NOTES.

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 9

NOTES.

The luck of the game. Two of Otago's premier batsmen.. Worker and Blamires, were dismissed without scoring ln each innings of the second test. , Worker fielded beautifully for New Zealand. ' Mcßeath was by far the best bowler on the N.Z. side. Kortlang's 39 was solid If not brilliant. / Smith's let off of Warren Birdsiey at 27 was expensive. Hiddleston rattled up his 23 quickly m the second Innings of New Zealand. The attendance must haye been on the verge of 10.000. ' I noticed a lot of the leading cricketers from the other centres, both past and present, at tho match nn Saturday. Look how the New South .Wales batsmen set their backs to the wall after losing Macartney, Andrews, Kippax and Hendry early. Bardsley and Punch gave delightful displays of batting under adverse conditions. Young James showed plenty of pluck when batting m the second innings. The soft wicket was not suitable for Henderson, consequently Smith, the N.Z. captain, refrained from using him much. Herb McGirr was very erratic m his length. Mcßeath sent down pome very fine overs nnd this bowler impressed the Australians. M»iley must be a wonderful troo'-rly bowler when ho so often hides his delivery that his own wicketkeeper does not know which fide he is breaking from till tho bnll has come off the ground. ' Two of tbe N.S.W. batsmen Informed me that they have given up trying to pick Mnlley's wroni; 'un. as lt is quite impossible to discern It! Hendry has n lovely easy swinging action and bowled splendidly m the first innings on Saturday. It should be nn objerl lesson to New Penland captains to refrain from uslncr their fast bowlers on a slow, sodden

wicket. Did we find Macartney bowling his fast bowler, Everett, m the first innings while the wicket was slightly on the soft side? No; he waited till the wicket had a bit of pace m it before 'Using him. Our captain should not have put McGirr on during the New South Wales innings, as the wicket was dead slow and all m favor of a bowler who would toss them up and compel the batsmen to go at his pitch, relying on his turn to beat the batsman. , The :fast bowler had no length, and the batsmen simply pulled him where they wanted. So long as a' batsman was playing .forward there was always a risk of him being beaten, but not so with this medium-paced short ball that was continually being sent down. A bowler who on a fast wicket may be a success would be an absolute failure on a slow one, and the sooner our captains make a study of these finer points of tho game the sooner will, we develop bowlers. The New South Wales players I spoke to were quite pleased that our captainwas making a lot of use of a. bowler who was trying to rock theni . In/ if - respective of length. ;■""■ . So long as we have certain officials (and, mind you, those m power) who I i i i" ■ '■ ' ■■■ ' ■ '"

BtaMM«BaBMHnaH«BBHaB*^M«BaiaiaM- -*. - -.. - ___ are prejudiced against certain flayers, thereby preventing us from being properly represented, so long will we be a back number m cricket. A bowler like Finlayson on our side en Friday would have been almost unplayable, despite the quality of the batsman he- was up against. Yet, m spite of 80 per cent.- of-the public wishing to see him m, the Wellington Association ruled he was not eligible! There will be a change some day m our governing body. Then perhaps we will show that we do possess bowlers who can make use of a wicket suclr as we had on Friday afternoon.. An umpire hesitating m giving his decision shows that there must have been some doubt m his mind, and if the decision refers 'to a batsman that batsman should get thc benefit of the doubt. Did you notice that while m the field the New South Wales players never returned the ball unnecessarily hard to the bowler or wicketkeeper unless occasion demanded it. I wonder what length bowlers like Upham, Downes, Fisher, Reese, and Prankish would have done against these batsmen on wickets which gave them any assistance. Certainly the scoring of the visitors would have been very much lower. If any New Zealander wanted to gain any information re bowling and batting from the visitors and failed to do so it is entirely his own fault, as they were always ready to enlighten any young aspirant and enthusiast. I know of fully twenty that I personally introduced to Messrs. Macartney and Wi Bardsley, who went out of their way to give a word of advice, to these keen young cricketers. I am satisfied that this team from over the water has done more during its short stay to impart useful hints and advice to our younger players than all the other teams put together. When we think that half of these players have to fight for a place m the New South Wales inter-State matches one wifl gather some idea of the strength of cricket In Australia. Gregory, Taylor and Collins would certainly displaco three of the present side. I wonder will a certain section of the Press attack the batsmen that fall- , cd m this last match In the same way as they did Collins. I don't think so, as there was more behind It than cricket. It is a pity when a writer lets personal enmity to players carry him away from his subject.

A new club. High School Old Boys, has been formed m Invercargill this season and intends applying for admission as a junior club. There seems a prospect, however, that the application will be refused as more than one of the senior clubs is right up against the new side, holding that it will affect them. The promoters of the Old Boys' Club expressly state that other clubs will not be drawn on for members, the team to be comprised of boys who have left the High School m recent years or have been out of tho game for some time. Quite a respectable fifteen would be fielded, and it will be a pity if the proposal to establish such a club is again turned down.

Most smokers like a change now and then. They may smoke one brand for months, or for years. But sooner or later comes a hankering for a change. If tired of the foreign manufactured brands you are accustomed to use, try the New Zealand grown tobacco. Here you have an entirely different tobacco and a thorough change. Its purity will please you. Comparatively free from nicotine it appeals to the man whose pipe is constantly iv his mouth. He can smoke "till further orders" without experiencing the disagreeable effects following the constant use of some of the imported brands, heavily charged with nicotine, the very free use of which will certainly affect the nerves m thc long run. and possibly the action of the heart. N.Z. tobacco Is peculiarly soothing, and a taste for it is quickly acquired. Obtainable In three strengths. Riverhead Gold very mild and aromatic. Toasted Navy Cut Js of medium strength, and Cut Plug No. 10. the Bullhead label. Is recommended to those who like a full body.*