CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 32, 9 February 1929, Page 18

CRICKET

■y " NOT OUT "

LOCAL INTERESr

SPECIAL MATCH SUGGESTED

VISIT OF CHAPMAN. AND

BETTINGTON

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. 4-pt. 3-pt. . Ch. ■win will. li. I>. i''s- %- ---' Wellington 0 4 1 1 X Old Boys i - S . J ii University ? 2 o 10 Midland J-2 3 0 10 Institute, i... 0 - ■ - I ■ -\ Petono 1. 1 4 « ' Hutt 1 0 4 - . 6 Tho local senior matches commencing to-day arc tho last in the first round of tho championship.. It has not yet been announced what will be done so' far as tho second round is concernod, but tho Management Committee of tho Wellington Cricket Association will no doubt have the opinion of the Senior Championship Committee at its meeting on Monday night, and a course of action will then bo decided upon. It is generally anticipated that the "four leading teams will be required to play one another in the second round, but until tho present series of games is decided the position of- tho teams ou the ladder at tho end of the first round will not be known. At the moment there are interesting possibilities. The present leaders, Wellington, are assured of a place in the first four at the end of the round. They are now engaged with Midland, who have 10 points, and arc in fourth place. University (11 points) are meeting-In-stitute (8 points), and Old Boys (also with 11 points) are 'playing Hutt (6 points): The other match is between Kilbirnie and Petone, who both have 7 points. From a study of the positions it will be seen that thero is ■just a chance of ■ sonio teams being equal in fourth place. / Interest is being well maintained; in fact, the general interest in cricket this season has been quite marked, mainly on account of the Tests in Australia. '■' Wi<h. this added ' attention to the game tin' excellent opportunity was- .offering ;of • providing some matches i;out of the usual .run, particularly in view of the fact that a New Zealand team will be required next season. Wellington could ' certainly j have done with something moro than the one Plunket Shield match here ( and the Town-Couiitry match. An interIsland* game would have filled the bill very well indeed, and it would have thrown more light on the material available for the next New Zealand team. The idea of playing a match against a team composed of English players was a good one, and steps might have been taken to delay the departure of the coaches for England until some little time after A. P. F. Chapman's arrival in the Dominion. It is expected that Chapman will come straight to New Zealand after the final Test, which commences on the Bth March, and it is stated that Bettington, who is considered to be unlucky in not having been chosen to represent Australia, Hvill accompany the English captain on the trip to New Zealand. Anything that can be done in the way of arranging for these two fine players to be seen in action here will be received with miich satisfaction by . supporters of the game. A chanco to see Chapman and Bettington. would be rushed. If nothing else can be arranged, why not try another Town v. Country: match, with Chapman and Bettington included in the Country j team? • ' More Big Matches. I . Every year it becomes more apparent that our leading players do not get enough big cricket, and it is a pity the New Zealand Cricket Council could not follow the rules governing Sheffield Shield matches in Australia, where each State plays the other twice each season, states the cricket writer of the "New Zealand' Herald." The matches could be arranged in New Zealand so that all the provincial teams should travel each -yeary ■ Auckland' and Wellington going south'and Otago and Canterbury coming north. It would mean that each province would have three matches at | home and three away. The arguments against tho ■ adoption of this practice | are that the players may not be able j to obtain Jeave and that club matches 1 would be interefered with. So far as club fixtures are concerned the first sories of matches could be played during the Christmas and New Year holidays, as at present, and the second later in the year. It would bo only the latter- series which would interfere with club games, but after all does ■not the province; come first?

The question of- qbtaining-leave may be the only difficulty to overcome, but it does not look impossible. In Australia at tho present time it often happens that some of the leading State players are unable to travel away .from home, and their places are filled 1 with others. Australia has unearthed-some of its most promising material by means of younger players getting a chance, and certainly it would givo far more encouragement to a greater number of cricketers in' New Zealand were tho Australian system adopted. Tho more high-class cricket a player gets' the better will he become, and it does not seem likely New Zealandors will advance as rapidly as could bo desired under -existing arrangements. The New Zealand Council certainly does its very best with tho funds at its disposal, and arranges English and Australian tours with commendable frequency, but there is not the desired continuity of, big cricket to enable the full benefit to be derived from such .tours. Petone and Midland. I ' The rain which affected cricket on the city grounds last Saturday fell more heavily in the Hutt Valley, light rain faljing at frequent internals, and ;one shower at Petone causing a temporary adjournment. The pitch at the i Oval was in better condition' than on the first day of the Petone-Midland match, and it would not have been surprising if Midland had secured'the hundred odd runs required for a win on the first innings without much difficulty. The contrary happened, and'the team, was soon disposed of for about 30 runs shortß of the required total. Baker carried his score past the half-century before he was beaten by Brice, but the rest'of the team could make little headway. Baker's inningswas a particularly flue effort, as he was Just getting under way after opening the innings when stumps were drawn on tho first day, and he was consequently compelled to start afresh. His batting was practically chanceless. Petoqe teams have generally been fairly strong in bowling, and this season's team is well np to standard, Hope, who filled Finlayson's place, having come well up to expectations. His fast deliveries are usually effective on the Petone .pitch, and he would probably meet .with even more.success if there were another bowler of his type in tho team to save him from being over-worked. In contrast to Hope's deliveries is the tricky .bowling of Brice, who probably bowls with as much headincss as any man in -the game in Now Zealand tor-day. Hope and Brice disposed of the Midland batsmen between them, Hope catching one off Brice and Brico catching

another off'his own bowling, tho remainder being iclean bowled.

The Petono fielding was well up *to tho mark and was as good as any that lias been seen at Pctouo, this season.

Petonc's second innings held little good batting. M. Nicholls and Keyliug both batted well and got within reach of tho 30's. 11. E. Nicholls was just looking like finding his feet when ho went out to one of faker's slows ( »ud was stumped. Baker's bowling had the local men well tied up, and he camo out with the fine averago 'of six wickets at a cost of just under seven runs apiece. Iv spito of tho slippery ball he kept an excellent length, and brought his deliveries in -well from the leg.

Cloverlcy worked up plenty of pace but was inclined to bo erratic, and his success was confined to ono wicket. Tindall did very well behind the stumps, claiming four wickets, for the match and allowing few balls to go past him. This young player should go far in tho game. Kilbirnle and Institute. A determined .stand by W. Ghristophersen and S. Ward, which realised 203 runs, and helpful efforts by Griffiths, Hayman, and Sutherland wero the features of note'iu the Kilbirnie-Aisti-uto match last ■ Saturday. With 43 runs ab the commencement of pity, Kilbirnie scored consistently, final'y passing Institute's large total of 32£, to reach the larger figure.:of 409. The aggregate for the two , innings was 737, to which Dempster, Christophersen, and Ward contributed centuries, and .Bilby and Griffiths; half -centuries. The credit for Kilbirnio's win undoubtedly belongs to. Christophersen and Ward. Opening tho batting for Kilbirnie at the start of tho day's play they refused to be shifted for almost 2Jt hours. During that time, by sound hitting, tho score had risen from 43 to 246. Each batsman hit fifteen fours. Griffiths, who was playing only his second game-.in the senior grade, greatly pleased tho spectators by his big hitting. He occupied tho crease for some thirty minutes, and treated the bowling unmercifully. On one. occasion three hits in succession wont over the boundary for six and one ball, hit. from the , southern wicket, landed fairly on tho road directly opposite., This forceful player reached 51 before Burt secured his wicket.; Hayman and Sutherland were other good scorers for Kilbirnie, the former also showing some spirited hitting in running up 43. Sutherland is: another promoted junior player, „ Bowling..forlnstitute, Prince was the only really successful one, and his three wickets cost: 71.r,uiis.'.. IJo other bowler, took more than ono wicket; Institute badly missed Henderson. Massoy has returned from Australia, and should strengthen up tho Institute attack again. He maybe all the better for the spell. . , , Hutt and University. ' A total of 322, which had been made .for the loss of six wickets, was considered' by the Hutt captain (H. M. M' Girr) to be large enough against University at the Hutt Recreation Ground., University made a determined effort to get on top of the bowling, but it meant very slow progress on the part of the opening batsmen, Mackenzie and Bailey. The stand made by these two gave.the side a splendid start, but when matters were speeded up after the fall of the first wicket it was found that the bowling was-still to be respected, ■■■■■.

Mackenzie appeared to be well set for a'century, but in forcing.the pace he eventually gave a couple of chances in quick succession, and was out to the second. His total of bi was of considerable value to tho side, and .with Hoilings and M'Leod scoring well it seemed that, by increasing the pace, Uni. versity had a chanco of success. Those and other batsmen, however, were disposed of, and finally the students were forced to play for time. After the fall of the seventh wicket,, and with somo fifteen minutes, to-.play, a heavy shower stopped, the game, a draw resulting.Hutt's bowling was handled very well, and M( Girr played an excellent leadin the attack.. Beard bowled consistently well, and was a little unlucky. Aldersley was effective when the wicket had had a good deal of use.

Wellington and Old Boys.

Wellington's batting performance against Old: Boys was disappointing, play for the greator-part of the-ai'ter-oon being very slow. Showers of rain took some of the-life out of the wicketj' on which Wellington could manage only 92 runs in their first inniiigs. Old Boys set put for a full win, and nine wicket were disposed of shortly after 6.30 p.m. Cousins and O'Connor were. associated. for the last 'wicket. Soon afterYtheir; partnership 'commenced an appeal was made ■ against 'the; light, but it was not upheld. Another appeal was made- a little later, and this time it was successful. Prom the spectator's point of view the decision was disappointing, as the game- was at an exciting point. ■■; „' ;. Badeoek, Elliott, and Parsloo were in excellent form ■ and : their .' bowling had a.drastic* effect on .the Wellington hatameh. In the " first innings Parsloe bowled ten overs, five of which were maidens, and ho took four wickets for' 13 runs. Badcoek also did well in the .first innings, taking four, wickets for 38.- When, , followed ;on he accounted for a similar- number, of wic-, kets.for 46 runs. With the exception of Lambert, Elliott was the only other bowler to. meet with success./ :• ■ ...

Another' Old Boys' player to figure--prominently throughout the game was James, who gave a smart exhibition of wicket-keeping. He stumped three of the Wellington batsmen, and-,., caught Jennings, off Badeoek. <

With the exception of Burton : and Hiddleston, none of' the AVellington batsmen reached double figures in tho first innings. Whyte, who had ' severalgood scores to his credit in previous matches, failed to maintain his usual standard and was, dismissed ■ twice for a total of 5. - ' ■--.. ■ '

In the second inniiigs Hiddleston, Westbrook, Jennings, and Koborts were ,successful in reaching double .figures. An indication of the play is given by tho fact that the batting honours for tho day went to Hiddleston,, who niado 33 runs in he second innings. Tates and Tests. ■ Between the remarkable, finish of the recent Melbourne Test match and the conclusion of a Test at Manchester in 1902 there is a similarity, in that two Tates—-father and.son—were .involved, in somewhat similar circumstances at a most important stage of the game. On the -more recent occasion M. ,W. Tate wont in sixth, wicket down, when only four runs were required by England for victory. Without scoring ho was sent back to the pavilion, and. onlookers wore keyed to excitement because of tho turn in the' tide. Four wickets had fallen for 10, and England, still requiring four runs, had three wickets in' hand. The .issue was not left long in doubt, Geary getting 'the necessary number in one hit. A writer points out that in 1902 at the Manchester match 11.I 1. .Tate, father of Maurice' Tate, was the last man in, and eight runs were required for victory. But a far greater responsibility lay on Tate that day than was placed on his son.\ The difference was that instead of being seventh man in Tate, senr., was last.

Tho finish of this Test match will never be fbrgotten by those who lived through the 'agonising suspense of it. Just as England stood on the doorstep of victory—eight to win, one wiekct to fall—came rain, heavy, pelting Manchester rain. Play was held up. For 40 minutes spectators'and" players endured torture. In the pavilion Tate possibly died a thousand deaths. What a responsibility! Eight runs to win, and after Hugh Trumblo had. finished

his over to Rhodes, Tate would have to face that famous left-hander, Saunders. About 5 o'clock tho rain stopped. Truinble had to bowl three balls to .Rhodes —and prevent him from scoring, so that Snundors could tackle Tate. Trumble did it. Then came Tate's ordeal." What a trial it was can never bo fully told. Tho first ball-Tate, by somo remarkable chance,- snicked to fine log. It went for four to the boundary. If Warwick Armstrong had- stopped it and they had run three this tale would never have been told. But he missed it —and Tate still faced the left-hander. Four runs to win! Tato lived his agony as he faced the second and the third deliveries from tho left-hander. 'He failed to survive tho fourth ball, and had his wicket broken.. It was, as it happened, a ball that would have beaten the best bats'inan ■ in: England. Thus - Australia won by three runs this, the deciding Test of the scries of 1902,. when England gained one, Australia two, and two were drawn. Lbw Law. "I"have noticed a lot of discussion in Australian papers, and again on Saturday in "The Post";regarding the propriety of giving a batsman, out lbw if ho plays the ball on to his'legs while in front of the wicket," writes Mr. W/ H. Atack. 'It.has father astonished me that in not ono of these discussions has a very obvious point been raised. Curiously enough this point is printed in 'The Post' on Saturday immediately below the' statement that it is ' accepted as an unwritten law that a batsman is not out.in such a case. Tho written law is quite clear, and I have never been able to understand why it was overlooked in the numerous discussions for and against. Any batsman is allowed to prevent the ball reaching his wicket after ho has played it by using his legs, feet, bat, or anything but his hands. It, does not- matter, therefore, whether his«legs are in front or not. In fact, I have seen batsmen kicking a ball away from right in front of the wickets—yet no one ever suggested they were lbw. As the rule stands.no.umpire could possibly give a man out Ibw in this way, nor would it be any use making provision to that effect unless the rule quoted in 'Tho Post' is also, altered. If not, then tho new rule would be contradictory." Mercantile Cricket. A number of splendid, performances, were registered in the Mercantile League's competition last Saturday. In the match between Cowans and. Shipping there was an exciting finish, Cowans gaining victory in the last over of the day. Good batting performances, for the winners were made by Brooks, Devenport, Brough, and Ogilvie. Lapworth reappeared for Shipping and batted,very well, as did Thompson.

Cables, have shown a return to their best form,* and in. a good batting effort against Education Ay. Cunninghame, Mabin, and Irving were tho principals. A. Barber was again in form with the bat for Education.

Grubb and Hannay gave good displays- of run-getting for Dalgetys, who wore beaten by Sargoods. i Popo and M'Arthur were the outstanding batsmen on the winning side. Smith and Smith, maintained their gootl record of lato by defeating Samuels and Kelly. Dobbs (104 not out) played a fine innings, and Roberts did well with' both bat and ball.

A further improvement in their position in the C grade was made by Rough and Co., for whom Mann and Lambert "wero a successful pair with the bat and Haiiies was tho principal trundler, getting, six wickets for 25 runs. The win was scored over James Smith's.- .

In carrying his bat for 105 Izett was largely .responsible for tho win of Brownlees over' Tiugeys. On the losing side Lepper played a strong hand with the bat. •

Morrison and Chittey were the rungetters mainly responsible for the win of State Advances over Education, and Shaw also played a prominent part -byjtaking .five' -wickets:-. for' 32 ."runs. Finegan (Education) also gained good bowling figures—six for 30. Hammond's Boyhood: An interesting item about Hammond's early career is published in the "Isle of Wight County Press" as folio ws: —Walter Hammond, the young Gloucestershire professional cricketer, a? a boy spent many months during the war at Wroxall. He has played football for Ryde, and,, at one time, when rosident in the-Portsmouth area, might have qualified'for i the Bants County Cricket Olubi j'So Went .for two years to 'the -Portsmouth;- .Grammar School and played 'crieket/'and ..football in the ''school elevens, as well "as occasionally assisting teams t at Portsmouth and.,in tho Island. His education was completed at Cireneester Grammar School, .where he broke school recoi'da by scoring 365:n0t; out; . His' father, n major in thjo 8.A., was killed in tho war, and his ...mother, still resides at Southsea. The rumour that Hammond offered his services to Hants County C.C. but was turned down is denied, though Lord Tennyson, the county captain, writing in the "Daily Chronicle," deeply regrets that Hammond's services were not taken advantage of by Hants, aiid adds: "Somehow or other he was overlooked by our committee and went to play 1 for Gloucestershire." . - ; Junior Championships. '•, ' The championship points scored by, teams in the junior grades are:— Junior A.—Kilbirnie 19, University 18, i Institute.ls, Old Boys 12, Midland 11, Karori 8, Johnsonvillo 8, Petone 8, Wellington 7, Hutt 3. ' » Junior B.—Porirua 24, Wellington College 20, Institute 16, Bail ways 15, V.M.C.A. 11, Marist 8, Wellington 8, Old Boys 8, Hutt 5, University 1. > Junior C. —Stop Out' 24, Wellington College 20, Petone 16, "Evening Post" 15, Hntt 12, Khandallah' 8, Midland 8, Wellington 7, Marist 4, V.M.C.A. 4, Kilbirnie 3, " Dominion "1. ; Junior D. —V.M.C.A. 24, Institute %16, Karori 16, Johnsonville 12, Old Boys 12, Eastbourne .8, Wellington.B, University 'I. -. .:v.-;.: ■• ■■'.■.,. ..;-;';:;', .■■■■• Old Bowling Methods. "I had the advantage of a long talk, xtt the Oval, ' with an : old-time cricketer, one of the very best, who never quite gained international honours, - ; writes. "Autolycus" „ in the Adelaide "Observer*.'' He is very scornful about, modern bowling methods .Tbget back to the old., state of affairs, he says, and' break down the ascendancy of the bat, it is necessary only to go' back to, the old ways, when tho'aim was to hit the stumps, aiid keep tho butsman defending. To-day a ' ball, pitching straight goes away ridiculously to one side or the other; in those days, it was always coming in at .you.. The bowlers—and he found George Palmer the most dangerous he ever met—broke all right, but it was with the purpose of attack; pitching, for example, on or outride your leg stump, and taking your off bail! Ho remembers the coming in of "off theory," and how he experimented'with it, jumping right across and pulling it round, or changing the grip of the bat, and slamming it lefthanded through the slips. To-day, tho young' batsman is taught to' leuvo it alone; but the young bowler, learning nothing from the success of such vete : rans as Blackie, keeps on with the bifli that goes away.