The Cricket Field

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 23

The Cricket Field

LEADING PERFORMANCES

FLUNKET SHIELD BATTING AND-BOWLING

Four batsmen in the Plunket Shield matches to date this season have an average of over 100. They are W. N. Carson (Auckland), P. E. Whitelaw (Auckland), A. W. Roberts (Canterbury), and J. Ell (Wellington). Carson and Whitelaw, who were associated in the match against Otago at Dunedin and established a world record third-wicket partnership of 445 runs, head the list with averages of 151.00 and 123.50 respectively. ' An analysis of the bowling performances shows J. Cowie (Auckland) to have taken the greatest number of wickets (13) and also to have the best average (9.15 runs per wicket). M. Graham (Canterbury), who has taken five wickets, has the next best average (19,80 runs per wicket), and then come H. G. Vivian (Auckland) and R. Silver (Otago), each of whom has captured 10 wickets, Vivian at an average of 20.30 runs per wicket and Silver at an average of 20.40 runs. The Wellington bowler, C. Parsloe, is next on the list with seven wickets at an average of 21.14 runs per wicket. Details of the leading are as follows:— Batting. In. N.O. Buns. H.S. Aver. 1 = g 35 II E T^ o , wt . 5 .. 1 c : ). J 8 so.IK W. M. Wallace (A.) 2 1 77 « 77 0 K. Uttley (0.) .... 4 2 Jl4 «.0« W. A. Hadlee (C.) .. 3 - ill M '0.33 M. L. Pago (C.) .. 3 — 1M S.t G4.33 D. A. R. Moloney (\V.) 4 — 10.) 01 48.7J •Not out. Bowling. Wickcts. Huns. Aver. J. Cowie (A.) li 11! J [J'jj M. Graham (C.) .... B J».80 H. G. Vivian (A.) .. 30 203 -0.30 R. Silver (O.) 10 ;04 20.40 C. Parsloe (W.) 7 148 21.14 E. T. Mulcock (C.) .. 'S li 9 —37 WELLINGTON PLAYERS. J. Ell, with only two innings, in one of which he was not out, is in first place in the Wellington team's batting average with 109, and D. A. R. Moloney and J. R. Lamason are next. Parsloe has taken most wicketsseven—at an average of 21.14 runs per wicket. Details are:— Hatting. In. N.O. Runs. H.S. Aver. jjjl 2 1 10S 80* 109.00 D. A. B. Moloney .. 4 — 103 31 48.75

J. R. Lamason »... 4 1 78 40 26.00 X. GalUchan 3 1 47 21* 23,d0 E. W. Tlndlll .... 4 — 92 40 23.00 «. McLeod ........ 3 — 69 28 -23.00 W. Trlcklebauk .... 3 2 17 12« 17.00 E. Blundell 2 1 14 12 14.00 S. Ward 2 — 22 22 11.00 C. Tarsloe 4 — 43 24 10.7r> J. A. B. Blandford ..3 — 17 12 5.66 B. Grlfflths 2 — '10 9 5.00 •Not out. Bowling. Wickets. Buns. Aver. liamason 3 5.1 17.66 Parsloe 7 J4K 21.14 (Jallichan 3 60 22.00 Griffiths 5 147 29.40 Tricklebank 1 79 79.00 Blundell 1 153 153.00 Moloney, none for 21. also bowled.

and carry on, hence the recommendation of the committee, reported this week, to close down. Bad weather was experienced during most of the English summer and it is no secret that a number of the county clubs were hard hit. The Leicestershire committee apparently feels that the position is hopeless. Leicestershire last season showed a marked decline in the championship table a fact to which attention is drawn in the 1936-7 "Cricketer Annual." Leicestershire fell from sixth to fifteenth place, only obtaining two wins (over Sussex and Warwickshire) as against eleven in 1935, whilst the defeats increased from three to five-. Leicestershire was the only county that did not dismiss an opposing eleven under three figures. "It was' not' difficult to perceive," states the "Cricketer Annual," "that the reason of the falling-off was due to less efficacy on the part of the two leading bowlers. Geary claimed 102 wickets at a cost of 19 runs in lieu of 110 for 15 each. A more marked difference was in the case of Smiih (H. A.), whose 100 wickets cost 26 runs each instead of being credited with 143 for 18. Both bowled with admirable persistence and judgment, but the fact remains that in a season favourable to the ball they could not take full advantage of the conditions. . . .' The New Zealander, C. S. Dempster, played for Leicestershire, and captained the side, but despite the advent of this great cricketer, "there was a measure of dullness about the team that needs obviating before it can again bid for a high position. The side possesses competence, but it lacks thrills, apart from the new leader." Of Dempster's association with the team, "The Cricketer Annual" has the following:—"C. S. Dempster was, of course, an -enormous acquisition as a bat, being among the best half-dozen in the country. Indeed, his innings at Hove was . equal to that of Hammond in the last Test, for his form all round the wicket was quite brilliant. Yet there was an odd element of uncertainty about his first overs, which was strange in so fine a, batsman. As captain he was authoritative and keen, though hardly stamping his own individuality on his men."