CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 848, 7 June 1906, Page 11

CRICKET.

It has been stated that a flaw has been found in the title of the Melbourne C.C. to their cricket ground. If this is so it means a heavy blow to the club, which has spent many thousands of pounds on improvements. * * * * The battle between the Melbourne C.C. and the State Board’s control still continues. The latest is that the Sydney player Waddy has cancelled his agreement with the Melbourne Club, but the other players somewhat foolishly have refused to do so, and have been disqualified. * * * * At last there is a chance of a district scheme being adopted in Victoria. For some time the advantages which have been obtained in Sydney by the idea were told to the authorities in the Southern State, where the game was not making such good progress as in New South Wales. The Melbourne Club, however, was always a stumbling block. The executive committee of the association has drafted a scheme which includes all the clubs except Melbourne. The clubs which have seceded from the association can either come in or stand out. The competitions differ from those in Sydney, inasmuch as the premier club in each grade will exchange places with the lowest club in the grade next above it. * * * * Sensational bowling was done in a match at Brisbane on May 26 between Queensland and Trumper’s team. Rain during the previous few days made the wicket very bad, and in 50 minutes Queensland was dismissed for 16. C. Barstow, the last man in, was top scorer with 3. Cotter took 3 for 4 in 7 overs and Hopkins 7 for 7 in 6.3 overs. Trumper’s team made 68 (Trumper 30, being the only double figures), McCaffrey secured 6 for 26 and Barstow 4 for 32. In their second innings the Queenslanders made 68 (Cooper 23, E. K. Armstrong 10 not out). Cotter (5 for 21) and Hopkins (5 for 36) again bowled unchanged. Trumper’s team won by 10 wickets, the match being over in one day. The smallest total on record in a first-class match is 12, by Oxford University v. M.C.C. and Ground in May, 1877. The match at Brisbane was, of course, not a firstclass one. * * * * If the team which Mr. Warner has been captaining in South Africa were not particularly successful, they managed to have a very enjoyable time (says a Home paper), and what they lacked in victories they made up in great good fellowship. Mr. Warner, who was interviewed on his return,

spoke highly of Mr. Crawford, the Surrey amateur, whom, he declared, for his years disclosed unprecedented possibilities as an all-round player, while Mr. Fane’s batting and Lee’s and Blythe’s bowling were quite exieptional. He (Mr. Warner) had read criticisms to the effect that the fielding of the English team had lost them the test matches, but that was not the case. Their principal weakness was their batting, their fielding, on the whole, being very good. Asked what excuses he had for his side’s defeat in the Test matches, Mr. Warner said: “I never make excuses when I am beaten, and there is no doubt that on this occasion we met our masters. Cricket .in South Africa had made tremendous headway, and on the Wanderers’ ground at Johannesburg I am not at all certain that the full strength of England would beat the colonials. They are a splendid side in all departments of the game. Their batting to the last man is sound, and often brilliant, while their bowling is of infinite variety and their fielding magnificent.” Asked whether he thought Test fixtures should be granted the South Africans in their next tour, Mr. Warner said he was certainly in favour of such a step. Phillips, the umpire, considered there should be a series of five tests, but he (Mr. Warner) thought it was due to them that they should be allotted three fixtures with England’s full strength.