CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 18

CRICKET

Br "NOT OUT" FOR NEW- ZEALAND

TEAMS FROM OVERSEAS

LOCAL BATTING AVERAGES

' -Tji conversation with England's criofc»t captain, A. P. I' 1. Chapman, when he was in Wellington this week, the writer gathered that the whole English sido which recently toured Australia was very keen to visit New Zealand. There had been some talk early in the tour of altering the programme laid down by tho Australian Board of Control so as to provide for tho English team returning via New Zealand instead of going back through Western Australia, but the endeavours made to bring about tho change were unsuccessful. The English captain stated that he had done his best in the matter, and regretted, as did the other members of the team, that the tour was not extended to New Zealand. After referring to tho benefits to bo derived from a visit by such a strong English side as that which had just completed its tour of Australia, he mentioned that ho would be delighted to take part in another cricket tour of New Zealand. There would be a great welcome for Chapman and his men, but it is hardly likely that such a great combination of English players will be seen here for some years to conic. Negotiations arc under way for the visit of an English team next season, but in the writer's opinion it would bo far better to turn attention to a visit from an Australian team. Unless tho English team includes a number of tho "star" players, the tour will not have anything liko the same attraction as a visit from tho Australians likely to go in quest of the "Ashes" next year. Leading lights in tho game have pointed to the value of a tour of New Zealand as part of the preparation of Australia's team for 'England, and no doubt the Australian Board of Control would look favourably upon any proposal in this direction from. New Zealand. What splendid experience it would bo for such players as Bradman, Jackson, Kippax, Fairfax, a'Beckett, Wall, Hornibrook, Alexander, and Ironmonger if they are to make their first tour to England next year, and what an attraction for New Zealand! A visit from Australia's probable team for England would bo far better for Dominion cricket next soason than a visit from an English team containing few, if any, of the Test players. There would now seem to be better prospects of New Zealand receiving a visit from England's teams for future Australian tours, and they would certainly be a great attraction. Every endeavour should bo made to arrange with the Australian Board of Control for England's Test teams to call at New Zealand on tho way out or on the return journey.

Shield Team v. The Kest.

Although three centuries were registered during the afternoon the batting of a -Wellington Plunket Shield team in the match against an eleven representing the rest of Wellington did not have many thrills for the fair crowd of spectators at tfie Basin Beservo last Saturday. At tho samo time there was some really good cricket. The bowling of "The Best" was never at any time particularly dangerous and towards tho end it appeared to have become decidedly weak. Yet to watch some of the batsmen'in action one could have been pardoned for thinking that the match was one of tho greatest importance and that their side needed every possible run. Dempster and Hiddleston played cricket of high class and completely collared the bowling. Neither gave a semblance- of a chauco until they had each passed the hundred mark, and well placed boundary shots enabled them to put ou tho runs in good time. However, had they taken a few more risks and introduced into their batting some of tho devil Badeock put in his effort they would have pleased tho spectators much better. The Midland batsman, W. A. Baker, lias been scoring in a most consistent manner this season but until Saturday had yet to make a century. He did the trick with a vengeance on Saturday, however, and at tho end of tho. day was unbeaten with 114 to his credit. Baker's hand was also an excellent otfort, which, from the spectator's point of view, was enhanced on account of his inclination to do some big hitting on occasions. Tho particular bright spot of the afternoon's play was Badeock's breezy knock for 46, made in very quick time. The ox-coach went for the bowling m great style, and although he only hit one sixer, it was not through want of trying that he did not succeed more often. He certainly believes that tho bat was made to hit tho ball. Christophorsen and Ocverley were the hardest worked trundlcrs-for the "Best " but neither succeeded m getting a wicket. Tho veteran, Brice, sent down fifteen overs during the afternoon and, although on occasions his slows wore knocked around, he managed to bar five wickets at a cost of 95 runs. The match is to be concluded on tho 6th April.

Big "Gates."

As far as public interest was concerned the Test match series just closed was the most remarkable in the history of the game in Australia. Despite the fact that a Test match was played in Brisbane for the first time, and that the- attendance and receipts there were comparatively limited, the aggregate attendances and receipts for tho hye Test games largely exceed those for the preceding English team's tour of four years ago (states an Australian writer) During the scries the aggregate attendance was 859,302, and the gate receipts amounted to £73,878. 0± that sum more than half—£3B,oob — was taken in. tho two Melbourne Tests. Details arc given hcreunder:—

■ Gate. Attend. Receipts. £

First Test, Brisbane .... M 43 Second Test.. Sydney .... ]^/>-} i. .',VJ»? Third Test, Melbourne- .. 2",40 i ...obi Fourth Test. Adelaide --^M 2,-101 Fifth Test, Melbourne ... 213,401 1.),i-is>

Tn( ,., 85!>,302 £73,878 1 Ola 13 fo- fiA £• RK Tfli. Totals for 1924-25 tour.. bSt.lii i.tw,iS4 Senior BaUing Figures.

There have been some exceptionally fine individual performances with the "bat in local senior cricket this season, with C. S. Dempster's new records standing out as wonderful achievements. With six three-figure scores and a great aggregate- of 1182 runs, Dempster, of course, heads the list of batting averages, His runs in the senior championship competition have been scored at the- very high average of 131.33 per innings. Next on the ]isfc is H. Foley, who has mado 470 runs at an. average of 78.33. Then comes W. J. R. Christophersen, who has been a most consistent run-getter in recent years. His' aggregate- this season is 905, which easily exceeds that of any other player in local senior cricket, with the exception, of Dempster. Christophorsen has mado his runs this season at an average of G9.61 per innings, and, as mentioned previously, he is beaten only by Dempster in the matter of centuries for :i- season's senior erickcl. K. H. 0. Mackenzie is far ahead of the- other "University players, having made 587 runs at an average of 58.70. W. A. Baker, who has scored over 30,000 runs in senior and representative matches, has maintained his record for consistency, and is among those

players who have finished up with an average of over 50. The players who havo scored over 500 runs this season include B. Boss, ono of the young Hutt players who aro showing great promise. B. A. Whyto has again dono exceedingly well in passing tho 500 mark, for quito a good average. A. Doneghue was only 26 runs short of 500. The leading batting averages .for this season's senior championship matches are:—

10. N.O. U.S. Tl. Ayr. licmpstcr (I.) ..10 1 201 1182 131.33 I'oley (I.) S a 16-2 470 75.33 Christophersen (K.) 11 1 164 005 6!Uil Mackenzie (U.) . 10 — 158 557 55..0 Baker <M.) .... !) 1 83 412 51.50 Doneghuo (SI.) .. 11 .1 191 *IT-t ■ 47.10 Kosa (H.) 14 2 157 513 42,73 Henderson (I.) .. B 1! 80 124 41.33 Turvey (SI.) 5 1 71 ISS '11.2 a Lambert (O.B.) .31 — 107 40S 37.09 Birch (H.) » 2 6« 244 34.85 Blgirar (H.) ..IB 4 79 41S 34.83 H. E. NlcliollS (P.) 11 1 103 323 32.30 Whyto (W.) .. 1G — 11!) 511 31-03 M'Glrr (H.) ..10 1 100 285 31,66 Banks (I.) 10 1 116 283 31.41 James (O.B.) .. 0 1 61 250 31.25 Patrick (O.B.) .. 'fi 1 51 150 30.00

The above list includes only those players who have had more than four innings for an average of at least 30 runs. Eeynolds (O.B.) has batted four times (twice not out) for an average of 44.50, and Tindill (M.) has also had four innings (once not out), his average being 40.66. Spence (P.) batted once only and made 61. The complete list of batting averages for the eight senior teams is as fol-

Tests Too Slow.

At the conclusion of the recent scries of Tests.between England anil Australia, C. G. Macartney mado tho following comment: "This match (the fifth Test) will always be remembered for its unprecedented length and the slowness of its scoring. In fact, all the matches of the present series have been of excessive duration in consequenco of the slow-motion methods adopted by the batsmen. In the circumstances, the time is not far distant when Tests in Australia, must be limited, and if no finality should ever be reached by so doing, the players have only themselves to blame. In my opiniou, all Test matches this season could have been finished in a much shorter time, and the same totals realised. Tho undue importance which to-day is laid upon records has much to do with the present state of affairs, and the sooner records arc forgotten and the game played in tho right spirit of cricket, tho better for the game itself and everybody concerned."

The manner in which Hendreu scored eight runs for a stroke during the fifth Test at Melbourne is explained in the following extract from a report of the match:—At 270 Oxenham relieved Wall. Then followed a reinarkablo bit of play. HcndroE pulled a ball from Hornibrook to leg, and Fairfax chased it to within a few inches of the boundary. Tho ball was returned to Ryder in relays, with Hendren still out of his crease. Ryder took a shot at the wie; ket but missed, and the ball went to the opposite boundary. Meanwhile the batsmen had run. four, and Hendren was credited with eight for the hit.

lows:— HUTT. In. N.O. H.S. Tl. Avg. Ross 14 2 157 513 42.75 Birch 9 2 C 6 244 31.85 Blggar 16 4 79 418 35.83 M'Gfrr 10 1 106 285 31.66 Lees II 2 45 222 24.66 Williams 10 2 47 177 22.12 Beard 7 3 40 05 16.25., Gwllllam 0 1 38* 7« 15.20 Warnes S — 41 10S 13.50 Nunn : 4 2 16* 27 13.50 Alderslcy 11 — 41 12S 11.63 M'Kenzio S 1 30 75 10.71 Wall r. 1 14' 34 5.50 Watson 6 1 IS -10 S.OO Also batted:— Duncan _ 1 — 2 2 2.00 *Not out. INSTITUTE. Dempster 10 1 201 1182 131.33 Foley 8 2 162 470 75.33 Henderson !> 2 80 124 41.33 Banks 10 1 118 28.1 31.44 Bllby 4 — 54 US 29.50 Crook 6 2 28 107 26.75 Massey -.. ■ 4 — SO !lli 24.00 Burt S 2 31 100 16.66 Aitken . 9 1 51 115 14.37 Rogers 5 2 10 24 8.00 Prince 6 1 12 23 4.60 Bryant 4 — 6 11 3.50 Also batted:— Fortune I—2 2 2.00 Exton 11 I* 1* — Griffiths 1 — 0 0 — •Not out. KILBIRNIE. W. Christophorsen 14 1,161 !Jo."> 60.61 Harris 10 1 * 100 245 27.22 Haymaa 13 1 65 307 25.28 Ward 14 0 112 328 23.42 Tucker 9 1 78 175 21.87 V. Christophersen 6 1 28 82 16.40 Griffiths ....... 8 1 51 107 15.27 Grelg 11 0 39 16L' 14.72 Monkhouse 11 1 36 127 12.70 Currio 7 1 27 74 12.33 Bramley 12 5 26 7!) 11.28 Hepburn 6 0 26 61 10.66 Lang 4 0 13 30 7.50 Hearne '.. 12 2 31 73 7.30 MIDLAND. Baker 9 1 S3 412 51.50 Doneghue ...... 11 1 194 474 47.40 TurTey 4 1 71 165 41.25 Tlndlll 4 1 85 122. 40.68 Hutching* 6 — 42 162 27.00 Clarke 5 2 29 81 27.00 Grant 7 — 83 171 24.50 Roberts 10 — 68 235 23.50 Lawton ........ 10 1 61 212 23.50 Patrick 6—66 111 18.50 Bruce 3 1 55* .131 16.D0 Hester 9 3 25 84 14.00 Robertson ' 7 2 28 65 13.00 .ludd 3—lo S2 10.66 Clevcrley 6 3 11* 30 10.00 7 *Not out. ' OLD BOYS. Reynolds ...... 4 2 55 :•'.' '.50 Lambert 11 0 107 •Hi.". ,«.O9 James » ■ 1 61 2™ 31.25 Patrick 6 1 51 150 30.00 Malcolm 0 3. 36 «8 2<1.53 Badcock ;.. 11 0 113 310 25.72 Lamason 7 0 65 188 20.85 Browne 12 1 09 291 26.72 Eton 4 1 35 74 21.66 Parsloc 11 0 60 255 23.1S Duncan 9 2 4!) 107 15.2S Dustin .'.. 3 0 27 14 11,66 Barclay 10 0 43 123 12.30 Elliott 7 2 24 38 7.00 Also batted: — Robinson 2 2 27* "••> — Bull 2 — S3 36 IS.OO Hankins 2 — J:s 20 10.00 Blnnio 2 1 0 0 *Not out. PETONE. H. E. Nicholls ..11 1 103 32:1 32.30 Hamilton 12 2 48* 232 23.--0 M. NiehollS 10 X 49 194 21.05 Smallwood 12 2 63' 20!) 20.90 Brice 11 1 61 20r' -°-ol) Botherham 5 — 48 100 20.00 Reyling 15 4 47* 204 18.54 Hope 14 1 34- 166 12.76 Patrick 13 1 39 138 11.50 Martin 14 — 22 128 9.14 Bundle .14 1 38 115 5.84 Hunwick 6 1 23* 40 S.OO Smyrk 11 2 10 30 3.33 Also batted:— Spence I—6l 01 01.00 G. Nlchollß 2 — 46 52 26.00 Barber 2 1 10 15 15.00 Cameron 1 — 10 10 10.00 Cate I—7 7 7.00 Wilson 2 1 2* 4 4.00 Coman I—l 1 1.00 Rodger 1 1 1* 1 — 'Not out. UNIVERSITY. Mackenzie 10 — 158 587 55.70 Hollings 11 — 94 320 29.09 Vietmeyer 12 5 55* 199 28.42 Caldwell 3 — 52 -79 26.33 Nelson 7 1 46 152 25.33 Greig 10 3 40 150 21.42 Osborn 8 1 39 120 17.14 Bailey 8 — 36 108 13.50 Wilson 3 1 15* 25 12.50 JU'Leod 8 1 39 87 12.42 Leys 12 — 56 116 12.16 Dormer 4—12 30 9.00 Bagge 6—lß 52 8.66 A. C. Tripe .... 9 1 28* OS 5.50 Also batted:— Hall 1 — 13 13 13.00 R. E. Tripo 2 1 -5 7 7.00 ♦Not Out. WELLINGTON. Whyte 16 — 119 511 31.93 Hiddloston 10 — 84 292 29.20 Jennings 12 3 84 260 2S.SS Alrey 14 — 117 391 27.92 Burton 13 1 121* 322 26.83 Cousins ........ 12 5 34 153 21.85 Robertson • 9 — 59 189 21.00 Westbrook 16 1 91 313 20.86 Hyder 13 5 49 12S 18.00 O'Connor 8 3 32* 72 14.40 Roberts 7 1 16 57 9.50 Duff 10 2 14» 51 6.37 Ellerm 6 — 15 39 6.50 Morgan 10 2 12 46 5.75 Bryce 3 — 11 17 5.66 Also batted: — Whltwell 1 — 22 22 22.00 Ham 1— 0 0 — •Not Out.