CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 14

CRICKET.

Facy (the Tasmanian fast bowler, who is corning to New Zealand with the Australian eleven) has been bowling well at liQjjip. and his good deeds have got him the frame. He is a medium fast bowler, with a unique run for a bowler of his type. He walks back ten yards from the bowling crease, but instead of making the most of the distance he takes three steps, and then breaks into an action between a canter and ail amble, and then, after almost stopping, delivers the ball. Considering his run to the crease, he accumulates surprising pace. He has a very good command over his length, and in this re.=pe<-t is probably more reliable than any other fast bowler in the Commonwealth. But on a billiard table wicket he probably lacks the "devil" that makes the bowler who relies on pace alone successful. Carkeek stood back ton yards to him, and when he bowled Noble for a "blob," one of the bails flew over the wicketkeeper's •head, and going on, travelled in all 47 yards. Says an exchange of the recent Turner benefit match:—"Turner's advent was the crowd's opportunity. As he walked from the pavilion to bat, everyone on the ground joined in the cheering, and as he took centre someone cried out, Three cheers for Turner,* and the noise must have EMired the lions in the Zoo half-a-mile away. Hβ had to face the last ball of Armstrong's over. The giant Victorian obligingly sent him down a ball on the leg Bide Turner missed it. Then he had a bit ol bad luck. He had to run two for Tfumper. He started off with a full head of steam, but in making the second run he floundered. Since his active cricketing days he has developed the figure which it is popularly supposed fits one for aldermanic honours. Now he was in front of Layer. The bowler was evidently anxious that Turner should break his duck. He sent a ball down on the off-side. Turner promptly whacked it for four, to the great delight of the crowd. This was the only let-up of the afternoon. The game was again being played 'for keeps. . Turner added four more to his score, and was then bowled br Layer."

"W- L. Murdoch, the ex-Australian Eleven captain, was asked by an "Argus" interviewer in Melbourne whether it was correct that the decadence of English cricket i 3 attributable to the growing popularity of golf. Tn reply, he said:—"That may be so, but I don't agree with that "view. All the young fellows -who have the ability and the taste for first-class cricket who go up to the universities would never give up cricket for golf. All who have the taste and the time play cricket still; but England is running through a bad period. There are thousands playing the game, but this generation is not producing champions. The question of time, of course, affects a lot of men. They cannot afford tne time for county cricket, but they play in the Saturday afternoon games. Perhaps not so many can afford the time as formerly, but it is the lack of rpally high-class players coming along. The old ones are hanging on because there are no young ones to take their places. You seem to bo m the same position in Victoria. Your cracks, Armstrong and Ransford, for instance, are out of form temporarily, and the young men playing their fir=t or second interstate match cannot be expected to fill their places straight away. I've really seen so little since I returned from England that I cannot express an opinion as to Australian cricket—it would not be fair. I saw that uuungs of Gem Hill's, and I do not expect to see many better. He seemed to mc to get out only when he was tired.

There is an amusing episode of the recent benefit match to C. B Turner— «£*?,»& awe; ceived from Whitty was » trifle further TM« W* rf'T' ° n thG le S Stump. This he tried to force to leg, but, mis £ mgit Ins leg stump was knocked back It is the first "pair" M.A.N, has ever got an Australia. The hero of so many big matches on the Sydney Ground smiled, and was as much amused by the event as any of the spectators.

Wonderful cricketer that "Victor Trumper has been and is (says Sydney .Referee"), the history of our cricket during the past ten years or so proves that, however ,keen he may be when on the field of play, he has not evinced the keenness of other noted players, such as M. A. Noble, S. E. Gregory, F. A. Iredale, etc., to represent the State, to enhance its prestige and preserve for it the State championship. That F. Layer is a much more dangerous bowler in England than in Australia is acknowledged by the Australians generally and supported by achievements. It is attributable to two causes, one that the greater density of the air in England ■help him. to swerve the ball in much more dangerous fashion to the batsmen, and the other that after pitching he is able to break more on English wickets.

"We have not before us sufficient evidence to make clear the merits of the cricket dispute," says'the "Evening Post"; "time will bring a washing day. llsanwnile, there is the 'centralising , charge. Generally speaking, convenience supports Wellington as the headquarters of New Zealand federations, but geographical convenience is not always the best argument. As the representation of distant affiliated foodies has generally to be done 'by proxy, it is manifest that the city which is called upon to do most of the governing must possess a fair number of broad-aiinded men of good executive ability. For example, if Christcliiircli, m any given department of sport, can furnish an executive 20 per cent better than Wellington can, the little geographical consideration should not stand in the way of the selection of Christchurch for the headquarters. Though, naturally, Wellington's position must tend to give it the 'lion's share , of government, we should be sorry to see the capital constituted the headquarters of every form of sport. For tht promotion of peace, apart from other arguments, it is well to have some of the i executives located in other cities."

Regarding the professional bowler. Words-worth, and the Plunket Shield, the critics here are of the opinion that he should not be in the Otago team (says a Southern writer). However that may be, Wordsworth will be in the team. I know this from a straightout discussion with the selectors, who answered mc that Wordsworth -would probably go as "twelfth" man. That is, if the tvicket proved fast, the New South Wales professional would be played; ii slow, he would be "stood down."

last year, it may be remembered

an Otago writer), A. Downes at the last moment refused to accompany the Otago team to Auckland for Plunket Shield honours. The selectors were indignant, and Downes was threatened that he would be ostracised. That has since been lived out, and Downes has expressed his intention of going to Auckland with the Otago team next ■week. As the veteran Otago bowler has never bowled on an Auckland wicket, much curiosity will be evinced in his appearance on the Domain in the coming shield match.

( At a cricket competition in the WindI sor (New South Wales) district re- ; cently, much feeling was displayed ow- . ing to the defeat of the Wilberforce ! Club by the Richmond team. When the Richmond team were coaching home from Sackville they received a shower of rotten eggs just after pass ing through Wilberforce, the eggs being thrown under cover of darkness and the security of a cornfield. One of the cricketers fired a revolver, by way of frightening the egg-throwers, whose aim was so good that the memj hers of the team made the remainder :of the journey of seven miles under i much discomfort. The following extract from Alfred Shaw's book is pertinent just now: '"Arthur Shrewsbury was smartly victimised at Sydney on the occasion of the Test match, played in February (18S7). A local wa.g sought an introduction to him, ; and gravely stated that he had a memento which he begged of him to accept. ;It consisted of a diminutive pair of specs, which, the presenter intimated, ' were presented to keep Arthur in continual remembrance of his two ducks i obtained in the match with New South Wale 3 the previous week, and of his inability to play Turner's bowling. Shrewsibnry took the specs so as not to spoil the fun. He had been "b Turner 0" in each innings of the match in question. Dear Sir,--In Tuesday' 3 issue of the • "Star" a telegram appears to the effect t that the Hawke's Bay Cricket Association ; intends to challenge for the Plunket Shield, suggesting the 18th, 19th, and 21st inst' as dates, if suitable to the Auckland Cricket Association. This will mean, in addition to tlie Otago match, ; and with the Australian eleven's visit, five representative matches this season. The question arises: Are we having too much rep. cricket? Already one hears players of the different grades speaking of the time lost in connection with club cricket. It is well known that the gate receipts from rep. matches constitute, practically, the only source of revenue whereby the Association can obtain the necessary funds to carry out its duties, i.e., the encouragement and fostering of cricket. But should this surfeit of rep. cricket have a tendency to deaden the interest in club competitions, fit would not be a great length of time ■before cricket in general in Auckland must suffer. To side-step for a moment: it is the opinion of a great number of sport followers that too many rep. football matchee were a big factor in causing interest in club football in Auckland to flag. Will too many rep. matches have j the same effect in cricket'? I would humbly submit to the powers that be i that this point be given a little coni sideration.—l am, etc., CLUBITE.

—In Tuesday' 3 issue of the

According to a Dunedin scribe, "Syd" Callaway is the most discussed man in Dunedin at the present time. He is really more on the public's tongue than even the results of the Imperial elections or the floods in France. As indicated last week, the Selection Committee did not even give the ex-New South Welshman a place in the fifteen chosen to practice. That in itself was bitter enough, but when I tell you that Callaway has not even been approached by the selectors in any shape or form, to ascertain if he would go to Auckland if selected, you will realise that there is something seriously wrong. As the exCanterbury representative said the other day, "Well, if I am not good enough to get into an Otago fifteen for practice it's time I gave up the game." 1 could well forgive the bitterness with which Callaway spoke, for to be ignored as he has been by the selectors is manifestly unfair. I challenged the selector for the reason, and was met with evasive answers. One reason was that the team had quite enough bowlers in already. "We want to strengthen the batting side," say they. This is quite right, but it is all the greater reason why Callaway should be given a chance, for he has been batting grandly, his last two performances entitling him to every consideration. Then, again, there is no question but Callaway should be selected before Wordsworth. Yet you will find Wordsworth in the team and Callaway left out. There is great indignation in respect to this very eaeual treatment of the ex-Canteiflbury representative. The Press and public have taken up the cudgels on Callaway's behalf, and' the Selection Committee is having an anxious time.