THE CRICKET “ASHES”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 103, 26 January 1924, Page 18

THE CRICKET “ASHES”

ENGLISH PEOPLE KEENLY

EXPECTANT

CHOICE OF AUSTRALIAN TEAM. Sir Leo Oussen, of the Melbourne Cricket Club, who has just returned frc* a world tour, stated in the course of an interview that during his stay in England ho saw & good deal of cricket and ho had no doubt that th© English people were extremely keen on getting a team to beat the Australians. In his opinion England had a very strong batting side —but was weak in bonding—in both of which respects .it probably resembled the Australian team. He thought tho next English team-—which is due to visit Australia towards the end of this year—would include some new men who would strengthen the team considerably. Tate, of Sussex, was the outstanding bowler of the year. He bowled a medium-paced ball, which came quickly off the pitch. Gilligan, of Sussex, and Louden, of Essex, were also, very good bowlers. Fender, who visited Australia with the last English team, was certainly one of the best allround players m England. Hobbs, Hendren, and tno veteran Rhodes were still at the top of the tree, •though he doubted if Phodes would be included in the next English team. He was disappointed to find that Chapman was not as successful this year as he was expected to be. Chapman, however, was still young, and he was a remarkable cricketer. He (Sir Leo Cussen') thought the next contest for the ashes between England and Australia would be “a pretty close go In putting forward tho visit of the English team until 192-1-25 in the hope that in tho meantime the standard of English cricket would be raised somewhat from ■ the very mediocre level which Armstrong and his men encountered in 1921, the Marylobone authorities made the gap just a little too wide, writes “Mid-Off” in the “Melbourne Age.” Had the team been sent to Australia this season it must have made a very bold bid for the mythical “ashes.” . When the Englishmen were here in 1920-21 Gregory, the fast bowler (and towards the; end of the tour, McDonald), and Mailey, the “googlie” exponent, played, havoc with them. This season, it is safe to state without fear of contradiction, there is not an “express” bowler taking part in first-class cricket in Australia, whilst Mailey’s most enthusiastic admirers would not contend that that bowler is playing quite up to the form he displayed three years ago. But at least some of these shortcomings will probably be rectified by next season. Gregory has returned to tho game, and although he broke down through aij injury .to . his knee this season, it is quite likely he will be. fit for' the heavy engagements nwaitmg the Australian team later in the year. The question arises, of course, whether Gregory can “come back” after a. retirement from first-class cricket. There are very few instances in any sphere of sport of men who have dropped out of the particular game in which they excelled returning again to the sphere of active operations, and performing as effectively as of yore. . But Gregory’s case is not quite like those of the general body of sportsmen. It is doubtful if the cricketing world has seen a phenomenon like him, . and what is more to the point, he is still comparatively youthful.. But there are several vacancies in the Australian team to be filled. Armstrong,McDonald, Pellow. and Carter are not now participants in first-class cricket, and their places have to be taken by members of the newer brigade. In this connection the names of at least two Victorians —Ponsford and Moodfull —and one from New. South Wales, Kinnax. immediately arise. .A few weeks ago another name, Hornibrook, the Queensland left-hand bowler, was on everyone’s tongue, but ho has. recently had a thorough try out against three States, until rather disappoint-' ing results. His bowling in Melbourne, for instance, did not approach the standard set up by the veteranWliitty in Victoria’s first innings against South Australia. But the Queenslander has the great advantage of youth on his side, and with greater experience in first-class company, may yet find a place in the next Australian eleven. FAST SCORING 0 Blunt’s feat of scoring 266 in two hours 45 minutes has started the usual controversy about records for fast scoring Here are some in first-class cricket: In 1902, W. Hyman, playing for Bath Association against Ihornbiiry (Gloucester), made 359 out of 466 for six wickets in 100 minutes, and was not out. He hit Dr. E. M. Grace for 32 sixes. G L. Jossop’s records include 157 out of 200 in an hour for Gentlemen v. Players, and 191 runs out of 234 in 90 minutes. For Notts v. Sussex, in 1911, Alletson scored 189 out of 227 runs obtained whilst at the wickets 90 minutes. He took an hour to make his first 50, but obtained his second in 15 minutes and his last 89 m a quarter of an hour, thus scoring 139 during tho last 30 minutes he was in. Blunt’s record of seven consecutive sixes off one bowler is beaten by Hyman, who scored 62 off 12 balls from Qr E. M. Grace. Dr. E. M. Grace, in all matches in whicq, ho participated during bis extraordinary career, scored 76 760 runs, and obtained 12,0/8 wickets. HOLDERS OF THE SHIELD The Plunket Shield has been held by the following provinces since it was awarded to Canterbury m 1907:— ’ t / l-.l

January 24, 1922. Auckland: Season 1921-22. Canterbury: Season 1922-23. Collins and McGirr wont near to scorina; two centuries in the Otago match. Tlio feat has been performed over a hundred times iu first-cla.-r eric:- ~ C. It.. Fry . did it five times; Jessop, Hardinge, and Perrin, four times; Denton, It. E. Foster, Hayward, W. G. Grace, Mead., and J. T. Tyldeslej three times; Bosanquet, J. 11. King, Llewellyn, Macartney, and Rhodes twice. Itanjitsinhii, who did it once. ipada both centuries in one day- Trumpet psriorme- 1 ' the feat only <no> hit career-

Canterbury (awarded 190/). Auckland: December 14, 190/, to January 28, 1911. Canterbury: January 28, lull, to February 10, 1912. Auckland: February 10, 1912, to January 29, 191.3. Canterbury: January 29, 1916, to December 26, 1918. Wellington: December 26, 1918, to January 22, 1919. Canterbury: January 22, 1919, to January 2, 1920. '• Auckland: January 2, 1920, to January 10, 1921. Wellington: January 10, 1921,' to