CRICKET (By "Half-Volley")

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 14

CRICKET (By "Half- Volley")

To-day the final games in the senior championship contest are commenciag. Most interest jvill 'centre naturally in the Petone-Narth match, on No. 1 wicket, Basin Reserve. Other matches, though they may change the final posi- j tionß of tbe teams, cannot the championship. The following table ! shows the position of tbe various teams up to the final ronnd :— Ihree- TwoMatches point point Total ! Played. Wlus. Wms. Losses. Pts. Petone 8 5 2 1 19 North 8 5 1 2 17 'Central 8 2 3 2 12 •East A 8 2 2 3 10 Old Boys 8 1 3 4 >- 9 East B 8 2 15 8 Victoria Col.' 8 0 2 6 4 Hutt 8 0 0 8 0 'Central and East A played a drawn j game, foi which no points are scored. I Though rain and wind spoilt the Wel-lington-Australian match fiom the point of view of the public, there was some fairly interesting cricket on Saturday. The Australian selection was a strong I .one, and Crawford especially was looked { to for an exhibition out of the ordinary. I The bowling on the previous day had wrought great havoc in the Wellington Tanks. Armstrong, as ever, was the problem that puzzled the local batsmen. It was not alone that they had to protect their wickets, but they required several pairs of eyes and a very steady bat to guard against a successful issue to the careful planning of a field which was always alert for catches. It is interesting to note that not one of Armstrong's wickets was clean bowled ; certainly sonio proof of the fact that he bowjs with a varied purpose^ — sometimes to hit thu stumps, sometimes to tempt the batsman from his crease, and sometimes to invito those simple catches which the Australians are always waiting < for. Hiddlcstone's case, stumped by Waddy, was probably the most disappointing of the Wellington ihnmgs. Eiddlestone is a steady, but withal, enterprising batsman, and he would probably have done well had ho not dragged his foot on to the hue and given Waddy the chance which ha took. Baker's innings, of course, was the best performance for Wellington. Friday was one of Baker'f good clays, and his play 'was > quite pleasing. ' Baker is apparently a n?2.n of moods, for on some days he does nothing, while at other times he will surprise all save those wbo know him well witb record exhibitions. At least, there is this t6 be said for him, if he is in the mood he plays, well, if he is not he goe^ out. He is not a man to waste t-rae at the wickets. M'Girr's 19, pot out, was thoroughly v.'ell deserved. Tbough he played with rather niors caution than is usual with ,him M'Girr did well to keep his wicket standing for a trying time. Crawford's boy/ling, though troublesome to some of the batsmen, was not so potent a cause of the trouble as the deliveries of Armstrong. Brica was fortunate to make 32. His display was breezy, but too reckless to be deemed excellent. Australia at the wickets was not the revelation that many people expected. Armstrong a-nd Trumper certainly wiped out some old scores with their fine rungetting paitrjership, and Waddy gave a very hreezy display of strong hitting ; but the.othe-s of the tearr were disappointing. Howe- was the man who came off the field with a' great share of glory. Ho accounted for three men and let vsry ) little get past him, though hs had * wide variety of deliveries to deal with. Gibbes would not have been picked by | most peopl? as the bowler of ths day ; I but such he .proved to be. M'Girr alsr> ] in one over did exceedingly well. The ground fielding was good on the whcle. and few chances were missed. Hiddlestons $ct a bright example to fieldsmen in general. i The New Zealand team to play the j final test at Auckland against Australia is different in many respects from the 1 original selection. There is lees representation of Chnstchurch, two outdistrict players are given a chance, and Wellington contributes two bowlers, Eobinsoii and Saunders. The Australians themselves bear testimony to Robinson's work, and 'it is not unlikely fchai Saunders, who is often stronge* in representative games than in club cricket, w^l prove up to the hilt tbat he is sti.ll a man to be reckoned with. Payment of players will probably be seriously debated before the nexi New Zealand cricket team leaves these shoiee. Protests from Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington have been rained "i: the counciL Wellington, with a multitude of faults to find, might '.nor© easLy havo returned trie baiance sheet with oue big tag "please explain." If the 60 per cent, bargain which Mi. Sims's team made with the New Zealand Council is likely to cause complaint in Wellington, Christchurch, which is not used to economy, will probably be in a position worse still. It is estimated that the Christchurch Association will benefit from the game in that city onlyto' the extent of £6 or £7, after expenses are paid. The project of a visit of a Tasmanian team to England, to play a series of matches against the minor counties, the public schools, and M.C.C-, has been postponed, as the idea was mooted too | late for a programme to be arranged for the coining season. The tour has tbe sanction of the Tasnianian Cricket Aepo- j ciation, and those making it will pay ] their own expenses. '