CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 6

CRICKET.

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON. Ihe PlunkcL Shield match between Otago and V\ cllington will bo commoneed at Carisbrook to-morrow, and will be continued on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Play will start at 11.50 each morning, and conclude at 6.30, with a luncheon adjournment from 1.30 to 2.15, and a tea adjournment from 4.15 to 4.30. The Wellington team, which arrived by the first express yesterday and was welcomed by Mr .C. Todd, president of the Otago Cricket Association, is a strong, allround side including three of the most successful members of the New Zealand team which toured England. They are T. C. Lowry, captain of the team and a fine batsman, K. C. James, considered to be in the same class as Oldfield as a wicket-keeper, and H. M. M'Girr. who was one of the best all-rounders in the side. Others in the team are F. T, Badcock, the coach, who compiled 112 by delightful cricket against Otago in Wellington, J. S. Taylor, the Nelson coach, and S. Brice, an evergreen who is still useful with both bat and ball. Lambert is a good slow bowler and a useful batsman, and 'R. de R. Worker, who played many fine innings for Otago, will be a member of the side. L. C. Eastman, A. W. Alloo, and J. Shepherd will be absent from the Otago team, but a good side can still be put on the field. R. C. Blunt, the finest all-rounder of the New Zealand team, will captain Otago, and G. R. Dickinson, the fast bowler, will also be available. Mr Ross has prepared an excellent wicket, which will give the batsmen every opportunity to make runs. Mr C. G. Wilson, a former Otago captain, is manager of the Wellington side. Messrs A. Downes and W. Butler will be the umpires. AUCKLAND TEAM TO PLAY WELLINGTON. (Pee Unitei Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 18. The following is the Auckland team to represent the province in the final Plunket Shield fixture at Wellington on January 27, 28 and 30:—Allcott, Anthony, Bowley, Cooper, Dacre, Matheson, Mills Player, Rowntree, A. F. Weir and G. L. Weir; reserves—Frater, Hendy, Scott Williams. Messrs A. Francis and C. Nissen have been chosen aa umpires for the match. THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. AUCKLAND REQUESTS ALTERATION. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 18. The Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association has decided to ask the New Zealand Cricket Council if possible to arrange the match Auckland v. Australia so as to enable Bowley and Langridge to take part, prior to their departure from Auckland on March 17; otherwise the gate would be seriously affected. CRICKETERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. ALLOWANCES FOR AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 13. Rumours have been current in Sydney cricketing circles, says the cricket writer of the Daily Telegraph Pictorial, that Woodfull and Blackie will be unable to visit New Zealand on an allowance of 15s per day, and this is apparently correct, as the Victorian Cricket Association has requeted the executive to consider the advisableness of augmenting this allowance by a further 15s a day. “It should be fairly obvious,” says the writer, Mr A. G Moyes, “that a player, and more particularly a married man, would find it very difficult to tour for six weeks on such a miserable allowance. The single man might manage it, but the family man would, without doubt, be out of pocket. The extraordinary thing about it is that none of the associations would send its own side away under the same circumstances. Yet when they join together to arrange a tour they turn a complete somersault and expect the players to foot the bill. For example, N.S. Wales players on tour receive 2os a day. vVhy reduce it for the New Zealand trip? Victoria will no doubt grant her representatives a further allowance. That is very nice, and the players will be grateful, but this is first and foremost a matter for the Board of Control, which is the guiding hand in the arrangements. “ Now that Victoria has taken action, New South Wales may consider the question. The players should go away on an equal footing. This is an Australian side, not a collection of State representatives. I am strongly of opinion,” Mr Moyes goes on, “ that an allowance of 15s per day is niggardly. If Victoria grants an additional 15s, other States, for very shame’s sake, can do no less.”

It is interesting to note that in the three games played in Melbourne this year the Y.C.A. netted £7615, this being £4OO less than last year. New South \V ales received £2290 for the Queensland game, and £1747 for that against South Australia, and is over £6OO ahead of last year s figures. The Victorian match, which netted only £1404 last year owing to rain, is yet to come, and it should be a real “ bumper ” with Ponsford the centre of attraction. It is considered, therefore, that New South Wales is certain to better Inj4 year’s figures, and should pass the £7OOO. The record for a Victorian match in Sydney is £4133, which was reached in Januarv, 1926. Ponsford’s record with the bat this season has been phenomenal, and the Victorian Cricket Association is considering how best to recognise it. There is also talk of some special steps being taken to recognise Allan Kippax’s feat of scoring over'3oo runs for New South Wales against Queensland. ’