ON THE CRICKET FIELD

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 18

ON THE CRICKET FIELD

MATCHES AND PLAYERS

NEWS NOTES FROM ALL SOURCES

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"Burwood”)

COMING EVENTS. January 18, 19, 21.—Wellington v. Otago, at Dunedin. February 8,9, 11. —Wellington v. South Wales, at Wellington. .February 12, 13. —New South Wales v. South Canterbury, at Ashburton. February 15, 16, 18. —New South Wales v. Otago, at Dunedin. February 19, 20. —Now South Wales v. North Otago, at Oamaru. .'February 22, 23, 25. —New South Wales v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. February 26, 27. —New South Wales v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. February 29, March 1. 3. —New South Wales v. New Zealand, at Christchurch. ’ I March 7,8, 10. —New South Wnles v. New Zealand, at "Wellington. March 12, 13. —New South Wales v. North Taranaki, at New Plymouth. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE

The results of the matches which were concluded on Saturday last saw some interesting changes in the championship table. Midland, by their threepbint win over Wellington, still hold pride of place, with 14 points, but Hutt, last year’s champion team, by their outright defeat of Y.M.C.A., have now come up within striking distance of the leaders, being only three points, behind. Petone, who won the championship the season before last, are also well in the running, with ten points, and Old Boys, Y.M.C.A. and Wellington occupy creditable positions on tne ladder, with 9, Bs, and 7 points respectively. The matches which commence to-day will carry added interest by reason of the fact that the leading players will be away with the Wellington team battling for the honour of the province against Otago. The absence of bo many of the leading players should give the various clubs an excellent opportunity for trying out the best of their juniors. Thd Wellington team will carry with them to Dunedin the best wishes of followers of tho game here for success against Otago. If the eleven from the Empire City can win thef’match which ■ commenced yesterday, the Plunket Shield will he theirs, as no other province has notched three victories this Beason. If Otago, however, - should prove victorious on her own ground, the question of averages will have to be gone into, as Otago, Wellington and Auckland will then be eoual w’ifh' two wins each. It is a pity that the three country representatives. C. A. Holland and G. Orr, of Wanganui, and E. H. L. Bernau, of Napier, were unable to get the necessary leave for the trip, as their absence unquestionnbly weakens the team both, in batting and bowling strength. However, worthy substitutes have been provided in H. Watson. M. Henderson, and H, R. White. The match should provide e. great deal of interest, as both provinces will have strong elevens in the field, and, it goes without saying that both elevens will, strain every nerve to win.

It was onite apparent from the want of form displayed hy many of the batsmen last Saturday that the break caused bv the holidays had thrown many of the senior nlavers out of their stride and they will have to get to the nets- again. TTia 'V” CflitK I’hnrfyli fJiav hav-n quite a renutablb side, appear to have fallen iipon evil days. .Their batsmen on Saturday could only manage to total t nq erminst Finln-w-n’s deadly left-handed deliveries. This spelt a defeat hy an annings and 18 runs for Thorndori. H. Carruthers, who went in fifth wieket down, was the only man to get properly going. His 41 was a spirited knock, which showed that runs could ho got against the howling. K. Mason and Edgar Phillips shaped prominently at the start of the innings, but after they fell there was a procession which even Carruthers’s vigorous hitting could not stop. In this match Finlayson secured five wickets for 36 in the first innings and six for 43 in the second giving him eleven wickets for 79 for the match. Earlier In the season ho bagged fourteen wickets in one match securing nine for 27 in the first innings. As Finlayson is also quite a good 'batsman he would be a valuable man in the Wellington representative eleven. M. Corper also rose to the occasion in Brice’s absence. He took four for 35 in the first and two for 39 in the second innings. , ConBidering that .neither Brice nor Smvrk were playing in this match Petone’s win by an innings was a most meritorious performance. The Petone bowlers were not the only men who did o-roat t’-un's wit’ball last Saturday. Beard and McGirr were on the warpath and the pair routed Y.M.C.A. in their second innings for a total of 60 runs. Beard has proved himself a good bowler before but in this innings he was at his best. His length was perfect and his dangerous off-breaks were not at all relishes! by the Young Men. He clean bowled Westbrook. Haughey, White, and Condliffe, and had Almao caught off him by Watson. Off the 65 deliveries he sent down, only 32 runs were scored. This was accurate bowll<r He was well supported by McGirr, who kept the other end going to such purpose that he bagged four for 23 off 72 deliveries. Few men can swing a now ball ’s McCirr can. P”d few have the physical stamina or big heart to keep plugging away for a long spell at the bowling crease ns he can do, and has done, time and again in big matches , „ In Hiddleston and Collins Wellington possess two of the ablest batsmen in New Zealand, and it is a moot point as to which is the better man Collins is at the top of his form just now and played a masterly innings tor 89 (retired) against Institute at Kelburn Park on Saturday afternoon. It is a treat to watch the Old Boys’ captain when he is in scoring vein. He got great power behind his strokes on Saturday, and placed his shots very cleverly. When the off aid* was strength-

ened against him, he hooked and pulled with power and precision, and as soon as men were brought across to block the%e scoring strokes he sent the ball Hashing through the gaps on the off side. He can hit, and the three spectacular sixers he smacked clean out of the ground were lusty smites. Folev will not forget his aggressiveness in this innings, as from the last over this bowler sent down to him Collins hit 32 runs. Collins scored a century in the second test match against the Englishmen at Christchurch last season, and let us hope he will give the New South Welshmen a taste of his run-getting ability in the forthcoming tests.

Maurice Read, the, old Surrey professional, who began playing firstclass cricket in 1880, made several good scores, including a couple of centuries, during the past season. He is just on 65. Read visited Australia four times from 1884 to 1891. the last time with the . Grace-Abel-Stoddart-Lohmann combination, which,. strong as it was, went down twice in three Tests. “A depressing exhibition of endurance cricket” is huw a Melbourne critic described tho recent Sheffield Shield match, which raged for a working week in Melbourne. Victoria began it by taking a day and a' bit to compile 285. Mayne top-scoring with a method ical 106. He hit five fourers. New South Wales weighed in with an even slower 268, Collins taking nearly five hours th put; together 108. His boundary strokes were four in number. At the end of the fourth day, Victoria were 388 to' the good with two wickets . in hand, AVoodfull’s contribution being 117 in 281 minutes. The impetuous youth slogged three fourers. A few more such matches and representative cricket will be past praying for. A VETERAN UMPIRE Mr. AV. R. Bock, chairman. of the Wellington Umpires’ Association, has ■had a lengthy experience of the game, and it is very questionable. if any man in the world has ilainta'ned longer touch with tho game. Mr. Bock, who is in his 77th year, represented Wellington 'in 'B6B and in 1870, and later played for many vears in the junior ranks. Ho has been associated with the Umpires’ Association for upwards of a guarter of a century, and his heart and soul is still in the game. “I missed the chance of a lifetime when I did not recall Bluint in the Canterbury match,” remarked Mr. Bock at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Associat’on on Monday evening, The veteran need not be unduly cast down by tho mistake be made on that occasion. The umpire does not live who has never made a mistake, There must be a great deal in a game which can absorb a man’s attention and interest at tho ripe age of 77. PRESS ASSOCIATION The handsome silver cup which Mr. Walter P. Blundell, of the “Evening Post,” donated last season for competition amongst teams from the staffs o‘ the four city newspapers has had the effect of creating a great deal of interest amongst members of tho “Fourth Estate.” This season properly organised cricket clflbs have been formed in each newspaper office, and an association, composed of two delegates from each cluh, has been formed to control the competitions. ' Several matches have already been played, and have been the means of bringing tho members -of the various staffs into closer contact. In the matches which have been played to date, tho “Dominion” eleven have been successful in maintaining an unbeaten record, having defeated the “Truth” team three times, and the “Post” and “Times” elevens once each. The serious business of the season, so far as the pressmen are concerned, will start on February 16, when the contest for the Blundell Cup will commence. These matches will last over two .Saturday afternoons, the draw being as follows: — February. 16 and 23. —“Dominion” v. “Truth; “Times”, v. “Post.” March 1 and 15.—“ Post” v. “Dominion”; “Times” v. “Truth.” March 22 and 29. —“Dominion” v. “Times” • “Post” v. “Truth.” The “Dominion” team fire the present holders of the Blundell Cup, which they gained last season by defeating the “Post” eleven. Great rivalry exists for possession of the handsome trophy, and it is reported that each teign is< training assiduously for the forthcoming "trials of strength. The Press representative eleven has already played matches against the Stage, and challenges have also been received from the Police and the Film Houses. It is rumoured that His Excellency the Governor is organising n strong Government House eleven to lower the colours of the Press representatives on his return from Auckland. Mr. W. A. J. Gibson was elected sole selector of combined Press teams at a meeting of the Press Association on Monday evening last. ‘ ■ ) ' AN INVITATION FROM WANQANUI # The Wanganui Cricket Association arg desirous of arranging a match with a Wellington representative team either at Wellington or Wanganui. In a letter to the Wellington Association on Monday night, the secretary of the "Wanganui Association stated that they would prefer the Wellington team to go to Wangan’ui, in order that the cricketers of that centre might have an opportunity of repaying tho hospitality which had been extended to the two Wanganui representatives who had assisted the Wellington eleveyrf in the Plunket Shield matches against Auckland and Canterbury. It was pointed out on Monday night that the visit of the New South Wales team would interfere with the championship programme to such an extent that there would be no Saturday available for a match with Wanganui. It was pointed out that an eleven might bo got together to proceed io Wanganui on the date on which the Test match bewcen New South Wales and New Zealand was being played at Wellington. The matter was held t -r in tiro moaniinv*

AFRICANS’ TOUR THE TEAM FOB ENGLAND. The first whiff of the coming Test match campaign, which during the next 15 months will occupy the minds of cricketers, comes, with the nows that the South African team to tour England in the coming season has been chosen. The team is as follows Natal.—ll. W. Taylor (captain), A. D. Nourse, J. M. Blanckenberg, C. P. Carter.

Transvaal.—H. G. Hearne, M. JSusskind, F. P. Nupen, D. J. Meintjes, C. D. Dixon. T. A. Ward. Western Province. —M. Commaille, P. A. M. Hands. Rhodesia.—R. H. Catterall. Griqualand.—J. Bissett. South-Western Province. —G. Hearne.

It is, of course, impossible to judge here of the real strength of this team (says an Australian writer), but from what we know of many of the players it appears to be a good one. So far as experience on turf wickets is concerned, it may be at a disadvantage for a time, for only Taylor, Nourse, Carter, and Ward have had a previous trip to England; while Commaille was a member of the team that visited Australia in 1910-11. Nourse was also in that team, while Hearne is an Englishman, and may not be at so great a disadvantage. Many of tho men, however, had Test match experience against the last English team in South Africa, notably Taylor, Hearne, Nourse, Blanckenberg, Nupen, Ward, Carter and Mentjes. Herbert Taylor, the captain, nas been tho leader of the South African team "for some years, and he is the best batsman in the Union. Indeed, in recent Test match campaigns he has stood right out, in the way that Clem Hill at one time did for Australia. Nourse, the veteran of the team. i s within a few days of his 46th birthday. He is an Englishman who went to South Africa when a ooy, and has a wonderful record in al! classes of cricket. He is the only South African who has scored over 2000 runs in Test matches. against England and Australia, and is a useful bowler. He and Taylor have been tho two outstanding figures in Natal cricket for many years, and they have accomplished some wonderful feats. Blanckenberg for some years has been regarded as tho best bowler in tho Union, although recently others have arisen to dispute his claim. Commaille is a fine batsman, but was not a success when he visited Australia. Catterall is one of tho younger batsmen who have come to the front rapidly, and he performed wonderfully well against the last * English team, one of his feats being to make 128 for the Transvaal. Carter is a left-hand bowler, and Nupen, another of the voting men, a tast bowler wlm did well against tho Englishmen and the last Australian team. Ward is tlie wicket-keeper of the team, and although almost a veteran, is still a great man behind the stumps. DcAmo, Siisskind. Meintjes, Hands and Hearne are chiefly batsmen, whilst .Bissett is a bowler; WELLINGTON’S G.O.M. C. G. Wilson, Wellington’s “Grand Old Man” of cricket, appears to possess the elixir of I’fe. He celebrated a birthday on January 9, but which particular natal day it was it would be hard to determine. It is impossible >to tell “Gillie” Wilson’s ago from his appearance, and it. is still harder to place him when he is swinging the bat with power and vigour, as he did on the Basin Reserve last Sat urday afternoon in Wellintgon’s second innings against Midland. His innings of 72 on that occasion was worthy of him in his prime, when he used to string long scores together in the plaving fields of Melbourne. The two brilliant sixers he hit over the fence proved that his punishing powers arc bv no means diminished. Wilson, in his day, was one of the best batsmen New Zealand ever had. On tour with the Otago team about fifteen seasons ago; he hit up a brilliant 144 against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match. He was the type of batsman who always believed that the best means of defence against a bowler was to resolutely attack him. At Monday evening’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, Mr. H. M. McG’rr took occasion, on behalf of tho members, to wish the veteran ’ chairman “many happv returns of the day on the occasion/of his ‘fortv-second’ birthday, and hoped he would long be spared to preside over the .control of cricket in the province. Mr. Wilson, in thanking members for their greetings, said 110” was not quite certain that Mr. McGirr had stated his age exactly, but he hoped to have the pleasure of continuing his connection with the association for many roars to come. Mr. Wilson went south on Tuesday evening n, manager of the Wellington, team w h : ch is plaving Otago to-day in the deciding match for the Plunket Sbie d and his ripened experience should prove of valuable service to the Side. AN .ABANDONED MATCH As the Wellington and Otago elevens will be hard at it to-day on the historic Carisbrook ground at Dunedin, battling out the momentous question as to who is to take the Plunket Shield for the present season, it is interesting to recall the lust tussle between these sides on the- same convincing ground. This commenced on Saturday, February 17, .923. Otago had first use of the wicket, and ian up the solid total of 331. Towards this score the principal contributors were: A. AV. Alloo (68). Hz C Alloo 162), J. McMillian (48)., H. Duncan (32), J. Shepherd (30), A. Galland (23) G. R. Dickinson (18), and A. Knight (14). N.- Conradi. R. Cherry, and W. R. Douglas were the only batsmen who failed to run into double figures. H. M. McGirr took four wickets for 69 runs. A. AA . Aldersloy two for 44, and J. Hutchings two for 54. AVellington had 239 up for six wickets when continuous rain came on. and the match had to bo abandoned. The highest scorers for WolI, ng ton were: C. S. Dempster (59), B. J. Kortlang (48 not cut), AV. A. Baker (41), H. M. McGirr (35), and J. S. Hiddleston (32). D. C. Collins scored 1, J. A. Bruce 0, and J. W. Hutchings 4 not out. M. -Rmderson, W. A. Aldersley. and J. AV. Condliffe did not bat. Conradi (two for 32) came out with the best bowling figures for Otago. Dickinson 4 w ->k one for 52, A. AV. Alloo one for 7.1. Douglas one for 45. and Shepherd one for 19. It is to be hoped that the sun will shine upon the present match, that the wicket will be perfect, the outfield fa/rt, and that the side -■••hich plays tha host orlolwi will take tha Uwak.

A GREAT SIDE OUR NEW SOUTH WALES VISITORS s Without doubt the New South Wales team which is due hero early next month is by far and away the strongest cricketing combination which has visited New Zealand for many years. It is infinitely' stronger than the team Arthur Sims brought over before the war.. That sjde included many giants of the game, but a few of them such as Noble and Laver, were past' their prime. The side which is coming over next month is also vastly superior to the Australian Board of Control team, which toured New Zealand under the captaincy of Vernon Ransford in 1920, and very much stronger than the English team which was with us last season. The forthcoming band is one of New South Wales’s strongest elevens, barring C. Kelleway, H. L. Collins J. Gregory and J. M. Taylor. Eight of the team played against South Australia, and nine of them have been selected to meet. Victoria in the final of the Sheffield Shield match. What a wonderful array of batting strength the visitors will have at their command. The side will have to be dug out to the last man, and no team will be safe against them until the tenth wicket has fallen. Macartney (the captain), W. Bardsley. Andrews, Mailey, Oldfield, and Hendry were members of the Australian eleven which inflicted five defeats in succession upon the Englishmen m the last series of tests in Australia, and then proceeded to England and retained “The Ashes” by winning the first three test matejw in success’on. T C. G. 'Macartney is no stranger to New Zealand, as he played for Otago against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match at Auckland about fourteen years ago. He is acknowledged even by English critics to be one of the most brilliant batsmen in the world, whose daring methods and rapid run-getting make him the idol of the crowd. He is also a very capable slow medium bowler. Warren Bardsley, who plays for Western Suburbs, is universally conceded to be the most brilliant lefthanded batsman in the game to-day. He is the only batsman who lias ever scored a century in each innings of a test match. He scored 200 not <nt in a club match this season, and has a batting average to the end of last year of 55.42 in club cricket. R. Bardsley. who also plays for Western Suburbs, is a brother of the famous left-hander. He has had a phenomenally successful season, and heads the Svdney batting averages with 133.80 for eight innings, three times not out, his highest score being 188. T. ,T. E. Andrews plays with the Petersham Club, and is another prolific scorer. He is fourth in the averages, with 82.83, his best knock being 271 not out. A. F. Kippax was over here with Ransford’s team, and since then has developed his scoring strokes. He scored a. brilliant 248 against South Australia. in the shield match at Svdney last week, so should arrive here.at the top of his form. A. A. Ma.ilev (Balmain) was over here with Sims’s Australian team. He is about the best slow bowler in.the game to-dav in a.nv countrv, and on his day can go clean through the Strongest of batting sides He gets a great deal of finger snin on the ball, and comes very fast off the pitch. He secured eight wickets for New South Wales aeamst South’, Australia last week in the first innings. In club cricket this season he has captured 36 wickets for 840 runs. Mailev in private life is a clever cartoonist, and all the world has laughed at his merrv drawings. During the last vsit to this country, Arthur Mailov was often to be seen surrounded bv a Crowd of bowlers, all asking him to show them how he held the bather in order to howl The “wrong ‘un.” W. A. Oldfield was reserve wicketkeeper to Hanson Carter in the last Australian team which visited England. Many good judges consider him to be qu ; te as clever behind the sticks as Carter, while he is a better batsman, and has more than onco recorded solid scores in test matches. H. L. Hendry is an all-round player of distinction, who is equally at home with ball or bat. He was a valuable member of the last Australian eleven bn the English tour. Austin Punch (North Sydney) is another valuable all-rounder. He is a terrifically hard-hitter, and the ball flies from his bat with surprising power. He has a batting average this season of 45.88 for eleven innings, twice not out, his highest score being 98. With the ball he has taken 25 wickets for 451 runs. D. Mullarkey, the St. George nlayer, is one of the younger school of batsmen, who have come to the front during the past couple of seasons. His batting average for eight innings this season (once not out) is 60. A. Ratcliffe (Paddington) is a firstclass wicketkeeper and sound batsman. His work with the gloves was greatly admired when he was through the Dominion with the Austral’an Board of Control team in 1920. That he is a capable batsman is ’ proved i v the fact that in nine visits to the wickets in club cricket ; n Svdney this season lie has scored 433 runs, giving him an average of 48.11. His best knock was 119. S. Everett is Petersham’s fast bowler, who won a place in the New South Wales eleven this season. In club cricket to the end of last year, he had taken 25 wickets for 477 runs, giving him an average of 19.08. IN AUSTRALIA What is the captain’s place in the field? Of course, the ideal spot is be hind the stumns, writes D. L. A. Jenhson, the. well-known English critic. For here ho is compelled by force of circumstances to watch every ball that is bowled, every stroke played, and every ball misfielded, and ho is also in a far better position to grasp the finer points of each opponent’s batting than anv other member of his side. Cecil Thompson is the only Queensland batsman who has made two cen tunes for his State against New South /Wales. < An interesting mathematical comparison between the performances of Australian wicket-keepers is contributed to the “BefZgee” by Mr. R. H. Campbell of MelWrarne: —' Pnrrcxitace Percental© ; • of wkts taken of bvea on wkt& on wkts fallen fallen Averaere

On five occasions has Ellis taken six wickets in a match, Oldfield three times. Vernon Hansford, though only 38 years of age, has been in the Victorian eleven for 19 years. He has been a wonderful performer in big cricket, and has done well in the biggest games of all —th* Teat

g o 2 K "m O 1 A ."s Midland .... 2 2 1 0 14 Hutt ... 2 1 2 0 11 Petone .... 1 2 2 0 10 Old Bovs .... 0 3 2 0 9 Y.M.C.A .... 1 1 2 1 8.1 ■Wellington .. ... 1 1 3 0 7 Institute .... 0 2 3 0 6 Thorndon ..... .... 0 0 4 1 li

W A. Oldfield . .. 21.17 0.89 21.78 J. L. Ellis .. 19.00 0.60 19.40 il. Cartci’ .. 13.73 0.62 14.11 A. II. Jarvis . 13.31 0.56 13.75 ,f. J. Kcllv .. 12 31 0.31 13.00 V, r . Carkeek ..... .. 19.84 0.52 11.32