was able to place umpires for most ol the matches. It suggests that more eflort should be brought to hear upon the clubs to secure their old members tor the association. The association supplied umpires for the representative matches and also for tho Victorian match. Umpires were appointed for all first and second grade matches. It is with pleasure we record the fact that upon several occasions appreciation was expressed to the members for their services. The association was again entrusted with tho awarding of the fielding trophy. A system of awarding points for each match was arranged, and at the end of fho season tlie Grange team proved the winners. The association has a credit balance of £2 18s 6d. The committee desires to express its thanks to the O.C.A. and ihe senior clubs for donations to the funds. The committee extends to the Otago Cricket Association its congratulations upon the success of the Otago team in winning the Plunket Shield. To Messrs Easton and E. S. Wilson thanks are due for the use of their rooms, and to the O.C.A. In conclusion, tho committee, in_ noting the great improvement made in cricket in Otago during the season, looks forward with pleasure to tho coming season, and, with the co-operation of members of the association and with the aid of more members, will do its best towards helping the game along.