CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1926, Page 22

CRICKET

■ V "JVOT OUT" [WELLINGTON'S TEAM

EXPERIENCED PLAYERS PREFERRED

SELECTOE'S SOUND CHOICE,

In preparation for a big list of games this season, the Wellington sole selector (Mr. Ken Tucker) has had to get to work early in finding the players likely to be of service as representatives. He has decided upon twenty players, four of whom are in the country, districts. That is s-jt to say, however, that other players will not bo considered. All who are worthy will as far as possible be given their chance; -in fact, since making known his first selection, Mr. Tucker has called upon Others to stand a trial in the one-day match with Mahawatu on Tuesday \reek. Then there will be country players here next month, also on trial as prospective provincial representatives. City players, other than those already notified, who perform meritoriously will Btill have their, chance of selection for representative matches. In the twenty alrer.dy selected, however, there is a team that is capable of. proving itself one of the best on record so far as Wellington cricket is concerned. And if alAhe members happen to strike form at the one time, the opposition will have an exceptionally busy time. As was the case last season, there is objection from some quarters to the attitude of the selector in retaining confidence in the older players. The answer to those wno criticised the selector last season was very effective. The "old men," as they are termed, won the Plunket Shield for Wellington. The position is just the same in other countries. Did Kortlang, Hiddleston, and company let Wellington. down last season? Were Snedden and Smith of little value to Auckland? Glance at the record of last season's performances and see who wcro the outstanding criclceters. Take last season's club cricket in Wellington—Baker, Kortlang, Hiddleston, Collins, M'Girr, Patrick, and Tatteisall were all amon^ the leading batsmen, while few colts were placed among the leading trundlers. The r.'der hands will prove themselves again, and until they fail why throw them out? There is still plenty of good cricket in most of t.icse so-called veterans.

N.Z. Leadership.

It. is the opinion of an Auckland "Herald" writer that three players gtand out head and shoulders above all other aspirants to the position. They are: N. C. Snedden, of Auckland; W. B. Patrick, of Canterbury;- and D. C. Collins, of "Wellington. The Auckland scribe thinks that of these Snedden is by far the better leader, and that, in the event of Snedden being unable to make the trip, Collins should be the next choice. The Wellington man has this in his favour, that he has a knowledge of English conditions. Patrick, lie considers, on last season's form, has not the playing ability. Players ho considers with minor claims to the position are T. C. Lowry, B, de B, Worker, and C. C. Dacre.

At the Basin Reserve. Cricket at the Basin Reserve last Saturday offered plenty of variety. In one match cautious tactics by some of the batsmen made the play more or less uninteresting to those spectators who like to see plenty of vim in,the proceedings. ,Tho pther match, however, more than satisfied by reason of faster and brighter play in which the 'Varsity colts. figured prominently. Thofndon had first strike on No. 1 •wicket, and the lack of enterprise on the part of some members of the team became rather irritating to a section of the spectators. But let those who commented adversely place themselves in Thorndon's position. Thordon'this season have prospects of having a little better fortune than in the past, but in each bid for success they must make sure of getting plenty of runs without taking too many risks, as their position as regards bowling is far from strong. True, they may have scored more runs last Saturday against Old Boys, admittedly a better bowling side, but, while the bowling was at times made to appear really harder than it was, Thorndon plugged away and ran up a score !big enough to make the opposition go hard for a win. The scoring rate was not so bad ai some people' were inclined to believe. On how many occasions this season has it been bettered?, Thorndon themselves did a flttlc better in their match with Institute, when their performance was recognised as distinctly good. Last Saturday's effort was by no means as bad as it has been painted. Kortlang did the spado work for Thondon, and he made it heavy going, cicept for the fact that ho allowed numerous deliveries suitable for scoring to go passed him untouched, his performance was a good one for the side. He made top score. There is probably, no other player more criticised than Kortlang, but in spite of it all he continues to prove that he is not yet a back number. How often has Kortlang been a failure? As a matter of fact he has been one of the big successes so far as Wellington representative cricket during the past few years is concerned. "Teddy" Roberts gave quite an impressive display for Thorndon last Saturday, and should show his value to a greater extent as the season advances. Mason made a useful contribution, / though he was nothing like the same batsman as in Thorndon's previous match on the Basin Reserve. Gibson surprised by the number of runs he .scored and the manner in which he notched them. Old Boys for this match were by no means at full strength. The Dustin brothers, from Wellington College, were both included. The services of Tucker and Collins were not available. Collins will be out as soon as he has fully reco /ered from the illness which he suffered about the start of the season. He may have a try-6ut with the Wellesley Club team on Monday in a match with the Navy. Lusk was the strong man in the Old Boys' attack last Saturday. There are plenty of bowlers in the Old Boys' team, and there may be more still as the season advances. Nothing seemed to go right with Midland in their match with Univeroity on No. 2 wicket at the Basin Reserve. They could not get going with the bat, and when it came to getting rid of the 'Varsity batsmen Midland were still wanting. 'Varsity were fortunate in gotting rid of Midland so cheaply, and the tide being with them they made the most of it. Hollings once again demonstrated that he is one of the most promising players produced in Wellington in recent times—another such find as in the ease, of Dempster, who by the way knocked up another good score in. Wa-

iganui last Saturday without losing his wicket. Hollings gave a very attractive display,'and working up to a fast rate of scqring ho completed his second successive century before stumps wcro drawn. He was lucky to find Wiri Baker for once failing to accept a catch in the slips when Hollings was noaring the half-century. HolHngs's shots to the off, particularly between point and cover, were splendid.

Of serviceable assistance to Hollings and to the team in obtaining a winning position was Tripe, another player who should go far in cricket. The pair put on over 150 runs for the second wicket, Tripe's contribution being 67.

Another feature of. 'Varsity's performance was the success of a promoted junior, Vietmeyer, who was at Wellington College a few years ago. He bagged half of the Midland wickets at small cost.

V.M.C.A. and Kilbirnie.

Although the wicket at Kilbirnie was a little difficult; batsmen in the Kil-birnie-Y.M.C.A. match made it appear ten times worse than it was, and bowlers received very flattering figures. Even Badcock, fine bowler that lie is, was flattered, one or two batsmen being kind enough to get themselves out.

As a batting side Kilbirnic did not appear to advantage, Bedmond and W. Cliristopherson being the only players to make any showing against the bowling of Grant and Henderson. Grant was getting a lot out of the ball, but even so his deliveries should not have held out any great terrors to batsmen of experience.

Of the Y.M.G'.A. batsmen there were only two who showed any form, Henderson and Grant, who also shared the bowling honours, heading the list, It was a disappointing display generally, but at the" same time the contest was so close that interest was well maintained. Keen play was expected again to-day.

Petone and Wellington.

The very slow scoring was the main feature of the Petone-Wellington match at Petone on Saturday. With the exception of H. Nicholls, there was not one batsman who showed any'outstanding enterprise in going after the bowling. Certainly the ivieket favoured the bowlers, and quite a number of times caused, upsets in the calculations of the. batsmen.

Hiddleston, one of the opening batsmen, performed best with the bat for Wellington, and compiled a very handy 21 before he was stumped by Cate, whose work behind the wickets was good. Monkhouse stayed at the wicket for an hour and a half, but only compiled 11 before he got his leg in the way of one of Brice's deliveries. The only other Wellington batsman to reach double figures was Bruce, and he was caught by Patrick off Keyling.

H. Nicholls and Hamilton were the opening men for Petone, and although the latter did not last long, Nicholls made top score for the afternoon with 33. He was very unfortunate to go as he did a few minutes before time, as it looked as though he was settled for a big score. When Capstick joined him at the wickets, the brightest cricket of the day followed, and Capstick scored 19, second highest for the suburban team, before falling to O'Connor.

Finlayson and Brice shared the honours of the bowling for Petone, the former taking four wickets for 33 runs, and -the latter three for 11.

Percy Chapman,

An engaging personality is Percy Chapman, and it is humour which makes him so (says an English correspondent). When Chapman returned to his home in Hurst, Berkshire, after the fifth Test, a great crowd, assembled outside his residence and clamoured for his.appearance. Percy appeared on the balcony, something after tho style of the Prince of Wales, and waved to tho enthusiastic people. He also brought out his New Zealand wifo to acknowledge tho praise showered on him. As a youngster in short trousers, Chapman had international pretensions, if the veracity of tho village baker where he lives is indisputable. Onco this baker gave Chapman a lift on his cart. "When I play for tho Gentlemen at '■Lord's I will send you two tickets," said Percy to the amused baker. S. H. Bullock, tho baker, used to play with .Chapman when the latter was a mere child. Later on Chapman and Bullock earned considerable fame in the village by putting on 147 for the first wicket against a police team.

A View of Hendren.

The real "Patsy" Hendren, seen by Neville Caradus in the Lancashire v. The Rest match at Oval: "After the interval we were privileged to see the real Hendren. Within twenty _ minutes he accomplished five, brilliant boundary strokes —one of them a hook from M'Donald's bumping ball, fast, caused us to catch breath at the power and fearlessness of it. Here was a Hendren fit to play in great company. S,o quick was he to hit the over-tossed length—some of his cover drives from half-volley were as sweet and as easeful as Spooner's—rthat the Lancashire bowlers seemed., ready to' pitch a short length. And, of course, Hendren Js bat flashed swifter the shorter bowling' sent to him. When England's total reached 100-Hendren was 24; when it reached 150 his score had raced to 65. In 45 minutes after lunch Hendren made 50, and the rapid energy of his hits was reminiscent of J. T. Tyldesley. Why, oh, why cannot Hendren be himself in the presence of Australians?

Lucky Cricketers.

• Quite a largo proportion of this season's Sussex county side will spend the winter abroad, for, in addition to George Cox and B. Bowley, who go to South Af.ri.ca and New Zealand respectively, Arthur Gilligan and Maurice Tate are touring India with the M.C.C. team. A. J. Holmes, the young R.A.F. officer, is also leaving England, and H. E. Roberts, wlro is in charge of the county nursery at Hove, has accepted a coaching appointment iv the Argentine.

Hendren v. Hobbs.

An interesting little contest has been, going on between Hendren and Hobbs since the latter recovered his full health in 1922. At the beginning of this year Heridren.had scored 7711 runs in the last three seasons, as against Hobbs's 7205. Now the. figures are 10,354 to 10,154 in Hendren's favour. The Middlesex man, by the way, has scored over 2000 runs in each of the last seven seasons!

Notes.

If the South Australian team visits New Zealand this season it is to be hoped that Alexander will be able to make the trip, says an exchange. He is said to be one of the most promising young batsmen seen in Australia for some time, and, judging by reports, he is again in great form this year. Playing for South Australia against the New Zealanders last season, Alexander made 130 runß out and 34 not out.

It is freely rumoured (says the Christchurch "Star") that the captaincy of the New Zealand team which is to go Home next year is to be offered to Tom Lowry. He has had a good experience of English cricket.

During the whole of the senior A competition of the Canterbury Cricket Association last season only four centuries were scored. Thoy were notched by T. Kennedy, J. L. Powell, R. Norrie, and R. O. Talbot. This season, with only two rounds gone, four have already been scored. In the first round C. Oliver made 100 not out, and on Saturday three centuries were recorded, J. Robertson making 186, G. R. Gregory 124 not out, and G. Mortlock 105 not out.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE. Outwin. win. D. I'Hutt 0 2 0 0 Petono 1 ( 0 J ? Y.M.C.A 0 1 0 1 Old Boys 0 1 ° } Midland 0 1 ° } Kilbirnie 0 1 0 1 Thorndou 0 1 0 i Welltnston' 0 1 0 J Institute 0 0 1 1 University .... 0 0 u ris. ii s a 3 3 1 0