CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 973, 29 October 1908, Page 11

CRICKET.

The A.C.A. matches were continued on Saturday in weather quite unsuited to the game. A cold wind was blowing with frequent showers, while the wickets were soft and all in favour of the batsmen, as the bowlers could not hold the ball and the ground was very slippery despite a free use of sawdust.

On the first day’s play, Grafton looked like winning against North Shore, as the latter required over 80 runs, with but four wickets to fall. The conditions, however, had changed all in favour of the Shoremen and they easily got the runs, running up 223 for eight wickets. Towards this Bush contributed 51, Macmahon 34 (not out), Hadden 32 and Prime (15 not out). The innings was declared closed, and Grafton made 20 without loss when time was called. North Shore thus won by 63 on the first innings.

University rather easily defeated Parnell on the first innings by 94 runs. • With the departure of Jacobson (68) a long tail developed, some very crude batting being shown. Although the score on the opening day was three for 130, all were disposed of for 180. Parnell did much better at the second attempt, losing four wickets for 118, Hutchings playing a fine innings for 50 (not out).

Thanks to being in a good position on the opening day Eden Colts scored a win over City by 41 runs. The colts did not shape well on Saturday against Stemson, the score reaching 127. City did far better in their second attempt than was the case on the opening day, running up 139 for five wickets. Towards this Rose contributed 40, MacCormick 33 (not out), and Stemson and Lambert 24 each.

Eden A. scored an easy threepoint win over Ponsonby, making 218 for six wickets (innings closed) to 100 and 57. Elliott played a free innings for 62, Cummings 57 being the highest of the others. In Ponsonby’s sceond venture, Hemus topscored with 22, Francis 19 (not out) being the only other to get double figures.

In the second-grade matches Grafton beat University by 21 runs. Parnell A beat Parnell B by 7 runs after an exciting finish, the scores being 46 and 85 to 46 and 78. Ponsonby B defeated City by an innings and 78 runs, the figures being 197 to 45 and 74. North Shore A proved too many for the B team, winning by 41 runs. The scores were: A team 143 and 97 for three wickets (innings closed) to 84 and 115. Eden A worsted Eden B by 39 runs on the first innings.

A match between Eden A and the Rest of Auckland will take place on November 9. Relf will be able o take his place in the champion team, but even so the Rest ought to win comfortably.

Victoria will commence a match against South Australia at Adelaide on November 7. * ♦ * *

To avoid running into a pack of foxhounds on the Old North road at Caxton, Cambridgeshire, on September 5, A. C. MacLaren pulled a motor car he was driving round rather too much. Colliding with a bank by the roadside, it was overturned, and one of Mr. MacLaren’s legs was pinnel underneath. Fortunately the injurv was not serious.

THE NEXT AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

The Australian team for England will, no doubt, consist of fourteen players and a manager (writes “Not Out” in the Referee). Some time back it was announced that Clem Hill would not be a candidate; but it has since been reported that he has altered his mind. So far Clem has not figured in club cricket at Adelaide, which does not indicate any marked keenness on his part for the game. As Clem Hill is only 30 years of age, he is in his prime, and it is to be hoped he will once more be one of those to pack up and leave for England in March. Among the “old hands” of the last Australian team in England, J. Darling, P. M. Newland, C. E. McLeod, W. P. Howell, J. J. Kelly, and, probably,

R. A. Duff, are not “in the running.” F. Laver may be the manager, but is not likely to win a place as a player. And A. J. Hopkins and D. R. A. Gehrs possess what may be termed only “outside chances” on last season’s form. There are thus only six of the fifteen of ISOS with prospects of inclusion ranging fair to good, viz., M. A. Noble, V. Trumper, W. W. Armstrong, C. Hill, A. Cotter, and S. E. Gregory. And of these the selection of only the lastnamed is doubtful. The new men at present considered most likely to win places are C. G. Macarthney, H. Carter, E. F. Waddy, W. Bardsley, E. R. Bubb, and F. Johnson (N.S.W.), V. Ransford, J. V. Saunders, G. H. Hazlitt, P. A. McAlister, and L. P. Vernon (Victoria), and R. Hartigan (Queensland), and J. A. O’Connor C. E: Dolling, L. R. Hill, and E. R. Mayne (South Australia). But there are others who may come to the front at any moment. However, it is too early to seriously discuss the personnel of the team, though we may safely predict the election of M. A. Noble as captain. 1