CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 11

CRICKET.

[By Wallaby.]

FIRST GRADE, Position of teams to date:—

«Two points allowed Dunedin for tho unfinished match against Momingtou. * The wickets were all heavy on Saturday after tho recent rains, and the outfields were dead.

The match Albion v. Grange is in an interesting state, and it will take Siedeberg and his men all their time to _ retain their position at the head of the list. A good deal of responsibility rests on Carlton, who will havo to bowl his best to dispose of the rest of the Grange men before they get the requisite runs. If Galland gets going it will be all “u-p” with Albion. Albion’s 160 was only a moderate score against such bowling as Grange havo at their command, and had it not been for unexpected assistance from the veteran Bert Eckhoff the total would have been a poor one. Bert hit lustily, and made top score (44 not out) in quick his contribution including seven 4’s. Shepherd’s 42 was not got in his beat style, but tho runs are on tho elate, and that a tho main thing in the chcumstaviceju M'Mnllaii has set a good example with 59 for Grange, and with eight wickets to fall and 76 to get, the odds are in favor of an Albion defeat. A characteristic performance by Dunedin leaves them in a losing position against Oarisbi’ook, and clashes their hopes of making a fight for the shield. I say a characteristic performance, because it has happened so often in years when tho Gale, men look like coming to tho top that they go down at the crucial moment to teams that they should beat easily. Nevertheless, credit is due to Cartebrook for “putting it over’’ their opponents. Jack Ramsdon appears to have been the disturbing factor, for he came to light with a splendidly hit 68 not out, got "without a chance. Brinsley and Smythe having contributed 58 and 30 respectively, the total of 192 was a very respectable one. This score should not have dismayed Dunedin, however, especially in the absence of Dickinson, but the batting of the Cals, men was only mediocre, and. “stamps” saw them still 59 behind and only one wicket to go, Edwards batted in good stylo for 43, and Strang and M'Kay each got into the twenties. The ex-High School boy Douglas took four for 31 with his slows. The Dunedin batsmen should have treated this bowler with more confidence, and got out to him. With Dickinson in the,, team next Saturday it looks as though Carisbrook will win without much trouble. Cambrook-Univorsity, oven though they were without the seiwiccs of A. W. Alloo, put up a good' score, their total against Morniiigton being 267. H. C. Alloo batted briskly for 89. _ He opened his account by clumping Dickel’s first ball into the grand stand for 6, and _ was finally bowled by the same bowler with a ball that kept very low. Fraser (67) and MTCenzie (o2) also helped substantially. Morniiigton scored 6 runs in tho ton minutes left for play without loss. An easy victory over Dunedin A places North-east Valley A in an almost unassailable position for the second grade shield. They' havo lost only one .match to. date l , ant? their shield points total 29. Dunedin A have 22 points, Valley B 18, and Carisbrook D 18. Tho Valley club has done remarkably well in this its first year, and is to ho congratulated on its fine record. The North Island v. South Island match did not apparently arouse a great deal of interest, and 1 tho Cricket Council will havo to pay out £IOO of its hard-earned money to cover tho loss on the fixture. The game itself produced _ nothing outstanding, though some meritorious individual performances were put up. Allcott’s bowling is praised by critics, and 1 Hitldleston gave further proof of his wonderml consistency as a batsman. So fur as blue Otago reprostatives in the South Island team are concerned, it may be claimed that rail lour thoroughly justified their inclusion. Carlton boro the brunt of tho bowling, and his four for 56 in 1 the first innings was a praiseworthy effort. Dickinson’s figures (four for 77) in this innings were also good for a fast bowler, but he was evidently not dangerous in the secorql innings. Alloo and 'Galland, though failing m their first knock, each cams to light in the second, ■ and helped to turn a poor total into a

patient innings,, while Gnlland hit up Ms <56 in characteristic stylo. The result, a five wickets’ victory for tho North, is what might have boon expected, in view of tho previous performances of the respective provinces this season. Mr Douglas, father of the All England player J.W.H.T., is at present touring the Dominion, and has town expressing his opinion regarding New Zealand cnckot. His summing up is sound, too, for there is not the slightest doubt our players require a good deal) of polishing. Whether it is necessary lor them to go so far afield as England to obtain the polish is another matter; there is a place nearby called Australia where cricket is plaved in pretty good stylo. It is pleasing to see tho sons of prominent cricketers making good at tho game their fathers love. A few days ago young Ilamsden, son of the Carisbrook skipper, showed his mettle by capturing all ten wickets in an. innings during a school match. Just prior to that a young fellow named Williams, whose father is none other than tho famous Frank, so well known as Otago’s wicket-keeper of many voars’ standing, made 86 not out foi Albion seconds. Like his dad, the young fellow is a “ keeper ” .and shows good form behind tho sticks. . Charlie Chadwick, tho Grange skipper, made a smart capture the other evening on the North Ground Ho overheard a cotipic of mischievous youngsters planning to damage the Grange wicket, and waited developments. Soon one of the hoys climbed over the ropes and began digging with toe and Led into the soft turf. Charlie lost no time in grabbing tho yoimg vandal and administering such a shaking that tho boy must have thought ho had been strapped to a healthy buck-jumper. The police were also interviewed with a view to ascertaining if anything could be done to point out to the culprit in some convincing way the error of his ways. Australia is going to lose M’Donald, but, according to the Adelaide correspondent of tho Sydney ‘ Referee,’ an English bowler of promise is likely to be brought to South Australia next year. Says that writer i “ Considerable satisfaction has been felt in cricketing circles in this State over the final decision of tho executive oi the S.A.O.A. to import a first-class bowler to act as coach. It seems to be generally agreed among followers of the game that, in spite of Hie apparent weakness of our bowling in interstate games, there is plenty of junior talent in the State well worth developing. The association, therefore, specially desired that a bowler should bo secured, and for him to assist the colts. During tho Australians’ trip to England both Warwick Armstrong and Nip Pelfew were continually on the look-out to secure a cricketer suitable to fill this important post, and many names were submitted. For the most part, however, the majority of them wore players on the old side, and tho association felt thatq it would be far better, tho way things are at present, to appoint a younger player. Anyhow, one name has been decided upon, but beyond current report that he is one of England’s most promising bowlers, no information's forthcoming as to his real identity. Tiie offleiais of the association have expressed a desire to keep the matter as secret as possible, and have limited their statements to the effect that a letter offering the position to a person who should prove a suitable coach had been posted.” _ _ Should Jack Gregory adhere to his intention of relinquishing bat and ball for fa,minv, the famous family will fail by four years to establish a remarkable record, a hundred years of first-class cricket. Jack s cran cl father, E. W. Gregory, played his first match in Sydney on Hyde Park in 1826. Since that time members of _ the family have been prominently identified with 'tho game. . We hear a lot about barracking and stonewalling these days, says ‘Smith’s Weekly,’ but few players have had such a had time from the barrackers as “ Mary Ann” Noble, the greatest of Australia s great captains. Once, in a test match in England, Noble topped his century after batting for eight hours, while the Lanca-shir-s crowd v/histlerl the ‘ Dead March. When Noble returned to the dressing room ho found a leather medal addressed to him, and inscribed “To M. A. Noble, the greatest of batsmen. A thousand runs in a thousand years.”

W. L. D. Pta, Albion ... — 5 2 0 13 Dunedin ... 5* 2 0 11 Grange 4 3 0 11 Carisbrook ... ... 4 3 0 9 Carisbrook-’V arsifcy 2 6 0 5 Mornington 1 5 0 2