CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1932, Page 19

CRICKET

■vS"Nor our" WELLINGTON'S WIN

CKLAND UNENTERPRISING

VIVIAN AN EXCEPTION

Wellington has good reason to feel U pleased with the, initial perforni:e of its representatives in Plunket ield cricket this season, and tho mlt of the match with Auckland is to a very satisfactory ono for the ;al selectors, .Messrs. VV. A.. Aldeisley, T. Cobcroft, and K. C. James, who 5 undertaking the selecting of Wei-' igton teams for tho first time. Contio;ns for tho match were splendid, id, although performance in parts was isappointing, a keen, interest was mainlined by a large following in tho pro-i-ess of .play. After their poor sliowsg on the -opening day, Auckland never joked like haviug a winiiiug chance, ot even when young Vivian wa3 going ;reat guns in tho second innings. Auckand were certainly weakened by the tbsonce of Mills'and ■Allcbtt, and furher by the fact that there was no coach :rom England ou their side. Even so, .t was expected that there would bo, Plenty of enterprise in their batting, \ jut very littlo -was shown, and this j nade Wellington's way to success much'l )asier. Yet, Wellington. could havo been seen to better advantage. Thore were some unexpected failures with tho bat, but, in"view of Auckland's weakness, it was not called upon to show its full strength.'Some of the bowling, too, was not up to' standard. However, it was good enoughto 'serve the purpose, and Lowry used it well to this end. Wellington won. comfortably by six "wiekot3. . The outstanding performer with tho bat, for Auckland was Vivian, who demonstrated that tho English, tour had. been of great value to him in tho course of his development as a first-class cricketer. With him there was no lack of enterprise, but there was quito an amount of uncertainty in his first innings. A great "knock" by Vivian in Auckland's.second innings produced easily tho highest score of tho match— 165. The young-batsman displayed a good range of strokes, and his forcing play delighted the spectators. It was indeed a finq innings, and it brought forth some high praise. However, it would be a great pity to lead Vivian to believe that it was tho best ever played on the Basin Ecserve. It was far frosi t;hat. There have been many better displays by cricketers, Aucklanaers among them, who have reached a standard to which. Vivian is only now advancing. If he continues to, go on the right way, Vivian should become a great cricketer. His bowling—left arm slow—was not Very impressive in this match. The other Aucklander to ■ come, to tho fore in this match was D. Cleyertey, the fast bowler of the team. Handled well by Weir in tho first innings, he made a fine achievement in taking six in Wellington's first innings. " -' ' A feature of Wollingion V performance was the successful debut in Plunk.et Shield cricket made by W. Hepburn and W. Austin. Each of these two players gave a splendid account of himself in one innings, and indicated that, having tho right temperament, they should make plenty of runs in big cricket. Griffiths, tlie slow bowler receiving his first trial, did not come off. There were some .unexpected failures with the bat .in Wellington's first innings, but Lambert, backed by long experience,.caifle^to jjght.with^a valu-, able effort when one >was needed.', He" threw his'wicket away in the second innings in a hurried attempt .to get the winning runs. Dempster helped Wellington .with a good "double." McGirr. and-.Ncwman showed the way in the bowling department, and-Mass.ey' and Crook^ if not very successful with the ball, handled the bat in a capable manner, employing some really fine strokes in .making their runs. With Lowry as. Wellington's captain, Auckland never had any let-up. ■ .Canterbury,^ Team. As Canterbury are now meeting their .engagement with Wellington- at the Basin Reserve, the following comment by a Christehurch' paper on the Canterbury team Otago is of interest: — "The team is than that which-brought the" Plunket Shield back to Canterbury last year, and'with the exception of Burns and Powell' practically picked itself. The five Canterbury representatives in the New Zealand touring team had to be included oui the form they have shown since their; return. Cromb and Talbot have both knocked up centuries in club matches and have shown" a decided all-round-improvement. Merritt has done phenomenal things with tho f ball particularly against. East Christehurch. Page has not done anything exceptional, but ho is the man who is looked to in an emergency, whether it is with the bat or with the ball. His - performances in the Shield games against Wellington and Auckland last sdason have gone into New Zealand cricket history. Ho will be the captain of the side. Kerr ; Las appeared in only one game, .when ■ he'produced one good score' of 67. "Roberts and Lester were two who were knocking at the door for inclusion in tho New Zealand team last season. Roberts, this season has improved on even his good batting'of last tcason anc} already has two centuries and a couple of other good knocks to his credit. Hamilton,, also a member • of last season's Shield teams, has been showing good form at Timaru. He and Kerr will probably be the opening pair. Burrows the stock did not meet with any great success -last seagou. He played in only oho match, when his avorage was four for 118. Bead and Cunningham bowled in the two other matches, Burrows not being available. Head in one match took four for 55. "Burns takes the place of JacoTas and porreen, who kept wickets very successfully. Jacobs has now left Christchurch. Burns has captained Old Boys for the past two seasons since the splitting up -of the side when Page and Cromb went to help out St. Albans and Lancaster Park respectively. He has been a consistent performer .behind the wickets. J. L. Powell, of Biccarton, is a newcomer who has some good batting and bowling performances, as also has Bellamy, the twelfth man. "The chances arc all in favour of Canterbury retaining the Shield, but surprises are expeeteel in cricket. The batting is exceptionally strong, and there are plenty of change bowlers." Plunket Shield Holders.

The Plunket Shield was presented by Xiord Plunket at the time Governor of jsfevp Zealand, for competition .among the four major associations of the Dominion, and was awarded at the end cf the 1906-07 season to Canterbury, for the most meritorious performance during that season. From then until the 1921-22 season the shield was competed for under the challenge system, but in that season, the four major associations ■olayed 0110 another and the shield was awarded to the side with the best record its' bas been done since- The shield has been held as follows since the competition was inaugurated:—l9o6-07, r-interbury; 1907-OS, Auckland; 1908-09, Auckland; 1909-10, Auckland; 1910-11, Canterbury; 1911-12, Auckland; 1912----13 Canterbury; 1913-14, Canterbury; 1914-15,' Canterbury; 1915-18, competition suspended oiving to the war; 1918-' 19 Canterbury and Wellington; 1919----gfVAßcklaml} 1920-21, Wellington; 192>,1

22, Auckland; 1922-23; -Canterbury; 1023-2-1, Wellington; 1924-23, Otago: 1925-26, Wollington; 1926-27, Auckland; ■ 1927-28, Wollington; 1928-29, Auckland; 1929-30, Wellington; 1930-31, Canterbury. j Oanterbury-Welliiigton Centuries, Tho first- century recorded' in 1 a Can-terbury-Wellington Plunkot Shield match was by C. E. Beal for Canterbury in 1913-14, but it was iiot until tho 1925-26 season that any Wellington players came to light with a threefigure score in shield matches with' Canterbury. J. S. Hiddleston then did tho job properly by compiling a big score of 212. There have been six centuries for Canterbury and nine three-figuro scores for Wollington, tho list being as follows:— ' For Canterbury. 105—By C.1. E; Beal,-at Christehurch, 1013-14. 100—By J. Gray, at Christdiurch, 1918-19. 116—By B. C. Blunt, at Cliristchurch, 1922-23. 113—By E. O. Talbot, at Wellington, 1929-30. 116—By A. W. Boberts, at Christcliurch, 1930-31. 116—By M. L.~Page. at Christehurch, 1930-31. For Wellington. 212—8y J. S. Hiddleston, at "Wellington, 1923-26. 106—By H. M. McGirr, id Wellington, 1925-26. 114—By J. S. Hiddlestou, at Christchurch, 1926-27. 155— ByV. T. Badcoek, at Christchurch, 1926-27. 122—-By H. M. M'Girr, at Wellington, 134—8y T. C. Lowry,.at Christehurch, 1928-29. 109 not out—By K. C. James, at Christehurch, 1928-29. 141 not out—By C. S. Dempster, at Wellington, 1929-30. 101—By H. M. M'Girr, *at Christchurch, 1930-31. In the Field. The following is tho list of fieldsmen successful in dismissing batsmen in senior club matches to date this season:—Twelve, .Biaudfonl (c 7, st 5); ton. James (c 9, st 1) and Tindill (c 9, st l);nine, Biggar (c 7, st 2); seveu,_ Lambert; six, Hope, Stevens, Ward; five, Coltman (c 4, st'l), Dempster, Hollings, M. Nicholls (c 4, st '1); four, Aim, Christophersen, Crook, Dv Chateau, Hanking (c 3, st 1), Prince; three, C. Bilby, Blundell, Bull, Hepburn, Judd, E. Morgan, H. E. Nicholls; two, Airey, Aldersley, Bagge, Baker, Cramond, Hutehings, Lees, Moore, Monk, M'Girr, M'Leod. Robets, Rotherham, Scott, Smallwood, Wareham; one, Banks, Brice, Bryant, Caldwell, Calvcrt, Cleverley, Cousins, Donald, Dustin, Foley, A. Hamilton, C. G. Hamilton, Harrison, Holland, Lamason, Law, Lawton, Massey, May, Monkhouse, D. Morgan, Morris, Nelson, Pacey, Paetz, C. Patrick, Bonaldsou, Smith, Standidge/ AVhytc, Wilson. Notes. In last season's Wellington-Canter-bury match at Christehurch Canterbury made 21d (Talbot 42, Cromb 58) and 519 (Roberts 116," Talbot 61, Page 116, Lester 49), Wellington replying with 351 (Dempster 41, McGirr 101, LoWry 91) and 243 (McGirr 91). For Wellington Blundell1 took three wickets, Massey three, Crook three, Newman five; McL'eod three, and'McGirr two.'. For Canterbury Talbot took two wickets, Cunningham one, Merritt six, Lester two, Cromb' six, and Page two. Canterbury's score of 519 in-the second innings at Christchureh last season is the highest ever made against Wellington in a Plunk'et Shield match. "Weilington's highest score against Canterbury'is'497. ' Wellington's highest individual score in Plunket Shield matches; with Canterbury is. 212, made by J. S. Hiddleston at ■Wellington., in f »i 925-26.' , :,-. Canterbury's best' is 116,' standing to tho 'credit of A. W. Roberts and M. .L^ Page (at Christchurch-, last season) ,and R. C. Blunt (at Christchurch, 1922-23).' M.L.Page, the Canterbury captain, has represented New Zealand.' against Melbourne C.C. (1926-27),'N.5.W. (1927----28), and M.C.C." (England) in 1929-30, as well as on the 1927 and 1931' tours to England.. His batting aggregate for New Zealand is 2586. M. Henderson, who replaces 8.. Griffiths in the Wellington team against Canterbury, did not play in Plunket Shield cricket last season. 'He haß' represented New Zealand against N.S.W. (1(323-24 and 1927-28), Melbourne C.C. (1926-27)," and M.C.C. (1929-30), as well aa having been a member of the New Zealand "team to England in 1927. 'Mercantile League; It has been the Mercantile Cricket League's aim for some time past to be in a position to inviteteams from other towns to engage with the league players, and it is rather a happy.omen that the New, Year will sco tho league's ambitions realised. Careful handling of the league's funds has made this possible, and the visiting team should be assured of a good time. It is hoped that the match will become an annual ono. As far as the playing strength is concerned the league is stronger this year than in any previous year, and it is rather unfortunate that so many of tho best players are unavailable, as the league's originally selected eleven has never as yet taken the field in a match. -.Representative matches are of necesLi'ty held on a public holiday, when so many players have other calls on their time, but with the. talent now available in the various grades a good strong side can be readily fiolded. Whatever the outcome'of the present match, its lessons will be .carefully considered, and the experience gained should put the league another step forward, to bigger matches. , Tho game with the Mental-Hospital is already an annual fixture, and one that givos the league's second eleven a chance to justify its claims to. a higher status. A match between this team and a team, chosen from tho remaining players would bo interesting. "Sfcfer" Over Slips.

"Has the day of the fast, bowler gone?" wondors a bystander, who was at Eden Park recently and who .saw .the Y.M.- 'Varsity game. He saw Webb smito Matbeson, and was moved to write to the "Auckland Star" as follows:—"A. 3d.,Matheson, New Zealand'B and 'Varsity's speed representative, must: havo wondered when Dohnie Webb, Y.M.C.A.'s midget; batsman, docided to 'have a go' on Saturday. Matheson had been trundling very consistently and effectively iv keeping V.M.'s opening batsmen on the defensive,' and evidently Donnio was ndt so suro of his defence. Ho whirled his bat in, a complete circle at Matheson and the first ball' fairly flew off the edge on his Bat over slips' heads and sailed on over the boundary to credit him with six. Quite an effectivo scoring stroke, thought Donnie, and, docid-1 ing to patent it; he treated, the nuxt! ball with a whirlwind lash and flicked it safely over the slips • for another boundary. Matheson dropped tho next ball shorter and the batsman had to be content with shutting his eyeß and' turning his head. However, his bat again connected and pulled the ball uppishly for another four. After helping himself to another stylish boundary, he' could surely have not felt dismayed at seeing Matheson wreck his wickets with a good one. His was a merry knock and surely thanks are due to Allah that 'the day of the fast bowler has" not 1 gone."

■The duel jjoes on between those two great American sprinters, Eddie Tolan and Frank Wykoff. At a meeting in Vancouver T,Dla_n bettered :■ his own world's 100-meter "rucord oE '1<5"2-osec, defeating Wykofi by two yards in 10 -3-lgaea, -■' - •