CBICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 16

CBICKET.

A Canterbury comment on H. B. Lusl tie ex-Auckland cricketer: "Lusk meai while was laying the foundation for big score, his defence in the earlie stages being superb, while he scored o1 anything loose most convincingly. H used his pull stroke with telling effeel and his driving was well timed an forceful. H-5 71 not out without : change, coming after his last score o half a century, indicates that he ha at last succeeded in regaining some o his form of a season or two ago. Hi partnership with Reese was one of thebright spots which make good cricko so attractive." Spoffcrth, the once demon bowler, h an article in "Bailey's Magazine," says I will ask my readers, supposinj a test match is such an awful thinj for the nerves, how is it the Australian do not suffer? Suppose, for instance that C. B. Fry was nervous, there wa nothing possible more calculated to raab him worse than reading what was ap pea ring every day in the papers, anc I may say here I fully believe tha any team who can leave" out C. B. Fri on his merits as a cricketer should bea* the other side in very nearly om innings."' Captains of the senior teams in Can terbury are hard put to it to obtaii umpires this season. The Umpires' As sociation seems to have fizzled out, 01 at any rate its numbers are so deplete< that there are not enough to go round Recently at Hagley Pa-rk, the Wesl Christchurch-Ricearton match 'had onh one appointed umpire, "casual labour* being onrplcyed at the other end. Wher St. Albans were batting against Easl Christchurch, one of the casuals retired anti made majiy appeaJs among the onlookers before the adjudicator'l place could be filled. During a recent match between Somerset and Kent. Colin Blythe bowled witi so many men stationed on the leg side that the umpire, Bagshaw, stood point. This, I believe (says "Cricket), is uniqu* so far as first-class cricket is concerned though in a minor match I once saw an old gentleman who was umpiring ins'st upon standing on the off-side owing to the reputation an incoming player possessed as a leg-hitter. The consequence was that a little later the veteran found himself unable to get out of the may of a rousing cut made by the other batsman, and had to be assisted off the field. Even now (says an English writer, reviewing the Australian tour), I must confess to doubt as to whether they are a really great side, though they possess the best left-handed batsman in the world in YV.arren Bardsley, who has, I venture to think, improved his game since his arrival. It is ac a splendidly managed, brilliantly fielding team of triers that much of their success has been scored, and. of course, there are some sterling exponents and able allroonde's. Yet there is scarcely the collection of stars who are now "household words and nothing more. Carter is very good; ~ but not quite a Bla-ekrhiim, nnd we cannot quite forget Spofforth. Palmer, and Charlie Turner. They are fortunate indeed in having such" lefthanders as Bardsley and Ransford to step into the shoes of Darling and Clem Hill: but despite the ability of the tail to play an uphill game, there is unquestionably a longer tail than on the previous visits. The remark may seem rather Irish in flavour, but I think that its meaning is at any rate apparent. To judge from the enthusiasm displayed by the schoolboys at ~ T ictoria Park on Saturday mornings, there will be no dearth of keen, good cricketers in Auckland in the years to come. Some of the lads are shaping very well. If the schoolboys are keen on cricket, thp same, unfortunately, cannot be said of thpir masters. Only one solitary master —Mr .1. R. Wilson, hon. secretary of the Public Schools Cricket Association— thouebt it worth while to turn up at \ ictoria Park last Saturday. It is A pity. The master who takes a healthy interest in the boys' games is the master who has the most influence in school.