AUSTRALIAN CRICKET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1020, 19 March 1912, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET.

THE HILL-M’ALL3TER FRACAS. Herewith we give a detailed account of the rumpus which occurred a few weeks ago between Clem Hill and Peter M’AHster, two of the selectors of Australian cricket teams. The fracas, it is not necessary to remind our readers, created a great sensation in Australian cricket circles, though it was altogether unexpected by those who knew to what a pitch both players were aroused one against the other. The description of the bout and what led up to it is given by Mr Sidney Smith, the secretary of the Board of Cricket Control, who was present at the time.

“I beg to state that I convened a meeting of the selectors for Saturday evening, February 3rd, for the purpose of selecting the Australian Eleven to play in the fourth test match, and also to select as many players as could be agreed upon for the Australian Eleven leaving for England in March next. I was the first to arrive at the rooms of the New South Wales Cricket Association, getting there about 8 o’clock. Mr Iredale arrived 10 minutes later, aud I informed him that the other selectors had not arrived, so he stated he would wait for them at the front door. In the meantime Mr Joe Davis, of the Sydney Morning Herald, came into the small room and was chatting with me on various matters connected with cricket. Mr Sinclair rang up on the telephone about 20 minutes past 8 to say that Mr Hill had left Manly, aud to ask the other selectors to wait for him. Mr Hill arrived about ro minutes after 9, aud the other selectors came upstairs immediately afterwards. The three selectors and myself were seated at the table. Mr Hill on one side, Mr M’Alister and Mr Iredale on the other, and myself at the end, whilst Mr Davis was standing up near the door.

“The conversation was started with regard to the match being played in Melbourne on that day, Mr Hill remarking that it was a strange thing that one of the best bowlers in Australia, Mr leaver, should have been omitted from the State team, and one who should be playing in the test matches. Mr M’Alister then remarked that in his opinion Mr Hill had not sufficiently used Messrs Kelleway and Miunelt in the bowling department, so as to rest Messrs Cotter and Hordern, Hill stating that he considered that neither of the bowlers in question were any good on the Melbourne or Adelaide wickets.

“Mr Davis, in answer to a question from Mr Hill, participated in the conversation, and remarked that whatever Frank Laver may have been on English wickets he did not consider he was a good bowler on Australian wickets, and quoted that gentleman's averages for the last 19 years, and at the same time informed the selectors that he would be only too pleased to go down to the office and bring his book of averages and performances up if it would be of any assistance to them in their work. He also said he considered that Minnett was a splendid bowler, inasmuch as he had seen him on New South Wales wickets. In view of his remarks Mr Hill informed Mr Davis that he did not consider that he was any judge of cricket.

“The discussion again got round on the captaincy question. When M’Alister reiterated his statement with regard to the using of Kellevvay and Minuett, Hill remarked that M’Alister had better lake over the captaincy, and that he