Cricket 1910

3 2 CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. F e b . 24, 19 10 . TH E COUNTY CHAMP ION SH IP . The Warwickshire County C. 0. have pro­ posed the following alternate scheme to that advocated by “ H. P.-T.,” Lord Hawke, Sir Home Gordon and others. 1 .—That each first-class county shall play every other first-class county one match during each season. 2 .—That the ground for (he first series of matches shall be decided by a system of drawing, and that the grounds for matches in each succeeding season shall be reversed from those of the preceding season. 3.—That the system of drawing for grounds shall be as follows: That the names of all competing coun­ ties shall be drawn. The first county drawn shall have all tbe other counties drawn against it, tbe first and each alternative draw shall be counted as home matches for the county being drawn against, and the other drawers shall be counted as away matches. Each county shall be so drawn against until all the names are exhausted. i .-—That the rule for scoring be altered, and one point allowed for a win, draws and losses not to count. 5.—That the present arrangements in regard to gate money and expenses shall remain unaltered. 6 .—That the number of first-class counties shall be increased by the inclusion of three second-class counties in order to furnish the required number of matches; or that any county so wishing may play two matches in a season with any other first-class county taking part in the Championship, and that points for such matches shall be reckoned and included in the Championship list as follow s: In the case of two wins in such matches one point should be reckoned ; each team winning one match to count half a point each. TH E AU STR A L IAN BOARD OF CONTROL. The annual meeting of the Australian Board of Control was held at Sydney on January 14th. The meeting throughout was most harmonious. Rules for the Test matches were agreed to, as was also the programme for the inter­ national games drawn up by Mr. G. P. Barbour, r.n ex-member of the Hoard, and submitted to the International Conference at Lord’s last year. With regard to the South African visit, it was decided to ask the South African Cricket Association so to amend its programme that the tour may begin in December next, instead of in January. The programme will be drawn up by a sub-Committee consisting of Messrs. Bush, Mostyn Evan, and C. A. Sinclair. It was decided that the Board’s share of the proceeds of the Australian tour in England be placed at fixed deposit, and that the interest be set apart to meet the cost to the various Associations in carrying on the business of the Board. Reports in connection with the affairs of the Australian team were considered, but no information was made available as to the takings. It is understood that further infor­ mation is required. The Board placed on record its apprecia­ tion of the services in the cause of cricket rendered by the late Mr. John Creswell, for many years Secretary to the South Aus­ tralian Cricket Association. Mr. G. Mostyn Evan (S.A ) was elected president, and Mr. C. A. Sinclair hon. secre­ tary and treasurer. Mr. A. C. K. McKenzie was appointed manager of the Australian team to tour New Zealand, and Messrs. F. A. Iredale, C. Hill, and McAlister were nominated selectors, or, if Hill cannot act, Mayne. The side is to comprise IB players, and, if pofsible, will include four members of the late Australian team. Hotel and travelling expenses and 5s. per day will be paid. M.A. Noble forwarded a letter recording his appreciation of the services of every member of the Australian team in England, and announcing that the exigencies of his busi­ ness compelled his retirement from first- class cricket. The Board recorded Noble’s great services to Australian cricket. It was stated that the dividend per player of the Australian team would be about £450. It is understood that, in round figures, the gross takings from all matches played by the Australian team in Australia and the United Kingdom amounted to £13,200 gross, and the expenses to £4,800. Of this sum the Board takes about £1,000 net, and the fifteen players and tbe manager divide £7,400 between them, the dividend to each being about £460. The expenses charged are steamer and railway fares, travelling expenses, hotel bills, and general tipping. One item of expenditure on which there is some difference of opinion is that the Board engaged Dr. Poidevin to arrange the pro­ gramme of matchfs at a fee of £105. The Board claim that this should come out of the general expenses, but the team contend that, as organisers, the Board should pay it. THE N EW ZE A LAN D CRICKET COUNCIL. A meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held in Christchurch on December 23rd. P resen tM essrs. J. Young (chairman), D. Reese, J. H. Williams, G. J. Francis, E. J. Austin, R. Vincent, F. C. Raphael (hon. secretary). A letter was read from the secretary of the Board of Control, stating that it was abso­ lutely impossible at present to give the names of the proposed Australian team to visit New Zealand, as, in consequence of the absence of Mr. Laver from Australia, no meeting of the Board had yet been held. A request that a special meeting of the Board be held drew the reply that that was impossible until the first week in January. The Secretary to the Board had suggested to the delegates that they should agree on a Selection Committee, but South Australia insisted on the matter being determined by the Board, and, consequently, to wait for the meeting mentioned was the only course open. The team will leave Sydney during the first week in February, and must return to Australia by the end of March at latest. The hon. secretary reported that, at his request, Mr. Albert Cohen, of Dunedin, had, when in Wellington, interviewed the Prime Minister and asked him to use his influence with Mr. Wade, Premier of New South Wales, to secure leave of absence for Bardsley to accompany tbe team. Sir Joseph Ward consented to do so. This course was taken in accord with a suggestion from the secretary of tbe Board of Control. It was also decided to tndeavour to secure leave for Ransford. The replies from the various Associations interested regarding financing the tour of the Australian team were considered, and, as only three Associations were against the pooling system, it was unanimously decided that the tour of the Australian team he financed by the Council and the affiliated Associations; that the Council and the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago Associations be asked to contribute £100 each, and the remaining Associations as per arrangements already agreed t o ; in the event of more than the required sum being subscribed, the respective amounts to be reduced pro rata; that the profit or loss, if any, be divided among the Council and Associations in proportion to the amount allotted. It was resolved that not more than two Test matches be included in the programme. —The Weekly Press. CLUBS.* “ English Clubs,” a list of over 3,180 Clubs frequented by the English in all paits of the world, for 1910 has just been published by Messrs. Spottiswoode & Co., Ltd.. and is edited by Mr. E. C. Austen Leigh, M.A. The book, which has been thoroughly revised this year, is handsomely bound in red cloth and printed in tabular form. It gives much information about each Club; for instance, it notes the names of secretaries, dates of establishment, entrancs fees and subscrip­ tions, and has, in some cases, remarks on the qualifications for membership, &e. There are included in it, of course, London and Provincial Clubs in England, and a special feature is made of those in the Colonies, India, and on the Continent, be­ sides which 1,170 Golf Clubs are mentioned and 319 Ladies’ Clubs. The number of Clubs (including Golf Clubs) in India is 134, in Canada 57, in Australasia 139. • Clubs, 1910. Edited by E. 0. Austen Leigh, M.A. London: Spottiswoode & Co., Ltd., New Street Square, E.O. Price, 3s. 6 d. ; post free, 3s. 9d. BOOKS RECEIVED. Australian Cricket Souvenir.— Sydney. Publishers not stated. Price, 3d. Clubs, 1910.- Edited by E. C. Austen Leigh, M.A. London: Spottiswoode and Co., Ltd., New Street Square, E.C. Price, 3s. 6 d .; post free, 3s. 9d. Wisdm’s Cricketers' Note Book, 1910. —Edited by F. S. Ashley-Cooper. London: John Wisden and Co., 21, Cranbourn Street, W.C. Price, Gd. “ O V A L B A . ” R E I D ’ S O V A L . W H I T E . The celebrated preparation for cleaning Cricket and all Bull Leather Ooodt, Warranted not to rub off or cake. As nsed at Ken- nington Oval, and highly recommended by K. S. Ranjitsinhji, Dr. W . G. Grace, O. B. Fry, Lord Dalmeny, Australian XL, 1905, G. L. Jessop, &c., Ac. Packed in zinc boxes, 6d, per box. J. J. REID, 878, Kennington Rd., London. Printed and Published by M erritt & H atcher , L td ., 167, 168 and 169, Upper Thames Street, London, E.O., February 24th, 1910.