CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20019, 9 November 1928, Page 14

CRICKET

GRADE MATCHES COMMENCED [Notes by Substitute, j Cricketers Leaved a sigh of relief last Saturday when the weather broke fine in the morning, and later it improved still further, the Otago Cricket Association’s grade mutches being begun under delightful cricketing conditions. Generally speaking, the wickets were in very fair order, and though in some instances tho outfield was on the dead side players had not much cause for complaint for so early in the season. All of the matches are in a fairly interesting state, though the Colts do not appear, in the absence of the professional, L. C. Eastman, last > Saturday, to have much of a chance in their match against Grange.

The Alhion-Carishrook match was left in an interesting position at the end of the first, day’s play, Carisbrook requiring 70 runs to overtake Albion’s first innings total of 165, and having in hand five wickets with which to accomplish the task. Shepherd was the outstanding batsman on the Albion side, and his 65 was got by bright cricket, his tally including six 4’s. He gave only one chance when he reached 60. He made some delightful drives through ■ the covers, and also bore the brunt of the Albion attack.

Duncan (19), Caskie (27), and M'Donald (15) were the only other batsmen to shape at all well, and were rather unlucky to lose their wickets when they did. M'Donald was making his first appearance in senior cricket, and is a left-hand batsman who promises • to develop into a useful member of the eleven. Allan lost his wickot by making a weak shot to leg off Nimrao, who is a newcomer to senior ranks. He learnt his cricket at Waitaki Hoys’ High School. Simmers reached double figures in good style, but lost his wicket by lifting a nasty delivery from Proctor into tho hands of Lynch at square leg. Carisbrook’s attack was in the hands of Blunt and Proctor, and while it did not appear unduly difficult, the Albion batsmen were unable to take many risks with it. Proctor had tho splendid average of five wickets for 44, sending down fifteen overs. He maintained a fairly consistent length throughout. Blunt’s three wickets cost 4G runs. Carisbrook’s batting was nothing out of the ordinary, five wickets falling for 95 runs. Blunt readied 30, but ne did not appear tod comfortable during his stay at the wickets, and was rather lucky that he did not Iqso his wicket when he had 6 runs to ins credit. Ho ■was dismissed by a catch in the slips by Caskie, whoso sura hands also accounted for Priest and Allan. Duncan sent Gourlay paviliomvards with a Hot catch. Indeed, the fielding of both teams was particularly good. L. Silver, the promoted junior player, howled very well, and looks like developing into one of Albion’s attacking mainstavs. His three wickets cost 35 runs. He is a medium-fast bowler, and all of his victims on Saturday were trapped in tho slips. Clouston took a wicket for 10 runs, sending down eleven overs. Hi kept the batsmen fairly quiet, maintaining a nico even length. _____ DUNEDIN-OLD BOYS. Tho Oval, on which Dunedin and Otago High School Old Boys met, was not in good order for fast scoring. Therefore, although Dunedin’s first innings total of 159 may seem a trifle disappointing to the club’s supporters, it was, under the circumstances, quite a respectable tally. However, the only batting honours worthy of mention fell to three men—Monk, Claridge, and Matheson. Cavanagh and Mr “ Extras ” came next in order of merit. Great interest was taken in tho appearance of Old Boys, and of the new senior teams. Judging by its performance in the field, the team looks like doing well in senior ranks. G. Dickinson secured excellent results, taking four wickets for 37 runs. Dickinson was not hurling them down with tho vim he showed at the height of last season, nor was his length all it might havo been. Btill, ho frequently bumped up awkwardly, and caused tho batsmen no little trouble. A. W. Alloo quickly found a length, and batsmen did not find him easy to score off. Now_ and then he sent down a wicked ball with a pronounced turn that left the men at the crease scratching. He took four wickets for 46 runs. Cecil Alloo took one for 23, and Leader one for 36, and with this quartet available Old Boys ahonld have a pretty strong attack. Old Boys started off' well by giving a good display of fielding, their catching and ground fielding alike being good. Such keenness in the first important fixture of the season bodes well for the future. Behind the stumps Duncan served his side splendidly, and Strang and Cherry were both dismissed by catches by him. Strang has been appointed captain of tho Dunedin eleven—a sound and popular choice. He is one of tho most popular club cricketers in Dunedin, a good, sound, and consistent bat, and under his leadership the team should bo a very happy family. Cavanagh, who opened Dunedin’s innings with Strang, batted more cautiously than usual, but as he was one of the pioneers on an unknown wicket, as it were, so that there was nothing very remarkable about this. Cherry and Sinclair did not remain long enough at the crease to reveal their true form, but both are well known as sound batsmen, so that their temporary failure should cause no apprehension. Bradanovich had to feel for the bowling pretty desperately, and did not shape very impressively before he was dismissed after breaking his duck. Monk got 42, top score for the side, »nd, as hia side was in a shaky condiSon when he went in to bat, he adopted le right tactics, and, while the runs fame but slowly, it has to be remembered, as mentioned before, that it was not a particularly fast scoring wicket, the outfield being slow. Towards the close of hia innings, however, the exAucklander opened out, and very few loose balls went unpunished. M’Gregor, too, opened his shoulders, but the fielding was sound, and he was credited only with a long string oi singles. Matheson and Claridge were the only other batsmen to make an impression. The former had a breezy manner of Introducing the ball to the boundaries, and, with two 6’s included in his tally, he was soon a popular figure in the eyes of the crowd. Claridge played a graceful innings for his 31. Matheson carried his bat for 39. Dunedin’s total was 159. Old Boys lost Gale, and at stumps one wicket had fallen for 24, Dickinson being 15 not out and Cecil Alloo still Unbeaten with 6. COLTS v. GRANGE. Speculation was rife as to how the Colts would shape against Grange, and while the latter team made 257 it could not be said that the Colts’ bowling was absolutely collared. Eather it might be «aid that several chances were not accepted, and the fielding of the Colts, to say the least, was patchy. There were exceptions, of course, but it is rather regrettable that in this department of the game a littlo more kecncsa was not displayed by the Colts’ side. This match was played at Logan Park which was in good order, and winning the toss Grange elected to bat. Forty runs were on the board when two wickets had fallen, Knight skieing R, Silver’s first ball and being caught. Elmes and Boyd added 32 before Elmes was given out Ibw, and then Galland and Boyd became associated in what was the best partnership of the day. , The runs came more quickly, and the

score was taken to 135 before Galland was caught, tho innings eventually closing for 257. Alex. Knight opened the season with 17, but his was a somewhat patchy innings. M’Mullan failed to got going before he was dismissed as tho result of a fine one-handed catch by Toomey, off Henderson, past the wicket. Tooraoy is a good field, and took a similar catch in tho Colts-Seniors’ match on Labour Day. Boyd, formerly a Kaikorai player, has already proved a good acquisition to the Grange Club, for on Saturday he top scored with 81 to his credit. He gave two chances—one at 43 and another at 60—but his was, nevertheless, a very good strike. _ He made some fine straight drives, his total including nine 4’s. Ho looks as if he may make many runs this season. He was clean bowled by Torrance. Galland started off tho season in characteristic fashion, his 43 including four 4’s and a 6. He was at tho wickets only thirty-one minutes, and delighted the spectators with his faretreo batting. He drove hard, and also made some good leg shots, M’Avoy being lifted clean over the leg fence. Morris, the ox-Riccarton player, made 27 by free batting. He is a steady bat, who looks as if ho will make runs. Chadwick made 19 before lie was bowled by Cullen. Ewart did not last long, and Tornkiusou also went cheaply. Lemin and Baxter pub up a fair last wicket partnership, tho former making 1? by hard hitting. Baxter carried his bat for' 9.

The Colts’ attack was rattier lacking in variety, though no fewer than seven bowlers wore tried by tho veteran, Dick Torrance, who led tho team. Henderson was about the best of tho lot, and finished up with the good figures of three wickets for 27 runs. Me is a medium-fast bowler, and turns a littlo. Cullen, a bowler of a similar tvpe, got one for 41, but he is a better fcrundler than his figures might indicate, Torrance kept the runs down, and finished up with two wickets for 40, his twenty-two overs including nine maidens It may still be said of him that ho is one of the soundest bowlers in Dunedin. M'Avoy sent down some very poor stuff, as also did most of the others. A good slow bowler would be a big asset no the team. The Colts havo lost two wickets for 28 when stumps were drawn, Toomey being rather unlucky ui playing Elmes on to his wicket. Conradi made 9 before he was dismissed by a beautiful catch in the slips hy Galland off Lemin. Silver and Keenan played out time, tho former having 5 and the latter 8 to his credit. Elmes and Lemin each took one wicket for 9. The latter is a very likely bowler. If Grange's at tuck is equal to the task that is imposed upon it this club may be found figuring prominently in the competition before the season has been long under.way, despite the fact that the services of A. W. Alloo have been lost. It was rather unfortunate for the Colts in their first match that they should have been without tho services of the professional coach, L. C. Eastman, for there is but little doubt that he will instill a considerable amount of confidence into the young players. This first match will probably provide the Colts with their severest ordeal, but once the side gains a little confidence it may shape into a fairly solid eleven, though it will be interesting to observe to-morrow just what is the hatting strength of tho team. ENGLAND DOES BETTER. Tho English team’s third match with Victoria has given the English critics some cause to wax a littlo more enthusiastic than was the apparently in the earlier games, and if Larwood continues to meet with such success with the ball the Englishmen’s stock, will undoubtedly rise, as Tate, Freeman, White, and Hammond may all bo expected to capture wickets. Victoria had first strike on a good wicket, the innings being marked by tho magnificent bowling of H. Larwood, of Notts, who is generally regarded as England’s host fast bowler. Larwood was swinging tho ball, and the cables tell us that he was faster than at Adelaide, swerving deceptively. Larwood finished up with seven wickets for 51 runs,, a truly great performance. Larwood will be one of England’s great hopes in the,tests, and if his leg stands the strain it looks as if ho may be very successful on tho Australian wickets, especially if any rain, at all is experienced. Tate, who is a fast medium bowler, with great pace off Hie pitch, took one wicket ,for 45., Tate has taken fifty-one wickets in test matches to date at a cost of 24.88 runs apiece, and in the 1924-25 series he took thirty-eight wickets in the tests. Freeman failed to get a wicket on this occasion, while White, the vice-captain, got two for 43. Tate is said to have shown glimpses of his best form, which may bo perhaps looked upon by England’s supporters as a good omen for games ahead. Victoria was all out for 164, and for once Ponsford, the record-breaker, went comparatively cheaply, being dismissed by Larwood when he had scored only 14. Woodfull again showed what a wonderful fighter ho is, and went right through the innings to carry his bat for 67. Woodfull has a wonderfully even temperament, and is an ideal opening batsman. In test matches he has made 306 runs at an average of 51, but he has yet to take part in an Australian series. He was one of the most popular members of the Australian team that toured New Zealand last season. Second top score went to Ryder, veteran of many a test, who made 25. None of the others did anything worth writing of. England pub together a fine total of 436, centuries being scored by Jardine and Patsy Hendren. This was Hendren’s humlreth century in first-class cricket, and his tally included eleven 4’s. This is his third visit to Australia as a member of an English team, and bis century on this occasion was his third against Victoria. To him belongs tho distinction of tho highest score in these matches, as he mado 271 in 1920-21. Jardine, who also got a contury in this match, is regarded as tho best amateur batsman in England, and, as ho showed on this occasion, he is a very steady type of batsman. Chapman is already tho crowd-pleaser of the English team, and his 71 was made by very free batting. Larwood followed up his great bowling by making 79, which included a 6. Hobbs got 51, and ho is just about due for a century, too. Blackie, regarded as a test possibility, who toured New Zealand last year with the Australian team, evidently did not find the wicket to his liking, and he took only one wicket at a cost of 120 runs. Blackie is 46 years of age, and on his more recent performances the selectors might be taking a risk were ho included in tho first test team. Ironmonger is one of the' best left-hand bowlers in Australia. He took two wickets for 116 runs. Morton, who got one for 51, is n fast bowler who also visited New Zealand with the Australian team last season.

The bowlers were at a, disadvantage when Victoria commenced its second in-

I nings, ram having made the ball very greasy. Hendry made up for his first I innings failure, and after giving a chance early he carried his bat for 74, Ponsford making 60 not out. No wickets had fallen for 135 when the match was declared drawn owing to the state of the wicket. Hendry is a very attractive batsman, and it is apparent that he will still be a strong contender for a place in the test side. The coming tests promise some great battles, and all cricketers will have their eyes on Brisbane when the first test commences on November 30. Meanwhile the doings of the Englishmen against the State teams are creating much interest throughout New Zealand. CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. Playing in Christchurch last Saturday Old Boys had still one wicket to fail, and their score was 300 against Sydenham. Merritt played a vigorous innings for his total of 117 (says the ‘Lyttelton Times’). Ho was inclined to play uppish strokes, and he was a hit lucky, but still his knock was a I very creditable one. He hit ten 4’s and one 6. The slowness of the oufcI field robbed him of several boundaries. Next best score for Old Boys was made by O. H. Hobbs, who batted solidly I for 43. R. C. Burns was 31 not out at stumps. He and L D. Page added 50 for the ninth wicket. For Sydenham G. Simmonds took three wickets for 61 runs. W. Oliver three for 83, and iW. R. Patrick two for 24. Batting against West Christchurch St. Albans • made 199, and West played out time, I losing no wickets for 20 runs. Woods. I with 69, and Pengelly, with 62, were ' the prominent scorers, while Thomas and Sandman each got into tho twenties. The rest failed. Condliffe, Cocks, Jcfcoatc, and Moffatt bowled well for West. Riccartou batted all the afternoon against Old Collegians to score the fairly large total of 269. Play was | very placid, and the match was devoid of brilliance or outstanding incident. Tho wicket was slow, and favoured the batsmen. Old Collegians did well under the circumstances, but will be confronted with a difficult task next Saturday. A. W. Roberts, after throe hours careful bub attractive batting scored 109—ids first century this season. He treated the bowling with respect, but was always confident. Ho showed a good all-round range of strokes, with a preference for an off-drive or squarecut. J. Powell (42) hit brightly and merrily. Limvood batted all the afternoon against East Christchurch at Lancaster Park, and hud made 307 when the tenth wicket fell a few minutes before 7. The outstanding performance with tho bat was that of M. K. Boon, who stayed at the wickets lor I three and a-quartcr hours and made 104. Considering the bad light, which held for the better part of the afternoon, Boon's performance was very good. Ho started with a burst of 4’s, but soon settled down and played steady cricket. His score actually finished with a line of sixteen singles. F. A, Smith was tho next highest scorer. He hit up 72, which Included three 6’s. In one over from Mills he hit two 6’s, two 4’s, and a 2. However, his innings was by no means a “ slog,” and for the most part ho played very steady, if not cautions cricket. 0. Orchard played a very nice innings for 3U dur- ■ mg a stay of thirty-five minutes at tho wicket. Ho hit a splendid pair of 6’s, one almost going over the roof of j the new stand. S. Yates and W. Spong mado a great last wicket stand, and added 40 to tho Limvood total before Yates was howled by Gregory for 32, Spong carried his bat for 26. Tho hulk of tho East attack was carried by H. Davis and T. Kennedy, who sent down twenty-ono overs apiece. ' Davis i got two wickets for 50. E. Weston 1 and F, Tomlinson also howled well, get- j ting two for 49 and three for 49 re- | sportively. WELLINGTON GAMES. Bad weather during last week had its effect upon cricket o.t Saturday afternoon, when ground and wickets were on tho soft side and more favourable to the bowlers than to tho batsmen (says (be 1 J’-r i '). Moderate scoring was the rule, with Hurt doing best in making a total of 202 runs, to which Eiggar (formerly of Nelson College and Thorndou), contributed 79 rims—a particularly fine effort. Other batsrnon to do well in senior ranks on Saturday included J. S Hiddlcston, playing for the fitst time since tho 1926-27 season, and Hayman, who comes from the St. George Club, Sydney. Among the bowlers to register good figures was Cleverley, of Midland, also well known as a boxer. Against Hutt ho took live wickets at the small cost oi a fraction over 3 runs apiece. Other-', to succeed with the ball were: Nelson and Grcig (University). Hut. hi-gs (Midland). I'ur.c.iii 'Old Boys) Ilea lie (Kilbirnic), Prince and Bryant (Institute). At the conclusion of tho day’s play the scores in tho senior matches were: University v. Wellington, Basin Reserve: Wellington, first innings, 152; University, first innings, 8 runs for no wicketk. Kilbirnio v. Old Boys, at Kilhirnie: Kilbirnie, first innings, 160; Old Bov.-,, tint innings 31 for five w>ckols. Petonc v. Institute, I’ctone, fust innings. 13"; Institute, first inniims, 44 for one wicket. Hutt v Midland, at Hutt: Hutt, first m uings, 202; Midland, first innings, 12 for one ivicket. NOTES. The names of players for representative practice have been announced, and it is to be hoped that the attendances at practice will be more satisfactory than is sometimes the case. The list, of course, is likely to bo added to, but it behoves those who have been chosen to do their part by attending regularly. If keenness is shown at representative practice, it will bo reflected not only in club competition, but in the rop. matches to come later. E. Roberts, tho Rugby All Black of 1913-14-20-21, is leading Midland in Wellington tin’s season. It was a great tribute to the confidence which is reposed in his generalship that he should have been chosen to captain the Midland senior eleven as soon as he joined tho club. Roberts captained Eastbourne for some seasons, and was appointed to lead Thorndou when Kortlang recommenced world wandering. Roberts makes a good captain, as he holds his .side together well, and possesses tact as well as sound judgment (says an exchange). James,- the New Zealand wicket keeper, is leading the Wellington Old Boys 5 eleven this season. This is tho ideal position for a captain, as ho can see how h.s howlers are shaping, and can place his field to block strokes (says the ‘ Dominion ’). James should have profited by the experience gained witli the-New Zealand team in England and Australia.

A Good One.—A cricketer came home very disgruntled from a match last Saturday (says the Christchurch ‘Star’). ‘ “How many runs did you make to-day. dear? ” inquired his dutiful wife. ‘ “ Oh,” said the player savagely, “ our damn fool of a skipper

sent mo in to bat right in tho middle of a hat trick.” A young Wellingtonian making his mark on the field of sport in England is E. D. Blundell, of Wellington, who played for Old Boys in local senior cricket for a period before leaving for England (says the ‘Post’). He promise as a bowler was first noticed at Waitaki Boys’ High School, and while there he gained North Otago repxesentative honours, and won a place in tho Otago team Since going to Cambridge University, E. D. Blundell has performed with great success, as a bowler. He first came to light with an outstanding performance in the Freshmen’s match and subsequently did excellent service for the Richmond Club. He headed the bowling averages for that club in 1927. In the season just closed in England tho young Wellingtonian gained his cricket blue at Cambridge, and as a principal in the university attack, he has done exceptionally well, gaining much praise from English critics. He has had some fine in matches against the first class counties, and one of ids achievements was in dismissing Holmes with the first ball in Yorkshire’s innings against Cambridge University. Ho is a medium-fast bowler, but, according to English critics, it is j with a well-disguised slower bad that Ihe does most damage. After his en- ‘ gagements with Cambridge in the sea--1 son just closed, he went on tour with i the M.C.C. in Ireland, and also did well ion that tour Perhaps the best evidence, of Blundell’s rank as a bowler ! is contained in the first-class averages for the past season. Of the bowlers I who took over fifty wickets, Blundell lis tenth on the list, with an average of 21.33. It is not only at cricket that E D. Blundell is gaining distinction (as a sportsman. In amateur athletics Iho has been showing fine form .over the quarter, and is a member of the j Cambridge University relay team. At I the recent Cambridge University sports j he won the 440yds event, so that his prospects of gaining a double blue appear to bo bright. An interesting experiment is being made by the trustees of the Sydney Cricket Ground to assist in solving the problem of “who’s who” on the field. The scoring board lias been adjusted to permit the names of all tho fieldsmen being placed on tho loft, with a red electric bulb opposite each name. When a fieldsman stops the ball the man in tho scoring board presses a button, which registers a red light against the fieldsman’s name. It is a simple yet ingenious device, though still in the experimental stage. The question is: Will the light be strong enough in the glare of the summer sun? On a grey day it should operate efficiently. “Is a man too old at forty?” has frequently been asked in many walks of life, and J. B. Hobbs, tho famous English batsman, who will celebrate lus forty-sixth birthday during the second test in Sydney in December, recently dealt with the subject. He said that a man was never too old tor active participation in cricket so long as he retained his sight, wind, and nerve. He then told the following story:—“A cricket match on a village green was in progress, and a ‘ too-old ’ man was batting. A ball was delivered, there was a decided click, and as the wicketkeeper took the ball a shout went up: ‘How’s that?’ ‘Out.’ said the umpire. Tho batsman protested that he had not touched tho ball, but all oi the fieldsmen excepting the wicketkeeper insisted that they had heard tho click. ‘ You’re all wrong,’ said the wicketkeeper. ‘He didn’t go within six inches of tho ball. What you heard was the croaking of his joints. It happens every time he moves.’ ” The Kaikorai Club started tho season well, its second grade B team defeating Christian Brothers by an innings and 93 runs. Pitches, who is a very promising left-hand batsman, made 48, Vial 40, and Scott 30. Kaikorai made 194, Christian Brothers being dismissed in their first innings for 23. Stewart, a left-hander with plenty of pace, took four wickets in four overs at a cost ot only 2 runs. Ahibrandt took live for 21, including the hat trick. Christian Brothers made 73 in their second essay. Stewart did not bowl for Kaikorai, but Ahibrandt took four for 10. The third A team had a good win over Knox Church, Whelan, a promising bat, scoring 90. Torrance took seven wickets for 17 runs. j

I thank the correspondent who forwarded mo tho above paragraph, and repeat that any notes of interest concerning tho junior grades will be published in these columns if received by Tuesday in each week. Though all batsmen lovo a fast, plumb wicket on which the ball comes to the bat, it is just as well that occasionally Jupiter Pluvius decides to plump down a few hundred tons of water on the playing fields, and thus give bowlers a look in. Runs are not difficult to get on a glass wicket, upon which it is impossible for tho bowlers to get more than an inch or two of turn, but it is an entirely different proposition when the wicket is drying, and the ball commences talking all sorts of languages to the sorely-puzzled batsman (says a Wellington writer). A case in point was provided in Wellington on Saturday last, when batsmen were called upon to take strike on wickets which were drying alter Friday’s heavy rain. It must be admitted that local batsmen did not show to advantage on wickets upon which they had to play back instead of forward. In only one jnstance did a team succeed in passing the second hundred during tho afternoon. Grange effected rather a surprise in tho second grade > A competition last Saturday by making 78 against Christian Brothers and then dismissing the latter for 56. Grange made 45 without loss in the second innings. The feature of tho afternoon was the bowling of Dey for Grange, this player taking four wickets for 4 runs. He is a very promising fast howler. The Otago Boys’ Cricket Association matches commenced last Saturday. Tho association has now tho services "of the coach, L. C. Eastman, at its disposal on Friday nights, and with his assistance the boys should steadily improve. In December, two teams are to be sent from Otago to play tho Canterbury boys for the senior shield, and to defend tho junior shield. Nominations for this team from all boys’ league chibs will be received by the secretary (Mr H. Miller) before November 14, in order that Mr H. Vorrath and Mr L. Cameron can begin their task of selecting teams. In Dunedin boys’ cricket has developed rapidly, and this season should see_ two strong teams take the field against Canterbury. Writing of a recent club game in Sydney, an Australian scribe says that Jack Gregory clapped on his greatest pace, taking six for 39. It is some time since he showed such snap in his howling in Sydney, and his accuracy can ho shown by Hie fact that of the fourteen overs, five were maidens.