DUNEDIN CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 2

DUNEDIN CRICKET.

[FnOII OXTR COHRESrONDENT.] November 7. J. B. Tuckwoll, the ex-Victorian, cricketer and tlio sole Otago representative in the New Zealand team for Australia, was vaccinated the other day according to instructions received from tho Now Zealand Council.' Curiously enough .instead of, standing down from Saturday's cricket,' Tuckwell played. Speaking to him alter _ the game, he stated that he felt little inconvenience, and, indeed, was better, for the Tuckwoll is looking forward to seeing his old cricket friends in Australia, but in order to get leave to make the trip, has mortgaged his holiday for .sojne Mrs Tuckwell goes to Melbourne, _ via tho Bluff, while Tuckwell himself joins the team in Wellington to proceed'from there to Sydnoy,. Dick Torrance, the Otago left-hand bowlor, who lias'been selected as emergency fast bowler for the New Zealand team, was also vaccinated ■, last week.,. On present appearances there is little prospect of Torrance making the trip to Australia. Cyril Hopkins, our crack batsman for the past three or four'seasons, who is under orders to return to Sydney, is waiting advice from headquarters as to the date of his departure. He anticipates leaving before the end of the present month. Alex. Roberts, an ex-Cambridge University man and an old Carisbrook member, has just returned from another trip to England. Ho reports having seen very little cricket, but had an enjoyable cricket tour fcr a week' in England with several of his old 'Varsity chums. Roberts is a batsman of tho aggressive type, and had be been' able to get regular practice would have developed into one of-the best in New Zealand. Now that all the Senior elevens have elected their skippers for the season, it is not uninteresting to know the leaders:—Carisbrook A, N. Martin ; Carisbrook B, F. Jones; Dunedin, T. CondlifFe; Grange, Alex. Downes; Albion, Jim Baker, and Opolio, W. Kilgour. The four latter have represented Otago. The two veterans in tha Albion team this season are Jim Baker and Frank Williams, the latter Otago'a " keeper " for a number of years. S. Callaway, the ex-New South Wales and an old Canterbury representative, lias not turned out to local cricket so far this season. He is expected to be available for Opoho in tii<9 next round of Senior match SB. Eekhokl, tho well-known Otago footballer and criokoter, who has joined Giaaige this season, has already proved his worth to that club, both with the ball and the bat. Eckhold is not a stylist, but ho gets there just the same. Apropos of the Now Zealand team for Australia, an Otago umpire now in Melbourne, writing home under date October 28, 6ays:—"You will kindly acquit me of usurping your functions, but it seems wondrous why you have remained silent in connection with tho non-inclusion of T. M'Farlane, of Albion, Otago and New Zealand fame. As tho men were olios-en on last year's form, it is impossible to find a reason for his being overlooked. With'delightful simplicity I looked forward to his giving a performance worthy of him and New Zealand on tho far-famed Melbourne Ground. Several cricketers past and present, on my recommendation, intended witnessing the match in the hope that M'Farlane might do well. 1 In my opinion, in this instance tho Se- 5 lection Committee has not studied the 1 weifaro of_ cricket.—Yours, 'That Horrible Umpire.'" lam sorry my friend, "That Horrible Umpire," is disappointed at tho non-inclusion of M'Farlane in the New Zealand team, and like him, I should like to know the reason why he was not considered. Rumour has it that M'Farlane's name was passed over, and I understand private inquiries are being instituted sa to the why and wherefore. The New Zealand Selection Committee know all about it, but is unlikely to divulge its reasons for the non-inclusion of any particular player. . The echeme of interprovinoial cricket ■ inaugurated last season, but not universally adopted will operate complete- [ ly this year. Otago will benefit to tho - extent of a match against Wellington, ! and if Auckland, which is touring as ' fav south as Christchurch, will only ex- s tend its tour to Duncdin, Otago will : 1 have engagements again, st the four • ' leading centres—Auckland, Welling- : i ton, Canterbury and Southland. With ' i tho visit of an Australian team early •, ' in the year tho season of big cricket i 1 promises to bo more than usually in- | < tercsting. It is understood that in ' 1 addition-to. the match a g<viust .Qapter-

bury at Christmas in Christclmrch, a return match will bo played against Canterbury at Dunedin in February. Otago has communicated direot with ' the Auckland Cricket Association with a view to having the Auckland team's southern tour being extended to Dunedin. This should be a matter of comparatively easy arrangement in view ' of arrangemonto having already been : made for Auckland to play Canter- | bury at Chmtchurch.