CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 17, 21 January 1928, Page 22

CRICKET

BY"NOT OUT"

\ AUSTRALIAN TEAM VISIT TO DOMINION ITINERARY CRITICISED The announcement of the itinerary for the tour of the Australian cricketers has caused not a little disappointment in Wellington in that a Test will not be taking place here. It is recognised, however, that other centres held good claims to staging tho Test games, and as the proposed visit of an English team to New Zealand next season is now off Auckland haa been given one of the Tests with the Australians instead of having one of the big fixtures which were in view for next season. Otago will stage the other Test with the Australians, and it is a turn that is due to the southern association. At the same time, looking at the tour from a financial point of view, the playing of a Test in Wellington would no doubt have been of greater benefit to the New Zealand Council. In other respects the itinerary does not bear the appearance of being one to,best fit the bill so far as tho Australians are concorned, bearing in mind that t"his Australian side is coming over in preparation for the Tests with England next season. The council is naturally keen to assist the minor associations in the matter of fixtures, and for this tour it has allotted seven of the eleven matches (excluding the two Tests) to the country districts. Of what advantage will these games be to tlio visitors in the matter of preparing for the Tests with England? Moreover, tho visitors will be required, as on previous tours, to do a great deal of travelling, with but few days free from travel or play from start to finish of the programme of engagements. One prominent Australian player on a previous visit pointed out that there was too much travelling, and he urged that the minor associations should be combined for the purposes of matches with representative teams from overseas. This, it seems to the ■writer, should have been done in the case of the present tour. Matches with the combined North Island and South Island minor associations would have been preferable to the arrangement by which the Australians are to spend more than half of their time (apart from Test play) in meeting country district teams in two-day games. Auckland v. Wellington. The Wellington team, at present playing Otago at Dunedin, is duo back in Wellington on Thursday next, the day prior to the start of the final Plunket Shield match, Auckland v. Wellington, at the Basin Reserve. " The following team has been chosen by Messrs. N. C. Snedden, B. C. Beale, and G. B. Cummings to represent Auckland against Wellington:—C. F. W. Allcott, A. Anthony, E. H. Bowley, I. W. Cooper, C. C. Dacre, A. M. Matheson, J. E. Mills, A. S. Player, R. W. Rowntree, A. F. Weir, and G. L. Weir. Reserves: R. E. Prater, W. Hendy, A. H. Scott, and A. Williams. The team differs from that which represented Auckland against Canterbury. Allcott has been persuaded to play in order to strengthen the bowling. A. F. Weir, who played against Otago, goes back into the eleven, and Rowntreo replaces Scott as wicket-keeper. D. R. Garrard, who played against Otago and Canterbury, and H. D. Gillespie, who played against Canterbury only, have been omitted from the team to go to Wellington. The team will leave Auckland next Wednesday evening, and on its way back from Wellington will play a two days' «match at Palmerston North against Manawatu on Ist and 2nd February. The following appeared in the "Herald" (Auckland) prior to the selection of the team:—"There has been a good deal of speculation in cricketing circles in Auckland as to the team which is likely to represent this province against Wellington in the final match of the Plunket Shield series at the end of the month. The match between Wellington and Otago commences in Dunedin on Friday next, and Aucklanders will follow the progress of the game with a deal of interest. Whatever the result of this match, however, the destiny of the shield rests in the final match in Wellington. Rumour has it that some of Auckland's leading players will not be able to make the trip. Mills is very doubtful, and Player is also said to be unable to make the journey. The defection of these two, combined with the fact that one or two members of the teams which took part in the Otago and Canterbury games are out of form, will make it hard for Auckland. The selectors, therefore, aro not in a very happy position, as, apart from the actual eleven and the three reserves, there are really no outstanding cricketers on whom could be placed sufficient reliance in a match such 'as is likely to take place in Wellington. Wellington and Kilbirnie. Play on the Kilbirnio ground in the match between Kilbirnie and Wellington was not spectac ikr, but all round play by both teams was good. Wellington, having first use of the wicket, put up 191 in the first innings. Prospects were not bright for the homo team when they had lost four wickets for C 4 runs, but they rallied and on the game being declared closed for the day they had placed themselves in a more favourable position as they had scored 180 for five wickets. If the following batsmen can do as well as the last three men Wellington should find it hard to avoid defeat. Thercr was little to choose between tho Wellington batsmen, six were dismissed while in their "twenties," and only one succeeded in going beyond. Tucker played a solid game and his batting was very careful. Sharp was one of the fastest scorers for Wellington, but he only notched 25. The partnership between W. and O. Christopherson was the most outstanding batting performance. W. Christopherson who had been ill in bed during the week, only got up on the day of the mate\ but he contributed a useful score of 48 before he was caught a few ninutes before stumps were drawn. His brother continued, and was not out with a like number of runs to his credit when time was called. Tho partnership had produced 90 runs. A good wicket favoured the bowlers, but there were no exceptional performances. Cousin's, Hearne, and Armstrong each took three wickets. Caere's Intentions. Mr. Horace Walker, chairman of the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, referred, at the annual dinner of the Bristol and District Umpires' Association, to C. C. Dacre, the New Zealand cricketer, qualifying for Gloucestershire. He said it was not Gloucestershire which had approached Dacre. When over here with the New Zealand tourists last summer Dacre mado it quite clear that he was determined to settle in England and play cricket. Ho would prefer to attach himself to Gloucestershire because of tho family ties, but if that county would not have him he would certainly go elsewhere. Later in the evening Mr. Walker announced that a cable had been received from New Zealand, stating that the cricket authorities there were quite agreeable to Dacre qualifying for Gloucestershire. A writer, signing himself "11. E.R." comments on the nevrs that C. C. Dacre

is to play for Gloucestershire. Speaking of the time when Dacro was playing for the New Zealanders against Gloucestershire, the correspondent mentions that the Dominion cricketer was determined to settle in this country, and if he could not play for Gloucestershire he would secure an engagement with Worcestershire. "That, in my viow," says the writer, "was the best thing that could happen. Although Dacro had scored a merry G4 —ho hit with a freedom which recalled Jessop in an aggrossive mood—he did not impress me as a player of the stamp Gloucestershire needs. If money is to be spent in qualifying men, bowlers should be the first choice. What is more our experience in the case of J. J. Ferris was not happy, though my reason for taking no action was a strong objection to an English county enlisting the services of a colonial player. Some weeks later, following a meeting of the committee of the county club, a paragraph went round the country that Gloucestershire had offered Dacre an engagement, though my information was that he had asked for one. This led to many severe comments upon the county's action. Now news has arrived that he sails in March to begin his period of qualification." Hutt v. V.M.C.A. There was some bright cricket at the Hutt Recreation Ground last Saturday. In their first innings against V.M.C.A. Hutt rattled on the formidable total of 39a runs. The main contributor to the total was M'Girr, who was in a characteristically aggressive mood. He scored 117 runs in the remarkably quick time of eighty minutes. Ross and Aldersley both reached 60, and Watson played good cricket for an unbeaten 54. White and Copeland boro the brunt of the attack and in view of Hutt's big score they came out with excellent figures. V.M.C.A. were not daunted by Hutt's tally, and in their reply they mado an excellent start, 126 runs being on the board for the loss of two wickets when stumps were drawn. Smith had the misfortune to be run out when just two short of the half-century. Lamason contributed 40 in good style. Petone and Institute. Tho close of tho first day's play in the Petone-Institute match left matters in a decidedly interesting position. Fortunes varied throughout the afternoon, but generally favoured Institute until the fall of three Institute wickets in the last ten minutes sent Petone's stocks up. Nicholls and Capstick gave their side a fair start, tut with tho dismissal of Finlayson for a duck it was left to Brice and Bundle to retrieve the team's position. Brice was equal to the occasion, and tho well-timed strokes which kept his score mounting were a treat to watch. Bundle survived a number of risky shots, but his innings was full of merit, and came at a time when it was badly needed. The remaining batsmen failed badly, with the exception of Patrick, who hit up a brisk 37, and monopolised the scoring in tho latter part of the innings. Prince was the most successful of the Institute bowlers. He bowled consistently well during his long term at the bowling crease, and his performance in taking six wickets at an average cost of nine runs was a meritorious one. A feature of the game was the allround excellent fielding of the Institute team. Institute started fairly well with the bat, although Banks and Bilby were both content to keep their wickets up while Dempster rattled on the runs. Crook and Ward both reached the twenties, but Prince was dismissed without scoring. Dempster laid on the wood while he was at the wickets, and lifted more balls out into the field than is usually the case with him. Brice's leg theory proved unavailing against tho crack batsman. Dempster fell to a trap set by Finlayson, who brought his cover-point, Banks, fielding in place of Capstick, in closer to where Dempster had been lifting the ball for short runs. Finlayson again bowled well, taking four wickets at a cost of 40 runs. He derived considerable assistance from the pitch. 'Varsity and Old Boys. In their match with Old Boys at the Basin Reserve University made a splendid recovery after losing eight wickets for the moderate tally of 129 runs. Hollings, after his spell on account of illness, had given the side quite a good start, and there was acceptable support from Leys, but it was not until Mackenzie and R. Tripe became associated for the ninth wicket that matters began to look at all bright for 'Varsity. This pair put on one of the best partnerships on record for that wicket, carrying the score to close on 300 before being separated. Then came another big lift, Vietmeyer assisting Mackenzie to take the score well beyond the 400 mark in another outstanding partnership for local cricket. Mackenzie, who has been gradually coming back to form this season, played a fine innings, in which he displayed excellent scoring ability in compiling 149 runs. Coming at a time when runs were badly wanted, Mackenzie's performance was all the more meritorious. R. Tripe and Vietmeyer both went for the bowling in aggressive manner, and made their runs in fast time. Such was the mastery of bat over ball that Old Boys tried nine players in the attack, oven calling upon the wicket-keeper, K. C. James, to try his hand as a bowler. Malcolm, formerly of Institute, came off best with three wilkets. Old Boys were without K. Tucker,, and they missed the veteran very much. His absence was due to the fact that ho would bo in Dunedin to-day with the Wellington team. Lambert and James, also at Dunedin, were, however, played last Saturday, and when 'Varsity lasted so long at the crease it mean that Old Boys had little time in which to get full value from these two players as batsmen. Both went for the runs in tho short time at their disposal, but James failed to score. Lambert hit merrily for 24 without being beaten. Midland and Thomdon. Thorndon put up a very commendable fight with Midland at the Basin Reservo last Saturday, and at the end of tho day they had good prospects of getting a lead on the first innings. Midland's showing with the bat was much below their usual order, and but for a good ninth-wicket stand by C. Hester (who carried his bat for a wellplayed 52) it would have had but a poor result. Those responsible for the rather cheap disposal of the Midland batsmen were Badcock and Hyder, who both bowled well for six and four wickets respective!}'.. To-day Thorndon were without the services of Badcock. There was »ot much hope for Thorndon getting very far until Phillips came on the scene, and this player, showing up to much better advantage than in recent seasons, put quite a different complexion on the game. Ho met the Midland attack exceedingly well, and kept tho score moving until in association with L. Folpy for tho eighth wicket he raised Thorndon's hopes of success to a high pitch. In tho end both Phillips and Foley were unbeaten, and Thorndon were within 14 runs of Midland's total. Judd again bowled with success for Midland.