CRICKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14476, 24 June 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

ENGLISH VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. QUESTION OF A GUARANTEE. Judging from present indications, it is bv no means certain that the English cricketers will visit Australia next season (says a Sydney paper). i>ot taking into aooount the- statement'attributed to tho Marylebone Club, that it had sent cables and letters to the Board of Control 1 without receiving any replies, the club, if it follows precedent, will ask-for a guarantee as in the case of Jtmes's team. And it is practically certain that tho board wilt not give a guarantee except for an team. "When tho board gave a guarantee before it did so in the belief that the team would be representative. The combination, however, was not nearly England's full .strength. The board paid for Irvings, and wore sent scenesliifters. Members of tho board made it plain at the time that they would not give a guarantee again unless an undertaking was given that team would br; a good one. Tho question arises whether the Marylebone Club will give such an assurance. If they will not, then the strong probabilities are that there will' 'he no visit. The general impression in England at the r> resent- time appears to be that iri view of the triangular contests in the following season, the trip should not be made. There are further complaints in England concerning firstilass players abandoning the game to play golf. Cricket's chief loss so far from this cause is E. S. .Jackson.

The question of the- English team's psit to Australia lias a special interest for New Zealand, as negotiations are said to have been mooted to fret tlicm t-y the 'Dominidn in the event" of tihe visit being made.