NEW ZEALAND CRICKET.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17741, 18 April 1923, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET.

THE RECORD OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

COMMENTS IN "THE

CRICKETER."

(feoh oub owjj cobhespohbent.) LONDON, March 8. "Old Collegian" is the pen-name of an old boy of Christ's College, who was a student there up till 1597, and who now is in England. In his youth he was prominent in Rugby and cricket, and he is very proud of the College record. Taking as Ms text the match played by Mr A. C. Maclaren's Eleven against Canterbury, he recalls in "The Cricketer'"' some of the prominent players of the past. Referring to R. C. Blunt's magnificent 173 in retaliation against Maclaren, he points out that this player 'hit up 80 against a powerful Australian eleven led by Vernon Raniford, who described it as the best innings he had seen of the Australian or New Zealand side during the New Zealand tour. Professor Blunt, M.A., of Christ Church, Oxford, now holding a chair at Canterbury, must have been well pleased with his son's success against his old friends the enemy. T. C. Lowry is, of course, touring with Maclaren, and was captain of both tho XV. and XI. when at Christ's College. In 1921 he made IS3 not out in the Cambridge Freshmen's match, which I believe to be a record. He played for the University against the Australians. He is a fine wicket-keeper—a fact not well known. He plays a good deal for that sporting county, Somerset. "A great benefactor to Christ's College cricket," the writer continues, "was Canon F. A. Hare, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, for thirty-three years chaplain to the school, but now dead. In 1901, to raise the standard of the school cricket, Charles Bannerman, the brilliant Australian batsman of the seventies and eighties, was secured as coach for three years. Bannerman came and worked wonders, not only for Christ's College, but for Canterbury generally, and he was liked and respected by all." There are further comments on other coaches who followed. Some Brilliant Players. "The best bowler New Zealand has produced," this ex-resident affirms, "was the left-hander, F. S. Frankish. Up to international standard, he was in the School XL, ISBB-9. Tho writer was in the School XI. with K. M. OUivier in 1896. who represented New Zealand on many occasions, as did his father, A. M. Ollivier, who was in the 18(33 School XI. K. M. Ollivier, bowling slow leg-breaks, used to get the most wonderful number of wickets. Why is it so few bowlers nowadays use this ball? Armstrong and Harry Trott are the best exponents of it I have seen. Does anyone know other good slow leg-breakers 1 Other members of my teams were Mike Lindsay, a very plucky batsman (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel of the 7th _ Dragoons, who won a D.S.O. in this war and saw service in the South African War), and, is now, I believe, captain of the Coupar Cricket Club, and elected by the' Scottish Cricket Union as one of the North representatives. A. C. Grant, who also played in the eleven, represented King's College, Cambridge, at cricket, Rugby, and athletics. He died in 1919.

"In the School XL of 1888 was Wallingford Mendelson, who represented Canterbury at cricket and Rugby for several seasons, and was a Cambridge Rugby Blue for 1894-5-6, also representing Cambridge at cricket on various occasions \ while in residence at Jesus. His sensational defeat of C. B. Fry in the long jump at the interVarsity sports of 1895 will be long remembered, Wallingf ord Mendelson jumping, I believe, 22ft Bin. "A good annual match is played in New Zealand between the Old Boys of the great English public schools now resident in New Zealand and the Old Boys of Christ's College. Last year his Excellency Governor-General Lord Jellicoe led the English team. The gallant Admiral made 24 and 11, and had a, son of a former Governor, the Hon. B. Plunket, in his team, but Christ's College won by an innings and 55, in the presence of a very large number of ladies and lovers of the game. "Christ's College was founded in 1850, and English travellers are apt to describe her as the Eton of the Southern Hemisphere. To Eton she owes much, for that great Etonian, the late Most Rev. H. P. C. Harper, D.D., the Bishop of .Christchureh and Primate of New Zealand, was Warden from 1856 till 1892, and his work will stand for generations to come."