At the Crease

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 126, 24 November 1923, Page 19

At the Crease

REPRESENTATIVE

GAMES

PLUNKET SHIELD FIXTURES

VISIT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

TEAM,

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES.

Jecember 25, 26, and 27—Wellington v. Auckland, at Wellington. Jecember 81, January 1 and 2—Wellington v. Canterbury, at Wellington. January 1 and 2—Wellington Juniors v. Canterbury Juniors, at Christchurch. January 18, 19, and 21—Wellington V. Otago, at Dunedin. \

; (By "Not Out.") - Dates for the PJunket Shield matches have been definitely settled by the Wellington Management Committee, and a. glance at the fixtures will reveal the fact that Wellington enthusiasts- will have much to entertain them during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Christmas Day will be the opening- day of the Auckland: Wellington match, and it will be continued on the 26th and 27th. At New. Year Canterbury, the present holders of the shield, will play. Wellington/the dates being Ist, 2nd, and 3rd January. The present indications are that both • Auckland and Canterbury will-be able to place strong elevens in the field this season, and the two matches are likely to produce some firstclass cricket. Special interest will attach to the performances of the players, as to a large extent the selection of theNew Zealand team to meet the Australians will depend on the form shown. Judging by tho probable personnel of the New South Wales team, New Zealanders will have to be at the top of their form in order to do themselves justice against the visitors. The Wellington team will travel South in the middle of January in order to meet Otago, the dates proposed by the Wellington Association being 18th, 19th, and 21st. The committee will also give consideration to a suggestion that the touring team should play a two-day match at Timaru.News was received this week of the players chosen by_ the New South Wales selectors to practice in view of the Sheffield Shield matches and the tour to New Zealand. Definite advice regarding the date of departure of the New South Wales team has not yet been received, and on that account the question of arranging an itinerary for the. tour cannot yet be dealt with by the-New Zealand Council. Mr. Redpath, who made arrangements while in Sydney for the visit of a New South Wales team, is of opinion that the team v/ill leave Sydney' about Ist February.

The decision of the Australian Board of Control against sending an Australian team to New Zealand this season is again referred to by tho cricket writer in the Sydney "Referee." In New Zealand the attitude of the Australian Board of Control in cricket over the suggested team for New Zealand is not understood (says the writer) ; it is not understood in Australia. . .

It is to be sincerely regretted that tho younger Victorians, who showed such excellent-form last season, will not participate in the educational: experiences of_ the campaign which, the New South Wales players will carry out. There are a lew in Melbourne to whom this tour wpiild have-been very delightful in itself and" toning Id their cricket.' W: H: Ponsford, W. V... Woodfull, and Hi. S. Lore, among the batsmen, would have been well served by it. • •■-■-• Dealing' with the Now South Wales eleven which wili be chosen a few weeks hence, the "Referee writer states that: "No men are likely to fijure in the iirst set of Sheffield Shield matches. Players not actually in the first flight last season are shaping well," and with good promise, but these men are confronted with the fact that, most of the older play : ers with established names and reputations are very keen, practising well'andshowing form. There is always room at the top for a high-class young bowler, but so far one has not forced his way to the front. Such a man may be recognised at any moment, and, if he comes, the selectors will lose little time in bringing him into the first team of the State.New South Wales, on what we have seen within the past few weeks, will have a. fine eleven if all W available' for the trip South. It will be all the better if another bowler of the best parts be brought to light—one capable of fielding brilliantly and of making runs if required at the tail end of an innings!" - The New Zealand Council is to be congratulated upon its appointment of Mr. Ken. H. Tucker, the Wellington selector, as sole selector of the New Zealand teams. Tho appointment was made on thp sugges'.J i of Mr. J. F. Peake (hon. secretary), who opposed the system, of three selectors. Mi\ Tucker, he said, was a strong man, and two years ago when Mr. Tucker acted as sole selector of the team against New South Wales general satisfaction was expressed at the selection. This season the Plunket Shield matches in Wellington will enable Mr. Tucker to obtain a good idea of the form, of players, and he will be giren an .opportunity of seeing the CanterburyOtago matches. In connection with the selection of the Wellington team Mr. Tucker is handicapped, as he will not have a chance of seeing country players who may be worthy of inclusion in the Wellington eleven. A gopd purpose would be .served if the Wellington Cricket Association: arranged for a match between a ■ team from the minor associations (Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, and Wairarapa) and a local representative team, to.be played before Wellington's first match for tho Plunket Shield. > Wellington players to practice in view of tho representative games will probably be chosen during this week-end. A PLAYER CLASSIFIED. The action of J. Hutchings, a member of last year's Wellington representative team, and a batsman who has often helped himself to rung at the expense of senior trundlers, in playing with, tho Midland Junior B Team in the first match of the season, was criticised by several members of the management committee of the association—this week, and after some discussion it was decided to classify the player as a senior. It was explained that Hutchings had expressed a desire to continue his cricket, but that he did not wish to play in the senior ranks. He applied for a game in the Midland Junior A'team, but hi* services were not accepted, as it was felt by the members of that team that it would bo unfair to'play a man of Hutchings's calibre, and he thereupon joined up with the Junior'B team." Probably no more would have been heard of the matter had not Midland, who lost the match with Old Boys, protested on the ground that short time was played. Old Boys countered this move by protesting against the fact that Hutchings, to all intents and purposes a senior player, took" part in the game, and the whole matter was accordingly opened up. Both protests were dismissed by the committee, but not before Hutchings had been classified as a senior player. The committee also laid it down as a matter of principle that any man who had once played with a senior team was obliged to obtain a transfer before playing with n lower grade eleven. Tho position, as 'understood by "Ndt:out," was that

Hutehings, for family waeoiw, did no* expect to play in the early part of the season. When he subsequently decided to play he was quite prepared to take « place in a junior team until some of the younger players were given a fair try-out with the seniors. There was no loom for him in the Midland Junior A team, so he went to the next best— the Junior B. Last week he was included in the senior team in place of Little, who was not available, but as no matches were played, and as Little was likely to play to-day, there was a possibility that Hutchings, in view of the committee's ecisiond, would be "on the bank. . It is most unfortunate that such a player should be placed in that position A place, however, has been found for Hutchings in the seniors. If the committee sees fit to classify one player, it might serve a good' purpose by searching for other players in the lower grades who are probably on a par with Hutchings, and it would not have to search far for some players who would do better than quite a number of the present seniors. There are plenty of players, in the lower grades who have been seniors at some time or other. Will they require transfers? AN EXCITING FINISH. One of the greatest finishes ever seen m Duneclm cricket was witnessed on the North Ground on Saturday. To win their match against Dunedin, Albion were set the tnsk of. making 131 runs in an hour, says the "Otago Daily Times. The, wicket was, after three hours play in showery weather; in a greasy condition, and handicapped both bowlera and batsmen. There was a fair. crowd of spectators present, and the intense excitement of the last hour's play was shared by all. It is a long time since such a scene was enacted in Dunedin, and it is an equally long time since) a cricket crowd has been brought to such a stats of excitement. It is no exaggeration to say that they were thrilled: and each one, as watches and scores were eagerly compared, revelled in the participation of the great doubt concerning the result of the match. Albion had to disregard all risks in the endeavour to score the runs in so short a time, but they took the chance, and Dunedin, like true, sports, gave their opponents the fairest of treatment by not wasting one of those valuable 60 minutes. When stumps were drawn' at 6.30 p.m. the players were still in doubt. Had Albion won, drawn, or lost? Those who had been mentally noting the score announced that the result was a draw, but, not satisfied with the accuracy of this, tho crowd rushed the-'scorers. As carefully as possible the figures were added, \ald_then, with a cheer, the.decision was received that Albion had'won. On the An* day ]Dmiedin had made 221 and Albion 105 for five wickets. When play was resumed on Saturday the remaining Albion batsmen were dismissed for 48 runs, the total having been taken to 132. Duncan (20) was the only batsman to make a stand against the bowling of lorrance, whose average for the innings was six for 52. Albion seemed to have little hope of putting Dunedin out and scoring enough runs in; their second inIllnSs to secure a three-point win, but they did so by means ot a great effort, and their win by five wickets and two runs was well deserved. Albion finished up with five wickets for 132 (Shepherd u7, Blamires 22, S. Duncan 31 not out), lorrance was not very successful with the ball m the second innings, getting only one wicket for 46 runs.

SENIOR AVERAGES. .Leading batting and bowling averages in tho local senior competition are as. fol-.

PERFORMANCES FROM ELSEWHERE.

Small'scores were the order in the Wairarapa last Saturday. A and F Hoar. (United) were the only eenior playl ere. to pass the half-century mark & Hoar compiling 70 and F. Hoar 64. The other members of the team scored only dp runs between them. Uttley (Hieh School) made. 47. P. Minifie (Carlton) took seven wickets for 43 runs, and F Hoar (United) five for 29. R mtl}\ Wairarapa Junior competition, B. Welch performed well with the ball for Carlton against Pirates, bagginz seven wickets for 62 runs. With four successive balls he captured, four wic-kets-rtwo clean-bowled and two "caught and bowled." Five other players of the same name (Welch) were in the Carlton team

Recent good performances in Hamilton were:—W Menzies (Frankton) 144, Smsdden (Old Boys) 130 not out. Dr. Hockm (Old Boys) six wickets for 21

J.. Smith, who made a good start in Auckland with a score of 81 for Parnoil, is an ex-Otago representative 1 read well again showed good form in Wanganui last Saturday. For Old Boys lie scored 119, and with Holland accounted for a third-wicket stand' of 189 Holland, had 74 to his credit when stumps werp drawn.

Taverner, Wangauui College, scored more, than half i.!, e College total last Saturday-89 noi out. Smith (United) took six of the Wanganui College wickets ior 97 runs. For Wanganui; M'Kay was top-scorer with 66.

Dalgleish, who at one time played V^j, t? n°,'c :h doin S g°od' service for Midlands (South Taranaki). v?i r, ? hilP°tts' an ' ex-Wellington \.M.C.A. player, now in South Taranaki, the Hawera Star" says- "He is quite a decent bat when started, but so far has been .rather unlucky." Bernau, the ex-Wellington "and New -fiealand representative, made a. start in Napier last Saturday, but all that came from his bat was a single. He is playing for United. J

. White (High School) was top-scorer in the Hawkes Bay senior games last Saturday, making 57 against Hastings Only one senior game was played in JNew Plymouth last Saturday. There was no big scoring. I n the High Schools' second innings, Osborne (Old Boys) worked havoc with the batsmen, baginig seven wickets for 3 runs. a *Ji_ ihrS one "Bnio1" matoh Played in South Taranaki lut Saiunty, AT Cm-

thy arid P. R. Fulton- did most of the run-getting for Excelsior, the former compiling 91 and the latter 49. The position of the senior teams in Dunedin is:—Albion, 5 points; Grange 4; Carisbrook, 0; Dunedin, 0. For Carisbrook last Saturday Dunning made 82 before he was run out and Worker was caught behind the stumps after scoring 62. Gulland bowled well for Grange, getting six wickets for 82 runs.

Christchurch was far bettor treated than Wellington last Saturday in the matter of weather, for a start with tho third series of matches. Poor batting marked the performances of the two leading teams, Riccarton and Linwood. Eiccarton made 134, and Linwood lost seven wickets for 115. Though St. Albans disposed cheaply of three of Sydenham's leading batsmen, W. R. Patrick, J. Young, and E. Gasson, Sydenham made 268. St. Albans lost a wicket for 13 runs. Once again, R. C. Blunt emphasised his consistency, heading a score of 309 runs by West Christchurch against East Christchurch. He made 68 runs in capital fashion. _ East Christchurch lost one wicket for 19 rung. The best individual batting and bowling performances for the day were:—Batting: R. C. Blunt (West Christhchurch) 68, W. Cunningham (Sydenham) 55, J. M'Ewin (Sydenham) 51, C. Oliver (Sydenham) 50. Bowling: R. Read (Linwood), four for 50.

[ Two centuries were scored in the Canterbury senior B grade competition last Saturday—A. T. Donnelly (West Christchurch) 132, L. J. Killiok (Riccarton) 105. .' - . •" TWO-EYED STANCE." Dr. R. Macdonald deals interestingly with "eyesight at cricket." Is it judicious in cricket to face the bowler full with two eyes? The "two-eyed stance" has been abused by many batsmen because they not only use a " two-eyed-stance," but also an incorrect two-feet stance, thus their subsequent toot and shoulder work is at fault. It is not generally_ known that the "two-eyed stance " is in accordance with the scientific principles of modern gunnery as concerns range-finding. The eyes, while giving expression to stereoscopic vision, are also range-finders. Stereoscopic vision is concerned with three dimensions, range-finding with two dimensions, the well-known mathematical principle of triangulation being applied when : two eyes are used. Now, in what-position is the range-finder placed in order to simplify and interpret to the most accurate degree the distance of the objective? A distinguished naval officer writes to me as follows:—" The principle of the rangefinder used in gunnery depends on it being absolutely at right-angles to the line ot sight." This therefore is in exact accordance with the "two eyed stance." Tho batsmen of the "tworeyed-stance," Hobbs, Fry, Eanjitsinhji, Macartney, Bardsley, the late Victor Trumper, and Shrewsbury, have, by facing the bowler, all placed the base-line of their eyes as nearly at absolute right-angles to the line, of sight as possible; but note also that they all incline the face of' the bat towards their legs; this is due to that slight twist of the body, chiefly at the hips, which enables them to keep the feet and legs in a correct position and yet simultaneously to present the base-line between "the two eyes at rightangles to the line of sight. In both! stereoscopic vision and range-findinn- the greater the distance between the observes P. omt.s (^at is, the eyes) the more eitective is the instrument. An interest- > ing analogy m connection with this is that marked width between the eyes hfts been of many of our greatest, batsmen, Dr. W. G. Grace being a classic example. ' The fascinating ease, which, marks the batting of Hobbs, George Gunn, and J ) W. Hearne is due to their finished footwork, brought about by perfect sighting of the ball; in these three players' one sees not only the exposition of the' I • two-eyed stance, ' but also the perfect! maintenance of their eyes in the horizontal plane.. There are conclusive reasons, optical and mathematical, for getj ting.the base-line of tho eyes as nearly as possible at right-angles to the line df sight, and also for maintaining this baselme m the horizontal plane,- thereby giving a sense of the true vertical, so that any deviation of the straight ball from the vertical plane through which it is travelling, due to swerve or break, may be more accurately observed. All this can be brought about only by the adoption of the " two-eyed stance '■'; but it must be accompanied -by correct footwork to satisfy the exacting demands of the critics and the art of batting. j NOTES. Players who take part in the junior representative match, Wellington v. Canterbury, to be played at Christchurch on Ist and 2nd January, must b e under 24 years of age. This decision, which was ? mye<Lat at tllis week's meeting of the local Management Committee, will no 1 doubt have the'effect of making a large number of the most prominent juniors ineligible, as the average age of Junior A. players is probably between 24 and 26. In spite of this, however, the decision of the committee seems to be a very wise one, as the match should be played primarily for the purpose of giving promising colts an opportunity of proving themselves. It is on players under 24 years of age, and not on those over that senior teams will have to depend for reinforcements in the future, and advantage should be taken of every opportunity of giving these young players'a try-out. The committee decided to make a vote of £30 towards the expenses of the trip, and there is little doubt that that sum will be money well spent. A suggestion was made at the meeting that an endeavour should be made to come to some arrangement with the Canterbury people to billet the players while they -are in Christchurch

Another thing, players go on the ground smoking, and at times one sees them puffing in between tho fall of wickets. These things Bhould be stopped, as it all tends towards slovenliness on the field. Cricket should be played smartly, and the dignity of the ■ game should always be maintained.—A note from Hawera.

Most cricketers and followers of the game will agree with the decision of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council that the colours of the New Zealand team should remain as at present (says the Christchurch Star*). At the last annual meeting of delegates to the council it was decided to recommend to the committee that the colours for the New Zealand team should-be changed on the ground that black waa rather sombre and suggested mourning, and that the fernleaf could be mounted on a background of more cheerful hue As Mr Donnelly stated at the last meeting of the committee, the notion that the colours were too funereal was without foundation. Black was New Zealand's colour in all branches of sport, and should remain so.. Most people will agree with these sentiments;

"You have no need to be alarmed at the reports which appeared in the English Press of the strength of South Africa." remarked the chairman of the Transvaal Cricket Union at the annual meeting recently. "The recent performances show that we can hold our own. if we send a strong team to England you may be jure th&t we'wjll put up a. good fight."

H- ■pj--^'". ■^"•■■■N.p.^H.S.--R..^Vi r T r?u r 3 2 57 * 87 87-°0 ft \: <">hcrolt ... 2 1 67* 73 73.00 S- *"nn 3 2 21 54 54.00 W Af'Tr""-'"--'3-11 ;76.=. „-98- 49.00 W. H. btainton ... 4 2 31 '76 38 00 v nlV!r° n 2 —'■ 61- 71- 35.50 f- M- M'G,™ 3 -r- 101 106 35.33 n V.,ff ortlansr ■- 3. — 81 104 34 66 V' lUle 3 — 52 99 55.00 A. Duncan ..; 4 _ 61 127 3175 J. E. Banks 3-67 SI 30.33 it n \v- Iddle3ton -4 :— 74 117 29.25 H. C. Watson 3 - 56 82 27.33 H. J. Tatlersall ... 3 1 49* 51 25.50 H. L. Cooper 3 1 35 50 25 00

Baiting.

A. Finlayson,.... 73' 12 = 6.08 W. H.tchcock 47 5 g.40 A. H. Tucker 66 7 g43 E. Taylor (Thorndon) 95 16 .9.50 H- Watson 145 15 9.66 SL-- un" ■ • 49 v 5 9.80 W- C. Corner 52 5 10 40 t. J. Napier 146 14 10.42 w » «->u? 9 "- 73 7 10.43 S: te 163 15. 10.86 W. S. • Bnce 180 14 12.85 D. Is.. Leggatt 107 8- 13.27 B. Massoy 33 6 {; 4 a,lalcolm 85 6 14.16 M- Henderson' .142 10 14.20 E. Judd 232 15 • 15.47 W q Unw an , : ," 6 16.50 n' nS- o!ay 117 7 16.71 D. C. Collins 127 5 25 40

Bowling.