CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 16

CRICKET.

The death of J. H. ("Jimmy") Sinclair, the famous " South African all-round cricketer, was announced recently. Sinclair, who .was born in 1876, made Iris debut in first-class cricket at the age of 17, when he played against an English team. Tall, and of powerful build, he Was a tremendous hitter, besides being a splendid fast-medium bowler. He surprised the Australian eleven of 1902, which toured South Africa, by hitting up three brilliant centurit** against them, lie was the first South African to score a century in a test match against Australia; moreover, he is the only player who has scored a century against that country in South African tests, and he has scored ttvo —101 and 104. He also scored 106 against England at Capetown in 1899. In 1897 he played an innings of 301 not out for Villagers v. Roodepart. Sinclair was a member of the South African team which visited Australia in 1910 J 1I, but lie was not seen at his best. He .was a fine type of sportsman, and was very popular.

Sydney critics are drawing attention to the " shandygaff " type of cricketer — the player who puts in an appearance on the first day of a match, and stops away ou the second, when probably hi-: services are most needed. This is what a Sydncysider writes: "An evil which calls for prompt and drastic action is the habit some players have acquired of absenting themselves trom the matches after having been selected, and this, too. on the second day, when their presence might materially affect the issue. If only the lower grades were affected some occasional excuse might hold good; but when first grade teams turn out one, and even two,- short, it is time the matter received attention. Clubs should follow the example of a certain team which last season insisted that selected players failing to appear should suffer disqualification, and carried the law into effect—even when the offender was a player of ability. The matter has recently been brought under the notice of the association, and it is expected that a definite recommendation will be made in the near future." There are a number of this sort in Auckland.

Sydney writers appear very optimistic in reference to the future of Australian cricket, and commenting on the players seen out in the Trumper benelit match, a Sydney critic says:—"ln some of his recent matches Barbour has marked himself out as a player who will often be heard of in the future annals of Australian cricket. 'Ie opened on Saturday, as he generally does, carefully, making runs a secondary consideration, and Macartney, who was witli him nt the time, soon had liim outpaced. Hut Barbour, lacking the greater experience of the successful globe-trotter, played the proper game, and was never content to let out until he had fully established confidence in himself. Barbour is perhaps hardly so stylish a batsman as Baring, his prototype in the neighbouring State, but he has lately shown himself a surer rungetter, and-.it is questionable if Moves, the young South Australian who is coming along by leaps and bounds, is not where hard fighting is concerned, as valuable a man to any side as either Uaring or Seitz, who has lately been looked upon as good enough to be entrusted with the leadership of the Victorian team. Moyes' display was quite the most effective or all "The Rest's " batting, though in his second innings he lost his wicket in tlie manner which was only suggestive of that impetuosity which marks out the youngster in comparison, for instance, with a seasoned old warrior like Warwick Armstrong. That is a rare good bowler the Victorians have got in Ryder, who might almost be referred to, though he is not actually, as a this season's debutante. The manner in which he cleared out the New South Wales batsmen on Monday afternoon was quite the sensation of the match, for though some things about benefit cricket are stagemanaged, this bit of bowling was absolutely genuine. Five wickets in four overs, at any cost, is good enough for the records, and the manner in which Ryder made the ball break back just sufficiently for its deadly purpose, was absolute! v class. Ryder's recent promise is good enough to justify great hopes for his future.