CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17610, 13 November 1922, Page 4

CRICKET.

M.C.C. TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE FIEST MATCH. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CAPE TOWN, November 10. The first match of the English cricket team's tour opened at Newlands grounds. Western Province won the toas, and batted in dull" weather after rain overnight. Province in the firat innings made 115 (K. Hands 49, Pat Hands 28, Reid 23, Ben Simon 23). Bowling—Fender took four wickets for 48, Gilligan two for 19, Jupp two for 26. " "A TEAM TO PLAY THE GAME." BRILLIANCE RATHER THAN STEADINESS. (feoii ottr own correspondent ) LONDON, October 3. The departure of the H.C.C. side for Australia and New Zealand was the occasion for comment on the members of the team, j "It is impossible," eays Mr D. L. A. Jeph6on, ex-captain of Surrey Eleven, "to regard them as up to the international standard, but it is only just to say that seldom has a . more sporting, light-hearted 'try-to-the-bitter. | end' combination leit England to battle with 1 the Cornstaii&a and the almost as formidab.e New Zeaianuera. All old cricketers, especially those who have played with or against Hadaa'en, are delighted tnat he has been piaced in command of the side. It is true that he has been an unlucky captain but there has never been a better leader of a team, and never one who so completely enjoys the iuliest ooniidence of those who play under him. i "Afl to the teaim'a cricket calpacity, the ' majority of the batsmen are nottd rather for biTiliiiUicy than steadiness, so that when rung do come their way there will be a succession of flashing iours and few of tho patient einglea laboriously produced. Most of them are merry-hearted hitters, who know a halfvolley wJien they see one, and who treat it on ita merits, whether it is bowltd. by Warwick Armstrong or anybody else. If the Aueralians and New Zealamders will only pitch the ball up (I fear they will not), they will have ample opportunity'of watching the right way of dealing with the over-pitched variety 1 Great Possibilities. "As Maclaren says, no doubt at the start the extra pace of the wicketa and the very strong light will be found deleterious, but after a while I expect Chapman, Calthorpe, Wilkinson, Wilson, and Hul-Wood will get plenty oi runs, and so will Maclaren, if he will only go in firßt or near the top. There can be little doubt that the batting, taken as a whole, will be full of surprises—one 1 day splendidly successful, the next a tiling l to weep over. Whether the necessary runs are made or not, there is, however, little fault to be found with the bowling Mid fielding. The stumping will be in the safe hands ol Lowry and Mac Lean. In conclusion, it is not a great team on paper, but it is a team of great possibilities—a team not out to 'win, tie, or wrangle,' 'but out to play the game. Easy Task In New Zealand. , , "jThat the M.C.C. team will have a fairly easy task before them in New Zealand seems distinctly probable," says "The Gentleman ir ' n the ' Athletio News." "Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago possess some useful players, but it is difficult to imagine any one of these provinces being" able, single-handed, to play a close game with the Englishmen. Even'in the matches with combined teams much the, same result may be anticipated, for the fact cannot be denied that, although there is plenty of enthusiasm for the game in New Zealand, the standard of pla'y ia not particularly high. For years past cricketers in the Dominion have seemed able to develop their skill, to a certain degree and then to have failed to make tho further headway whioh would have caused them to rank, as great players instead of , merely decidedly useful ones. Why this should bo is not easy to suggest, for the men themselves aie very keen; the game is well organised in ell the chief centres, and' the annual competition for' the Plunkeit Shield serves to maintain the public interest in cricket. j "Although an easy task is assured for the tourists in Now Zealand, it will be a faff different experience for them in Australia, especially so far as their matches at Melbourn® and Sydney are concerned. But just' as it is good for a club to play against stronger teams than itself, so may beneflt; be expected to accrue to the M.C.C. brissnde 1 from their matches with the chief • AustraKam: States, provided, that is, the latter place, fully representative sides in the field." I Some young, players aie in the Wm, - BUch ■ as W. W. Hill-Wood (Cambridl.se 'University; and Derbyshire-) and A. P. F. Chapman (Cambridge University). One of tho happiest, of the party was the HOll. F. S. Gough Caithorpe, the "Warwickshire captain, who is accompanied by. his bride. ' LORD JELLICOE'S TEAM. The following, will be his Excellency the Governor-Generalla., team to play P. J.; Shacklock's colts at Hag ley Park to-day, play commencing at 2.15 p.m.:—Lord Jellicoe, .Captain Curtis, D. Keese, E. R. Cay--gill, Dr. P. S. Foster, J. S. Barrett, B. B.' Wood, A. R.' Blank, J. F. PeaJce, W. H. Winsor, and T. W. Reese.