CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 79, 3 April 1915, Page 16

CRICKET.

WJia* do you think ofii:he reform com mi ttee's report ?

That question was putito many prominent cricketers and criclne* followers recently by a Sydney writer, and they all replied something in this way. "Well, you know, fit's all right aeifar as it goen, but "

The '"but" wafi significant. In sobt? cases subsequent remarks showed that it implied disappointment thnt the committee h;ul not tackled some of the mors. , immediate problems: Jn others it was ■found to imply that it was ihopele.se to think of making crk-ket-attractive by reform measures.

'"There's only one cefarm," eaid one, "that is. to muke the bat hit the ball. Seventy-five per cent of our players let the ball hit the bat most of the time."

Generally speaking, it may be β-et down that cricket followers are a bit disappointed. They were looking for something more as the product of 21 meetings and evidence taken.

Surprise was expressed that the general committee had not been firm enough bo grapple with a reduction of clubs.

THE SEASON REVIEWED. CENTURIES AND BIG SCORES. The pricket season in Auckland, which practically concluded last Saturday with the winning of the championship by Ponsonby. has in most respects been very satisfactory from a playing point of view, after making some allowance for the more or less deadening effect that the war has had oil all forms of eport. Cricketers have been fortunate in getting an exceptional rim of fine weather almost from end to end of the season, which has had its effect in making the conditions pleasant, increasing the scoring possibilities, and keeping minds to some, extent off the military situation. Though no new star has arisen in the cricket world, tlie performances of the young players have been gratifyingly good, and in one or two instances, notably that of C. Dacre, point to the average strength of the province being well maintained, as the older players, in the natural order of things, leave the cricket field to exploit the possibilities of rheumatics, obesity, pavilion seats, and bowls.

Only two interprovincial matches have broken the ealin of the club season, when Auckland drew with Wellington, rather in favour of the Southerners, after the luck of the conditions had been against Auckland; and, later, when Auckland ran Canterbury to the exceedingly close finish of one wicket for possession of the I'lunket Shield. Both these games indicated that the standard of play in Auckland has not retrogressed to any extent.

One feature of the season is the abnormal number of centuries made by individual players in the club matches. In all twenty centuries wero recorded— fo-ur by E. MacCormick (122 not out, 173. 120 not out, and 117), two by X. 0. 'Sneddon (113 and 101), two' by .A. Young (119 not out and 109), two by L. Taylor (133 and 158), two by C. Dacre (130 not out and 188), and one each by F. R- Mason (145 not out), F. R. Wilson (120). W. Brinsden (103 not out). F. A. Taylor (100), Sauvcrin (138), \V. Blair (159), E. Horepool (122), and L. Dacre (117). It is, however, rather significant that of these big scores six were made against Waitemata bowling. Three centuries werp made against Grafton, three against Parnell, two against Eden B, two against Eden A, and two against University.

Probably a lint? as to where the actual weakness and strength of the clubs lieu can be gained from these figures, for while six centuries were knocked up against Waitemata, no player was able to make a three-figure ecore against Ponsonby, the only Ipam in the competition that can Jay claim to this distinction. The strength of the Ponsonby attack is further emphasised by the bowling of X. C. Sneddon (5S wickets at a cost of 11 runs apiece), and tVve average of the other bowlens of the side.

Another feature of the season hae been the number of large scores made by the teams. Twelve tinras in the competition have teams made more than 300 runs, and three times has the fourth century been topped. Graft-on put up the record score of 445 (against Waitemata), being closely followed by Eden A, 444, and Eden B. 404. .botii against Waitemata. These big figures (over 300) have been five times put up against Waitemata, twice against Eden A, and once against each of the other teams, with tine exception—again—of Ponsonby.

Despite these big scores, thpre have been quite a number of close finishes, and in half a dozen instances games have been won by a matter of 20 runs and less. Grafbon beat Poneonby by a run, North Shore beat Edro B by a run, Eden A beat Eden B b; 11 Tuns, "Varsity beat Eden B by 14 rimE, Parnell beat 'North Shore by 10 runs, and "Varsity beat Xorth Shore by 20 runs. So that ithere hae been plenty of excitement.

The fielding of the teams all-round has been excellent throughout, with a .few occasional Japeea. And here again fctre Poneonby players take pride of place, indicating that their premier position in the championship has the virtue of allround merit. In the competition ganree Poneonby playera took 44 catches in the field (Wilson 12. F. S. Taylor 10, and Maeon 5); North Shore players made 38 catches (W. Ooleman 7, Hovnlcn G, C, Dacre 5); Eden A 33 (Taylor 9); University 25 (Graham 8, Fisher 6); Grafton 25: Pamell 23; Eden B 20; and Waitemata 12. There are irrespective of catches at the wicket, in wMch fiiobinson (Poneonby) heads .the liet with nine, Eountrec (Eden A) being nerfc with six.

THE AUCKLAND AVERAGES.

The following is a list of .the club averages of players in the senior teams of tho Auckland championship competition just concluded. The figures have bocn compiled from newspaper reports of the paine:— rONSONBY. BATTING. I. N.O. H.S. A.se. At. K. Mason.... 10 1 145» 4TO 52.2 K. Wilson..., 30 1 12<>» 460 51.1 —. Brinsden.. 7 1 103* 206 34.3 N. Sneddon... in — US .TSft 33.!) R. "Worker... U 1 89* 251 25.1 W. Robinson. 11 r> 4fi 101 16.8 A. Osborne 10 1 SI 137 15 a F, S. Taylor.. ] I — «5 1«O 14.5 C Snedden... 11 - 44 15£» 14.4 V. Kavanagh. 4 1 24* 27 3 W. McMath.. 8 4 !>• 20 7 2. B. Woods 7 1 11 40 «.P> H. Wright.... 4 — 6 6 1.5 •Not out.

BOWLIXG. W. R. Ay. F.U.Wilson 11 120 10.0 !X. <\ Sneddon r«S tMU 11.4 I\ 11. M.-isod 17 237 ja.J) \V. McMatb SI -IJVB 1(5.00 ;—. Wright ?. r>2 17.3 ■It. Woods R IS!> ■j:!.*! C. Sncdden 3 MOT .'Hi.. , ! Also bowled: Kavanagh two for 125. Taylor one for 28, BHusden one lor 11, Worker none for 10. XORTH SHORE CRICKEf CLUB. * BATTING. Inn. N.O. H.S. Agjr. Ay. C. nacre 18 1 188 BHB 40.5 1.. ltacrr r. — 117 231 40.2 IS. Kt«ivart 11' 2 7:t :K» :t2 Tuttersall 11 2 4ft 2H7 ao.S K. Coloman ... 7 2 SWB» 130 2T>.2 Howden i:i — !(0 217 22.8 Howie 12 — (!2 285 22.08 Itankin i:; 3 28» 145 14.r. Prime i:t — :tl 174 ia.:t Farqiihargon .. !> — 48 114 12.0 Wiiitc 7 2 1« 55 11 AY. «:olcman ..11 2 40* 94 10.4 BOWLING. Wickets. Kane. Avjte. A. M. Ijowdea 44 fiSO l!?.l A. Kankin 10 2ti:s i:s.« .T. Howie is 212 1O.:S U. Stewart 10 288 28.8 1.. I laere 4 124 :tl W. (:olemau 7 240 H3.1 C. IJacre « H4 48 Also howled: Townshend one for 60, and Tiil'tersall none for 4". : EDEN A , r .... . ■_ BATTING. I. N.O. H.S. Afig. Ay. 1.. Taylor It 2 138* 458 50.7 I'ummlngß ... 11 1 80 Vfii 37 :i Heinus IS — 74 sno 30 Bennett 7 2 r>6 144 28.8 Burton IO 2 78 224 28 Hronke-Sniith lit 2 <U 299 27 1 Heigh way ... 12 — «5 3OT» 25.4 Sauverin 12 1 138 185 17.7 I. Mills 12 :i 21) 137 15.2 liouutroe IV 1 r>l ym 13.« ■Gilmore 1!'. U 24 OU 8.4 •Xot out. BOWLING. W. R. Ay. A. Burton 26 2K7 !t.l I. Mills 22 282 12.8 Villmore » 13 lftl H.li Taylor 21 :S6O 17.1 IS. I'uniiulngs 20 348 17.4 Bennett 4 76 1!» Sauverin 17 351 20.6 ■L. G. Ilemus 11 277 23.1 JJelghwav 4 Mβ 27 W. Brooke-Smith .1 112 37.3 Also bowled: Greenwood none for 47, McLttughlln none for 13, Ronntree none for 12, Suergold none for 28. Sale one for 84. GBAFTOX CRICKET CLUB. BATTING. Inn. X.O. H.S. Agg. At. E. MacCormicV 11 3 173 800 101.1 E. Horspool ... 13 2 122 403 42.1 W. Stenison ... 4 1 Xi 81 27 l>. Hay 8 — 01 20C1 23.0 faro « 2 li 7 t>s 23.7 Klncstonc .... 4 — 70 83 20.7 J. Baker 12 1 47 213 10.3 W. Horspool ..11 1 73 MU lit.l K. Sloman ... II — 57 1110 15.3 Martin 8 — 32 102 12.7 Harvie 4 2 12 25 12.5 Murdoch fi 1 22 40 11.5 A. Sloman 4 — 17 :::: 5.2 Uaresnape .... S 2 l<r ol 0.1 BOWLING. Wickets. Runs. Avge. ■I. Baker 2G 43S I«.S W. Harvle 14 252 18 E. Horspool 33 U97 1H.9 A. Haresnape !!• 36S l!».:i W. Stemson '< 117 23.4 A. Sloman '•'• 75 25 W. Horspool r> 1.-.7 31.4 11. Sloman 4 157 39.2

Also bowled: E. MaeCormtek one for .'lO, Martin one for 78, Simmouus uoue lor 20, ana Murdoch none for 25. EDEN B C.C. SATTIXU. I. X.O. U.S. Acs. Ay. IV. Blair ].'■ — 15!> 4!» :53.2 A. Shepherd. 14 2 r,7 :<74 :il.l Sale H — «iO :W0 23.0 Bonlr 3.T — 00 214 10.4 Danrell 7 — 25 104 34.« C. Itobinson . US 4 4!'. l"."i 14.5 Haase 7 :\ 13* 40 12.2 Punch 14 2 4.':« 14T. 12.118 Honey<K>inbe 32 3 23 81 11.5 Somervllle .. 12 1 35 llβ 10.5 A. Horepool.. U — 34 110 5.2 ■Buckley S 1 11 :)4 4.4S •Not out.

1 ' !' BOWLING. W. It. Ay. Tunch 10 141 14.1 iHone.veomho 32 OK 1!>.2 <'. Jtobinson 2:> MS!) 1H.4 A. llorsponl 6 12S 21.8 Sommerville 0 201 22.3 Also 'bow-Jod: Shephrril two for OS. Blalf one for 70, Flower none for 9. PAItN'ELL C.C. BATTING. I. X.O. H.S. Agg. Ay. •h. Brcese ... 14 3 OS* 574 52.1 Anthony (15 2 07 503 ::8.6 Bevlns n 2 -JX f)j 13.1 «<irns 11 1 .-,s k«) ]:•, 4 — •'.- .->■' 13 Donlo 14 — r.S ISO 12.8 I>«W 12 — :I2 12'S 10.0 Stephens .... 12 S 1s 74 10.3 Falrhurn .... 10 — 20 Ur, <>..-> Ryan 12 2 2il .S4 ha Wright 11 — is 74 <>.7 Slater 12. — Iβ 00 v •Xot out. G-OWIiING. W. K. At. Bevlnn afi 23!t 14.r> (Anthony 34 r>2S 1.1.5 IRyan ir> 207 lil.S Vairburn „ 8 100 24.8 Somervell n ir,:i 3,1,5 Stephens 13 ae:{ 27.0 Doble „ 0 :S2i> ."55.5 Also bowled: Brecon one for 50, Wright none for 21, Slater none for 50. The averages or the University and Waltemata teams have been already published.