CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20321, 1 November 1929, Page 14

CRICKET

[By StTBS-riT-UTK.]

COMPETITIONS COMMENCED NOTES AND COMMENTS

It was remarked by the president of the Otago Cricket Association (Mr G. A. Wycherley) at the Grange Club’s jubilee reunion on Saturday night that Otago appeared to be in for & goon season, and when he made this comment, Mr Wycherley must have had in mind some of the performances in the senior competition during the afternoon. It is a long time since a season has commenced so auspiciously, and indications point to the club competition being an exceptionally interesting one with tho ultimate champions not easy to pick. . Every one of tlie three matches is at an interesting stage, and_ pleasing to record was the good showing made by the new senior tdam, Christian Brothers, which batted all afternoon against Dunedin fer a fairly respectable total of 196 runs. The wickets were all in fair order, though tho outfield in some cases left a good deal to bo desired.

ALBION EXTENDS CARISBROOK. Considerable interest centred on the match at Carisbrook between Garisbrook and Albion, for although Albion bad a somewhat lean time last season, better things were hoped for this year, an;!, on the other hand, Carisbrook was fielding a side, which, though without tho services of Roger Blunt, looked a formidable proposition on paper, and included one or two players new to Dunedin cricket.

Although the outfield anight have been better, the wicket left little to be desired, from the batsman’s viewpoint at least, and conditions were such that when Dunning won the toss and elected to hat, the general opinion was that Albion was in for an afternoon’s leather chasing. That such did not prove to bo the case was due to several factors, one of which was that the Albion captain, W. Yorrath, handled the bowlers at his disposal very judiciously, changing them with such frequency that the batsmen had little time to become settled down. It has to he said, however, that the attack was not particularly strong, and although tho strong Carisbrook eleven was dismissed for 196 runs, this was due as much to a lack of enterprise and the cramped hatting of many of tho batsmen. Several promising players adopted a very stilted style at the wickets, and too many of them failed to use their feet at all. Some very loos© stuff, especially when Silver was bowling, was treated with the utmost respect when it should have been sent whizzing to tho boundary. On the whole, tho cricket was of a rather desultory nature while Carisbrook was at the wickets, but due allowances have to be made for lack of practice, as tho Carisbrook wickot has been available only for a week or two. The side did not show its true form, and much brighter cricket will he looked for in its next essay at the wickets. The cricket had-its compensations, and a bright spot was the innings played by W. A. Priest, who is developing into a batsman possessed o sr.! graceful scoring strokes. Priest was timing his shots well, and made some lusty drives on both sides of the wickets. He also exploited the leg glance effectively, and ' several times found gaps in the covers with powerful drives. His 37 was the best display of tho innings, and he is due for bigger scores before loug. He is a remarkably consistent batsman, but seems inclined to hover in the thirties.

Outside of Priest’s tally, one of the best innings was that of J. Jacobs, the former Canterbury representative, who was making his first appearance in Dunedin. Jacobs is a forceful batsman when in the mood, and his defence is pretty solid. In compiling 24 he demonstrated that he is likely to be a very useful man to Carisbrook and possibly to Otago. His wrist work was worth watching, and he made some beautifully placed square cuts, tins being his best scoring shot although he did not show much weakness on the leg side. Ho was just beginuing to settle down when Henderson got a good l _ one past him. ; Douglas was at the wickets a long time in making 29, and although his was a fairly good knock, at times lie. played cautiously when he might’ have achieved better results had he shown a little more abandon. He indicated on the one or two occasions when he got on, to the leg balls that he can lay on the wood if he likes, and a little more aggressiveness on his part would probably mean not only more attractive displays, but higher scores. On the other hand, Nimmo went for the bowling .with a will and hit up 21 in fairly quick time. Nimmo has possibilities as a batsman, though he is a bit weak on the leg sde. He made some forceful drives to the off, and looked like making runs when Vorrath beat him with a ball that kept low. Lynch’s 19 was made in bright fashion, the batsman being particularly partial to the leg stuff. Dunning was let off before he had scored, and went on to make IS before M'Haffie beat Mm. Dunning made some straight drives. It will not be surprising if lie makes a lot of runs for Carisbrook this season, and already he looks like being the mainstay of the attack. . L. Groves failed to get going, but the new wicketkeeper, Hawkesworth, showed during the time he was making Ms 8 runs that he- should be a useful bat to Ms side when he gets going. He has some nice shots on the leg side; and is not afraid to make use of Ms feet. Don Allan did not get going, contributing, only 7 to the score, but D. Cameron played correct cricket for Ms 15 runs. He is one of Oarisbrook’s most promising players, and a good type of opening batsman. Cameron scored well on both sides of the wicket, and was beginning to open Ms shoulders when he lifted Agnew into M'HaffieV hands at cover point. The Albion bowling, if somewhat lacking in sting, was for the most part fairly accurate, and in: Henderson the north end club possesses a medium-pace howler of: possibilities. Henderson

played with the Colts last year, ana ho looks like being a useful member of the Albion attack this season. He was turning the ball a bit on Saturday, and maintained a pretty consistent length. He finished up with two wickets for 38 runs. Ho has a fairly easy delivery, and with tho coaching he‘is likely to receive from Shepherd and Co. ho should develop considerably this season. Coming on towards the end of the innings, Vorrath. took two wickets for 8 runs, proving a serviceable change. The left-hander, M Gavin, secured two victims as a cost of 23, and tho slow left-hander, 0. Agnew, who was making his first appearance with Albion, got two for 24. On a wicket to his liking Agnew might prove very dangerous. Silver sent down a lot of poor stuff, and sacrificed length and accuracy in trying to obtain pace. He was lucky that bis nine overs cost only 32 runs/ Shepherd did not get a wicket, but for all that he sent down some reallv good deliveries, and M'Haffio also howled fairly well, taking one for 25. . , , , Albion’s fielding was good in places, M'Haffie in particular shaping very well, while Barron and Vorrath both took "ood catches. The returns to the wickets at times left a good deal to be desired, and one or two fielders were rather sluggish, Silver being tho worst offender. He missed a couple of easy catches, and his ground fielding was far from clean. On Saturday s showing ho will be lucky if ho retains his place m the team. . rn With one wicket down for oO runs Albion looks to have a really good clianco of assuming the lead on the first innings and collecting a couple of points from the match. Albion certainly opened briskly, and both v orrath and Shepherd wont for tho bowliuir as if they meant business. Vorrath has been the victim of ill-health during the last season or two, but he is now well again, and looks like making runs this season. His 22 on Saturday was made in bright and breezy fashion, and ho did not look like getting out until be sent one back to Procter which tbo bowler held. The left-hander made some nice drives to the on, and exploited a pretty shot beyond third man. Shepherd started the season in form, carrying his bat for 23. He scored freely on both sides of tho wicket, but was particularly strong on tho leg side. Procter and Dmmmg shared the attack, the former getting # one for 18. The latter got little assistance from the wicket, but was bowling accurately, tho batsmen being unable to take too many liberties with him.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS’ DEBUT. Making due allowances for a wicket that was not perfect, and also for a pardonable caution on tho part of some of the batimen in a team which was anxious to make a good impression in its first senior engagement, Christian Brothers registered quite a good performance in making 196 against Dunedin at the Oval. The side is a young one, and it the same keenness is shown throughout the season us was tho case in tins game then the side should fare quite well in the grade matches. Dunedin fielded much tho same team as last season, and was thus in a positiop to maintain its usual steady attack. Tho fast men were not quite at their best, and it was left to Dick Torrance, sen., to once again show how runs can be kept down. For tho most part tho fieldsmen were well on their toes, the majority of mistakes being made through treacherous patches in the outfield. Occasionally, too, there were instances of wild returns to tho wickets. . Parsons and F. Toomcy opened in sedate fashion, both batsmen showing sound defence. They refused to _bo tempted, but after he had played him** self in, the suspicion of crampiness in Parsons’s play disappeared, and long before he reached his 40 ho revealed some pretty strokes. Until he patted a ball softly up to Claridge he was keeping his strokes well on the carpet. F. Toomey and Blair each fell a victim to White, who was as quick as a Hash behind the stumps. M‘Garten is tho type of young player who requires plenty of practice before he strikes his top form, and it was not surprising that he was a trifle uncertain on Saturday. Nevertheless, his display was so breezy as to hold out promise of attractive batting once he has mastered the art of correct timing. The solidity of M‘Clintock and Brookes should be of service to the side. Brookes handled all leg stuff very neatly, and Ryan hit out lusily, but went under to a catch by Monk in the country. The most profitable partnership of the day was that of T. Toomey and MTlryy, neither of whom was afraid to lay on the wood. They are both free batsmen, and drove forcefully, occasionally patting an off ball well down the gully. For a tnil-endcr Cusack helped himself to a useful tally, and Sullivan carried his bat. Lack of understanding on the part of batsmen resulted in Brookes and M'llroy being run out. This is a weakness which should lie remedied as the season goes on, Tho six bowlers each claimed a victim, Monk and M'Gregor taking two a-piece. R. C. Torrance was hard to get away, his length being consistently accurate, and he was swinging in from leg in disconcerting fashion. Templeton, who was varying his pace and flight, showed promise, and Cavanagh improved later in the day. Claridge was erratic. Monk has not yet worked up to the stage when he can command full pace with accuracy, and his short length balls were bumping awkwardly. Some of the batsmen relished him when ho pitched them to leg. G. Blazey and E. Collett will probably play for Christian Brothers in its next match, and from all accounts they should greatly strengthen the side.

GRANGE’S BIG TALLY. - The Grange Club entered its jubilee year with a splendid opening at Logan Park, where it met High School Old Boys. ' The decision of E. Harraway to send the ©position'to. the crease could hardly be considered a - wise move as the wicket was in perfect order, but for a little “kick” at one end, while the outfield was fast. Old Boys should have taken advantage,of these conditions, in view of the uncertainty of the weather. Grange made full use. of the attractive offer- to bat first, and recorded the highest total of the day-—335 for eight wickets. It again appears to bo’a very strong batting side, and further tail scores should bo compiled during the season. Although the side has -a - very substantial total in hand,

A. Galland will have a rather difficult problem to solve to-morrow in order to secure a win. Should he declare the innings closed in order to have time to dispose of the opposition, or should the undefeated batsmen endeavour to force the score to the 400 mark? The latter course seems to be the wisest if the batsmen open their shoulders to the bowling. , The first day of the match produced some very sound batting, though the score would not have been so large I)ad the field given every assistance to the bowlers. Knight (63) and Boyd (26) gave tho side a good start, . and, although the latter gave a few hard chances, both were content to play themselves in . fay safe tactics. Boyd collected most of his_ runs on the leg, being quick to punish any loose .balls. Knight was not so aggressive, and was content to play quietly. Once or twice bo seemed to bo inclined to run risks in running singles, and had a few narrow escapes from being caught out of his crease. Elmes batted in good style, displaying many masterful strokes right from the commencement of his innings. Apart from a chance when 39, lie gave a splendid display for 80, and the few spectators were treated to some fine shots. His partnership 'with Knight added 133 runs to The total. Galland played a solid innings for 72 not out, and boundary shots wore numerous. He was at the crease when Dickinson performed his meritorious feat of bagging four wickets with four consecutive balls. His partnership with C. Chadwick was the brightest one of the afternoon, and he batted without giving a chance. Chadwick was in great form, and treated tho Old Boys’ speed merchant with contempt. In one over from Dickinson, who had bowled for most of the afternoon, he hit four boundaries with clean, hard strokes. M'Mullan, Jackson, Morris, and Hcenan were

Dickinson’s victims, and had to return to the pavilion without adding very much to the score. Tomkinsou showed plenty of dash in making 17 not out. Dickinson had a very strenuous afternoon, and was called upon to send down no fewer than thirty overs. Under such circumstances his figures of four for 101 were exceptionally good. In addition, several catches were dropped off Ins deliveries, and it was not until 200 runs were up that success came his way. He then performed a feat which is seldom accomxilished in senior cricket these days—that of collecting four wickets with four balls. Three of the batsmen he dismissed had their stumps scattered with balls which showed that “little bit” of turn. None of the other bowlers did very much, though Maloney shows good promise of developing into , a top notcher. Many of his deliveries wore tricky, and occasionally he had the batsmen thinking very seriously. Arthur Alloo maintained a good length throughout his twenty-six, overs, , and was unlucky in not capturing a wicket or two. The fielding of the Old Boys’ side left a lot to bo desired, though Dickinson, the Alloo brothers, and Harraway (wicket-keeper) were exceptions. The latter stood up to the fast deliveries of Dickinson very well indeed, Put his taking could he improved, SOUTHLAND’S GAIN. Southland has secured a big asset in R. W. Coupland, and this is what the Southland ‘ News ’ has to say of his first match in Invercargill:— “ Emphatically the dominating factor of the whole game was the form shown by R. W- Coupland, who was making his first appearance in Invercargill. Coupland brought south with him records of good sendee with the St.-Hilda Club, Melbourne, of which club he was a senior member for three years, and of a most successful season in Wanganui. Last year he obtained easily the largest number of wickets in club and representative cricket in Wanganui, and also was an easy first on the scoring list. On Saturday he proved his worth and his versatility, for the Show Ground’s wicket was many removes from,North Island ones in almost every respect. Variation of pace and a judiciously-uscd -off break were too much for the Union batsmen, several of whom were literally out before they went to the wickets. Almost each of them made the mistake of feeling for good-length spin stuff which was “ hanging ” instead of staying in their crease and playing the ball. Naturally there was only one result—43 was quite a good total under the circumstances. At the same time, Conpland’s performance in securing nine wickets at a total cost of 15 runs was a splendid one. And it was not a flash in the pan, because he obviously has cricket brains, and an attractive high and free action. Whether he will meet with the same success when the wickets harden and the ball “goes through ” is a question for the future to decide, but it would not surprise should Conpland prove to ho a real find to Southland representative selectors. The outstanding innings was easily that of Coupland, whose ability with the hat impressed as much or more than his prowess as.a bowler. He has a sound defence, but bats very freely, and scores all round the wicket. His powerful hack play, excellent timing, and placing stamped him as a batsman above the ordinary; and, had the outfield been reasonably fast,, his total would have been well past the 100 mark.”.

MATCH AT OAMARU. Though the match with an Oamaru eleven at the Waitaki Boys’ High School ground on Labour Day was arranged by the Dunedin Club, representatives of the Old Boys, Albion, and Carisbrook elevens were also included in the side, and a most enjoyable game saw Dunedin as winners by 20 runs on the first innings. The wicket was perfect, but some of the Dunedin batsmen were inclined to mistime their strokes, the wicket being slightly slower than was anticipated. Nearly half of Dunedin’s total of 175 was made by'the Dunedin Club’s skipper, Walter Strang, who looks like being in scoring mood this season. He compiled 71 in most attractive fashion, being very strong on the leg side. _ He drove vigorously, and also scored nicely with forceful square cuts, Cavanagh, who got 32, was at his best on the Teg side, and he also drove hard between mid-off and cover. Monk was, going very well when he was given, out Ibw, with his score at 16, which included three, 4’s. Templeton batted very well for 18. < Zimmerman, who has frequently been of service to Otago, was swinging with the wind, and, receiving some assistance from the wicket, finished up with ; the creditable average of;five wickets

for 39 runs. Inder maintained a fairly good length, and took three wickets for 46. ... . ■ . r Top score for Oamaru also wont to Zimmerman, who, compiled a .sound. 32. Uttley was going. well when _Monk bowled him a slow one which .did mot come through- the batsman sending it back to Monk, who accepted The catch. His score was then 10. Milner, a Waitaki Boys’ High School player, rattled up 23 in good style. Dunning, who was swinging a bit, bowled well and took three wickets for 21, Maloney finishing with four for 27. His slow leg breaks bad all the batsmen tied up, and Claridge clean bowled two men for 15 runs. He was getting a fair amount of pace on and bowling fairly accurately. KEENNESS.' . A story that indicated the keenness of old players was told at the Grange Cricket Club’s jubilee. A tegm took a special , boat down to tbo Spit to engage another team in combat. The leader of the invaders was A. C. Hanlon, who is an ex-president of tho Otago Cricket Association and also of the Grange Club. On their arrival the visitors were formally welcomed, after which the tools of combat wore produced by Mr Hanlon. He first put forward a bat approaching 3ft hi width with the remark “ Our bat.” Then ho brought to light another bat. 1-Jin wide, which he described as “Your bat The match was played on the sand, and Mr Hanlon’s side was victorious. TEST MATCH VETERAN PASSES. The late Janies Lillywhite, veteran cricketer . and , “ father of test matches,” whose death was announced recently, was born in Sussex in 1842. It was in the fields bordering _ on the Goodwood Estate that he acquired the art and practice of cricket. For over forty years he was actively connected with the game—for the first half of the period as a player and later as an umpire. Lillywhite visited Australia six times between 1873 and 1888 as a professional player. On the tour of 1879 IV. G. Grace was England’s captain. It was in the tour of 1876-7, however, that the; idea of instituting Anglo-Austra-lian test matches began to take form. On March 15, 1877, on the ground of the Melbourne Cricket Club the first ball was bowled in the first encounter on even terms between Australia and England. Lillywhite was captain of the English eleven and all tho members of the team were professionals. The batsman who received the first ball, Charles Bannennan, made 165 runs before he had to retire hurt. Nobody else, however, made as many as 20, and the Australians won by 45. In token of sympathy a sum of £165 was subscribed by tbo public and given to Bannermah.

In a later match the Englishmen won liy four wickets. In 1878 the Australians sent their first representative team to England, and Lillywhite arranged their programme. In his old ago Lillywlnte settled down at Weston, close to the, place of his birth. His memory carried back to the first visit of an" English cricket team to Australia—that of H. H. Stevens, in 1861. The tour was a great success—a fact which probably fostered the test match idea. Advancing ,age did not diminish Lillywhite’s interest in the progress of the game, and he always had a good word to say for its modern developments. NOTES. Included in the Dunedin Cricket Club’s veterans’ side is one enthusiast who is well over the half-century mark. He is a right-handed batsman, and usually last season was last man in, his stay at the wicket often being much shorter than he would have liked. On Saturday last he went irr in his customary place, but he puzzled his comrades when lie shaped up left-handed and made some creditable strokes in making 5 runs. His explanation was: I couldn’t make runs right-handed, so I thought I would, try left!” R. H, C. Mackenzie had the honour of scoring the first century of the 192930 season (says the Wellington ‘Dominion’). His defence was very sound, and he used his feet well in getting out to drive. Lamason should have had him close in at mid-on off Lambert when ho had scored 47, .but the fieldsman juggled with a simple catch and put the leather on the carpet. Those little catches at close quarters are not always as simple as they appear. Mackenzie would have scored many more runs had he timed his pulls better. He sent a few skimming sweetly over the square-leg boundary, but many of his pulls aiwjl hooks were killed by being driven into mother earth, with the result that the hall did not reach the boundary. Still, Mackenzie had developed into a first-class batsman,. Ho aggregated 587 runs for ten innings last season, with a top score of 158, and should do even better this season.

Sitting together at the Grange Cricket Club’s jubilee were the mayor (Mr R. S. Black), the president of the Grange Cricket Club (Mr W. M. Beal), and the president of the Otago Cricket Association, (Mr G. A. Wycherley). All are Victorians, and each is familiar with the Lilydale district, which is famous as the birthplace of Madame Melba. They had all played cricket there.

R. W. Hope, the Petone express trundler, mowed the Institute batsmen down in ruthless fashion, securing the wickets of Banks, Bilby, and Stevens, all of whom were clean bowled, at a cost of 12 runs (says a Wellington writer). Hope is a really good fast bowler. He accompanied the New Zealand team to Australia a few seasons back, and may again be seen wearing a New Zealand cap. One cricket pupil whcm J. A. Newman, coach to the Canterbury Cricket Association, is very sorry to lose is J. Jacobs, now in Dunedin (says the Christchurch ‘Sun’). Newman reckons that Jacobs, who has unusually powerful wrists, would be a champion batsman if he would only learn to use _ his feet properly, especially in driving. With his off-drive Jacobs puts his front foot out away from the line of the bat instead of advancing it in the directionof the stroke, and as near to the ball as he can place it while still leaving room for the bat to hit the ball. His faulty footwork means, of course, that ho does not get over the ball; properly. Mark Nicholls, who has succeeded Alf. Cate as wicket-keeper for the Petone eleven, proved that he is quite j

a good batsman by top-scoring with 59 in a recent match with Institute. Tho runs, were made in pleasing style. Tribute was paid at tho ■ Grange Club’s jubilee reunion to the captaincy of W. Parker, whom on© speaker characterised as being as fine a leader as_ had ever stepped on to an Otago cricket field.. Mr Parker had a great record .with the Grange Club, and was also a leading; figure in boxing c.rcles in tho days when Jem Mace visited New Zealand. He was unable to bo (present at the jubilee, celebrations owing to illness, but. several of the old-timers visited him prior to the reunion, and refreshed their memories of matches played thirty years ago by a chat with their old, captain. Highly successful were the Grange Cricket Club’s jubilee celebrations, and this was due in' no small measure to the hard work put in by Mr W. A. Howland and an energetic committee. One would havei liked to have_ listened a little longer to tho old timers at the reunion function on Saturday night, for such men as Alex. Downes, Billy Johnston, Gus Restieaux, W. Henderson, and A. Grieve have a f und of interesting reminiscences to draw upon. Great enthusiasm was shown at all of the functions, and with so many loyal old members , and keen players in the present-day teams the future success of a great club would seem to be assured. Grange’s performance in tho senior competition is worthy of special mention, for daring the fifty years of its existence it won tho senior championship on no fewer than thirteen occasion*.

An interesting suggestion to account for the increasing number of spin bowlers in English cricket—the lack of spin bowlers was deplored oily a few years ago—is put forward by J. A. Newman, the 'well-known Hampshire professional. Newman thinks that C. 11. Parkin, the famous Lancashire and All-England player, now retired from first-class cricket, is responsible ior the renewed development of spin bowling. Not many years ago batsmen used their pads to this kind of attack so much that spin howlers became discouraged. But Parkin found the gap in the pad player’s armour. Ho pitched the ball on the wicket, but breaking away to leg, so that the batsmen had to play it with their bats. With “leg-slips” and an increased on-side field, Parkin made this method of attack a sharpedged one. Archie Jackson, who thrilled the New Zealand cricketing public when ho came over hero with the Australian team recently, is still batting as well as ever this season. He has picked up the form ho displayed in the tests last season, and already played : two very choice innings for Balmain. A century against Central Cumberland is to his credit, as well as 99 against his test match comrades, Don Bradman and A. Eairfax. There is a lesson in an incident related by Air A. Restieaux at the Grange Cricket Club’s jubilee during the week. He said that Alex. Downes, who played for the club in senior cricket for thirty years and was one of the most famous howlers Now Zealand has ever produced, used to practice at night for an hour and a-half with a piece of paper on the wicket. He would bowl consistently at the paper, and by this means it was stated he attained his remarkable length and accuracy, Present-day cricketers should see the point. It was also stated that Downes was capable at any time of bowling at a plate on the pitch with the certainty of smashing it. K. C. James, the well-known New Zealand representative wicketkeeper, donned the gloves again recently, when he turned out for Wellington Old Boys against University. ‘ Commenting on his display a northern writer says:—■ “ James was the same consummate artist as ever with the gloves. In this finished wicketkeeper Wellington lias a stumper who can compare favourably with Oldfield or Duckworth. It is a treat to watch the clean manner in which James gathers in the returns from the field. No matter how they come he is in position to take them, and his gloves rarely miss. There is no flourish or fuss about James’s work. He just squats on Iris haunches behind the sticks, and gathers them in like a magician picking canaries out of the atmosphere.” In every match on the opening day there was at least one six scored—surely a unique feature of au afternoon’s cricket in Auckland (says ,a northern exchange). Len Elliott scored the only one in the Y.M.O.A .-United Suburbs game, and two were signalled in the Parnell-Ponsonhy match. Quite a crop was reaped in the other two matches. For Grafton, at North Shore, Allcott carted the Shore bowlers all over the field for his 81, which included five sixes, and Horspool sent the leather over the line twice. At Eden Park Ron Bush top-scored in that respect with three big hits to his credit for University against Eden, and his team-mates, Garrard and Smeeton, registered one and two sixes respectively. To M'Ghie, of the Albion Club, goes the credit of scoring the first century of the season. He played in the second grade B match against Dunedin C, Headed by G. A. Wycherley, at Logan Park. M'Ghie scored his lt)7 not out in dashing style, and many boundary hits were recorded in his tally. It was with brilliant batting that C. G. Macartney scored, in eighty-six minutes, his 112 runs for Gordon against , Manly in Sydney first-grade cricket on Saturday, October 6. On the following Monday (Eight-hour Day), when grade cricket was also played, Macartney got 81 against Northern District. As he had scored 57 when he had to retire with an injured leg a fortnight ago it is clear that Macartney is going to have a fine season, bar accidents. Ernie Horspool, former Auckland and New Zealand representative cricketer, who scored the first century of the season and the only one a fortnight ago, thus wins Mr TV W. Matthews’s bat'fcK* the first 100 of the season (says an Auckland writer). Last year this generous donor’s bat was won by G. L. Weir, who scored 103 not out on the first" day of the Eden-Grafton match at King’s College. Weir completed his century some ten minutes before J. A. Dunning, of University got his at Eden Park. The Rhodes Scholar’s total was also 103, but at that figure he was defeated ; whereas Weir carried on on the following Saturday. C. L. Metge demonstrated on Saturday that he will be a most useful addition to the ’Varsity batting strength this season (says the Auckland ‘Sun’). He played for the club for six years before leaving on transfer to the north

in 1925, and while in Whangarei he formed, a country team, Maungaka raraea, which won the North Auckland championship one year and was run-ner-up the nest. Ho was an Auckland representative in 1923-24 and 1924-25, and in March, 1924, was on© of Auckland’s opening batsmen against Charles Macartney’s New South Wales side. Ho scored 12 and 0 on that occasion, and is a solid lefthand batsman who picks the right ball and hits it hard. While in Wliangarei ho was a North Auckland representative. More should bo heard of him in Auckland this season.

ENGLISH TEAM DISCUSSED BY CANTERBURY COACH The English cricket team which is now on its way to New Zealand needs only a good stock bowler of medium pace—such a bowler as Reg. Read is for Canterbury—to make it a really foxmidable side all round. In batting it is very strong, but its attack is lacking in something between slow bowling and fast-medium bowling. 'That is the view which J. A., Newman, well-known Hampshire professional, takes of the team. Talking to a Christchurch ‘ Sun ’ reporter, Newman, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday to continue his engagement as coach to the Canterbury Cricket Association, made some very interesting remarks about various members of the team.. It may bo noted that, when referring to any amateur, the Hampshire man spoke of him as “ Mr,” but that prefix is omitted hero. K. S. Duleepsiuhji is described by Newman as a grand player. For stroke plaj' one could not possibly see two better players than F. E. Woolley ami Duleepsinhji. Their strokes are magnificent. G. F. Earle and F. Barratt, are two of the finest natural hitters England has had for many years. Earle, especially. has tremendous hitting power Both are very big men. Each weighs about 16st. Earle is a splendid picture of manhood. “ When you see him at Lancaster Park,” said Newman, “ you will be astonished by the perfect physical proportions of the man.” Barratt is of a clumsier typo of big man, but very strong. Harold Gilligan, who captains the team, lias improved wonderfully in his hatting -of late. Newman says that he never has seen a, man in his thirties improve his batting as Gilligan has done in such a short time. E. W. Dawson probably will make a lot of runs on New Zealand wickets, which should suit him. _ When he gets going he is a very stylish batsman indeed. He and G. B. Legge are excellent examples of what is known in England as the public school type of cricketer—a Now Zealander would call it the secondary school type—in which forward play predominates. Another batsman who probably is of this type is M. J. Turnbull. but Newman has not seen either Turnbull or E. T. Benson in action. E. H. Bowloy, well known in New Zealand, has been in very fine form with both bat and ball this year. Bowley will have to do a lot of slow bowling for the team, but it was only_ because of Jack of opportunity—especially when Maurice Tate had been bowling for Sussex—that Bowlej had not been acclaimed earlier in England as a very fine slow bowler, Frank Woolley will show Now Zealanders what left-hand bowling can be. Newman is emphatically of opinion that no team is complete without a left hand bonder. AVoollcy has tremendous finger spin, and he will “ straighten out ” the ball remarkably on New Zealand wickets. His variation of pace and flight will bother New Zealand batsmen. “What is more,” added Newman, “he bonds a length and drops it there. And he’s persistently pitching the ball on the wicket, so that you can’t put your fool across and cut him to the pickets.” There are four fast bowlers in the team. None of them is an “ express.” as fast as, say, J. M. Gregory or E, A. M'Donald, They are “ good fastmedium.” M. S. Nichols is the fastest of the four nowadays; ho is, too, a very good all-rounder, who has been reserve for England, and who might have gone to Australia last year if 11. Larwood had not been able to go. Barratt is not quit© as fast as he was a few years ago. M. J. C. Allom gets a lot of pace from the pitch. S. Worthington—also a fine all-rounder—bowls much faster than lie appears to he doing. He had been described sometimes as being of medium pace, but he is really on the fast side. On his day. W. Cornford, who keeps wickets for Tate and company in Sussex, is as fine a wicketkeeper as there is in England. Newman is firmly of opinion that the team will be very popular in New Zealand. All the members of it of whom he has personal knowledge are very fine fellows a charming lot, indeed. Harold Gilligan, as captain, will he very popular. He has a splendid personality.