CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 9

CRICKET.

(Br Breaker.)

Tho. prospects of .cricket did not look bright at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Rain was falling rather sharply at this hour, and, although the ground was nard, tho grass remained wet enough to niako the ball very greasy until about 3.30 p.m. Notwithstanding this advantago to Datsmcn, scoring was slow all round. As everybody anticipated, Old Boys beat Nowtcwn by an iunings, although tho latter side made a better score in tho second innings. The Newtown total included live double-figuro scores, and the team batted two men short. Of'the individual performances, that of Tilyard's stands foremost. Ho has a'nice style, and his off driving is very good. He also possesses the confidence necessary for the making of a batsman. Payne was topscorer with 23. His batting was safe and sure. Ryan had. hard luck in being run out. He slipped- when returning from a "back-up," and the ball reached the wickets beforo ho did. . „ . Tucker was the only Old Boy -howler to do anything worth mentioning with the ball. So far this season, he. has taken 21' wickets for 151 runs. ' '■ • Monaghan's average to date is 8 for 113. At tho time of writing, Hales has the best figuros-in senior cricket, viz., 24 wickets.for 179 runs. ; The Midland-Gas , Gonipany. game was slow and'wearisome. . Midlands were at the wickets all the :afternoon and- scored 275 runs, 27 of the'3o2 having been made' on the previous Saturday. The Gas Company's bowling was not good, and the fielding was such that it enabled Midland to win. After Midland'had scored the required number tho fielding of. the Gas Company got worse (if possible),'.than it had been before. This falling. off was largely responsible for the scores of AYynyard (40) and Upham (32). C. Hicksori batted well for his runs.. His is the first century in • Wellington senior oricket for the season. He batted much more brightly than usual, and.his efforts put con-fidence-into his comrades. Williams added 21 runs' to his previous total before M'Kay bowled him. His . innings was crisp, as usual,: and next to. Williams and-•Hickson, Murphy's innings was the-most useful-one on the side. .He was .at the wickots for some time. (The Gas Company howlers had a bad time on Saturday. The -Midlander,' Upham's, average to date is 4 for 132.*

The,Wellington-Phoenix game was finished outright. Few considered that it would have beon, as Wellington was expected to hold the fort in the second innings. Wellington, resuming with 4 for 213, were unable to make anything ' like a decent score. ,Laws and Hiekey, who bowled uncliaiiged : throughout the first innings, ywero bowling accurately, and the Wellington sido failed to make runs. Their total of 56 was very poor, considering that tho grass was wet and the ball greasy. In the second "innings Wellington lost two wickets for 3 runs, and then there were two or three chances dropped right aivay.

■ Richardson, in making 15, had about four lives. ' Hickson, who mado 18 not out and 25; showed, tho best batting on the Wellington side, although ho was missed in each innings. Willis and Tisher wore- tpgether fora time and mado 18.and 19 respectively. Their, contributions were' a useful- help towards the total, ■ but there were no good strokes shown by either. Gibbes "went clean through" the Wellington side and finished with 8 for 34. '.. V:..: "{:■? ' '■ ".i .''.

.' If Phoenix bowling had been handled better in- the £ second. mnWgs;; Wellington would not have made as-Many as-th^did; , -Hickc'y sh'ould: v liS^ : at the north end.' ■'" /'*"' '■ 3l ■•■'./

Naugllton, O'Sullivan, Nash, Luckie,•.Mαhony,' Quinh," and Hales, in the "two innings each only made'2B runs altogether;

Mahony w - as again run out owing to a shocking error, of judgment on ' his 'part. Hickson drove Hickey fast, ' straight to Wafers. It was Hickson's call, but Mahony immediately, bounded up the pitch for a run. ■ Waters fielded nicely, and returnad well. to Hickey, who knocked the bails off. Mahony, who was half way down tlio wicket was, of course, run out.

Crewes, Phoenix wicket keeper, showed it marked improvement bohind tlic wickets.on Saturday. Ho took, four wickets in all, and he took them well. A good' wicket keeper is of immense assistance to his bowlers.

.Hickey's -bowling average to date is wickets for 187 runs. His fielding: was-"off" on Saturday. Fisher has secured 10 wickecs for 135. Laws' average, reads 10 for 135. Cobcrof t's figures are 13 for 139. ; Hill lias taken 10 wickets for 106. Ryan (Newtown) 10 for 144, Gourlay 7 for 144, Brico 8 for 64, Mooro 8 for 92, Luckic 5 for 81,' are other bowlors' performances. '. '

•In-view of the several representative 'matches to be played this season, the Wellington Selection Committee would do well to select about 20 players to preparo for the final teams. Extra names could be added to the list if performances justified it. Thi3 is done in other parts of the Dominion, and also in New South Wales, and it is a wise arrangement. In the past Wellington teams have been picked principally on averages, but it does not follow that tho best average is obtained by tho best batsman )r bowler. In batting averages no notice is taken of the number of chances given by batsmen, and, bowlors, on the other haul, Jiave often to play without tho assistance of a good fiolding team. Then again, averages do not .show against which teams performances are put up. Further, and most important of all, if twenty men we're picked as above to practise, say two nights a week, they would be, in a degree, on their mettle. They would also be playing with men up 'o the standard they are likely to meet in "rep." matches, and the result would bo an improvement in batting, bowling, and fielding. It' is not good for players to practise always with men who are not up to their own standard, because, under such circumstances, players become careless, and this is most fatal to good or improved cricket.

Dakin, who was one of tho foremost men in the old Austral team, is expected to bo playing for Phoenix to-day. Dakin has been residing in Christchurch for some time past. / Tho Wellington Cricket .Association is .endeavouring to obtain a lease"of three acres of the Town Belt with the object of turfing it for cricket. ', . Arrangements have been made to get s tho big scoring board on tho Basin Reserve repainted and the sign written in anticipation of tho representative matches. There is a rumour going' the rounds at Dimcdin.. to ; the effect that Alox. Downes will not bo'available for the complete. tour of tho Otago representative team when it ■sets out to try conclusions with Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland next month. It is stated that Dowries will como as far as Christchurch, but is unable to spare tho necossary.trme for the extended tour. It is also stated that there is going to be keen competition for places in the Otago team. Garnsoy is dropping out of N.S.W. firstclass cricket owing to pressure of business. Possible, that Connolly, si young .left-hand bflwlor who has been bowling finely in grado cricket, will be given his place. Tho N.S.W. team badly needs a left-bamlor to give its attack variation. . . Sydney Grammar School boys ,15. P. Barbour and Fisher, wore ■in fine batting form against. King's School in competition cricket, recently putting together a schools' record partnership of 325 runs in 2} hours—Fisher scoring 184, and Barbour 171 (both retired). Jl'hus far this season Fisher has scored 007 runs in four times out, and Barbour 443 runs in three completed innings. . . Tarrant, tho allround ex-Victonim cricketer, who has been playing so well on London cricket grounds, is back in Melbourne for the summer. Tho Victorian Cricket Association has notified the other States that ho will play this season in the intor-Stato fixtures on his birth qualification, and it is understood no objection will be raised. Victoria will also play Mackay. the ex-N.S.W. crack bat, who has

been acquired via South Africa. The pair will strengthen the weak Victorian eleven; but it is not a satisfactory method. Somo people in Victoria are proposing the returned f arrant as n candidate for Australia against tho Englishmen, but as the little Victorian is going back to London again at tho end of tho season, his inclusion would be resented by all Australia. A proposal once made that Murdoch, when properly domiciled in England, should play against tho Australians, was promptly sat upon.—Sydney "Bulletin."

W. Patrick, who played for Pet-one in their initial match, has returned from .Wellington to Christchurch. Ho should strengthen the batting of the Canterbury team, ,as .well as tliat of tho Sydenham Eleven.

All the dates have now been confirmed for the Otago team's northern tour, which is to take place noxt month. They arc as follows:—Against Canterbury, at Christchnrch, on December 24, 25, and 20; against Wellington, at Wellington, Decembers, 30, and 31; against Auckland, at Auckland,' Jariuarv 2, 3, and 4. ■ y,, Harry Siedeberg, the Otago,cricketer, who has been in ill-health for some time past, has made a marvellous recovery, and now anticipates that he. will bo able to play- and accompany the Otago team on its' northern tour. Mr. A. E. Leatham, one of tho English cricketers who toured New Zealand with Lord Hawke's team, arrived in Dunedin■ recently. Mr. Leatham is engaged to be married to Miss Neill, daughter of Mr. P. C. '; Neill, of Dunedin, on November 20. Mr. A. O. Jones, captain of the M.C.C touring team, is considered to be the best. Rugby referee in England. He;was captain.' of Leicester for four or five years. • Last yeah, he played twice,-but ho retired oiubreakin"a finger, and subsequently reforeed fp>South Africa v. Wales, Scotland v. Ireland, North v. South, and in tho great county matches Devon v. Durham; which .resulted iii' drawn games. ■■ . ' ■ " '■ While'attempting "to take a fast ball last: Saturday, J. Boyce,; who was keeping.wickets for Thorndon A- in their match. against Marist Bros., had tho second finger of his right hand put out. . The following players have made over 1000 runs and take more than 100 wickets in firstclass matches during the season :—: Runs.' Aver. Wkts. Aver. Tarrant 1552 •" 32.33 183 15.70 Hirst 1331 28.38 ISB 15.20 J. N. Crawford* 1158 30.47 12-1 10.95 Rhodes* 1055 22.03 177 15.57

* Members of the M.C.C. touring team. T. Hayward played eight times against the South Africans, and their wicket-keeper had a hand in his dismissal on seven occasions. Dr. D. Charlton secured five.wickets with consecutive, balls for North Sydney. Veterans against Rydalmerc Hospital" on a recent Saturday. Ho iis a brother of P. C. Chark ton, the old Now South Wales and Australian representative, who is now domiciled in England. , D. 11. A. Gchrs, tho new wicket-keeper for South Australia, has made 148 and 100 (not out) in quo match against 'West Australia, 170 against Victoria, 100 against Lord Hawke's team, and 159 and 101 against Now South Wales. The cabled information that on the recent tour of the South African team in England there was a profit of something like £1400 has been substantiated by mail. A Canterbury critic writes that a number of good youngsters must pass under the selector's eye this season. Crawshaw (the High School captain), Fryer and Norman (Riccarton), Wood (St. Albans), and Jon.es (Sydenham) are a pretty good nuintet, while Caygill, Mulgan, Peako, Arnold* Kinvig, and Addison are decided acquisitions to the senior teams.

Tho following query is answered in the latest "Referee": —Two teams, A and B, wero playing a friendly game; 13 went to the wickets first. A ball'was hit to leg, and the leg fieldsman, not watching, did not know whether tho ball went through the boundary or not. The long grass also prevented a clear sight of the ball. Whilo looking for it 6 runs wero scored. The ball- was subsequently found beyond tho boundary, which was fixed as 4 through, and ;5 over. B claimed 6, as some one on tho field callqd 'lost ball.' A resented this, as the ball was beyond the bounary, but agreed to 4, which was their boundary limit. Which was right? It was, replied "Not Out," a matter of fact for the umpire to decide If ho wero satisfied that it was a stroko to the boundary, only' 4 should bo allowed, unless tho 6 wero run before the ball reached tho boundary, in which case tho G would ho counted.

The fact of the M.C.C. touring team including so many comparatively young players who had not yet figured in a test match is, says the "Referee," not to be unwisely regarded as in any.degree depreciativo of their powers-. It is at times but a blessing in disguise for an old player -to drop out and make room for a young one. History furnishes many instances. in Australian cricket. In fact, : Australia has inoro .than' once sadly discovered after n sound beating that the vitality and tho ability of youth arc occasionally needed to supplant the decaying poivers of the old stager, whose experience has lost the major part of its value through the gradual weakening of his oye and stiffening of his muscles. In 1897-8 M. A. Noble came into the team after A. E. Stoddart had soundly thrashed Australia in the first test match. And it was a repetition of his story which produced the dramatic debut of 11. A. Duff on the Mlebourne ground four years later. Referring to the same point, Major Trevor, the manager of the iM.C.C. team, recently said that it was perhaps a noble tendency to stick to old and tried- men, but owing to the accident of their being unable to come to Australia, young giants of the game were to bo given a chance to distinguish .themselves.-'- Ho would not venture tn predict the results nt tost matches, but was confident that the experiment regarding the young players would bo watched with the deepest interest, and would make the season one of the most interesting m cricket history.

According to the "Bulletin" of October 31, Sydney Grammar School cricketer E. P. Barbour is in fine all-round form. Against University ho scored 104 (out of a total of 206 for four wickets), and gathered in five wickets for 34 runs; then, acainst Rydalniero, he compiled 122 retired (in a score of 296 for seven wickets), and took five wickets for- 37 runs . Barbour is the most- promising boy at present playing schools cricket; nnd is more than likely to bo hoard of "in-Now South Wales big cricket in the future ! '

Adolaido (S.A.) cricket provided some good scoring by inter-State reps, in grade matches on Saturday. Gehrs (possible wicket-keeper in the Australian team) put together' 181; Dolling (tho sensational schoolboy- a' couple of seasons ago) made 106. Waters (a candidate for bife honours) was the other, centurion, and impressed by a score of 104: The chief trouble with cricket nowadays is a sacrifice of bowline; at the "century" shrine , and, unless encouragement is' extended to new bowlers, cricket will become a game of batting endurance—also spectators' endurance.

Our special correspondent in i.S.vdney writes as follows-.—According to the captain of the English cricket team, 'Mr.-A. 0. Jones, the bowling is bettor than that of Maclaren's men, and ■■generally' the team .s a good one, notwithstanding the criticism directed againstit in the English Press. "I am oxpecting Crawford ■'to get a'lot of wickets out here," said Mr. Jones. "He is a really wonderful bowler, and a good batsman into the bargain. Hiitchings is a magnificent bat, and I think- the crowd out here will enjoy seeing him a t the wickets. . His driving is terrific. It is a pity that Jlayward and Tyklcsloy have not come with us. 1 wanted them badly. Nevertheless I think our policy of introducing new blood into the team will be popular with the Australian public. It is n great experiment,' and 1 hope it will ho a successful one." A REPLY TO COMMENT. The following letter explains itself:— "Bear Sir,—ln reply to P. Smith's letter in your issue of Saturday last, I may inform that indignant gentleman that my action in throwing Turner out would have happened had any other club been playing NoK'town, and was quite within the rules of the game. Apparently Mr. Smith lias never beard of tbem. Regarding the imsportsmanliko aspect, Mr. Smith is too guileless for cricket; are we expected, when two batsmen ar« eazinsi vacant! , / into each

other s orbs in tho middle of Hio wickets to olfor them our arms and escort them back to their creases? I hope the prospective opponents of the Newtown team will noto Mr.. Smith's plea for consideration because they 'are a very weak team.' In future their disasters will he accompanied by loud sobs of sympathy from the spectators, should anyone he cruel enough to catch or to bowl them. Mr. Smith's letter was, be. says, 'quite a personal comment'; so is this. Ho will therefore forgive mo drawing his attention to the fact that he is a little hazy as to the points of the compass, since the lirivo in question was to tho grandstand fence, which is tho western side, not the eastern. -It would have caused me deep regret and remorso had tho unfortunate victim of the incident boon Mr. Smith himself.—"Yours faithfully, ' ' ..■■■-. "K. TUCKER."