CRICKET GROUNDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12097, 15 March 1910, Page 7

CRICKET GROUNDS.

(Special to Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day, Interviewed, Warne and Gerry $ members, of the Australian team, agreed, tbat the wickets m New Zealand were, unqualifiedly bad, except at Carisbrook. "The ball," said Warrie, "never kept a decent height, aiid yoiu have to be perpetually oii the lookout for shooters. This naturally tends to cramp the batsman's style, and you cannot expect to teach young cricketers strokes unless you have reliable wickets, and you ain't have good wickets without a. good sole of grass. Take the one we're playing on now. It is simply a hard ground wicket without a vestigo of grass on it." He went on to state that he thought it a pity local cricketers should experiment with Buli soil. Tlie soil m Ohristchurch was quite good enough itself. If good solid foundations were first secured and then well grassed this wicket could be made as good as that ill Dunedin. It was no u«e importing coaches and not fair tb them, if they weve not given proper- wicket? to coach on. Tills should Iks the first consideration of all clubs, wickets first and coaches afterwards. There was plenty of good material to nui.ko cricketers of, but they must have the necessary appliances.

After the ' remarks- attributed to an 'Australahv. cricketer the following comments -by tho Sydney Daily Telegraph's correspondent should bs appreciated m Auckland.: "^he Domain ground oi Auckland is one- of the most glorious expanses of lev-el turf to be met with m j tho Soul-hern Hemisphere. The outer fences enclose 14 acres, m all. The actual playing a rea^ conn prises 10 acres of magnificent, turf; and no better testimony of local appreciation could be produced: than the fact that -no less tlnari 15 matches take pltfcie. theitcou leach Saturday. .-Ai remarkable fact is tho immunity!'from accident the players have hitherto enjoyed. An aniiple pavilion is situated on th© wostern-j-lope. And as the eastern side consists of, a beauitiful .knoll, with' its original timber and natural vegetation untouched, the prospect is decidedly pleasant-.' lixcepting on tits pavilion side, which .is. fenced, the boundary is mtu-ked by hags and a chalked .line." : . ..<3AA , :^-