CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 775, 12 January 1905, Page 12

CRICKET.

The wickets were in fairly good order on Saturday for the commencement of the final of the first round of the District Cup Matches. Parnell led, off against Grafton, the latter’s skipper maxing a grave mistake in sending his opponents to the wickets. Parnell put together the nice score of 267, some crisp tatting being shown by several of the team. The highest contributions came from Oliff 43, Mason) 43, Murray 42, Sale 38, and N. Lusk 37. Stemson was most successful with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 58. As Grafton have lost two wickets for 10 runs, they are in) a bad position.

The Ponsonby-North Shore match was chiefly remarkable for the tameness of the batting. I onsonby led oj with 94, towards which WaUer 26, and Francis •23 (not out) were the biggest contributors. North Shore, for the first time this season, topped their opponents score, making 102. Of this Hussey made 41, and McNeil 23. Ponsonby have two wickets down for 11, so will have to force the pace and then declare to have a chance of winning the match. ♦ ♦ ♦ •

Eden only did fairly well against City, putting together .127, of which Brook-Smith made 58 by free cricket, and Shepherd 27. With 84 on the slate before the first wicket fell, the innings should have realised much more. City, with 73 for three wickets, are in a strong winning position. *.* . * *

The Australian team has now been completed. It consists of Noble, Duff, Kellv, Hopkins, Gregory, Cotter, Howell, and Trumper, of New South W’ales ; McLecd and Armstrong, of Victoria ; Hill, Darling, Gehrs, and Newland, of South Australia. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

New South Wales has beaten South Australia very easily, winning by sever? wickets. The Light-Blues put together 299 in their first innings, Duff topscoring with 80. South Australia made 281 and 185, their opponents hitting up 170 for three wickets, Trumper being responsible for 76. * * * *

The final selection of the Australian team for England will settle the vexed question which has been debated at length as to which mew were going. On the whole it seems a fairly powerful combination, N.S.W. supplying eight men. South Australia four, and Victoria but two. r l here is fairly certain to be an outcry from the latter State as to the small number of their representatives. As we shall have a chance of seeing the men batting over here, we can then form our own conclusions as to the batting and bowling strength cf the combination.

By scoring 479 runs in the match against Queensland, the New South Wales Second Eleven went near securing a place in the list of matches in which 500 runs have been scored in a single day. The greatest number of runs obtained in one day in a first-class match is 619 for 11 wickets, and the second largest 607. There are 27 other instances on record of as many as 500 runs and over being made in a single dav’s play of a first-class match. * * » *

Mr Raphael, secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, has received advice from Mr Frank Lav er, manager of the Australian, team, stating that Hill, Duff, Noble, and Trumper will take part in all matches played in New Zealand. That these four players should take part in the matches was a stipulation made by the Cricket Council before the tour was fixed. A statement appeared in the Australian press that Hill was going to be married and would proceed direct to London, joining the team there, and the advice from Mr Laver was sent on a request for information on the poinft.

Harry Trott was in form in a match at Bendigo. He first of all took 10 wickets for 19, and then made 55 out of 106.

Warner has forwarded a letter of apology to Ihe New South Wales Association, for allegations made by him) in an article in the “Westminster Gazette.” The English captain stated that members were elected at reduced rates to the Sydney Cricket Ground. He said he had what he believed to be good authority for making the statement, but on being informed that he was wrong, he was only too happy to remove the wrong done.