GENERAL GOSSIP.

NZ Truth, Issue 353, 30 March 1912, Page 3

GENERAL GOSSIP.

The Wellington Cricket Association, by a small majority of votes, has decided that the time is not yet for a. team of New Zealand cricketers to visit Australia during next season. Quite right. As a cricketing job it would be the worst thing ever, taking a line from the present form of our New Zealand players, and as an education, to be of any service to young: Dominion cricketers, it's a fraud. Fourteen or fifteen to go — the majority has-beens, or just on the verge of quitting the game, and the other few, young cricketers. That can't be any good to the general cricket of this country. Fetch 'em over here, thase champions from the other side, and let "all" the players have a look at the real, gilt-edged article, 'not a select few. It's the trip that hurts, and it is being engineered by ono or two closely interested ; parties who would be "m it" with a bit of luck. "Recorder" m "Sydney Sportsman": "Those who are making all the 1 fuss about the six cricketers omitted, are overlooking the fact that they are cast-

i.ng a slur on the fine young cricketers who have been included : m their places." Gosh! how serious. a thing is a cricket eleven. Just have a look at the collection of big bugs at the indigria- | tion meeting at Sydney Town Hall: "There was a big meeting at the Town Hall on Monday night m connection with the Board of Control's selection of a team for England. Amongst those present were Mr James Ashton, M.L.C. (chairman), Mr Holman, Attorn cy r General, Mr Wade, M.L.A., Messrs Garland, Winchcombe, O'Conor, Hoyle, G. C. Miller, M.L.A., Alderman English, Senator McDougall, and M. A. Noble. Mr Wade moved: — "Even at this late hour the Board be requested to take the necessary steps to ensure 'the appearance of a representative Australian Eleven taking part m the triangular tests to take place m England this year." (Applause.) Voice: "They have done that already." A disorderly individual was ejected at this stage. This was carried. Mr Holman moved: — "That m the opinion of this meeting the action of the Board of Control m withdrawing the invitations to the six players was against the oest interests of cricket." (Loud applause.) The resolution was put and carried amidst great cheering and counter-

(Wellington . Cricket Coach and Member of Australian Eleven.) Jack's the boy to send 'em down, The stuff for them to hit; He's the chap who wears a frown And cusses just a bit. That is, when ".Windy's" batsmen skite. And say his bowling's dicky — Of other days he is a light, I And not half as good as Hickey.

cheering. And the whole thing blew out, of course! . Of thb present Australian XI. on tour only five members have visited England before with a team, viz.: W. J. Whitty, S. E. Gregory, C. G. Macartney, W Carkeek and W. BSrdaley. All the others are new hands. Sid Gregory is the oldest man m tho team, 41, W. Carkeek answers to 33, Mayne and Bardsley 28, Jennings and Emery 26, Macartney, Kelleway, Whitty and Minnett 25, Mcl,aren and Webster 24, and Hazlitt 23. Wellington cricketers have got to face the question of going back to ehi'o cricket. . In some places the district scheme has proved a success, owing to each district having its own ground. In Wellington, with its one and only Basir? Reserve, the district scheme has not been a succsss, rather the opposite, and any idea that can be imported to improve the game should be received with much applause. If 2lulj cricket can make the players take more interest m the game, make the public a bit more enthusiastic, then let 'em go back to the club style. The preso.it system is rotten, and should be warned off until such time as each district ciub can raise its own patch of turf. Marlborough people are good at quite a heap of things, but if the performance of their cricket team against Wellington B the other day is the best

they can shove in — some other game, my boys, some other game. Some eight or nine years ag-q writer played cricket with the Marlborough 1 (Blenheim) chaps, and a good many of ! Ihem were keen enough enthusiasts for anything. But the paddock wickocs, and the same old matches year m an-1 year out, knocked a lot of the "enthuse" out of 'em. There's many a budding champion who Ijkes a game cf cricket' on a good pitch, but as for , helping to "make" it good — that's quilo another crayfish altogether. In 'a scattered district like Marlborough it's a very difficult thing to get players to practise any game at all. They haven't time. .Hence the result. The visit of the M.C.C. team to Australia will cost the big Home club some £350, that being the amount of the loss on the tour. Not a very big loss, either, when, one considers thn way' they all "did" themselves. It is possible that the Board of Control will !go into the question of refunding the loss to the gents m London, but it is m no way obliged to do so. i In the last inter-State match oflhe season, Queensland v. New South Wales, J. Scott, the Sydney fast bowler, whom some prefer to "Tib" Cotter, did some fine bowling. Out of a total 'of 181 m Queensland's first rap, he secured 4 for 2S, and m the second attempt, which closed for 79, Scott pettied five for 28. After v^hich he proceeded to knock up 44 off his. own hat, 'which all goes to prove that Mr So.ott i is something of a big gun at the game. I Playing m a match at Bombala CN.S.W.) J the other day, Bombala v. Bibbenluke, one F. W. Walcott, oi: the I first-named team, rose up and smote ithe enemy m ten places at once. The that trick twice m succession, takingseven wickets with eight balls, and finishing up with 9 for 21, and then as a finisher catching the last' man cutis a pretty solid performance. Tho teams had met once before during :h« j season, when Bibbenluke won. Hence the wrath of Walcott, Esq. He reversed matters.