CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20045, 29 September 1930, Page 19

CRICKET.

THE SEASON OPENS. PRACTICE AT LANCASTER PARK. Green turf and a blue sky heralded the opening of the cricket season at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon. The passing of football was hardly noticed: white flannels were everywhere: ;nd enthusiasm, which had lain dormant for so many winter months, sprang to life again. Practice nets had been ranged on both sides of tho lower ground and about one hundred players, representing two clubs, East Christchurch and Lancaster Park (erstwhile Linwood) engaged in various forms of practice. The eagerness was sucli that it was soon discovered thut there were not enough nets to go round, and the Lancaster Park Club, for one. had to arrange that each batsman bo granted a liveminutes' turn and no more. This club had a particularly good muster of members and on the ground a full twenty recruits were enrolled. Amongst these were many youngsters, and this, according to older members of the club, augured well for the future. During tho afternoon a meeting of piayers was held to decide what colour blazers should be worn in the future, as those of tho old club had be-en dispensed with. Orange, black, red, and white wero finally chosen, and it was left to the committee to reach a decision as to the most happy combination of these shades, so that there should be no question of clashing with the East Christchurch Clu'o. The latter club had been practising the while on the other side of the ground. Play, as with tho Lancaster Park Club, was of an informal nature, but it was decided to hold a scratch match next Saturday if possible. Members were the guests of Dr. A. J. Orchard, during an adjournment, at afternoon tea.

SEASON OPENED IN SYDNEY FIRST DAY'S CENTURIES. (C:nTEB PRESS ASSOCIATION—EX ELECT2IC TELZGBAPH—COPYBIQUT.) (Received September 28th, o.u p.m.) SYDNEY, September '2B. Tho cricket season opened hero yesterday in glorious weather. Centuries vera made by Hogg (117). for University against Paddington; by Salmon (110), for Jlosman against Glebe; by Ives (309), for St. George against Cumberland; by Solonviin (100), for Petersham against Merriekville. Bowling for Balmain against Gordon, Hird took six for 38.

ENGLISH BATSMEN AND BOWLERS. AN AUSTRALIAN'S OPINION. VCiHTICD I'Hk'.oS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TEIjEGr.AI'H—COFTKIQHT.) "LONDON. September '2o. 'iV. A. Oldfield, of the Australian cricket team, informed a "Daily Express" interviewer on the ore of his departure, that lie had selected J. 13. Hobbs, I>\ E. Woolley, 'H. .SutclifTe, and K. S. Dulcepsinhji as tho best batsinon the Australians had met on tho tour. M. W. Tate and I. A. 11. Peebles were the best bowlers, G. Duckworth and L. Ames the best wicket-keepers, and A. P. F. Chapman and E. Hendren tho bes.t fieldsmen. Duleopsinhji, be says, is one of the best batsmen in Peebles is England's coming bowler, but Robins is at present the most dangerous, since occasionally he sends down an unplayable ball, which distinguishes the really preat bowler. Though slower, Peebles is more untiring and more athletic, but he does not use the leg break enough. Asked which towns accorded the Australians the most enthusiastic reception, he named Swansea, and then Bristol.

HOMEWARD BOUND. SEND-OFF TO AUSTRALIANS. (UNITED par.3B ASSOCIATION—3! ELECT3IC VBLZaiUPB—COPVaIOHT.) (Received September 28th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, September 27. The Australian cricketers were given a rousing send-off at St. Pancras Station. • No announcement was inade to the team, but it is understood that the financial result of the tour will be an improvement on that of 192 G. f

MR J. H. SCULLIN'S MESSAGE LONDON, September 2Q. "Tell them," Mr J. H. Scullin told Mr Kelly, managing the Australian cricket team, - "how proud Australia is of their winning the Ashes. Htow proud they, are, too, of the wonderful impression they have left behind in England. Several people have told me of It." Mr Scullin was chatting with Mr Kelly, who with Oldfield was the only Test representative able to attend the afternoon tea oarty specially for cricketers. It was a last-minute affair, and the rest of the cricketers could not be secured, but Mr Scullin entertained an interesting party of Australian friends. Mr Kelly has just returned from fishing in Ranji's Irish castle. He reports great fishing, and havin<? had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

NORTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. The North Canterbury Cricket Association opened the first round of their competition matches' on Saturday in ideal weather. Throughout the competitions the seniors will pjay two-day matches and tho juniors oneday matches. Some of the results of Saturday's games were as follows: SEJaUHS. Woodend batted fiwt against Oxford and scored 257 (E. Little 87, A. Smith 54, Gibbs 25, W. Edei 15, T. Chinnery 19, C. Bourne 10> When time was called, Oxford bad made 46 for the loss of five wickets. .Southgate (15). and Pavelka (15 no* out) were tho onU double-figure scorers. Playing ajrainst Eyreton, Amberley scored 130 (Mayo 50, L. Rhodes 31, Mansfield 15). When stumps were drawn, Eyreton had two wickets down for 61 (G. Cherry 25 not out, and H. Bonnet 1 25 not out). Bowling for Eyreton, R. Bennett took seven wickets for 41 runs, Carter ono for 18, and T. Cherry one for 41. JUNIORS. Horrelville 102 (E. Bennett 80, I>T. Forrest "5. G. Beere 22, and G. Doimis 17) defeated Ili'nfrlora 103 (L. Mahoney S4, L Carlyon 20, Woodward 15). Bowling for Horrelville, Beere took five for 12. Eder two for 17, and Dennis one for 12. For Rangiora, Mahoncy six for 26, Cox one for 9, and Woodward one for 40 bowled well. Kaiapoi 65 (Burgess 26, Wright ID) lost (o Loburn 165 (Hopkins 36, Greenwood 23, J Pulley 00, and Chambers 15, all retired; Hill 11, Dawson 10, Lindsay, jun., 10 not out). Hopkins and Pulley howled best for Lcburn, and Whits for Kaiapoi. Cust pained a two-noint win against Swa;> lipro.i, at Cust. Sv.-annanoa batted ilrci and made 63 runs (W. Fidler 32, J. 31 c-

Hugii li>. Cu&t scored 67 for eight wickets (H. K. Sail 81 not out, E. AVayland 11). Bowling for Cust T. O'Loughlin took four v.'ickets for 10, and for Sv.-annanoa •). McHugh toot two for 18. M. I'idler two for 10, 11. Winter tvro for 12.

SUMNER CLUB. A; a committee meeting ol' the Sumner Cricket Club it was decided to open the (season on October 4th, and to try to arrange a game with a team from town. All members and intending members, as veil os friends and supporters of the club, are invited to be present. A team is to be entered in the third grade Canterbury Cricket Association's competition, and the club is endeavouring to arrange for a tc-ajn from the Sumner District High School to play under a lower grade, under the club's name.