CRICKET AND ITS PLAYERS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 32, 1 November 1933, Page 14

CRICKET AND ITS PLAYERS

Unnecessary Delay Because of Weather

OFFICIAL OPENING OF SEASON

(Notes by

“Century.”)

The enthusiasm displayed by cricketers at the opening of the season last Saturday was such that one is forced to look to the future of the game in Wellington with a certain amount of apprehension. After the delay occasioned while wickets were being got in ship-shape order it was expected that players would have realised the necessity of making a start at the earliest opportunity. Such, however, was not the case. Their enthusiasm was lukewarm and the fact that /here was a little r^n almost caused the total postponement of play. Had it not been for the keenness of the minority the season would not be started yet. So far as the Basin Reserve was concerned, there was absolutely no need to hold up play later than 2,30 p.m. At that time the rain ceased and there was not another shower until about 5.30. It can safely be said that although the rain had stopped, 90 per cent, of the players did not want to take the field. Had there been any legitimate excuse the whole position would have been different. There was no question of the wickets being unfit for play, and there was no suggestion of the possibility of their being cut up. The only reason for the apathy shown wa the consideration by the players of their own personal comfort. That attitude is Wl The only argument that can be raised in the players’ defence is that cricket is a summer sport and for that reason not to be played in wintry weather. That defence, however, is weak, and so long as the belief 'is persisted in we can never expect the progress desired in Wellington. Saturday’s conditions would not have prevented play in other parts of the Dominion and as the standard ot play in the Capital City is lower than that in other provinces, Wellington cannot afford to sit back because, weather conditions are not entirely to its liking. Time was when players would travel many miles for a game and brave all the elements. But that spirit apparently is dying out. • _ . The chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association admitted at the meeting of that body on Monday night that be was surprised at the number of senior cricketers whe did not turn up. There are a great many more who were equally surprised and it is to be hoped that there will not be a similar occurrence unless the weather is definitely too bad for play. ?

Game in the Schools. It is becoming noticeable at the present time that pricket is not playing the same part in the schools that it did a few years ago; The reason is that teachers do not desire to segregate the boys and the girls, and therefore are fostering tennis, a game which can be played by all. While the position from the schools point or view is readily appreciated, it would be a pity if the game were allowed to slip. It is gratifying to note that the management committee‘is fully alive to the situation and have suggesed that when prominent players come over here they should be asked to give talks in 'the various schools. Youngsters are essentially heroworshippers, and tales of cricket by wellknown cricketers would cause them to take a greater interest in the game. Shortly we hope to see an Australian eleven in Wellington, and 'if members of that company could be induced to speak to the pupils it would do a world of good. Some Bright Performances. Although only three batsmen succeeded in reaching the half-century mark on Saturday several bright performances were given, considering that they have not. yet had a decent chance to get properly into their stride. • , . , . J. "Duffy, who opened the innings for Institute, did exceedingly well to knock 65 runs off the University bowlers. This is his first season of senior cricket, and from 'the way he shaped it looks as though he will be a valuable acquisition to the Institute eleven, who are desperately in need of good batsmen. Considering Duffys score, 158 for nine wickets was rather a pitiable performance. McLean and Calvert scored 2o and 27 respectively, but the remaining batsmen went very cheaply. Hedridge bagged 12 runs. Hankins, the other opening bat, 10, Henderson 6, Heard 5, and Tucker o. University should have no difficulty in capturing'the first game’s honours. Tricklebank was the most successful Varsity bowler with four for 51. Dean and Stevens shared the other four wickets equally.

■ Midland, with 209 for eight, registered the best performance, although at one stage when five wickets were down for <9 their prospects looked glum indeed. The young Wellington representative, W. Dustin, has shaken off a lot of last year's reserve, and faced the Wellington trujidlers confidently. His 52 runs included seven fours. R. O’Neill did not give a flawless display for his 40. At six a unanimous appeal for a catch behind the wickets was not upheld, and at 23 one of his long shots was missed bv Airey. The lefthander, who knows how to lay the wood on, did not appear worried by the fast bowlers, but the disconcerting sudden drop of Morgan’s full-tossers was not altogether enjoyed. . E. Tindill and F. Bryant provided a lively partnership. Bryant was run out at 39, but when stumps were drawn Tin<llll and Cleverley were together with 31 and 16 respectively. Incidentally. Tindill would have cone in earlier, but it is understood a search party had to be sent out for him. Cousins, Blundell, and Morgan ■ shared the eight wickets between them. It was fortunate for Old Boys that V. H. Du Chateau (53) and N. Burnett (49) both pi-»‘ up good knocks. They lost eight wickets for 187. Crook, Morris, and Hepburn were the successful bowlers, Crook’s four for 68 so early in the season being pleasing in view of the approaching big games at Christmas.

Dempster and Football. Overseas writers appear to have exaggerated opinions concerning the versatility of our cricketers. This is what an English paper published recently about C.'S. Dempster:— "Dempster, the best of all New Zealand’s batsmen, who has been playing for Blackpool this season, is also a good Rugger player, and as he is going to remain in this country he is going to start playing over here. < Unlike Merritt, however. he is remaining in the Association game, and he is likely to turn out for the Fylde club. His position is full-back, and as such he had a distinguished career in his own country. He played with such success for his province that he was considered for inclusion in the team which visited this country in 1926." “Century” has not yet heard of the 1926 AU Black team that visited England. but he will look forward to hearing of Dempster’s doings on the football field. It will be remembered that when Cameron. the well-known' swimmer, went across to Australia, the Press there hailed him as one of the best heavyweight boxers New Zealand bad produced. They say that a prophet is never appreciated in his own country! The Nelson Attitude. The Nelson association does not want Wellington to capture its players for Plunket Shield matches when they (Nelson) are defending the Hawke Cup. Naturally the Wellington association did not receive the news with open arms, for Nelson is a good bank on which to draw. If all minor associations took up the Nelson attitude Wellington’s prospects in Plunket Shield games would not be bright. The management comm : tt"e has decided to communicate with rhe other smaller bodies, and it will be interesting to learn their views on the question. Due regard must be given to both sides of the case. Taking the broad view, it behoves Nelson to throw in its weight with Wellington, and this they have always done in the past. On' the other hand, they have their

own association to think of, and if their best players are to do battle for the Plunket Shield, it reduces the Hawke Cup contests to a farce. Surely some arrangement can be effected whereby both trophies can be competed for on different dates.

Armstrong and Body-line. Warwick Armstrong, the former Australian test captain, giving his views on bodyline, said: —“Bodyline bowling ‘S not cricket. It is just sheer intimidation, and against all canons of decent cricket. England hasn’t seen Larwood as we did in Australia, and very few Englishmen know how far bodyline bowling went when the M.C.C. team was there. However, I think we shall hear very little more of it. It will just kill itself. If this style of bowling is permitted to continue. I am quite certain'it will sound the 'death-knell of cricket.”

Fast Bowling. Last week an article on slow bowling by an Australian international was published. Now it is the fast bowlers’ turn. The following article, written by Andrew Ducat, is taken from “The Australian Cricketer.’’ “Fast bowling is the most thankless task in cricket. The ‘speed merchant’ is expected to take wickets when all the conditions favour the batsman, and he is the most unhappy of all bowlers in the way in which runs are scored off thoroughly bad shots. A snick that should mean a catch is too often a boundary behind the wicket. Yet fast bowling fascinates the young cricketer. A bowler who has any claims to speed, and any personality, is certain to be a favourite with the cricket enthusiasts who follow the game. Perhaps, with their innate sense of the fairness of things, the crowd realise that the fast bowler has the dice weighted against him. His career is briefer than that of any other player, and his spells with the ball are shorter. On the other hand, a fast bowler with any pretensions to class is certain of his place in the team. A Test team without a fast bowler is almost defeated before it starts. If there are two fast bowlers, so much the better. “Another point about fast bowling is that no player can say whether he is cut out to bowl last until he has achieved a certain maturity. Before a man can put his full weight behind the ball he must have reached a certain stage of development, otherwise he will be taking serious risks with himself. The difference between a fast bowler and other bowlers is that the man who has real speed does not have to think so much about traps and stratagems. Tom Richardson was one of the very few with a genuine turn of speed who could keep it up for long stretches. Walter Brearley had the same determination, and both these bowlers could make the ball turn when the wicket wav favourable without slowing down. There have been one or two bowlers who were called fast, but whose success depended more on their ability to vary the pace of their deliveries. F. R. Spofforth was known as the ‘demon’ bowler. He bowled a very fast ball, but his fastest ball was not his most 'wicked one. The secret was that he would bowl a decidedly slow ball without any apparent chance of pace, and he had all the tricks of the slow bowler into the bargain. Everything that could be called bowling came from the clever hand and brain of this bowler. W. Lockwood, as a fast bowler, was one of the greatest. He could make a good length ball ‘kick —which is one of the brightest weapons in the armoury of the fast bowler. Art of Fast Bowling.

“This brings me to a tip for the young player who aspires to bowl fast—or, indeed, at any speed at all. You must use height. A ball that is not delivered from the full height of the player can rarely have much ‘devil’ in it. Beyond a certain limit you do not gain anything by taking a long run. You may frighten a nervous batsman, but you cannot base your tactics on nervousness on the part of the apposition. Neither Mold nor W. Brearley—both of whom played for Lancashire —took more than half a dozen paces before delivering the ball. I do not say that the average fast bowler can score with so short a run as this, but I think that while habits are being formed, the habit of making do with as short a run as possible is to be advised. This is particularly true of young players. The real secret of fast bowling is the correct use Of the weight of the body, aided by an unbroken ‘follow through.’ Given' these qualities, phis the ability to bowl from the fullest "possible height, the rest is a matter of stamina and natural aptitude. “Larwood is a splendid model for the aspiring fast bowler. He takes an uninterrupted run up to the wicket, and does not halt when nearing the crease. His deliveries are finished by a perfect follow through and body action. Naturally. I have no knowledge of how fast the ball travelled in the early days of cricket, but I should imagine that the fact that the wicket-keeper needed a couple of long stops behind him proves very little. It might simply mean that the wicketkeeper was dot so well protected as he is to-day, or that wickets were so bad that it was not possible for the man behind the stumps to judge the ball off' the ground. I am inclined to believe that it was the wickets, rather than the pace of the bowling, that made the ‘demon’ bowlers of those' days. “One fact that strengthens me in this belief is that in those days the favourite ball with fast bowlers was a ‘shooter.’ To-day, the fast bowler gets most of his wickets by making the ball rise abruptly from the pitch. I cannot conceive that bowlers who are really fast to-day have lost the knack of bowling with the same cunning as these old exponents of the most arduous branch of cricket._ To compare fast bowlers of to-day with (h n se of another generation is very difficult, as conditions are continually changing.’

Lower Grade Fixtures. Third grade fixtures for Saturday are: Kilbirnie A v. Kilbirnie B. Anderson Park; Hutt v. Y.M.C.A., Seatoun v. University, Railways v. Onslow, all at Hutt Park. Junior B2: Hutt v. Seatoun, from Kelburn 4 to Hutt Park. Junior D: Hutt v. Midland, from Anderson Park to Hutt Park.