ENGLISH CRICKETERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9786, 31 January 1923, Page 5

ENGLISH CRICKETERS

M.C.C. V. NELSON.

(Per Press Association.) NELSON, January 30,

The M.C.C. team commenced a match against a combined Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast eleven to-day in glox'ious weather.Nelson won the toss and batted, making 119. The Englishmen at the close of the day bad lost seven wickets for 202 runs. Saxon gave a good allround display, and Chapman, Lowry, and Wilkinson free exhibitions. The fielding of the Englishmen w-as brilliant, and that of the local team good. At one stage of the game Nelson had five wickets down for 43, but the SaxonKemnitz partnership added 30. England’s first wicket went at nine, and the second at 35, but the third put on a century.

NELSON, This Day. The match was continued in perfect weather. Chaoman and Hill-Wood continued the overnight innings, and in spite of smart fielding carried the score to 239 hefoi-e being separated. The innings closed for 249, Chapman playixxg a splendid game. At the luncheon adjournment Nelson had lost three wickets for 21 runs. Scores: —

COMBINED TEAM

First Innings, Neale, c and b Tyldesley

Saxon, c W T ilkinson, b Freeman ... 60 Hicksman, c Chapman, b Hill-Wood 0 McKellar, c Slatei*, b Hill-Wood 0 Pierpont, c Wilkinson, b Tyldesley 4 Eden, c Maclean, b Tyldesley ... 0 Kemnitz, c Chapman, b Hill-Wood 18 lleid, run out ... 8 Louisson, c Tyldesley, b Freeman 9 Newman, b Brand 3 Fass, not out 0 Extras 16 Total 119 Bowling Analysis.—Hill-Wood took three wickets for 22 runs, Tyldesley three for 42. Freeman two for 10, and Brand one for 4. Second Innings. Saxon, b HilLWood 1 Eden, b Freeman 3 McKellar, not out ... ... ... 10 Piei*pont, b Fi-eeman 0 Kemnitz, not out 5 Extras 2

Total (for three wickets) 21

ENGLAND.

First Innings.

Hill-Wood, b Newman ... ‘ ... 16 Brand, b Louisson ... 0 Wilkinson, c and b McKellar 52 Lowry, c Saxon, b Newman ... 40 Maclean, b Newman ... ... 5 Freeman, b Newman 13 Chapman, not cut ... ... ... 71 Hill-Wood, lbw, b Louisson ... 19 Tyldesley, c McKellar, b Louisson 0 Swan, b Louisson 0 Extras ... ... ... ... 32 Total 249 Bowling Analysis.—Louisson took four wickets for 48 runs, Newman five for 93, McKellar one for 10, Fass none for 27, Neale none for 27, and Reid none for 12.

CRICKET IN AFRICA. TOUR OF THE M.C.C. TEAM. (Received January 31, 11.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN, January 30. The cricket match, the Northern Districts of Natal against Marylebone, was delayed through floods. The locals included nine public school old hoys. Northern Disti-icts have lost eight wickets for 135 x-uns (Sparks 48).

THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

CRITICISM OF N.Z. TEAM,

WELLINGTON, January 30. There is a good deal of adverse criticism about the selection of the New Zealand team for the third test cricket match against the M.C.C. team. One authority says: “Doubtless Messrs Snedden (Auckland) and Martin (Dunedin) were in communication with Mr Tucker, whose position in the circumstances was an unenviable one. To leave Brice out of the team would require the votes of two, at least, of the selection committee against him. and without suggesting that Mr Tucker might incline towards Brice, owing to his representing Wellington, one cannot imagine that the selectors concerned could have overlooked his magnificent performance in the match just concluded. It is very many years since any *New Zealand bowler has put up

such a performance in one match as Brice has done. Out of 16 wickets disposed of he accounted for 10 batsmen at pn average of 9.7 runs a wicket. He clean bowled eight of the English batsmen, four of them in both innings. One may assume, therefore, that Mr Tucker’s vote would go in his' favour. Messrs Snedden and Martin, it is assumed, would vote against Brice, who has taken 13 English wickets at an average of 15 runs apiece—a performance no other bowler in the Dominion can claim. . The New Zealand team was known in the city three hours after the conclusion of the AVellington match. It would be impossible forthm three selectors to confer by telegram regarding Brice’s performance within

that short space of time. Was the matter discussed jjt all ? AA r as Brice’s exclusion decided upon before he bowled a. ball against the Englishmen ? The whole business is so mysterious that in the interests of the game the New Zealand Cricket Council should take an early opportunity to clear it up. Surprise is also expressed that Hiddleston, one of the finest bats in New Zealand, has come in only as •twelfth man. Sneddon’s performances, aRo, it is claimed, do not justify his; selection.