CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13543, 16 March 1906, Page 3

CRICKET.

A GREAT ALL-ROUND CRICKETER. At present we have amongst us Warwick W. Armstrong, who is considered among the best all-round cricketers in the world. "Wisden," referring to this player, says that the great batsman of the- Australian Eleven was W. Armstrong. In form nearly all the tour, he struck the happy medium, being brilliant without recklessness, an dsafe. without, over-caution. In point of style, lie has improved out of all recognition since lie visited England in 1902. He played many splendid innings during the tour. To him belongs the distinction of having made the biggest score ever obtained by an Australian batsman in England—his 303 not out. against Somerset, heating Victor Trumper's 300 not out against Sussex in 1899." "Wisden" considers Armstrong a remarkable bowler. No one in our time has combined a leg break with anything lite-such accuracy of pitch, and he scarcely knew what it was to be punished during the tour. To show what a. tower of strength lie was to his side, he scor-ed 2002 rum, and . finished . with an average of 48.52, while he secured 130 wickets at a cost, of 17.60 a wicket. The public will have an opportunity of seeing this

jreat player, who is captain of the Melbourne team that meet Otago at Carisbrook to-day, Saturday, and Monday. Besides Armstrong, such well-known players as C. M'Leod, , Ransford, F. Taughan. D. Mailer. A. Aitken, P. J. Jennings, 0. Laver, and G. Heuty are members of the team. Tho association is 'endeavouring to cater as far as possible for the convenience of the public, and seats are being placed Mouad rtiismttL. ib& ; mtß&baa.

been covered, and should be in good order. To relieve the rush at the gates tickets can 1m obtained at all the leading tobacconists, Special ears will run to the ground, and given fine weather the publio can rely on seeing a splendid exhibition.

OTAGO UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION. A special meeting of tho executive of the Otago Umpires'.Association, held last, evening in Messrs Grace and Wilson's oflice. was attended by Messrs .las. West (president), G. Nelson, A. Hunter, and K. F. Foster, jun. (Hon. secretary).

The question of the appointment by the Cricket Association of a gentleman who is not a member of the Umpires' A6Coeiafion to tho position of umpire in the match M.C.C. v. Otago, when there was a member of (lie Umpires' Association available, was discussed. It, was resolved—" That the hon. secretary write to the Otago Cricket, Association, informing them that Mr Smythe had withdrawn from the position of umpire in the match M.C.C. v. Otago on the ground that the Umpires' Association cannot allow any member to act in conjunction with any gentleman who is not ft member of the Umpires' Association, when there is one of that, body available, except, when a visiting team brings its own umpire."

H. G. Siedebcrg (Dunedin) will be unable to play in tha New Zealand team aeainst the Xi.C.O. team, and W. Brooke-Smith has been selected to till his place.