THE WORLD OF SPORT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 438, 10 February 1912, Page 6

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

CRICKET. The following remarks on the proposed tour of New Zealand cricketers to Australia were prime:! b.y the "Veteran," in the New Zealand Times The New Zealand Cricket Council is circularising the various cricket associations in the Dominion for guarantees towards sending a representative team to tour Australia next season. What good to cricket, in the Dominion is such a tour as is contemplated going to do? Frankly, a think other than giving a few players—and a manager, don't forget the manager! a trip through Australia, the money guaranteed and spent will be absolutely wasted. What New Zealand and its cricketers want is teams of quality to travel through tho Dominion, and this is the direction in which the New Zealand Cricket Council should use its best endeavours.

If a team went to Australia it would be soundly thrashed by all the teams it would be called upon to meet, so humiliated that the players, individually and collectively, would lose all interest in the matches in which they were taking part. The knowledge the players would obtain from such a tour wouldn't improve the playing of the game in these islands of ours one whit, for the major portion of their knowledge would be obtained in chasing the ball to all points of the compass A man when he is fagged and weary is not in the humour to learn things. If there is any money that is available, either among the various cricket associations or the presidents of these bodies, for the improvement of the play and the players in the Dominion, that money could be better spent in providing coaches in the different centres for our young and promising players. The Cricket Council could build up this coach fund, and import some good teachers of the game, and loan them out at stated figures tn those who were willing to pay for their services. Another way would be to invite a team from Australia to tour New Zealand, the guarantee fund asked for being spent in sending the visitors round those districts which could not afford to give sufficient by themselves to ensure matches being played in their portions of the Dominion. This is what might oe done if the good of circket were the only thing that prompts the New Zealand Cricket Council in sending a team through Australia, but a manager would not be wanted, and some Christchurch gentleman would not get a holiday jaunt. The general opinion is that Mr "Tim" Raphael, the secretary of the council, anticipates receiving the appointment of manager when the team sallies forth, but I am not in his confidence, and cannot deny or substantiate the statement.

If he doesn't go, it is a certainty that one or other of the members of the Cricket Council will go, arid it is a sure thnig that the players will not be allowed to choose the manager from among themselves. Shortly, I think this projected trip should be dropped like a red-hot potato.