CRICKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18823, 11 March 1931, Page 13

CRICKET.

CHOICE OF ENGLISH SELECTORS. CHANGE OF PERSONNEL _ DEMANDED. United Press Association—By jsxectrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. Regretting the delay in the appointment of selectors, the “Daily Telegraph’s” sporting editor says that the time has surely come for a change in the chairmanship. Despite the Hon. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower’s great work for cricket, no game has changed so much in recent years. Consequently it is essential that the selectors should be in actual touch through experience. A committee comprising F. T. Mann, G. Jackson (the Derbyshire captain), and J. C. White, is necessary to satisfy the increasing number of critics of the selectors. The Board of Control postponed, by eight votes to four, the appointment of a selection committee for the New Zealand Test match in June, but decided that the committee, when appointed, shall act for two years and select the Rest of England team for the match against the champion county. RAIN DAMAGED WICKETS. TRIAL OF DRYING MACHINE. Vniitd Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 5.5 pm.) LONDON, March 9. The cricket authorities are interested in a wicket-drying machine, which has been tried out at Lords. The machine consists of a large box-like arrangement, with a powerful electric fan, which is run over the pitch on a small truck. Experiments thus far show a remarkable evaporation of dampness.

WEST INDIES TEAM. UNHAPPY AGAINST SPIN BOWLERS. By Telegraph— Association WELLINGTON, March 10. “We were rather disappointed with our batting when up against spin bowlers, indeed we felt very unhappy against them,” remarked Mi’ J. E. Scheult, assistant manager of the West Indies cricket team, when speaking of the team’s experiences on the first tour of Australia when the team arrived from Sydney. Mr Scheult explained that the team had at first found C. V. Grimmett very difficult, but later on they became more confident facing him. All recognised that he was a first-class bowler. Ironmonger, too, had been very difficult, especially on the Melbourne ground, where the wicket was very sticky. The Sydney ground did not have the same terrors for the team, as was shown by its performance in the last match of the tour, the fifth test. “But for the spin bowlers, I think we would have done exceptionally well,” said the visitor, “and it was shown at the end of the tour that we were a much improved batting side. We were disappointed to some extent with the pitches, which were not so fast as we had been led to expect. We found the Sydney wicket to be the fastest. Wickets in the West Indies, however, are considerably faster than those in Australia.”

The West Indies team were guests of the Wellington Cricket Association today, and were taken for a motor drive.

NEW ZEALAND TEA*/I. OFFICIALS APPOINTED. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 10. T. C. Lowry (Hawkes Bay) has been appointed captain and manager of the New Zealand cricket team for the tour of England. M. L. Page (Canterbury) has been appointed vice-captain, and C. F. W. Allcott (Auckland) treasurer. The selection committee for the tour will be Lowry, Page and Allcott. In the course of a statement regarding the appointments, the Council says:— “The Committee considered the necessity of keeping the cost of the tour as low as possible, and is satisfied that the arrangements will enable the tour to go through without loss of efficiency. The selectors made a recommendation that a fifteenth man be taken, but the Committee decided to limit the team to fourteen men.” SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. The following is the draw for next Saturday’s competition games (play to cease at 6.30): — First Grade. Old Boys v. Celtic, at Fraser Park East. Geraldine v. Timaru, at Geraldine. School v. Star, at Rectory. Second Grade. Pareora v. Temuka, at Pareora. Star v. Waimataitai, at Anzac. Fairview v. Celtic, at Fraser Park West. School v. Timaru, at School Park No. 1. Third Grade. Star v. School C, at School Park No. 2. School B v. West End B, at School Park No. 3. West End A v. School A, at School Park No. 4. Old Boys v. Waimataitai, at School Park No. 5.