CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 4

CRICKET

lIOTES AEID COMMENTS.

[By Mxd-onJ

The question of a score board came up again at Tuesday night’s smoke-ho of the Otago Association.* “If we put up that board wo will be bankrupt,” said the chairman, mournfully, as one of the members spread a plan of the Lancaster Park structure before the assembled gathering. As the association is not desirous of becoming insolvent even for the sake of decorating Carisbrook, that is probably the end of this particular board, 'though someone quite piously suggested that an effort should be made to obtain the board recently sent to the scrap heap by, the Melbourne Cricket Ground authorities. The catch of the season was the one that A. W. Alloo dismissed Keast with. ..It was a terrific drive, and the ball came in with such velocity that it almost bounced out of Allpo’s hands. The Grange fielding on Saturday was nothing short of brilliant, and was a great improvement on anything seen previously ibis season. “ Shooters ” were m evidence on the treacherous N-arth Ground wicket on Saturday. Tho ball that Gallamd ■ spreadeagled Mercer’s stumps with did not rise an inch, and might have broken through the defence of any batsman in the world. Galland and Conradi had a sample of the same kind of ball, and they liked them so much that they went back to tho pavilion to recuperate. What is wrong with Shepherd and Worker this year ? Perhaps they are waiting for to-day. Caskie will never become a first-class batsman until he learns to back up better. Perhaps if he had Galland as a sparring partner a few times he would be less inclined to indulge in meditations at the starting post. Galland’s breezy “ Come on! Come on! ” has a wondrous effect on those addicted to tho tarrying habit. It is only fair to say, however, that Caskie was a little unlucky in being run out on Saturday. H, C. Alloo has struck his best form, as his 54 in twenty-nine eloquently showed. Both his and Knight’s driving were superb. The former is one of the best runners between the wickets m Dunedin, and he garnered quite a host of well-judged singles. These two appear to be a good double. Blamires again found the wicket congenial, and ho finished up with a nice little bag of twelve wickets for the match. It looks as if he and Terrance will Toe Otago’s trundling hopes this season.

A correspondent, who is far from being one of the “ holier than thou ” brethren, complains about the ■ quality of the language and the quantity of the beer at a certain junior match last Saturday. From information vouchsafed, it appears that one of the merry gentlemen engaged, in addition to taking his bat to the crease, went armed with a “ blue peter ” which was encased in a bag. At sundry intervals he obtained a “ stay of proceedings,” whilst the aforementioned ’‘blue peter” was held up in a vertical position, with the batsman underneath, generous helpings of the liquid being taken on each occasion. The batsman indulged in quite an orgy of slamming, and the combination of - ben 1 and bat proved hard to shift. It is unfortunate, however, that the game should bo besmirched by such happenings, and in the present case ono of the players was so disgusted with the baccanalian antics of some of his irresponsible team-males that he has no intention of participating in another such affray. The language, it is stated, would have brought a blush to the cheeks of a sergeant-major, and altogether it appeared to bo quite a hectic aftair. In the Sydenham-St. Albans game Dan M'BejJi despatched Sandman over the fence three times in ono over.

Archaeological discoveries seem to he in the air. Tutankhamcms tomb gave the craze a fine start, and now it has spread to Dunedin. Some time ago a local gentleman, who is evidently another Howard Carter, was led to believe that there was a cricket cup of great age and value in hiding somewhere in Dunedin. How he was so inspired is a mystery, hut with a tiue Sherlock Holmes instinct, he commenced following a multiplicity of dues, and at last, as a reward for his prescience and enterprise, the ancient trophy was tracked to a club pavilion, and the find was on view at the last meeting of the association. It did duty some time in the seventies, and it was suggested that as trophies are rather scarce as far as cricket was concerned, it might bo utilised again for the same purpose. There was a considerable difference of opinion as to whether it was pewte*- or lead, and probably it will again bo abandoned for fifty years. ’The North Otago match will probably take place in Dunedin in February. It was suggested that there was the possibility of a “ gate ” if the game was staged on Cup Day, and the matter has been referred to North _ Otago. At one time during the discussion by the association it looked as if an attempt would be made to play the match on the Caledonian Ground" on Saturday, as North Ctago was anxious for a fixture before Christmas but this notion was abandoned.

The room under the dock at Carlsbrook which is used during representative matches by the scorers and the Press, was last season turned into a sort of club room, where sundry strange personages forgathered for a pleasant afternoon’s chat. They obviously did not realise the fact that (1) they had no right bo be there, and (2) that they were unmitigated nuisances to those who had. The natter was brought up at the last meeting of the association by Mr Rowland, one of the chief sufferers in the past, and unauthorised persons will probably find it more difficult to penetrate into this sacred sanctum in the future. The exclusion of Frank "Woods from the list of players picked to practise for Canterbury’s representative team has been responsible for a number of bricks being hurled at the head of W. R. Patrick, the sole selector. Why Woods, who is one of the best batsmen in Canterbury, has hesn overlooked again, after his sensational performances of last season and this, is the puzzle that followers of form are asking rather pungcntly. A correspondent forwards the following regarding the Dunedin-Carisbrook match

Dunedin fully deserved their win, being much superior to Carisbrook with both bat and ball. However, I think Carisbrook proved superior in the field: yet Dunedin, too, have certainly improved in this direction.

Right from the outset on Saturday it was obvious that Torrance and Casey were howling at their best. Bardsloy opened with Worker, and scored rapidly off Casey, but he was wary of Torrance, who bowled finely, and kept Worker very quiet the whole time. Bardsley scored 30 while Worker was getting a dozen, but had Bardsley faced Torrance more frequently he would not have scored so fast. Bardsley is coming on well, and has a beautiful cover shot.

Worker. played very quietly, but with splendid defence, for,his 45, yet he is a long way off his last year’s form. Dickinson played a very good innings for 31 not out, and hit a beautiful sixer off Anderson. Dickinson should find no difficulty in getting a place in the Otago eleven for his batting and fielding alone. I am also optimistic as to his future howling results, and hope to see him back to his past form in a short time. Dick Torrance bowled excellently, and is in better form with the ball this year than last. His batting has also improved, and I cannot see how he can be overlooked by the selectors for the opening Plunket Shield match. Casey, too, is in good form, and it is a long time since he has bowled better. If only Dickinson would study Casey’s bowling a little, and keep pegging on the off-side the whole time he would be much more successful.

Dickinson’s average is spoilt by boundaries on the leg side, whereas if he concentrated on the off with his speed, he would be difficult to play and score off. PERFORMANCES. Following are tho batting and bowling performances of the ten local players who have been selected for to-day s representative match:— —Batting.—

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES, 'lyollowing were the outstanding performances in local cricket on Saturday:— Batting; Senior-Knight (Grange) 56, H. C. Alloo (Grange) 54, Worker (Carisbrook) 45; second grade A Brown (Grange) 41, Scarlo (Albion) 42, Forrester (North-east Valley) 50; B-section— J, Bond (Christian Brothers) 102 not out, Burrell (Christian Brothers) 67third grade—Reynolds (St. Kilda) 104 not hut, Craik (St. Kilda (103), M‘Clintock (Christian Brothers) 51; fourth grade— Keenan (North-east Valley) 73, Gilkinson (M'Glashan College) 57; Boys’ Association W. Esquilant (8.H.5., D) 106 not out, R. Forbes (8.H.5., D) 102. 0. Dev (8.H.5., E) 86 not ouf, R. Nicol (8.T1.5., E) 72. Groves (Carisbrook) 72, WTight (Y.M.C.A.) 49, Sidey (M'Glashan College) 63 not out, M'Gregor (M'Glashan College) 41. Bowling; Seniors—Blamircs, six for 58, A. W. Alloo five for 62, Gallancl four for 59; second grade A—Grant (Grange) five for 21 and three for 6. Knowles (Grange) five for 15, Harris (Kaikorai) five for 25; third grade— Armit (Kaikorai) six for 13, W. Hope (North-cast Valley) five for 35, Green (Grange) ten for 14, Latimer (Grange) nine for 17, Yorston (Kaikorai) eleven for 31; fourth grade—Paul (Christian Brothers) five for 26, Vorrath (Grange) six for 21. In Other Centres. —Batting: C. Oliver (Sydenham) 119, Hutchings (Midland, Wellington) 113, E. Brosnahan (East Christchurch) 99 not out, Condliffe (V.M.C.A., Wellington) 78, S. Garrard (University, Auckland) 65 not out, C. G. Wilson (Wellington Club) 62, ( Marists, Invercargill) 58, Wagstaif (Wellington Club) 53, W. Hayes (West Christchurch) 45 not out. Bowling: Broberg (Parnell, Auckland), three wickets for 13 runs, T. Condliffe (West Christchurch) five for 29; O’Connor (Wellington Club) two for 12, Badcock (Institute, Wellington) six for 46, S. Yates (Linwood) two for 17, Finlayson (Pctone) six for 58.

s 3 l d 1 .5 c 6 rC U ■SPS % M £5 Kot < M'Mullan ... 4 1 216 117 72.00 Blarnires ... 4 — 163 115 40.75 Dickinson _. 6 2 154 52 38.50 Worker ... ... 4 — 141 53 35.25 Knight ... ... 4 — 120 56 30 00 Baker A. W. Alloo ... 5 3 — 147 74 85 66 29,40 24.66 Shepherd Chadwick ... 4 ... 4 1 95 62 62 29 23.75 20.66 Douglas ... 3 — 34 52 11.33 —Bowlin o'*"”* 4 ® tp H J3 o U o 3 « • £ Blarnires ... ... . 190 19 10.00 A. W. Alloo ... . 188 12 16.66 Douglas . 207 7 29.6/ Dickinson ... ... ’ , 102 6 30.33 Shepherd ... ... . 284 8 35.50 Averages of some of those who missed. The bowling figures of Conradi and Dunning are significant . ii i comparison with those of Dickinson and Don glas. Both Dunning and Conradi have better batting figures than Douglas —Batting.— a 1 . to •§ d i f u 9 £ Z « Km Strang „. 5 1 155 46* 38.75 Jrckson ... ... 4 2 76 42* 38.00 Higgins ... H. C. Alloo ... 4 — 150 70 37.50 ... 3 — 104 54 34.66 Casev ... 4 — 96 40 24.00 Blair ... 4 — 96 58 24.00 Conradi ... ... 4 — 67 43 16.75 Dunning ... 5 — 82 44 16,40 —Bowling.— ,X i 1 •3 1 3 « £ > -4 Dunning _. 117 9 13.00 Conradi ... . 104 8 13.00 Casey 111 ‘ 5 22.20