CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 22

CRICKET

By "NOT OUT" NOTED VISITORS JEAM FROM WEST INDIES NEXT WEEK'S MATCH With the visit of the West Indies team local cricket enthusiasts can look forward to some clela»tablo faro at the 25a*in Reserve next week. The visitors iave the reputation of playing attractive cricket, and whether they arc batting or in the field their play is said to be full of life. In view of their big list of engagements in Australia, they •will bo keen to have plenty o£ exercise in the match with Wellington, and this should account for much play of a bright order. One matter which has given even greater satisfaction than the announcement that the West Indies players would be visiting Wellington is the advice that L. N. Constantine is with the party. So mueh has been heard of this player's notable doings in all departments of the- game that his appearance alone will be an outstanding event. It was reported from England some time ago that Constantine, who is a professional in League cricket in England, was proceeding direct to Australia, but it was ascertained this week that he joined up with the touring team Before its departure from Panama. Apart from Constantine, however, there aro others in the West Indies team who are expected to contribute in no small' way to the attractiveness of the tour. One of them is George Hcadley, a young batsman who takes rank in the West Indies as Bradman does in Australia. A majority of the players are coloured, and their enthusiasm for the game knows no bounds. The tourists will be in action against Wellington's representatives at the Basin Keswve on Wednesday and Thursday, and the hope is that for this noteworthy occasion the conditions will be much fetter than they hav-e been for cricket so far this season. With two fine days there should be excellent measure of entertaining cricket. A splendid wickdt has been prepared for the match. There are sixteen, players in the touring party, as follows: — G. C. Grant, captain (Trinidad). L. S. Birkett, vice-captain (Trinidad). I. Barrow (Jamaica). E. L. Bartlett (Barbados). L. N. Constantine (Trinidad). F. I. De Caires (British Guiana). G. N. Francis (Barbados). H. C. Griffith (Barbados). G. Headley (Jamaica). E. St. Hill (Trinidad). E. B, Hunte (Trinidad). 3T. It. Martin (Jamaica). C. A. Roach (Trinidad). O. C. Scott (Jamaica). J. E. D. Sealey (Barbados). 0. S. Wight (British Guiana). Mr. E. H. Mallett is travelling witn the team as manager, and Mr. J. E. Scheult as assistant manager and treasurer. Mr. W. Abbott and Mrs. and Miss Mallett are also with tho party. Midland and Wellington. After their success in winning tho senior championship last season, Wellington did not show up in a favourable light against Midland in their first match of the present season. There ■was the evidence, however, that last year's champions are likely to have a strong attack again this season, but events in their opening match also pointed to Midland being much stronger in. this respect. >It was a long time before Midland had much success last season, but they have made a good start on this occasion with a win over Wellington. Although J. Newman's bowling did not appear to present any terrors, one after another of Wellington's batsmen last Saturday fell to the Nelson lefthander, and with this successful beginning in Wellington erieket (six wiclcets for 45 runs) Newman should go on to make an impression as a bowler worthy of consideration for the higher honours that are offering in the game. He lacks nothing on the score of keenness, and it only remains for him now to show that last Saturday's fine performance was no flash in the pan. In tho batting department Midland have some good colts, and two to perform very creditably in the- opening match were Standidgo and Tindill. Both look like- making runs in plenty this season. Cutts is another young player of promise, but he did not get going in the opening match. Blundell's form with the ball for Wellington last Saturday was in advance of that on the opening day, and when in top gear this bowler is going to be a source of danger to all batsmen. He- is a bowler who has complete control over every delivery, and of tho particular type which is needed in New Zealand cricket at the present time. There are quite a few to support Blundell in the Wellington team, and before long the attack should be worked up to concert pitch. With the bat Blundell can make the ball fly when he connects. It was unfortunate for Wellington that Whyte was not on hand last Saturday, as the captain is such a sound batsman that the continuation of his innings might have made a big difference to the result. It must be said, however, that Midland performed meritoriously in disposing of Wellington's other batsmen so cheaply. Old Boys and Kilbirnze. Although' there was nothing in the way of exceptional feats in the second day's play of the KilbirnicOid Boys match on the- Kilbirnie Becreation Ground last Saturday, the general form way as a bowler this season. Dun-first-of-season matches. Kilbirnie, who had scored 65 runs for tho loss of one wicket in response to OH Boys' 200, brought their score up to 246 when stumps were drawn, thus gaining a first innings victory. Hepburn was the chief scorer, and without him Kilbirnio might have been in a parlous state. His score of 52 was a creditable performance, as was Duncan's 51, compiled for Old Boys in the first day's play. Hepburn's scoro included seven 4's. Bilby, Virtue, and Crook all batted we]], and their contributions, with that by Christophersen on the first day, made Kilbirnie's position fairly secure. Parsloe was the most successful of the Old Boys bowlers, taking five wickets for 82 runs. He gave tho batsmen a good deal of- trouble, and although he appeared to be tiring towards the end, for he had bowled nearly all the afternoon, ho showed that at no time could he be treated lightly. Much success should come- Parsloe's way a sa bowler this season. Duncan indicated that he is still to be reckoned with as a bowler. Kilbirnie were fortunate in the number of extras which went to their account. Although the match had been decided, Old Boys continued to play a second innings, and when stumps were drawn had lost four wickets for 144. Eonaldson, back from the junior grade, indicated that he is likely to be a batsman of no mean value to tho side. University and Petone. Although there is no reason why, with conscientious practice, the University team should not develop into a combination of at least average strength, the team did not/show to advantage in its opening match against Petone. The very moderate score of 148 was the best the students could do

on the first day of tho match, and on tho concluding "day they saw their opponents take tho lead with only two wickets down. There aro several players in the University ranks who would bo an acquisition to any senior side but in neither batting nor bowling does thero appear to be the material that will seriously trouble- tho majority of tho teams to bo met. With the last six,men mustering only two runs between them, Petone's score sheet had rather a top-heavy appearance, when the innings was declared closed, but there is little doubt that, iiad tho runs been needed, more would have been scored/Once University's total had been passed the order was given to force tho pace with a view to socuring an outright win, tho prospects for which were far from bright owing to the limited time remaining for play. Hamilton was dismissed when attempting a big hit, M. I\ Nicholls did not treat a good ball with the respect it deserved, and tho remaining batsmen did not attempt to play themselves in before opening out. During the last half-hour of the innings Roberts scarcely had a ball bowled to him. Hamilton and Roberts well deserved the runs that came their way. Hamilton, who opened the innings, was soundness itself, scoring with wellplaced shots along the ground and showing a special partiality for the.offside. His display was chanceless, and had he not abandoned his accustomed tactics in the interests of his side, , would probably have gone well on the ■ way to scoring a century. I Koberts's innings was of a different type from Hamilton's. Ho displayed • tho same safety-first tactics in playing ! himself in, but once he had. taken the measure of the bowling, was more at ' home in knocking up the runs quickly than his partner. Most of his shots ' had a lot of power behind them, and on ten occasions he reached the boun- ' dary. M. F. Nicholls, who was one of the club's most consistent batsmen last season, played a. breezy hand for 27, his partnership with Roberts constituting one of the brightest spots of the innings. Aim and Macallan came out with the best bowling figures for University. EaTly in the proceedings none of tho bowlers appeared to present any. serious difficulties to the batsmen, but as the wicket lost its easy-playing surface under the influence of the sun, and the batsmen used less discretion, the bowlers were able to improve their averages. Aim was the most impressive of those tried, although Macallan was also right on the job towards the finish. Harrison, Leys, and M'Leod bowled without success, and Nelson had to be content with ono wicket which cost 37 runs. The fielding of tho University team was the most satisfactory feature of its display, being keen and smart all ' through. Blandford, who showed con- - siderable improvement while being " coached by K. C. James during the winter months, was a. very able- wicketkeeper. Hutt and Institute. Apart from Dempster's sterling knock, there was nothiug much of note ■ in Institute's performance against Hutt. On the two days of the- match it was largely a ease Hutt v. the coach, for ! in Hutt's innings Dempster carried off : tho bowling honours. The coach played a very fine innings last Saturday, and ! made more than half the 225 runs that went to Institute's account. Thero is I no mistake about it—Dempster is a great batsman. '. Hutt's opportunity of displaying " bowling strength came last Saturday, • when six members of the side were '■ tried with the ball. The attack was i well varied, and, while it did not affect ' Dempster to any extent, it was too good ' for the other batsmen. Beard was hay- : ing his first real trial after a spell last : season, and he gave promiso of playing a strong hand in the attack this season. Beard has a fine record as a bowler for Hutt. Warnes and M'Girr were more successful, and Ross registered a good performance, while W. A. Aldersley indicated that he is not by any means a spent force so far as cricket is ; concerned. ' Unusual Bowling Feat. Although not uncommon in a season, the "hat trick" is looked upon as being rather an event in cricket. To secure four wickets with successive \ balls, however, is a feat very seldom ' accomplished, but this was done in a ' I Mercantile League match at Kilbirnie | last Saturday, when A. Chudleigh, play- ■ ing for Cowan's, clean bowled four of his opponents with, successive balls, and only missed the' fifth by sheer bad luck. Often there is an element of luck attached to the "hat trick," but in Chudleigh's case tho distinction was well earned, each wicket falling as the result of preconceived thought and perfect delivery. Chudleigh's enthusi- ■ asm where cricket is concerned is a ' byword among his companions, and followers of cricket will be pleased to hear of his achievement. He and his [ brother are usually first on the ground, ■ I although having a long distance to , I cover. '. Hathaway (Exchange) also had the . distinction of securing the coveted "hat trick." Mercantile League. With t Chudleigh on one end and : Brooks on the other, Pastimes suffered ' a complete collapse and could only muster 47 runs against Cowan's last ' Saturday. ' Tho batsmen in most games were ' kept very quiet, with an occasional 50 showing up conspicuously, those to ! meet with most success being Capper ( 79, Hannay 69, Whinham 65, Irving 63, Nixon 57, and Brooks 54. The bowlers had quite a field day, ■ and surprisingly good performances ' were registered, some of tho averages ' gained being far from complimentary to tho batsmen. Robertson (four for ' 4), Allen (six for 10), Johnston (six ; for 13), Ferris (seven for 18), Andrews (five for 9), and Cummings (five ; for 9) had figures that should give ; the batsmen plenty of food for thought before the next round is played. ' Most of the bowlers have become so used to their weekly "pasting" that \ their success on Saturday has acted ; like a tonic, and to-day should see • them taking the ball with the added confidence that success invariably ' brings. ' Notes. K. Rigg, the Victorian cricketer who was on a visit to Wellington recently ■ and who had some practice at the Petono Oval, has been included in the : team to represent the Rest of Australia in tho Ryder testimonial -match with . the side just returned from England. '. Rigg takes the place of R. Oxenham, of , Queensland, who is unable to play. ; Clarrie Grimmett will have the sym- ■ pathy of all cricketers in New Zea- . land in the sad loss sustained by the death of his mother, which occurred , just prior to Grimmett's return from England. For a good many years the • Grimmett family resided in Wellington. In Dunedin last Saturday G. Dickin- ■ son made 109 before being bowled by K. Robertson, the ex-Midland player. This was Robertson's only wicket, and ■ Badcoek, playing for the same team, also took one wicket. Robertson "was some time in finding a. length. Blunt and Shepherd were- two of Otago's batsmen to make good scores last Saturday, the former carrying his bat for 85 and Shepherd making 71. Stewart and Hunt are two New South ; Wales colts who have been selected for i the Sheffield Shield team on the i strength of their successes in tho colts' match at Brisbane. Both are i bowlers, Stewart being fast. Hunt is a . left-hander. Playing for Technical College Old ■ Boys in Hawkes Bny on Saturday week, < Stephenson compiled 151, being unbea- i ten when stumps were drawn :