CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 18

CRICKET

By "NOT OUT" FOR THE SHIELD

WELLINGTON'S LEG-IN

DEFEAT OF CANTERBURY

Performance in the Plunkct Shield match, Wellington v. Canterbury, which terminated at the Basiu Reserve this week with a win for Wellington by fivo wickets, was generally a good deal short of expectations. Particularly was this so in the case of Canterbury's batting, which revealed poor measure of tho strokes expected from players reaching this high grade of cricket. The greater part of Canterbury's batting was of the stodgy order. Welcome relief was offered, however, in tho efforts of Hamilton, Merritt, and Head. Hamilton, who came to light last season, as a player of considerable promise, shaped very well in compiling his best score of the season, and the good things expected of, him are likely to be realised. Merritt did not stay very long, but ho met the bowling in a manner which suggested that ho had benefited considerably in batting as well as bowling by the tour to England. Keg. Bead, also recognised as a bowler, gave some of the others a lesson in how runs should be made. • Gregory was, of course, valuable to Canterbury by reason of being a sticker at the crease, and without showing anything much in the way of classy strokes he did a great amount of excellent spadework. Page, the Canterbury captain, was decidedly unlucky, and there was not a little disappointment at seeing this_ fine player go so cheaply in both innings. He was apparently quite satisfied about tho decision which dismissed him lbw before scoring in the first innings, but ho was very unlucky to lose his wicket on appeal for a catch behind the wickots in the second innings, when he was just getting under way. Canterbury's batting, taken, all through, was disappointing. No doubt the southerners were affected to some extent by the absence of their coach, J. Newman, who could not play owing to illness. This fine player had been largely responsible for Canterbury's success in the match with Otago, and the team against Wellington was considerably weakened by his absence. In the bowling department Canterbury showed up to better advantage, despite the fact that Wellington ran up a tall score in the first innings. Merritt and Read were the mainstays in attack, and a really excellent pair they were. . The former disguised his wrong 'un very effectively, and many times had tho batsmen guessing. His figures were by no means as good as they should have been, as not a few chances were missed off him. Bead maintained a consistently good length, and when tho wind was strong his swing was very noticeable. It seemed that better use might have been made of Nixon, who at one period of the game bowled exceptionally woll. In tho field Canterbury were particularly keen, and it was unfortunate that a fine performance should have been marred by dropped catches. The final effort of the southerners, which made Wellington fight hard for the win, was commendable. Wellington's Showing. Taken all through, Wellington's batting was far and away ahead of that of the southerners, though there were times when the prospects looked none too promising. Lowry played a very valuable innings in keeping his end up when matters were going none too well in Wellington's first knock. And in doing such fine spadework he did not miss many opportunities of sending the score along. He gave a very sound display, in which he afforded an illustration of the correct method of playing such bowlers as Merritfc. M'Girr maintained his reputation as a player who has a habit of coming to light when most needed, and in the most exhilarating batting display of the match he knocked up 122 runs in remarkably good time. It was one of the best performances ever given by M'Girr, who now joins rank with J. S. Hiddleston in the distinction of scoring two centuries for Wellingt n against Canterbury. It has been no mean order in the past to get a three-figure score against Canterbury, and on this occasion, with the bowling commanding considerable respect, the achievement wag a notable one. In all CanterburyWellington matches only six centuries have been made by Wellington players. K. C. James, who gave a couple of chances, was another to lend excellent assistance to Wellington with the bat, and his stand with M'Girr was easily the best of the match. It placed Wellington in a winning position. ,As a run-getter James has not come back to the form shown by him prior to the English tour, but there was the evidence in his efforts against Canterbury that his use as a batsman has not been lost in the great advance which he has made as a wicket-keeper. Dempster's brilliance was seen in the manner in which he made his runs in the first innings against Canterbury, who were exceedingly fortunate to dispose of this player before he had scored in the second innings. Lambert rendered good service with both bat and ball, and Foley made good in his first Shield match. There was much brightness about Airey's batting, though this player did not stay for very long. Brice, as well as being a capable skipper, showed a strong hand in Wellington's bowling, and with Lowry and Lambert shared the honours in this department. Auckland or Wellington? Wellington's win was such as to give promise of good performance against Otago (at Dunedin, commencing on Friady week) and Auckland (at Wellintgon a week later). It is likely that there will be some changes in the team to go to Dunedin. Otago's chances of lifting the Plunket Shield this season have departed with the losses against Auckland and Canterbury. Wellington's defeat of Canterbury reduces tho latter's prospects, and it seems that the issue now lies between Auckland and Wellington, who have each won their first match. Otago Team Weakened. Travelling with the Otago cricket team, now in Wellington, are Messrs. E. S. Wilson (hon. secretary of the Otago Cricket Association, who is managing the team on tour) and G. A. Wycherley (vice-president of the Otago Cricket Association). In conversation with the writer these officials pointed out that tho touring team was considerably weakened by the absence of several of Otago's best players, and was also handicapped by the fact that L. C. Eastman, th«ir coach, was suffering from an injury which would necessitate an.operation on his return to Dunedin. Blunt, who had* played against Canterbury, was unable to come to the North Island with the team. J. Shepherd, who was batting and bowling as well as ever ho did, would have strengthened the team considerably had he been able to make the Irip, and tho same was to be said of Dickinson. The two Otago officers were of the opinion that the matches against Canterbury and Otago would both have been won if Dickinson and Shepherd hftd been on hand. Success might also

have been obtained but for dropped catches in both matches. A number of young players were being tried out by Otago on this tour, and though thiy were rather green the experience, it was expected, would do them a lot of good. The pick of the younger players in the team appeared to bo Cavanagh. Tho visitors stated that Dickinson, tho fast bowler, although still a bit patchy, sesmed to be coming back to form, and was undoubtedly benefiting by the coaching of L. C. Eastman. His style was being altered a little, and it looked like making for better performance. Dickinson was also showing much improvement as a batsman. J. Blair and C. Zimmerman had dropped out of the touring team, and S. Duncan was another player not available for the trip. "Really we are not •at all strong,' remarked one of the visitors, "and in viow of that fact wo did remarkably well to givo both Canterbury and Auckland a good go." Of Eastman as a player and coach they speak iv very high praise, and it is a matter of great regret to them that the injury from which ho is suffering will probably mean a loss of his services for tho remainder of the season. In the matches on tour Eastman'had stuck out very pluckily under a very severe handicap. "Dick" Torrance also came in for special mention by the two Otago officials. Ho was bowling in his own stylo, and still keeping a very fine length, despite the fact that he was now in his twenty-second year of representative cricket. Galland had also been of excellent service, and had kept wickets very well indeed in spite of the fact that he was a bowler for his club iif Dunedin. "The Alloo-M'Mullan partnership m Auckland was one of the best fighting efforts I have see* iv these matches,' remarked one of the visitors. "It reminded m.o of one in which I saw Clem Hill and Trumble associated in a match many years ago when the state of- the game was much the same as it was at Auckland. In that match Hill made 188 and Trumble 47." Two Fine Colts. In comment on Uio recent match between South Australia and New South Wales at Adelaide, Arthur Mailey made the following references to two of the young players selected in the Australian team for New Zealand: "Schneider played a splendid innings. Realising the position his side was in, he played cautious cricket when the occasion warranted it, but at other times he drove with a vigour that would do justice to a much bigger batsman. Alexander seemed rather strange to the Blow bowling when he came in, but having a mid-wicket conference With Schneider, we came to the conclusion that Schneider was in future prepared to play the slow bowling and allow Alexander to get his eye in at the other end. This was done very successfully and we actually saw Schneider play balls to cover without any attempt to run. His* innings was most valuable to South Australia and I really think he was prepared to sacrifice his innings when he tried to knock the slow bowling off. "Alexander started rather moderately, but warmed up and played very good cricket. He is perhaps one of the most graceful bats in South Australia, and although runs from his bat on this particular occasion might mean our defeat, we have sufficient consolation in witnessing shots executed in a perfect fashion. When the side for New ZealanH is being chosen it is hoped that players of Alexander's type will be given consideration." A Sporting Parson. A good story is told of a sporting parson in Morrinsville. A keen cricket enthusiast, ho takes his place regularly in the-Morrinsville eleven, and recently he was within an ace of tho double triumph of compiling a half-century and increasing his congregation the following day by ten, states the "Auckland Star." Wickets were falling fast, and when the parson fastened on his pads to face tho bowlers he was given the assurance by the other members of the team, that if he made 50 runs they would all go to church in the morning and put a shilling in the plate. It was thought by the players that the score would not exceed 20 runs. Settling down to the bowling,' however, the parson smoto hard and often. The score crept up to 40, and speculation became rife among the spectators. Most of the players were by now resigned to paying the penalty, but when 48 the parson made a nervous stroke and was bowled. It is said that the team all went to church, to the parson's delight. Some Otago Notes. Considering there arc but four senior teams in Otago, that they have played but two and a half matches, have had only four or five nights' practice at the nets, and that three of the leading players were unable to make the trip, the Otago eleven put up a very creditable performance against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match (states the "Auckland Herald"). The Otago Cricket Association has certainly had exasperating luck with regard to its coach, L. C. Eastman. The Englishman injured himself in the first Test match between New Zealand and The Rest, at Wellington, and he is at present disobeying the doctor's orders by playing cricket at all. As soon as he returns to Dunedin he will undergo an operation, and this will mean the end of his cricket for tho season. Although Eastman accepted but a one year's engagement with Otago, it is more than likely he will return to the Southern province next year. The only homo match Otago will have this season will be against Wellington a little later in the present month. It will be a much better side which takes tho 'field for Otago on this occasion, as Blunt, Shepherd, and Dickinson will all be available. Eastman, however, will be much missed. R. Torrance has a highly creditable record in representative cricket. He has played for Otago for twenty-two years. Tho manner in which the lefthander maintains I)is length is remarkable, and even tho most experienced batsmen are not willing to take any risks when facing him. When Torrance was bowling in Christchurch, J. Newman, the Canterbury coach, remarked: "Does this man ever send down a loose one?" Notes. A. Bruce" (Midland), who made a double century in the last series of senior matches, has only one other three-figure score to .his credit in senior club matches, and this (100 not out) was made twenty years ago. Playing for Wellington against Hawkes Bay at Wellington on the Ist and 2nd January, 1921, Bruce top-scored for the local representatives with 107. R. M'Namee has demonstrated that the tendency of Australian captain- to keep the bosey bowlers pegging away is unsound tactics (states a Sydney cricket writer). It will not be surprising to find J. Taylor, the Nelson cricket coach, included in Wellington's team for Dunodin.