CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 305, 21 December 1912, Page 16

CRICKET.

The Australian champion. V. Trumper. seems to be batting as well as ever, and in a recent comment on the maUh between Gordon and Cumberland a Sydney writer sa ys;— When Gordon took the creates the spirit of the game ciuinged as if !■}' magic The chief magician, of course, was Victor Trum-per—the date of tile commencement of whoi« testimonial match, by the way, has been altered iri.ni January 31 to January 17. in order tv come between the South Australian and Victorian Sheffield Shield contests with New South Wales in Sydney—and tingreat batsman certainly gave more thau a glimpse of his most dazzling ioiin. In seventy-five minutes at Uie crease* He strung togeth-er a splendid sequemv of beautiful boundaries in his score ot 127. This is his second century of the season in grade cricket. It i* quite appropriate. of course, that he should hv the first batsman to have two clv!) centuries to his credit. That is not in the surprising; but it is especially gratifying that he should be showing such fine loriu in view of the coming testimonial. H s magnificent play has already established a winning position fo,r Gordon — and there is still the brilliance of M&caxiney for the Cumberland ibowl-ers to negotiate.

E. R. Mayne, one of the selectors of the Australian Cricket Eleven and a member of the Australian liwven i-h.it visited Engiand this year, returned to Adelaide on Saturday. Referring to umpiring in lu3g*land, he sajd rt was un "eye-opener'" to tne Australians. He had never seen anything like it in his life. From what one of t::e Enjrl.=h piayers toid him, lie judged thai th.:ic was a suggestion that L rocKett suou.d be Laken over for the tests, "l'liere must liave been something said or done.' continued ilayne, ""because 1 was it ne ■would come, and replied Uiat 1 ihougnt he would, l-ertaimy umpiring in England is awful. I'a give you an instance, the Bardsiey decisiuii ol "run cut' in the last test, lia.ras.iey bad run past the wicket. I don't mean over his er< a.-c. but the stumps. He wa* doubling back when the wicket went down. li« came oud with teurs uf vexauun in his eyes. V\ arner entered our dresajng-room .icu .said. "Chaps, 1 can only say 1 am .-orr.. it was tne worst thing 1 have sf-<'n in the cricket rieid.' Ranji i-.;uive in ana said. It has taken all tne enjoyment out ot the game for mc." We uon't -ay it lost us the game, bur if Bardsiey eo-JJ have kepi going in a littiv while rain wouid have stopped play and the match wouid have been drawn. It rained for wo days. Another time we were playing against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. Bardsiey was running and won d have been out by yards it the bowler had taken the ball. But the <bow;er was crouching over the wicket when the lull ro=e sharply, and instead of tatvins it he pulled the stumps down. Eurus ey was given "out." and at lunch he sa.d to the bowier, Parker, i think it was. "iou didn't take that ball, did you, old manr' and Parker replied, 'No, "l didn't. But i had to go out. you know.' Previously Hazlitt had bowled Parker with a murvellous break-back, but Parker did not leave till the umpire had been appea.ed to for the decision. Fry was batting in the final test, and in making a stroke trod on his 'wicket. We appealed, but the batsman called out. '1 did it in the act of running.' of course, the umpire said "not out.' At Hastings against SouJi of EngJand. Hobbs was ba-tting. He makes a blockhole about a foot behind the batting crease. Shuping at the rirst ball of the match from McLaren, Hobbs lifted his bat and knocked the bajls living. The umpire said "not out,' bat Hobbs looked round at the baiU on the ground and said to th<- umpire, I had better go, Harry,' and walked out. 1 don't suggest that they were purpusely unfair, but they were all keen on being selected for future games. l n the last! match of the tour Hobbs wanted 30 to' get 2,000 for the season, and when hei had made five or six h-e walked in front i of a straight one from Uazlitt. The um-i pire said "not out,' and when Hobos got! his runs the same umpire applauded and! said, Vrood old Jack.' An umpire like Crockett," concluded Mr. Mayne. "would! be a revelation to them over'th^ r< .. They' give oui lbw to a.left-arm bowler bowling round the wicket. Crocket: is the besL j umpire in the world"' JUNIOR XOTE.". For severai years the Cricket Association has been requested to advance the welfare of junior cricket by promoting matches -with country rep. teams or combined country districts, but up to the present no action has been taken. It is a well-known fact that there are many promising players in the country, and many promising juniors in the city. If the association is kc-en on popularising the great simmer game. let it cuter for the juniors as well as the seniors. 1 would suggest that matches be arranged either at Christmas or Easter with: — (a) Wellington or Taranaki Junior Reps.: (b) Combined Country Districts (cl Combined Northern Districts. This would give, juniors additional interest in the game. Splendid weather prevailed for the cricket matches last Saturday. Players generally have some fault to find with the w-eather. so Saturday's heat wave was not to the liKinp of the t<wLm in tlic field. Caretaker Yates had given special attention to the wickets for Eden A and Parnell match, and it played fait and true.

This match more than usual interest, both teams being looked upon as having a considerable pull on the championship. Parnell took first strike on a good wicket, opening with Warner and Badeley to the bowling of Murdoch and Greenwood. The pair did not shape well in the opening session, but gradually gained confidence, although no liberties were taken with the bowling. Greenwood and Murdoch gave place to McLaughlrn and Haase. the former capturing Warner's wicket with a fast good lenffth ball. Warner put in some good work in front of the wicket, and anything inclined to the off. Badeley continued to plod along, being content to hold up his wicket. He had numerous chances of punishing the bowling, but lacked the necessary dash. With the advent of Moore. Pamell " scrip "' got a considerable bump upwards. Through wandering carelessly outside the allotted space, Moore was forced to retire, smartly stumped by Tattersall. Moore's innings was most aggressive, most of his runs coming from hard forward play.

Fairbuni filled Che, vacancy and soon showed the Eden trandlers th.it he wa? run-hunting. Haase gave to Murdoch, who soon had Fairbura in difficulties, clean bowling him with a fine

leg-break. Fairburn deserved his runs and his innings was remarkably bright throughout. Jackson had not settled into his stride before he was beaten by Murdoch. Foster opened rather scratchily. but warmed up to his work. Most of his best strokes were good, clean, carpet drives. After collecting 35, he was well taken by Greenwood at point.

Badeley continued to collect a few singles, and eventually he earned considerable applause by lifting Horspool over the fence. Shortly after he paid the penalty of a short run. and missed the crease by inehe-s. Badeley, who scored 36, must be given credit for his solid.defence, and his innings materially assisted to put Parnell in the fine position they had gained when stumps were drawn. Dow. who top-scored with 38, has played many better innings. His timing was weak, and he was extremely lucky in registering his total. With the exception of Doble the remaining batsmen offered little resistance, the whole side being out just on call of time for the fine total of 254. Doble got 31. and adapted his play to the conditions, and treated the tired bowlers with scant respect. His life wa.« a short and merry one. Eden have a heavy task before them next Saturday — a good, uphill fisht.

The match between Ponsonby B and Eden B was played at Eden Park, the Edenites taking rirst strike and registering 200, while the Westerners have opened rather disastrously —losing three wickets for 7—the veteran Somervell capturinn two, both clean bowled. Sale (72) played a fine innings and put his side in a good winning position. His batting was crisp and clean, while his defence was remarkably sound indeed. G. Mills (5." i put np a good exhibition, and well deserved his half-century. On a hard wicket. Mil's is difficult "to shift, making good use of the helpful blockhole stroke. H. Smith i 36) collected hie total in his usual dashinsr style, hitting 'ard. 'iph and of en.

I niversity attacked North Shore with a very weak side, owing to the seniors requiring several gaps to be filled in their ranks. The second grade were compelled to make up from the third grade, .md as the students' resources are limited the third were unable to raise a team. Evidently cricket is not in a very flourishing condition in the "barn of education." :ind something will require doinjr if the students are to maintain their status in the local cricketing world. Notwithstanding that the two teams competing were much below the usual strength, their performances were full if merit, and at the end of the day's play both elevens are in (rood positions. The somiors have Grnfton thinking hard. •vhile the second grade have a good fighting chance. The collegians had first use of the wicket, nnd. despite n poor start.

registered 152 before the end came. The cheif scorers were the two Gouldings. The "ke-eper" came to light with a valuable 43. which included some good strokes. F. Goulding i'22i knocked up the bulk of his runs with some hard taps on the leg side, and then fell a vie tim to Joyce. Cossey i two for 12) and Young (three for were the chief wicket-takers for North Shore.

The seasiders did not start too well. and it was not until O. Miller attacked the bowling that North Shore looked like having a chance. The sunburnt hitter rattled up '25 not out before stumps were drawn, and the total now stands at five wickets for 03. which leaves the match in a very interesting position.

GT-afton B scarcely seemed to have much trouble in the family squabble, but Norton's good fortune in winning the toss fiave them first hand on a wicket that was likely to cause trouble during the afternoon. The B"s talked about doing wonders against .lackson"s bowling, but the " boot wag on the other foot "' according to performances, as the ex-Grammarite wound up with six for 2S in the first innings, and has four wickets to his credit in the second. Yates 1 201 was the only batsman to stay any length of time before being run out owinpr to a misunderstanding.

The A's were in a similar fix as the B's until the fall of the fifth wicket. Then Sloman anil TtiL-hards cemented a partnership that put the match beyond doubt. Sloman followed up his previous 150 not out by making 52, before he was well taken by Horspool. Most of his runs were the result of leg hitting. Richards (28) also made most of his runs on th* lee side. Reid sent down some fast stuff which was v bit awkward on such a wiekrt. and captured four for 26. Rutherford was doing fairly well with the ball until he sent dowii to Lepine some leg stuff, and then 15 runs went on in three hits. The B's, in their second venture, did not promise a very hopeful recovery, as only 34 are on the slate for the loss of half' the side