CHANGED CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 9

CHANGED CONDITIONS

THE FIRST DEFICIT

(By "Not Out.'*)

The: latest news regarding the progress of the cricket tour shows that the New Zealanders 1 have had a change from the- hard and fast wickets, rain having been experienced during the match with Essex. The home team was apparently not affected to any extent by the change of weather during its innings, but it is possible that when the visitors commenced their second knock late in the day the conditions were less favourable to the batsmen.

In this match the New Zealanders, placed as they are With a deficit of &i rims on the first innings, have a chance of proving themselves -when really up against it. With Blunt, Mills, and James out in the second inning 3 and the aggregate score still showing a deficiency of a few runs, no small responsibility is thrown upon the shoulders of the remaining batsmen for the final day's play. The New Zealanders have struck Essex in scoring mood. In several of the county championship matches last season Essex ran up scores of over 400, but on other occasions their scoros were moderate. It is -unfortunate that inefficient fielding is still noted in the performance of the New Zealand team, especially when itis noted that .another of the bowlers, M'Girr, has come to light. M'Girr is to be congratulated upon his achievement, which is quite a notable ono for first-class cricket.

One of the surprises of the match is the appearanco of Lowry'a name in the details as a bowler. This makes it clear that James is keoping wickets, and the young Wellingtonian should profit considerably by the experience. Lowry is not altogether an unknown quantity as a bowler. Ho was tried in former year , and although not d r liigutshiii? himself in tho role, he was credited with some fair pefoimanccs, causing trouble at times with a big break.

It is also somewhat surprising to find that Dempster is being used in the slips, but as there arc ono or two other members of the team who can do well

at cover or in the outfield the placing of Dempster in the slips is evidently done -to effect much-needed improvement in that quarter. A late correction with regard to the personnel of the Essex team shows that the member of the Ashton family taking part in the game is Hubert and not Claude. For some seasons Hubert, who captained Cambridge in 1922, has been in Burma, his duties there preventing him from pressing good claims to. selection as an English representative. He had a fine record as a 'Varsity player.

In the cabled details the name of Eastman is given twice in the batting list for Essex. L. C. Eastman was generally a tail-end batsman for his county, and it is possible that he is still in the same position and that another player has opened with Cutmoro. The wicket-keeper for Essex is not indicated. F. W. Gilligan kept wickets last year, and he may possibly be in the side against the New Zealandcrs.