ON THE HILL.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 3, 4 January 1924, Page 6

ON THE HILL.

AT THE OTAGO-AUCKLAND MATCH. THE CRICKET CRITIC. " Phew! It's not a bit hot," remarked the cricket fan as he picked out a suitable stone on the hill at Eden Park yesterday afternoon. He had just arrived on the ground, and at once began to disrobe. With scrupulous care he took off his coat, folded it neatly and nicely, then divested himself of collar and tie. Here he stopped to take from the hip pocket a white handkerchief that for size might easily have done duty as an afternoon tea cloth, and as the handkerchief gradually emerged from the pocket it reminded one of Chung Ling Soo producing the Union Jack from a hat. With one edge tucked under the back of the hat, which had been replaced on the head, the hillite settled down to enjoy the game. Otago had just commenced their second innings, with Worker and Shepherd at the wicket. " How. many do they want to win ?" asked the critic. Someone remarked the visitors were up against 427, which had to be wiped off. "No chance. For all the hope they've got of winning they're only tourists. OJee! That was a good hit of Worker— he made a big score in the first innings, Jjut had a lot of luck. Smith's bowling was too slow; they'll knock him right out of the ground unless he changes his pace. Shepherd's a good bat, but he ought to hit out." Both batsmen had been playing carefully and taking no chances, and scoring was slow. The fan yawned. "Gee! this is slow —been playin' an hour and only 00. He's out Hooray!" McMullan then came on and partnered Worker. McMullan began by poking his bat down and blocking the ball, which caused the fan to shout " What about a game of buttons ? " Then Worker went out, his place being taken by Blamires. As the latter walked on the field the hillite remarked, " Here's Blhneys. A good bat this bloke; might make a century." He was to be disappointed if he expected slogging, for both McMullan and Blamires were content to drop the bat in front of the ball, and score a run occasionally. The batsmen had been at the ' wickets about half an hour for twenty runs, when the hillite could keep quiet no longer. "No wonder I'm here almost by myself, if this .is cricket. Not much chance of the game doing any good. Send him down an under-arm Smithy, or call the field off for a minute and sec if they will have a whack. Here, do you know what this is ? I've just tumbled. They're playing for the movies, and this is slow motion. I'd give a ' quid ' to see them on the tramp back to the stand. It's getting on a man's nerves, and I can see myself getting treated by a chiropractor if this ;;oes on much longer." The Auckland bowlers had been sending down all sorts of loose stuff in the hope that the batsmen would hit out, but it was not to be, and as they continued to block the Auckland slips were brought in until they were almost touching the batsmen. " Look where they've got the slips ! " He was talking again. " They're close enough to have his watch from his pocket if he ever turns to pull a ball to leg. I'd like to see them give a chance." Almost immediately Blamires took a chance, and was caught. The hillite: "Well, I suppose he played the game, but Vm not sorry he's gone. Who's this coming on? Alloo. Don't fancy him. Looks like a couple of ducks at the end of the name. McMullan lias got it on Carbine as a stayer—but Carbine was brilliant." Instead of the batting livening up it became ev->n slower than before. Alloo did not make many, although he -was at the wicket some time, and Knight, who followed, wag perhaps less inclined to hit out than any of the others. " They're playing an uphill game," remarked a epectator. The critic was in again: " They're what ? If this is a game of any sort then I'm finished. I wish the ' Star' would come, so's a man could get something to read. Look, you can have this on your own. There's too many thrills for mc, and the doctor said I mus'n't get excited. McMullan's a better stayer than mc. S'long boys. I'll read all about it in the morning."