CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20303, 11 October 1929, Page 14

CRICKET

[By Substitute.]

NEWS AND COMMENTS

CLUB ACTIVITIES. Net practices at Logan Park last Saturday presented a lino sight, the various clubs being seen in action at their respective nets, which were lined up in a row. The public attended in good numbers, and the interest manifested by players and followers alike augurs well for a good season. The weather was delightful for cricket, and tho wickets, prepared by Mr D. Tannock, superintendent of reserves, left nothing to be desired. Logan Park promises to be a cricketer’s paradise in the very near future. At Albion’s quarters there was a good muster, especially when it is remembered that a largo number of tho younger members of the club were absent on account of a rifle shooting parade. J. Shepherd, W. Vorrath, J. Barron, and J. M'Haflic all showed fine form with tho bat, and MTlaflio also bowled well. Albion has been fortunate in securing two new players, both of whom are expected to do well. Agnew, who represented Southland last year, is reputed to bo a most promising fast bowler, and the other new member is Nolan, who played with Parnell senior eleven in tho latter portion of last season in Auckland. Ho is a medium pace left-hand bowler of some possibilities. Grange forewent tho official opening this season, but a net practice last Saturday resulted in a great muster of members, over fifty players being present. Or the seniors, Galland, Knight, Chadwick, Elmes, Lemin, Tomkinson, and Boyd were all in attendance, and an acquisition is Jackson, who played for the club a couple of years ago. He is a very fair bat, and should bo a useful man to tho club. Grange expects to be represented by good junior teams in tho season’s competitions. The Dunedin Club held a net practice last Saturday, and the official opening takes place at the Oval to-morrow afternoon afternoon tea being provided by the ladies. There were twenty-four players present last week, and everything points to a good season. Tho club has been fortunate in securing as secretary the representative player and former Aucklander, P, G. Monk, who is one of the most popular cricketers in Dunedin. Monk should bo an ideal man for the job, and he has associated with him as treasurer, R, White, the club’s wicketkeeper. The concrete wickets for practice are expected to be ready in about a week. Carisbrqok Ground was not ready for net practice _ last Saturday, but, weather permitting, the official opening of the Carisbrook Club will take place tomorrow afternoon. The University Club will also hold an official opening at Logan Park to-morrow afternon. Net practice was held by this club last week, there being an attendance of twentyeight players. OXENHAM IN FORM. At least six of Queensland’s interstate cricketers are in. good form for tho opening matches. Ron. Oxenham took ten wickets for 32 against Northern Suburbs, Cecil Thompson made 100. not out, L. O’Connor 67, R. Levy 71, E. Renstead 70, and Thurlow took five for 39. Oxenham took the whole of his wickets on tho second Saturday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.—a truly great feat, which has been equalled only twice in senior cricket in Brisbane, both times by C. Barstow, -who, strangely enough, obtained the same figures. Toombul had set Northern Suburbs 301 to win, but when Oxenliarn bad finished with them their total was only 154. Varying his pace, direction, and length with superb judgment, he clean bowled six, had three leg-be-fore wicket, and one caught. In view of Oxenliam’s loss of form in the last test last season, and the opinion held in some quarters that his prospects of selection for the English tour had decreased, his latest remarkable success is timely. Oxenham does not waste the off season, and is certain to play his usual big part in the season’s important fixtures. FIELDING. One of the things to which it is hoped tho coaches of the Victorian colts’ team will pay attention is fielding (says the Melbourne ‘ Sporting Globe). Cricket is not merely a. game of batting and bowling, for fielding is at least as important as the other two branches of the game. More matches are lost through poor fielding than perhaps most people imagine. It is not only tho catches that are taken that count; the runs saved are also important. A team might take all the catches that are going, yet lose a game as the result of a few runs given away by slack ground fielding. Australians in the past gained a great reputation as fieldsmen, but they nave hardly lived up to that in recent years. There was a remarkable difference in the fielding of the Englishmen and the Australians in last season’s tests, and the difference was all in favour of the Englishmen. Yet, with a few exceptions, they could not he regarded as a great fielding side, in the sense that some teams in the past were great. For years past too little attention has been given to the fielding art. Tho one idea of most players is to go to the nets and have a bowl and a knock. The idea of having some fielding practice seldom occurs to them. Yet good

fielding is as delightful to watch as good batting or bowling, and it is as important as either of the other branches of the game. It _ is the same all over Australia, and it is a pity that it is so. It would bo a good thing if fielding practice were indulged in by every player on every practice night. If this were so wo would'not see so much of tho slovenly fielding that wo now sec, not only in the club games, but in tho big games as well. Australians will never regain their reputations as fieldsmen until they go in systematically for practice, and stick at it until they make themselves as near perfect as possible. CRICKETER’S TRIBUTE. W. A. Oldfield’s tribute to Duleepsinhji, who is a member of tho English team that is to play in Australia and New Zealand this season:— “ 1 consider that Duleepsinhji will find Australian wickets just made for him. He is very attractive, with brilliant and fascinating strokes. I never saw' his uncle Ranjitsmliji batting, but they toll me Duleep resembles that celebrated player. Duleep is coining out next month to Australia, and I would advise every lover of tho game to sec him at tho wickets. He may not malic runs every time. Even immortal Victor Trumper disappointed expectant crowds at times. But if Duleepsinhji gets set he will thrill our crowds. I think you will find him playing in tho tests against Australia next season.” SENIOR COMPETITION. The senior competition is to consist of six teams, the same number as last year, this decision being reached at last Wednesday night’s meeting of tho Otago Cricket Association. While there is probably a good deal in Mr F. Binuey’s assertion that there are not sixty-six players of senior calibre in Dunedin, it has to bo admitted that added interest was lent to tho competition last year by the addition of two teams, and prospects this year arc for oven more interesting cricket. Entries for the senior competition close next Thursday at 5 p.m., and already applications ler the sixth position in the competition have been received from University, Christian Brothers, and Carisbrook B, while it is stated that North-east Valley may make an early application. Present indications point to the issue being fought out by University and Christian Anthers, and while tho latter club lias strong claims it lias to bo admitted that the case for University w r as very ably put by Mr F. M. Hunan at tho_ meeting of the Association, and it wdll be no fault of its advocate if. University’s application is unsuccessful. Mr Ha nan made a very good case for University, one of tho strongest points of which was that the club had its own ground, a ground which it is very desirable that the Otago Cricket Association should have for senior cricket. In tho event of University being refused senior status there is tho possibility that tho ground may be lost to tho Otago Cricket Association, as even for friendly matches University would probably wants its own ground. A good deal of interest is being manifested in the position and the outcome of next Thursday’s meeting of the Otago Cricket Association will be eagerly awaited. REPRESENTATIVE SELECTORS. Little time was wasted by the Association in discussion over the appointment of selectors for the ensuing year, and tho same trio as last season— Messrs F. Williams, W. Mackcrsy, and R. G. Blunt were appointed. While tho question of a. solo selector might have been considered, it cannot bo denied that tho three appointed have the absolute confidence of tho executive, and they arc men of such experience that they are pretty certain to satisfy players and followers alike, although the selector has not yet been born who could satify everybody. With the possibility of Otago engaging in a Plunket Shield engagement round about Christmas time, it is to be hoped the list of players for representative practice will be announced early, and that the claims of promising players in outside districts such as Invercargill and Oamaru will not be overlooked. JOTTINGS. News from Napier states that H. Tyldesley, a member of MacLaren’s team in New Zealand, is willing to come out to Hawke’s Bay, provided suitable employment is found for him (says tho ‘New Zealand Sportsman The matter has been referred to Mr T. C. Lowry for a report. Tyldesley is a very good slow log-break bowler, who gave decided promise of developing into a top-notcher when playing for the Lancshiro second eleven. For some seasons past ho has been professional to the Oxton Club, Liverpool, for whom he has a great record. Ho is a younger brother of Dick Tyldesley, the famous Lancashire slow bowler. Tho response by old members in connection with tho jubilee celebrations of tho Grange Club improved greatly last week, and the committee is now busy making final arrangements for the functions, it being hoped to have the tickets for the reunion du hand next week. The annual meeting of the Umpires’ Association will be held next Tuesday night, and any old players or enthusiasts desirous of assisting the association this season arc requested to get into touch with tho secretary (Mr W. T. Rowlands'). When Kent met Sussex at Hastings in August, Duleepsinhji made some cricket history for Sussex. By hitting up 115 and 246 in the two innings, ho joined W. W. Armstrong, C. B. Fry, P, Mead, and H. T, Hardinge as tho only players who have scored 100 runs in one innings and 200 or more in tho other. Duleep scored his grand total for the match of. 361 in five hours out of 549, during that time, hitting six 6’s and forty-five 4’s. He also showed that he could do other things by catching six of the eighteen wickets that fell. Ernest Tyldesley, the Lancashire batsman, who was in Australia with Chapman’s team last season, met with an accident towards the end of August which kept him out of the closing games of th© recent English season (says an Australian writer). .While hatting in

a charity match ho was hit on the left foot, and an X-ray revealed that two hones were fractured. Tyldesley, who has proved one of tho best English batsmen of recent years, has not had the best of luck during the past year or two. He came to Australia as one of the crack hats of the side, but he was unable to strike his true form here, and played in only one of tho tests—the last. Returning to England, he had shown good form up to the time of his accident. Tyldesley was one ot the most popular members of the English team here, and there was general regret that he unable to strike form. Just to show that his fine bowling against Gloucester in tho one-run win was no fluke Jas. Langridge, late Auckland coach, went one better against Glamorgan. Besides scoring 13 and 103, he took seven wickets for 53 in tho first innings and four for 66 in the second. A. AVenslcy, the newlyappointed coach for the Queen City, took three for 41 and five for 97 in the same game. W. Vorrath. of tho Albion Club, is at present in hospital undergoing an operation to his nose which was injured some time ago while ho was,phi,yhig football. He should be about in a few days, and will probably be ready fui the opening series of matches. The first series of championship matches controlled by tho Wellington Cricket Association will begin on Saturday, October 19—a week after Canterbury’s. A great step towards the advancement of South African cricket was made at a recent meeting of the S.A. Cricket Association, when it was decided that in future all international matches he played on grass. There will be no great difficulty experienced in the moist coastal towns of Capo Town and Durban in fulfilling tho terms of this resolution, hut in the dry air of the Transvaal preparation for the visit from England in 1930-31 will involve some hard research work by those responsible for growing grass in tho north. Before H. G. Deane’s team left for England experiments with a turf pitch composed of soil and grass transported from Durban proved eminently successful in Johannesburg, but in the covering of tho huge outfield at tho Wanderers’ ground there acute problems arise. The experimental pitch was uovm amid the coarse kikuyu grass of a Rugby field —a typo of grass that flourishes under hard conditions. But it is too coarse and irregular for 'wicket, and the best horticultural brains will be needed in finding a suitable type to cover a largo area. This problem has. of course, been tho reason for the delay in adopting turf wickets in tho north. Th© new move is but the thin end of the .wedge for the wholesale scrapping of matting wickets all over the country. F. Barratt, of Notts, who is coming out with tho M.O.C. team, is about the biggest hitter in England. Three of his"host were played against. Middlesex, Gloucester, and Lancashire. In the first-mentioned game he scored 94 in an hour, hitting seven 6’s. In the second fixture he took 74 in thirty-five minutes, hitting five C’s, whilst against the Northern “County he got 50 in twenty-five minutes, bagging six C’s, ineluding three in ono over ©IF Hopwood. Nothing has been heard from Air Charles Todd concerning the selection or recommendation of _ a. coach for Otago,. but tli© association had before it on Wednesday night an application from a former New South Wales representative J. S. Taylor, who is desirous. of settling permanently in the dominion. Air Taylor has first-class testimonials and coachd in Nelson last season, also representing Wellington He has _the_ playing qualifications and his application is to be further considered by the Otago Cricket Association. , Canterbury has decided on a solo selector this season, Air H. B. Whitt a being appointed to the position. A motion that there ho three selectors was lost. •