CRICKET.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 5

CRICKET.

THE MELBOURNE PLAYERS’ TOUR. PRESS association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. At a meeting of tho New Zealand Cricket Council the committee appointed to draw up a programme of matches for tho Melbourne Cricket Club’s tour brought up a report. Tho team will ho away from Australia about six weeks, leaving Sydney on February 7th. They must return either by the Monowai, leaving Dunedin on March 12th. or tho VVaikaro on March 19th, arriving in Melbourne either on March 18th or 25th. Tho committee framed a programme, on the assumption that the latter date would bo accepted. Guarantees had been received from seven associations, bub owing to the intermittent steamer arrangements, it would bo impossible to play more than live associations if a Now Zealand match was to be played, which too committee' thought should bo. The committee therefore submitted two programmes. the only difference being that cither the Nelson or Wanganui match must bo abandoned. Tho first programme, including Wanganui, is as follows:—■ Play Auckland on February loth, 16th and 17th; Wanganui, February 21st and 22nd; Wellington, February 24th, 26th and 27th; Canterbury, March 2nd 1 . 3rd and sth ; Otago. March 9th, 10th and 12th ; Now Zealand, at Christchurch, March loth, 16th and 17th; leaving by steamer at tho close of the match. Tho second programme, which includes Nelson, is;—Play Auckland February 15th. 16th and 17th: Wellington, February 22nd, 23rd and 24th; Nelson, February 26th, 27th ar.d 28th; Canterbury, March 3rd, sth and 6th. Tho Otago and New Zealand matches, as arranged in .tho first programme. The report was adopted, and it was decided to forward it to tho Melbourne team in order to choose which programme it thought best. Tho council by 6 to 4 decided to have the New Zealand team chosen by one selector.