CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 815, 19 October 1905, Page 14

CRICKET.

(By

“Yorker.”)

Although Saturday turned out a beautiful day, the heavy rain which fell during the week, and more especially during Friday, night, made the ground very so It and sticky, and anything like good cricket was impossible.

On the Domain, too, the grass was very long, and Caretaker Yates has his work cut out to get the ground into decent trim for next Saturday—the opening of the championship games.

On that afternoon tea will be provided by the lady supporters of the Grafton Club, who will be pleased to see all visitors to the Domain, as well as the playing members of the.various teams.

I am glad to hear that the North Shore ground is looking first-class and that the wickets there give every promise of regaining the reputation they enjoyed in George Mills’ time. Until the last year or so the North Shore wicket, fast and true, was the delight of all batsmen.

The prospect of good wickets in the near future is brighter all round. M ith the new Victoria Park almost completed and the Eden ground at Kingsland being improved each year, the amount of accommodation for cricketers will soon be almost doubled. With the increasing growth of the city it has become quite impossible for everyone to make use of the Domain, even were there room. Regular practice plays such an important part in the success of a cricketing side that it is absolutely necessary for players to reside in the vicinity of the ground. In the past this has been a serious drawback to the Newton and Ponsonby districts, as well as those of Mount Eden and Mount Roskill. With grounds now close at hand I look to see the number of playing members double itself during the next yeai’ or two.

During the last few years following on the increased popularity of the game of cricket in the United Kingdom, many prominent cricketers have written elaborate books on the game and how to play it. Most interesting and instructive of present-day writers is C. B. Fry, the Sussex amateur. His latest effort, in which he has had the assurance of Mr. G. W. Beldam, of Middlesex, is a most complete work containing some 600 illustrations of all the leading cricketers of the day, including Dr. W. G. Grace. Of the great batsman there are no less than 50 odd places showing him in the various stages of making all his best strokes. Mr. Fry, who is in the very front rank of batsmen, himself states that in the preparation of these pictures he has learnt much that he did not know before, and all cricketers who can afford to buy a copy should be on the lookout for their arrival in the colonies.

Despite the number of later publications, I know of no better book for young players than that of Dr. Grace. It was written about 20 years ago, but contains, nevertheless, in a simple, clear, and concise form all that is necessary for a young player to know.

The Cricket Association has decided to establish an Umpire’s Association, and have asked all old players who are willing to act to send their names to the secretary. The position of umpire is a most important one, and it is hoped a strong association will be formed.

There has been considerable talk about the alteration in the “ residential rule.” The rule now permits a player making a bona-fide move from one district to another after June 1 to play for the district into which he has moved, provided no objection is raised by the district in which he last resided.

It is necessary for any person so moving and wishing to play for the district into which he has changed, to make a personal application to the Association. I understand forms of application have been sent to the secretary of each district. The alteration in this rule should remove the cause of much inconvenience which players have suffered in the past.