FINE FIGURES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 9

FINE FIGURES

IN BIG CRICKET

KORTLANG'S NEW ZEALAND

EECOBD. /_

"11l the interests of cricket and of a fino cricketer and sportsman, I would be glad if you could find space in your valuable paper for the following few lines," writes a correspondent ("Justice"). "Whilst walking around the Basin Reserve during the progress of the Town v. Country match, I was very much interested to hear the comments on B. J. Xortlang's great innings. The consensus of opinion was that Kortlang was easily the soundest batsman in New Zealand,, certainly the most valuable, and that he should be the first batsman picked to go Home, except that in a number of cases critics were more or less prejudiced against selecting a man whom they considered, rightly or wrongly, a 'bird of-passage.' "Would you kindly let the cricket public know how long Kortlanjj has been a resident of the Dominion, the number of seasons he has played here, and his Plunket Shield averages? In my humble opinion, he would be the 'sheet-anchor' of a touring side, not only because of his big cricket temperament and experience of English wickets, but also for the reason, as we all know, that he takes the bloom off all bowling at the start, paving the way for the other batsmen of his side. To those who may say he is not a New Zealander, 13 it not a fact that several prominent cricketers have been chosen to represent New Zealand who were not New Zealanders, and who had a much shorter sojourn in this country than Kortlang has had? Kortlang has worthily represented New Zealand before, and for the sake of New Zealand's prestige at Home it is my wish, and, I am sure, that of all true sports, that this fine cricketer and sportsman should be considered on merit and not on the debatable fact that he is a 'foreigner.' " ,B. J. Kortlang's record in Plunket Shield cricket is remarkable. In sixteen visits to the crease he has scored 911 runs, a performance which stands well above that of any other batsman in Plunket Shield matches. His first batting effort in shield cricket, some four years ago, was one of the best seen in representative cricket in New Zealand —a brilliant century against Auckland. Since then he has made numerous big scores in representative cricket. One of note was his 214 not out against Auckland last season, this boing the highest individual score of the season. He has figured in numerous century partnerships, his association with W-. A. Baker in the match against Otago throo seasons ago producing a record for the second wicket. Another' record-break-ing performance was mado by Kortlang in the recent Town-Country match, in which he carried his bat in each innings for scores of 149 and 185 respectively. Kortlang represented New Zealand against the N,ew South Wales team in the 1923-24 season, scoring 39 out of New Zealand's totnl of 80 on a bad wicket, and contributing .14 to the total of 79 in the second innings when ho was given out "hit wickbt." Of the playors who batted more than twice against the N.S.W. team Kortlang had the highest average—4o.oo. His Plnnket Shield figures are as follow:—

,„„„ Inn. N.O. H.S. Tl. Bns. Avi. 1922-23 5 1 113 288 72.00 "23-24 6 — 134 318 53.00 M25-2G 5 I 214* 305 7C.25

Kortlang has the- best average for Plunket Shield cricket since the inception of the competition—6s.o7. Next to him are A. E. Eelf (58.00) and J. S. Hiadleston (56.41). Tho question of Kortlaug's residential q-aliflcation was raised some years ago, and it was shown then, that he first came to New Zealand in 1912, and was here at various times subsequently, making Wellington his headquarters. After war service he returned from America to New Zealand, and has made this country his permanent home ever since.