CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 10

CRICKET.

GRADE COMPETITIONS. NOTES AND COMMENTS. This grade competitions of the Auckland Cricket Association will be continued to-day, when the second round of matches will be concluded. In '.he senior grade most interest j i< being taken in the Ponsonby - North Shore match, which is being played at the Devonport Domain. North Shore's first innings 'closed for 90, and Ponsonby has lost eis'it wickets for. 162 runs. The English amateur— Or. Smithl3 taking part in the match. Ponsonby will probably attempt to secure a three-point win, but there, are still possibilities in the game for North Shore. The Grafton - University match will be continued at the Domain. The former team hsj 352 runs to its credit for the loss of four wickets, and will probably declare its innings closed on resumption of play. The students are not likely to pass this total in their first attempt, and no doubt Grafton will endeavour to secure a three-point win. The Eden - Parnell match at Eden Partappears likely to be won by the former team. When stumps were drawn on Saturday Eden had scored 309 runs for nine wickets, and it is not likely that ParneJl will exceed that, score to-day. A writer "in the Athletic News. England, asks:— it not be possible to commemorate— by affixing a tablet stating names and regiments to one of the walls in the pavilion at Lord's—the service and devotion of all cricketers who have played, and arc -playing, their part, in this fcarTul -'•niggle? They should always bo recalled with gratitude, for surely no man could do more than risk hie life* for King and country It is possible (V-at some cricketers of military age hsvo excellent reason for not having the honour of serving the nation now. The case of Hobbs has been mentioned in some quarters. For all I know to the contrary, he may have been disomalifted by the doctor: in any case, he is a married man with lour children, and. while so many younger men with no family ties are still available, such a person should surely not be censured for not coming forward. However that may be. Hobbs is undoubtedly a genius—in my opinion the greatest batsman in 'he world—and ii his services were utilised I should regret if the necessity aro*a of sending him to the trenches. There were people who would, unmoved, have heard of Dickens being sent into the tiring-line during the Crimean war, just as there are to-day some who would remain cold if similar treatment were meted out to Caruso.