THE CRICKET FIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 7

THE CRICKET FIELD

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCHES.

THE REMAINING FIXTURES.

(By "Mid-On"). The avoiding of a limit of three days on this- season's Plunket Shield matches was brought about by successful negotiation between the major association delegates, and the remaining matches are as follow: January 21, 20, 27 and 28.—Wellington v, Otago, at Dunedin. February 7,8, 10 and 11.—Auckland v. Wellington, at Wellington. February 14 15; 17 and 18.—Otago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. Prominent in Cricket News. Of the Marylebone Cricket Club players in the team in New Zealand, several have been prominent of late in the cricket news from England. J. Hardstaff, for one, has been doing remarkably well. The other day he distinguished himself by making 15'4 for his county (Notts) against the South Africans immediately after he had made 123 not out in a county championship match. This young player is following in the footsteps of his father,, who was one of the county's best-known performers, and who represented England in Australia in 1907*-8. J. Hardstaff, jun., made his debut in county cricket in 1930 at the age of 17 years and he stood a chance of celebrating his twenty-second birthday by playing in England in a Test..' Another Yomg Player. Another young player going "great guns" with the bat is N. ■ S. MitchcllInnes, who is only 20 years of age. While still at school in 1931, he made his debut for Somerset. His. progress since then has been excellent, with a marked jump forward last season and a rise to Test rank this season. At the start of the present season MitchellInness hit up-96 for Oxford University and followed up this with a fine score of 168 against the South Africans. Apart from being a batsman of exceptional merit, he is a useful change bowler. D. Smith, a fine left-hand batsman, first played for Derbyshire in 1927 when he was 20 years of age. Three years later he became a regular member of the side and since then he has scored heavily for the county. Scores of 189 and 205 this season made him a strong Test candidate. However, a broken rib kept him out of the first Test against the South Africans, and, after a spell, he has been considered again, for the third Test, This batsman can be expected to do exceptionally well on the' coming tour. . Another interesting figure in the side for New Zealand is the Hon. C. J. Lyttelton. He, too, is the son of a cricketer of note, the Hon. J. C. Lyttelton, now Viscount Cobham. He is an all-rounder and like his father, he is associated with Worcestershire in county cricket. Last season he showed promise of much development, and evidently this promise is being fulfilled, as he has been performing quite well for the county this season. He is 26 years of age. The Lbw Rule. There has been as to the exact nature of the change in the leg-before rule operating in England this year, says an Australian writer. It was at first thought that the change meant that if a batsman was struck by a ball pitched on the off side of the wicket, and which would have hit the wicket, but for the obstruction, he would be out. But he can be out only in such a case if the part of his body struck is in front of the wicket. This is quite different from the proposal made year in and year out for countless vears. There can be far less objection to the actual change that has been made than to that which had been contemplated, and which led to a & eat deal of hard criticism.

The change is worth attention from the authorities in the different States in conjunction with the leading international players. Its operation is not likely to be as drastic by a long way as the original amendment would have been. There is little necessity for the change out here, although, as now understood, it might do no harm in first-class cricket. It has been made to counteract the tendencies of pad-bats-men, who are mainly English. In England 'it is reported to have brightened batting. At all events the crops of .-daughter to batsmen have not been seen and public interest in county matches has been keen. Yorkshire, for instance, is over £2OOO up on last season's home county gates-

At first the public did not understand the exact character of the amended law, but a few writers, including • Maurice Tate and E. Hendren, carefully explained it in the Press, and, after that, there has been a clearer appreciation of it. One good effect it has is to induce batsmen to move out to the off ball, and make more and better off strokes than has been customary for some

years. ~ < The Board of Control chairman, Mr R. A. Oxiade, might invite the Australian captain, Victor Richardson, and this manager to ascertain the views of the South Africans on the influence and operation of the new law, based on their experiences in England. The M.C.C. will, doubtless, inform the Board of the official view in England after this season's experience.

It is likely that the law will some day operate in Australian first-class cricket generally. South Australia is trying it in its premiership this season. The South Africans regard it as a good thing. ,■■■•*■ The new rule has been put into operation. It will also operate in i'Plunket Shield " matches, and against the M.C.C. team.