CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 8

CRICKET.

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. SELECTION OF THE TEAM. Some interesting comments on cricket in the Dominion and matters in connection with the forthcoming Australian tour of a New Zealand team were made by Mr. Heathcote Williams in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet at the thirtieth annua! meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council on Friday. Mr. Williams said the lour of the Victorian team last season had resulted in a profit of £358. A3 retiring president, he would like to suggest that in future the programme of the tours of Australian teams should bo confined more to important games. At least three tests should lie played, also matches against the North Island and South Island. The minor associations should join together and combine to put a strong team in the field. For instance, West Coast. NelBoa and Marlborough oould put in a combined team, also T&ranaki, Manawatu and Wanganui, Under that scheme every minor association would have a chance of having representatives playing against the Australians. They should endeavour to reduce the amount of travelling 0/ the visiting teams and give them better games. Referring to the visit to Australia of the New Zealand team Mr. Williams said it wast necessary that the tour should not clash with the Sheffield Shield and other big games in Australia. He thought it was too early for a New Zealand team to go to Australia, as the team had not had time to practice. However, he thought the tour would be good for cricket in New Zealand. The selectors should publish the certainties for the team, and also the probables, by October 17. He moved a motion to that effect. It was important, he said, that playera should get into practice at once. Mr, E. R. Caygill, one of the selectors, said that the management committee had set November 1 as the date when the team would be announced. However, everything possible was being done to rush matters and every consideration would be given to the best interests, of the players chosen for the tour. The players who stood a good chance should be well aware of the fact, and they were not very keen if they were failing to get in some practice. Mr. J. J. Clark said November 1 was too lata. It would be difficult for some players to make arrangements to get off in three weeks' time. , Mr. J. S. Barrett moved as an amendment thet the selectors be requested to make their selection as early as possible so that leave and other matters could be arranged. The amendment was lost by 10 votes to 13. and the motion was carried. With regard to cricket in INew /.ealand Mr Williams hoped the association would do more to encourage the young men to play cricket and deplored the attitude of those in control who, apparently thought that the Heathcote Williams Shield competition was not in the beßt interests of the ™ ya - He did not want to impose 011 the school teams an undue amount of travelling, but more games could be played for the shield than were playd at present. The report »nd balance-sheet were adopted. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The management committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council decided that. l is no Australian team would visit the Dominion this season, an invitation be extended to South Australia to tour New Zealand in 1926-27. The Australian Board s oner to send over a second eleven was not entertained. neither was a suggestion to extend the New Zealand team's tour to Tasmania. It was agreed to ask the support 01 tne associations to ft suggestion that a summertime scheme should be adopted m the Dominion.