CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 61

CRICKET.

NOTES BY LONG SLIP. A good old-timer in C. G. Wilson, the New Zealand and Otago representative captain, made his first appearance in a club match in Wellington last Saturday (says the Wellington correspondent of the Ly'ttelton Timet). He played brightly and merrily for a tally of 45, giving the impression that he has not yet commenced to lag superfluous on the cricket field. Wilson's main trouble, which he confided to me in a short chat I had with him, was that too many strokes had to be run out, and occasionally he felt it would have been better hud he left the ball alone rather than run four times up and down the wicket for the stroko. This fact has impressed itself on the authorities in Wellington, as a few weeks ago arrangements were made for the readjustment of the boundaries on the Basin Reserve before next season's matches are commenced. At the last meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association a letter was received from the New Zealand Cricket Council with regard to the following Plunket Shield rule:—''No one shall be eligible to playin a challenge match unless he has taken up his residence within such district under circumstances sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the council that he has a l)ona fide intention of remaining within such district for a period of not less than four months." The letter stated that at the next meeting of the council a proposal would be made to alter the words "four months" to "twelve months." It was decided, on the motion of Mr Cant, that the association's delegates should be requested to support the proposed alteration. The New Zealand Cricket Council also forwarded a proposal of the Wellington Cricket Association regarding an alteration in Plunket Shield rules. The idea was, briefly, that each association competing should play in each season not less than one out and one home match before being entitled to qualify, and that the Shield should be awarded at the end of each season to tile team showing the greatest number of points. The proposal was considered, and it was decided to support it. J. 11. Bennett's bowling average for Christchurch club cricket for the season just concluded runs out as follows : —1742 balls, 109 maidens, 557 runs, 51 wickets, average 10.9. Bennett virtually heads the bowling averages. The following table shows the exact position of the teams: —

The members of the fourteenth Ausstralian Eleven, who left Melbourne by the R.M.S. Otway for England on Wednesday, March 20, were entertained at a farewell dinner at the Vienna Cafe on Monday night by the president (Mr Donald Mackinnon, M.L.A.) and delegates of the Victorian Cricket Association. All the members of the team were present, excepting Messrs E. R. Mayne, C. G. Macartney, and J. T. Matthews. Mr Mackinnon presided, and beside him sat the Prime Minister (Mr Fisher), Mr S. E. Gregory (the captain of the team), and Mr G. S. Crouch (the manager), Canon Hughes, and Mr J. W. Skene (one of the trustees of the Melbourne Cricket Ground). The company numbered about 100 gentlemen, including many interstate players. The Chairman proposed the toast of "The Australian Team." lie hoped that every loyal Australian would be unable to refrain from giving the team his hearty best wishes. (Applause.) It was perhaps too much to hope that they might return with the ashes, but he was one of those presumptious enough to believe that they would. Mr Fisher said that he thought the chairman had struck the true note for the gathering when he said that the time for controversy was over, and that the time had arrived for support for the team that, was to uphold the prestige of Australian cricket in the Homeland. He wished success to the team, under tin.' leadership of a veteran, whose name was honoured all over the world.—(Cheers.) Mr S. E. Gregory, the captain of the team, received an oveation when he rose to reply on behalf of the team. He said that he only hoped that the team would come back winning the rubber. It was a really good side of young players, and it should be remembered that in previous teams there had hardly been a failure among the young players. They were all lively boys.—(Cheers.) There was a good variety of bowling, and it was one of the best fielding sides that had ever left Australia. —(Cheers.) The winning of the Senior Grade premiership by Grange once gives the honours to a north-end team. One does not wish to deprive Grange of the fruits of victory, but we have the curious position of a team which has won fewer and lost more matches thin the runners-up occupying the premiership position. At first sight it would appear that there is something radically wrong with a system of scoring championship points which permits this seeming anomaly, but the position is that, though Carisbrook won more matches and was defeated on fewer occasions than Grange, it did not secure the number of straight-out wins—i.e., wins on both innings —that Grange did. It was with the view of making the matches more sporting and the finishes more attractive that extra points were awarded for straight-our victories. Grange, by the strength of its bowling with Alex. Downes in form, was usually able to get the opposition our very cheaply, at the same time being able to put up a reasonable score with the bat. Carisbrook A, on the other hand, while strong in batting, was comparatively weak in the bowling department, so that its chances of straight-out wins were less than those of this year's premiers. ENGLISH CRICKETERS ARRIVE HOME. LONDON, April 7. The Marylebone cricketere who recently toured Australia and won the rubber have reached Home. Warner states that he is feeling- ae well as ever, and hopes to play immediately. April B.' ]t is understood tliat there wae a small deficit or. the ".otir <ft <s«e cricket team.

The members of the team are reticent concerning the Australian split. Warner said he did not think England would fall into the error of underestimating the strength of the new combination. COUNTY QUALIFICATION. LONDON, April 2. The Advisory Cricket Committee of the M.C.C. resolved that if a player under the residential qualifications goes abroad, when he returns he retains his county qualification, provided that, he has not represented any British colony or State. AUSTRALIANS IN CEYLON. COLOMBO, April 5. In a match against Ceylon an Australian scratch team, including Arnst and Crouch, made 181 rune in their first innings. Ceylon replied with 170.

Played. Won. Lost . Drawn. Pis Riccarton .. 9 6 2 1 15 Sydenham .. 9 6 S 1 15 St. Albans .. 9 6 3 — H East .. .. 9 4 5 — 8 West .. .. 9 3 G — 7 Lin-wood .. 9 2 7 i