New Zealand Cricketers

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 14

New Zealand Cricketers

Prospects Against M.C.C. and Glamorgan

(By THE WATCHMAN.)

TpItOM their match with Surrey finishing to-day, the New Zealand cricketers will move from the Oval to an even more famous ground, historic Lord's, to meet the M.C.C. Then they rush to Cardiff to begin their third match with Glamorgan on Saturday.

Historic Lord’s. Only cables from London can indicate the composition of the Marylebone Cricket Club team which will play the New Zealanders in a match which will introduce the tourists to the famous ground of Lord’s, by tradition and practice the home of cricket government throughout the British Empire, and in thought and in fact the most historic of the great grounds associated with a great game essentially English. Lord’s has dignity and history. Some of the greatest figures in the game established some of their greatest records there. It has unique character, as well as a tavern within its precincts. It also has an uneven outfield, a wicket with a slope, an unimformative scoreboard; and no sight screen at one end. Yet it is the Mecca of touring cricketers. There they usually meet the King and play the M.C.C., as well as England. The M.C.C., fabulously wealthy and rigidly exclusive, calls upon some of the best amateurs and some of the best professionals for its matches with visiting overseas sides. Frequently the club team is as strong as any that could be selected in England. The match is always early in the season, and it can be said that a good performance in this game ensures the success of the tour for any travelling side. The New Zealanders in 1931, for instance, attracted the notice of the whole cricket world by their performance against the M.C.C. at Lord’s. It was the fourth game of the programme, and, while the tourists had performed well in the earlier county fixtures, they were generally regarded only as a workmanlike, if entertaining side. At Lord’s they showed that their possibilities were considerable by forcing a brilliant win against a team which included M. .1. C. Allom, V. W. C. Jupp. R. W. V. Robins, J. C. White, D. R. Jardine, and A. P. C. Chapman, six of the best amateurs in England. New Zealand scored 302 for nine wickets before the innings was declared closed. C. S. Dempster played faultless cricket for -15, and R. 0. Talbot smote up 66 at great pace, including one enormous six which almost cleared the pavilion, a feat which, history says, has been done by only one man—Albert Trott. Talbot’s drive struck the roof and the ball bounced back into the field of play. T. C. Lowry, in his most ruthless mode, attacked all bowlers in crushing style in making a brilliant 101 not out. The M.C.C. scored only 132. I. B. Cromb bowling, with lively enthusiasm, and, finding that the slope in the wicket helped him. taking six wickets for -16 runs. New Zealand enforced the follow-on, and tlie M.C.C. collopsed for 43. W. E. Merritt, who had taken two for 49 in the first innings, bowled superbly, capturing seven for 28, while R. C. Blunt kept an excellent length and spun the ball well in securing three for 13, The spin bowlers, even on a helpful wicket, performed one of the outstanding feats of the year in dismissing such a strong side so cheaply twice in one day. The match, in fact, was satisfactory in every way from the point of view of the tourists, for bright batting on the first day, with fine bowling on the second, went hand in hand with fielding which was amazing, considering that the temperature was so low that every man wore two sweaters at least. Every chance which came to hand was eagerly seized, and four “beauties” were taken at first slip by M. L. Page.

What Happened in 192"? In 1927, although a match was drawn, the performance of the touring team excited general admiration. The M.C.C. team was a powerful combination and scored 392 and 423 for four wickets, C. H. Titchmarch, a really great cricketer, whose fine records are forgotten because he played most of his matches in the minor county competition, scoring 171 in the first innings, while JI. D. Lyon and G. O. Allen (since captain of England), both recorded centuries in the second.

Tom Lowry, knowing the publicity value of a good performance at Lord’s, instructed the New Zealanders to bat at their brightest, even if the race for runs entailed risks, and the tourists kept well "ahead of the clock” in making 46 in the first innings. Roger Blunt scored 52 and J. E. Mills 24 and K. C. James 33, and then C. C. Dacre followed with one of his hectic hitting exhibitions, in which he scored 107 in an hour, with 20 fours. Tom Lowry, by vigorous hitting all round the wicket, made 106, and 11. M. MeGir (with 58 not out), and W. E. Merritt (with 40) participated in a lively and successful partnership for the ninth wicket. New Zealand’s second innings produced 224 runs for four wickets (Blunt 51, James 32, Lowry 63 not out), and next day fulsome reference to the bright and breezy batting of “this sporting side from the other side of the world” filled a cricket column of nearly all the papers in London.

Because the match is played in May on most tours, the wicket often changes rapidly through variations in weather, and notable collapses have occurred and fine recoveries have been made in matches between the M.C.C. and teams from Australia. South Africa and New Zealand. The match, in fact, is more often than not an excellent one for testing the capacity of a side to take advantage of favourable conditions of wicket and weather.

Almost invariably, however, the club has such a strong team that high scoring can be expected if the wicket remains in favour of the batsmen throughout the three days. Against All India lust year the club fielded a team which included such well-accredited players as “Gtibbv” Allen. R. E. S. Wyatt, E. R. T. Holmes and I. A. R. Peebles (who has played for both Scotland and England) among the amateurs, and “Patsy” Hendren (Middlesex and England), J. M. Sims (Middlesex and England), and W. E. Bowes (Yorkshire and England) among the professionals Quite often a professional or two is included to strengthen the bowling.

'The Welsh county of Glamorgan won only one game in the county championship last year, and has for years been well down the list of the first-class counties in England. Yet it should provide the New Zealanders with an interesting match. Some goal players appear for Glamorgan. One in whom the tourists will have an almost friendly interest on the field, and certainly a friendly interest off it, will be JI. J. Turnbull, a member of Harold Gilligan’s team in New Zealand in 192930, and co-author of the book written about that tour, and titled “The Two Maurices.” Maurice Turnbull is a brilliant, but inconsistent, cricketer. When he makes runs he compiles them in attractive style, but he is prone to early suicide through the riskines of some of his strokes. In form he is a treat to watch. In 1929-30 he could not strike form till he made a glorious 79 against Taranaki at New Plymouth He is a right-hand batsman, always looking for runs, and he had a fine sequence of high scores early last season. He made 65 and 115 against Kent and 134 against Yorkshire, scored another century in the match. South v. North, and played for England against AH India. In the second half of the season he lost form, and had, a run of small scores. Nevertheless, he scored 1062 runs in first-class cricket at 25.9 an innings. Like C. S. Dempster, the New- Zealander, for Leicestershire, he combines the duties of captain and secre-

tar.v for Glamorgan. Three other Glamorgan batsmen scored 1000 runs last season—E. Davies, 0. Smart and D. Davies All are professionals. Ern Davies is a left-hand batsman of the aggressive type, with fine offdrives. He is much less defensive than most professionals, but the regularity of his large aggregates proves the excellence of his defence and his judgment in using his forcing strokes. Doug. Davies is a right-hander, and more of the solid type, although he, too, scores mainly in front of.the wickets. Cyril Smart is a hard hitter, also partial to driving rather than hooking and cutting. As R. Duckfield, a young player who also believes in getting his runs quickly, and A. H. Dyson, said to be the best late cutter in county cricket, scored more than 900 runs, and T. L. Brierley compiled 602, including 97 at great pace against Surrey, it ean be seen that there is not a great deal wrong with the batting strength of Glamorgan. The bowling, however, is not good, lacking both variety and quality. Eor complete and consistent success, too much depends on two wonderful veterans —.1. 0. Clay and J. Mercer. Clay is a righthand off-spin bowler who flights the ball well and bowls with extraordinary accuracy, being one of the most difficult bowlers to score from quickly in county cricket. He is now at an age, however, when sprains are becoming frequent and when stiffness develops much more quickly than in the healthful days of athletic youth. Last year he was not able to play regularly, and took only 62 wickets, although he toppe'd the averages for • Glamorgan. Mercer, a really fine fast-medium bowler who makes the ball swing late and who can also spin it back from the off at great pace, seems, by contrast, to be able to go on for ever. Last year ho had success after success, culminating in the taking of 10 wickets for 51 runs against Worcestershire, the first time this great feat had been performed in one innings for Glamorgan. He took 127 •wickets at 19.37 each. Ern Davies, a left-hand slow bowler, is effective on occasions, and last season took 50 wickets at 29 runs each. The team, however, lacks medium-paced stock bowlers and a good right-hand slow bowler. Moreover, the fielding is not of the best, for, while some brilliant catches have been taken, many which should have been held -have been missed in the past two or three seasons. Glamorgan cricket has been in the doldrums for two or three seasons, but perhaps there is hope for the future, for young players are being developed, if slowly, and there is little sign of loss of skill in most of the “regulars” of the past four or five years. The New Zealand team beat the county once and played a draw in another game in 1931. In the drawn match New Zealand scored 288 for six wickets, and 190 for four, declaring in each innings, features of the batting being fine not-out centuries by 0. S. Dempster in the first innings and by G. L. Weir in the second. In making 200 and 103 for five the Glamorgan players were “all at sea" to 'lie slow bowling of New Zealand, W. E. Merritt taking six for 91 and two for 30, and R. C. Blunt two for 39 and two for 19. Rain robbed the tourists of almost certain victory. The other game was won by nine wickets. Glamorgan scored 136 and 259. Jim Mereer. going in ninth, made 62 not out. including six sixes in the second innings, hitting with power which amazed the New Zealanders. New Zealand's totals wore 363 and 36 for one wicket, J. E. Mills (Auckland) being in his best, form in making 137, while Roger Blunt scored 60, and H. G. Vivian 54 not out. In 1927 New Zealand won by 206 runs, making 345 and 205 for six wickets. C. S. Dempster played all bowlin with ease in the first innings, scoring 167 not out in three hours. Glamorgan scored only 145 and 199, E. H. L. Bernau, the lefthand fast-medium bowler from Wanganui, taking six for 35 and two for 38.

but usually the team is mainly amateur. Against South Africa the season before last there were nine amateurs, including V. Walters I Worcestershire and England) and F. It. Brown (Surrey and England). and Errol Holmes, Johnny Human and A. L>. Baxter, members of the English side which visited New Zealand in 193536. A good performance in this match will do much to make for the success of the tour, especially financially, for a win at Lord's gives a travelling side a standing which attracts attention all over England. Glamorgan in the Doldrums.