CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 10

CRICKET.

DISTRICT COMPETITIONS. THE FINAL SATURDAY. The Auckland Cricket Association's district crirkot competitions will be brought to .i conclusion to-day. Given fine weather - •there should bo a large attendance at Eden Park where Eden A and Ponsonby will fight out the championship. Ponsonby snado a first-class beginning last week, .and had lost eight wickets for 375 runs »vt the end of the day's play. However. to win the premiership Ponsonby will liavc to dismiss Eden twite this afternoon, suid on the face of it, this does not seem a very probable happening, for Eden are undoubtedly a strong batting side. Grafton is in a' good position against (North Shore, and should have little difficulty in winning. Waitemata in response to Eden B'a first innings total of 194, has, lost four wickets for 60, while Parnell has scored 57 without loss against 257 by University. Only, three points at present separate Parnell and Eden B for the ques- , tionable honour of winning the wooden ppoou. • , NOTES AND COMENTS. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of Wisdon's Cricketers' Almanack j lor 1914. As usual, the. compact little volume contains a record of- every crmket | item of interest during the year 1913, and "the full scores and bowling analyses of the chief matches played in that. season. A tribute to the late Hon. Alfred LyttelIton by the Earl of Daraley, forms an interesting article, and a short obituary of -every well-known cricketer who "died during 1913, is given. Following the usual (custom, the photos of the''Five Cricketers lof the Year," together with a synopsis •<>f tho career of each, are included in the •volume, and should have a particular interest to Aucklanders as amongst the five is A. E. Rolf, the Sussex professional, so "well and favourably known here during mis terms as coach to the' Auckland AB4O- - The almanack remarks'that ReU In in his fortieth year, and adds, "Tt says Jmuoh for his physical fitness- that aft an &ge when-most; men are giving up flrst'telass cricket, he should be' a finer "allround player than ever. Assuredly he Bias never ,been ; better, as batsman, and showier combined, than he was' in 1913. >, . . Year after year. he bast as an allround manj*.been,'one of the mainstays of She Sussex Eleven." ; The almanack is in fcvery way a very handy book of reference. Several prominent Canterbury players Jwill not. be available for the second test "match; which is to be played at Auckland, but it is" understood that the bowlers, IBennott and Sandman, will make the trip jnorth if ' selected. '." Patrick, .who id 'now Aat the top of hin form, is also available. The team is to be final';/ selected to-day, «nd it is, to lie hoped that consideration , .•will bo shown'some of the country play-nra. For instance, Butterworth (Wanganui) land MacMahon (Poverty Bay) might well bo given a- chance. The occasion certainly warrants the selection of .at' least two players from minor j associations. {Owing to. the lateness of the geasch 'is siot expected that many Southerners --.will come North,'and 1 consequently Auckland's will undoubtedly be..large, fflemus and Snedden are, of course, certainties, and owiuß'to big good form during the Southern tour E. Tlorspool will, '310 doubt be given a chance. One who should not be overlooked, however,' is W. Brooke-Smith, whose form- right ; through j the season', lias been consistently good.' After Snedden and Hemus,' Brooke-Smith-.' -would be the next chosen in the writer's I tleara. ' - ' '■'■'",■ ] . :,'j