SHOULD WE WAIL?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 13

SHOULD WE WAIL?

WELLINGTON'S SOUTHERN DEFEAT. SOME CRICKET REFLECTIONS. [By "Mere Here."] I was strolling along Lambton Quay oil Monday evening last thinking what else I could add to my list of good intentions for the New Year, when an argumentative acquaintance of the Basin Rfiservo clouded my horizon, and asked mo what did I think of tho Wellington "crocks." I replied blandly: ''Cricketcrs, please, sir." "So I thought, too, before they left for tho south," said ho. "But 322 runs, eh?"

The glamour of tho season of peaco and goodwill still held me, and I suppressed a desire to ascertain his fighting weight, and continued my evening stroll; ■ The reflection would crowd in though that Wellington-s3ur Wellington—had really tumbled to pieces. Still, let mo say this: On the home wicket Canterbury is a stern proposition. You require to havo watched Christclmrch cricket to realise this. Recollect the showing of the southern province against tho last two Australian Elevens which 'have visited the Dominion. In the case of the match against the Australians last year,-at one time it seemed any shade of odds that Canterbury must win, and the odds would havo undoubtedly been landed, but for the missing of a catch by a Canterbury man. And this same Australian Eleven, which Canterbury so fully extended, subsequently made hacks. of tho elect of New Zealand.

The Pedestal Erected. As a cricketer, all this is interesting to me. The aggravation of the rout of Wellington is accentuated by the team's showing at Auckland, where failure to hold a catcli from Brooke-Smith is said to have changed the result. To liavohad the Plunket. Shield almost within grasp just a few days before, and, backing this fact by memories of. Wellington's comparatively easy conquest of Canterbury last year, • it is no wonder that Wellingtonians may. perhaps now think that they were flattering themselves with false hopes, and living within the four boundaries of fantasy. Excuses go for naught in cricket, and reviling the wicket or the weather will no doubt effect little. Lancaster Park has been known to produce many splendid pitches, and, considering the jvear and tear which the field is subjected to right throughout the year, a poor wicket now and can be expected. The Wellington failuro can best bo asscribed to one of those unaccountable streaks which have caused the. best teams' efforts to appear puny.' If my memory serves mo right, only a few years ago, even 011 the Basiii Reserve, Canterbury sent Wellington, to . the right-about for the small score of about 20 runs—Callaway and Bennett being the bowlers, who wero then unplayable. About that same season this microbo of bowling destruction, was flourishing in Canterbury cricket, as immediately afterwards Otago also struck the same destroying force/ Callaway and Bennett once more securing remarkablo figures.

Canterbury Rising on a Full Tide. That Wellington' should fall now to Canterbury does not altogether arguo that the men of tho capital city maku for a mediocre combination. It may, indeed, and doubtless docs, argue that Canterbury cricket is onco more approaching high water-mbrk.;y' That ; essence of correctness 111 batting, Arthur Sims, seems at last to bo more consistently showing the form in big cricket which liis batting in club matches for years past has warranted his admirers to expect. D. Reese still occupies a niche among New Zealand's all-round players, and Sandman as a bowler is a product of .which Christchurch should yet havo reason to be still more proud. Bennett is a bowler of the untiring variety, and honestly plugs through whether Fortune is serving him or. not. Given a wicket, though, that: is assisting him somewhat, as his record demonstrates, 110 is a man .who : can worthily fill the place left vacant in Canterbury cricket by the departure of Callaway. ■ • All the players.mentioned gained their grounding in t-lio game in Canterbury, Reese and Bennett being members of the youths' team • founded 'by Mr. Uynn-Williams, president of the old Midland Club about seventeen years ago, team that, by tho fostering of promising young players, is bearing fruit now for Canterbury, and holds that province in a. debt of gratitude to Mr. Wynri-AVilliams. Sims distinguished himself in his early days as a member of tho Bo.vs' High''School team, and quickly-rose into prominence as a senior player and Canterbury re-, presentative, as a member of the United Club. Each of theso three—Bennett, Reese, and Sims —has widened his knowledge of the-game .by play both in tho Old Country and in Australia,! that doyen of cricket, Dr. W. G. Grace, evincing a practical interest in the welfare of'-the young New Zealanders during their period of Home cricket.

A Good Leavening. Canterbury is still relying on the home-grown article, and of others of its present year's team, Norman, Caygill, Patrick, Sandman, all young plavc'rs showing sound cricket 'tendencies, claim Christchureh as their birthplace. To such promujLsg , material, given such a stiffening to the backbone of play as exponents like Boxshall and Carlton provide, it is no wonder that Canterbury has this season easily beaten both Otago and Wellington. Another matter, in which Canterbury cricket holds a. strong hand is tho' number of good playing fields thero are about the Christchurch city, good wickets being obtainable at Sydenham, St. Albans, Lancaster Park, Christ's Collego Ground,, and Hagle.v Park—all senior, wickets, not to mention innumerable second-grade grounds. In the early days an English-founded province, Canterbury was strong in cricket enthusiasm, and this spirit still lives strongly. Canterbury early saw tho value of importing "coaches," and among those engaged may bo mentioned J. Phillips and C. Bannerman, tho latter coaching for several seasons at Christ's College. This school has had many splendid young cricketers doing battle for. it in intercollegiate matches, but tho misfortune for Canterbury is that, their schooldays over and tho lads' homes being in other parts, their callings in after life generally necessitato their departure from tho Red and Black arena. Many remain, though, and, continuing in the game, some worthily gain places in Canterbury's roll of honour.

All cricketing enthusiasts know Boxshall's worth in New Zealand cricket, and his recent showing completely 'overshadowed liia 'Wollingtoii vis-a-vis as evidenced by tho fact in addition to stumping and catches taken he saw but the flight of 11 byes as against a debit of 69 against Wellington. As previously remarked, excuses do not avail in war or sport. Old Cantabrians will bo pleased, wherever located, to seo the prospects of Canterbury's attainment of the premiership of the Dpminion cricketing laurels growing brighter, and a line as to how much of Wellington's failure in the recent match can be ascribed to ineptitude in our local cricket will probably bo furnished when the time comcs for this ..season's tusslo between- Canterbury and Auckland for the Plunket Shield—an escutclieoji on which Canterbury has yet to have her , name emblazoned,