CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 14

CRICKET

NEWS AND NOTES [By Substitute.] All matches last Saturday were interrupted by the rain less than an hour from stumps, and tlfo of tho games were left in an indefinite position. Carisbrook and Old Boys are taking part in a match which is in a very open state, and the same applies to the game between Albion and Dunedin, though the latter should not, with the side it has, have much difficulty in overhauling Albion’s total of 145. Grange is in a strange position against Christian Brothers, and even has a possibility of going for a three-point win. Carisbrook’s strong batting side did not make the brave showing that was anticipated against Old Boys, and but for a good deal of luck during Roger Blunt’s stay at the wickets the total would have been a most modest one. As it was, seven wickets fell for 173 runs, the score certainly being a tribute to the bowling of the Old Boys side. The wicket was not greatly affected by the rain, and, although the outfield was certainly on the slow side, a much larger tally might reasonably have been expected. To many of the batsmen made their way to the wickets apparently imbued with the idea that runs were most difficult to get, and there was only one natural consequence —they proved hard to get on the part of players who adopted unnaturally cramped styles of batting. An instance in point was Aitken, a colt who might reasonably be expected to display bright, free cricket. He is a left-hander with a good eye, but he was twenty minutes at the wickets before scoring, and then made only 2 before he was caught off Dickinson’s howling. Dunning has improved as a batsman, but it is stretching it a bit to say that he is an ideal opening batsman He is not, and he would probably be well advised to put himself in later in tho innings. He went ■ without scoring on Saturday, another victim to the bait held out by Dickinson’s fast bowling. On the other hand, there are one or two players who might be made use of sooner than is at present the case. For imstance, both Allan and Nimmo are batsmen who should strengthen the batting if they were sent in earler. Allan is certainly too promising a batsman of natural talents to be so near the tail-end when batsmen such as Aitken are scratching about looking for runs.

Roger Blunt’s innings was the essence of contrariness. At times he' played almost every shot in his repertoire, and played them most attractively. - Then an over latey he would be found nibbling at Dickinson’s off deliveries in a way that is not expected of a_ batsman of, his class. Playing Dickinson with supremo confidence in one over, the next found him all at sea to the fast merchant, and he may certainly, be counted lucky to have scored 85. He gave three actual chances, two of them very difficult, hia first scoring 18, and snicked at a no-ball from Dickinson, -which went into Leader’s sure Lands ini the slips. Finally it was Dickinson who brougnt about the New Zealand representative’s dismissal, caught behind the stumps. Blunt’s square cutting was a treat to watch at times. His exquisite wristwork and his placing were the work of a master, and ho also made some’ lovely shots through the covers. His timing seemed to trouble him, and it could not be said that He inspired one with confidence -during tho earlier part of the innings, though later he settled down to display that crisp, sound batting that is typical of the real Blunt. The brightest interlude of the match took place during the - time W. A. Priest was at the wickets. Priest is one of the most promising younger cricketers in Dunedin, and it is pleasing to record that he Inis been added to the list of colts receiving attention from the professional coach, F. T. Badcock. Priest ran up 35 in quick time on Saturday, and as usual he favoured the pat down the gully, his placing being good. He also scored well with the off drive, and is one of those consistent players who may be expected to develop considerably during tho present season. He is one of those .players who are not afraid to use their feet, but it was due to his tendency to nibble at the balls Dickinson was pitching outside the off . stump that brought about his downfall. Ken Cox, an ex-South land representative, was making his first appearance in senior cricket here after several

games in the second grade. He is a left-hander who can lay the wood on when he chooses, and during his stay at the wickets he made one or two nice strokes, but experienced difficulty in finding the gaps in the field. Ho got 14, Smith’s total being one more than that when he was bowled by Alloo as' the result of a weak shot. Arthur Alloo handled the Old Boys attack very well indeed, and it is a long time since George Dickinson bowled so steadily and with such a consistent length. He was swinging dangerously at times, and towards the finish of the afternoon was kicking up a bit, his five wickets costing 71 runs. _ He sent down twenty-seven overs during the afternoon, and seemed as fresh at the drawing of stumps as at the start. His figures would have been much bettor had several catches off his bowling been accepted. Alloo is still one of tho headiest bowlers in Otago, and he showed it on Saturday, bowling twenty-seven overs for 37 runs and two wickets. He was getting no assistance from the wicket but was mixing them well, and the ball that beat Smith was a good one. Logan did not claim a victim, but ho is a promising type of left-hand bowler. One can pick his break rather too easily, but he has a nice easy delivery and is likely to be an asset to the expupils. There were several dropped catches, but taken all through Old Boys’ fielding was very fair indeed, some of the youngsters showing considerable improvement. This match promises to have a most exciting finish. DUNEDIN IN GOOD POSITION. The first day of play in the AlbionDunedin match has left the latten side in a good position. Albion’s first innings realised 145 runs, while 'their opponents have 25 runs on without loss. At one stage, as the result of good bowling by Coupland, Albion had lost four wickets for 34, and the position looked none too hopeful. However, J. Allen, who has been batting soundly this season, and S. Duncan, one of the best bats in the province when in form, came to light with a very useful contribution for the fifth wicket. This partnership, which provided some really delightful cricket, was responsible for saving Albion from a complete downfall.

Duncan displayed a fine variety of shots and scored freely till ho reached 28, when he was dismissed as tho result of a smart piece of work by the wicket-keeper (Dick White). It is to be hoped that Duncan continues to show last Saturday’s form, for Otago can well do with batsmen of his style. Allen, while not so aggressive as his club mate, executed many, nice shots, using his feet well and offering a strong resistance to Dunedin’s powerful attack. His contribution of 44 represented a very fine innings, and some more big scores should come from his hat before the season ends, W. Riach was played in preference to L. Henderson, and ho signalised his reappearance in senior grade by scoring 13 in sound fashion before falling a victinv to White and Badcock. None of the others were very impressive, while some of tho tailenders showed no improvement on previous performances. Quite a number of them would be all the better for a 1 great deal more practice, and if they hope to succeed they will have to take advantage of every opportunity offering for settling down to some really earnest training. Coupland and Badcock were the principal members of the attack, and both bowled steadily for the greater part of the afternoon. Badcock was bowling particularly well, and every delivery had to he carefully watched. His first over to Shepherd was a real trimmer, and had Albion’s star batsman practically tied in a knot. The coach was swinging the ball both ways, and Shepherd found him very difficult to play. Some idea of Badcock’s form can he gained from Iv.-i figures, which read: 24 overs, 13 maidens, 29 runs, 3 wickets. His partner in the attack, while not nearly so dangerous, was pitching them up well, and maintained a good length throughout tho innings. His first two overs to Shepherd and Vorrath cost him 14 runs, and then he caught and bowled both these batsmen. He finished the day with the excellent j figures of six for 54 runs after being responsible for breaking the backbone of Albion’s defence. None of the other Dunedin bowlers were at all dangerous, and the veteran Dick Torrance was treat' I with contempt by Allen and Duncan. The slow outfield assisted the fieldsmen’s task, which was carried out with very few blemishes. MORE ENTERPRISE WANTED. The appearance of a Christian Brothers’ side in senior cricket has been very welcome, and there is little doubt that the latest team to join the ranks of the select sextet is justifying its promotion. One ventures the opinion, however, that unless the Brothers infuse more sparkle into their hatting they will never seriously challenge the two best teams when it comes to the final flutter for championship honours. The Brothers’ team, which is composed of individuals built of the right stuff for good cricket, may ho said to have definitely passed out of tho colt stage, and it seems that the day has been left behind when it could with justification adopt purely defensive tactics.

Spectators at the North Ground on Saturday must have felt that the Brothers, even in the lace of the reasonably accurate Grange bowling, were working “ safely first ” methods to death. The sight of short-pitched halls being watched with exaggerated care and then merely blocked probably made old timers groan inwardly. And there were also other varieties of loose stuff that were treated with a painful deliberation not to be expected from club seniors who nad a dull wicket on which to play about. Early in the game especially the wicket was easy, and, strange to say, it was not until after the adjournment that there was any batting worth watching. In a bright last-wickot stand Dawson and Collett made amends for the unenterprising display of some of their predecessors, and earned the score beyond the century mark. And the opening Grange batsmen appeared to be quite at home. A; a result of their efforts the side, with tlm loss of only two wickets, is already within striking distance of the opponents’ tally. A two-' point win is practically assured. At the outset tlie swinging of Himes seemed to trouble the batsmen, hut the fact that the left-hander collected his three scalps at the expense of tho later

arrivals at the crease showed that he could not really have been so dangerous to the opening men as was indicated by their sober style of playing him. That sequence of seven or eight maidens should never have been. If Rodgerson had not fallen cheaply to Galland it is possible that he might have turned on something fresh, but unfortunately the “might have ” applies also to Blair and MTlroy.. F. Toomey. Brookes, and Lynch were steady—nothing more. Cusack slowed down after commencing with promising vim, and nothing forceful came along until Collett and Dawson got going. • At times these two managed to punch the ball through the gaps with refreshing vigour, and Collett's sixers did not go amiss. Dawson’s disi ’ay stamped him as a player who is worth a place much earlier in the batting list. Collett, too, could quite well be sent to the crease much earlier; he played a polished innings, blocking the difficult balls and punishing the “ gifts.” The bowling was fairly steady, hut the ball was not turning much, and it should not have been a desperate matter to handle it successfully. _ Galland was consistently on the wicket, and . Lomin, who captured valuable wickets early in the innings, was maintaining a good length. One or two of the batsmen disclosed an inclination to have a go at Chettleburgh, but the timing was all wrong. The fieldsmen had nothing drastic to put up with, and there were only minor examples of slackness. The fact that Grange’s 78 runs were put on in a little over half an hour speaks for itself. At one stage of their partnership Boyd and Chettleburgh rattled up 30 runs in lOmin. Batting confidently, Boyd attacked the bowling from the jump, and by clever placing made nearly every stroke a winner. Knight also started well. It was looking as though he was in for a long tally, when he mis-hit a ball from Blair and was caught by the wicket-keeper, who, however, had to run towards point to gather in the ball. Chettleburgh’s driving was good to watch. A most promising young E layer this—one who will probably go igher in the game, Boyd and Chettleburgh had a great time at the crease, boundaries whizzing off the bats in rapid succession. Collett was the most effective bowler. AN OUTSTANDING ATHLETE. But the distinct find of the match was unquestionably the discovery that in Alec Newman, the twenty-one-year-old Nelson right-hander, New Zealand possesses a genuine spin bowler of class (says a writer in the ‘ Dominion ’). Nelson people for some seasons past have known that this youngster was an outstanding player, and they will be delighted that he so convincingly proved liis worth at Wellington headquarters. It was a brilliant sustained display of bowling he gave in the town team’s first innings. In all, the Nelson right-hander sent down 164 deliveries, bowled seven maidens, and captured seven wickets for 42 runs. Tall and of fine physique, Alec Newman has an easy advance to the. crease and a natural delivery which allows him to bowl well within himself. He is like a bowling machine, and could go on like the brook without losing perfect command of the ball. Best of all, he is that rara avis among modern trundlers—a genuine finger spin bowler who can turn them from both sides, and who uses subtle changes of pace to tempt batsmen to their undoing. He certainly met with outstanding success at the Basin Reserve on Friday and Saturday last. Going in last in the country team’s only innings, he shaped quite well as a batsman, hitting up 21 and assisting O’Brien, to add 37 for the last wicket. Then, on the Friday afternoon, he secured two wickets for 2 runs, and took a couple of really smart catches in the slips, which disposed of Dempster and Airey off Reanoy’s fast-medium deliveries. In the town team’s second innings A. Newman sent down thirteen overs for two wickets and 26 runs, which gave him the splendid tally of nino wickets for 68 runs in the match. Alec Newman is an outstanding athlete. Ho holds the Wanganui College record of 10 3-ssec for the 100yds, and for two years in succession carried off the cup for the best all-round athlete at the college. Going down to Lincoln College the youthful Nelson lad scooped the pool at the athletic sports ,that year, carrying off nine championship events, and taking nine cups back with him to Nelson. It will thus be seen that Alec Newman can not only bowl and bat with unusual ability, hut can move at rare paco in the field. THE OTAGO TEAM. Til® inability of J. Shepherd, G. R. Dickinson, and J. M’Mullan to take part in the first Plunket Shield engagement between Otago and Wellington at Wellington next week has made the task or the Otago selectors a lighter on® than it would have been otherwise, and there should be little cavilling over the names of the twelve players who have been selected for the trip, though one or two of them may be regarded as a bit lucky to have earned selection, in view of their performances this season. Arthur Alloo is the right man for the position of captain. He has represented Otago over a long period of years, and though he is approaching the veteran stage by New Zealand standards he is still a first-class cricketer—a sound batsman and a splendid length bowler, who can keep an end going all afternoon if the need arises. More than that, however, Alloo is possessed of very shrewd judgment, and general opinion will probably be that he is the best man to lead the Otago side. He has not had many opportunities with th® bat so far, but he has performed very well with the ball, and is the type of bowler to get wickets in big cricket. Alloo alters his pace cleverly, and is just as good when things are going wrong as when his side is in a matchwinning position. Otago’s biggest acquisition for tho shield matches is undoubtedly the advent of P. T. Badcock, who will probably find Wellington conditions to his liking. He has been batting very attractively in club matches, with some decidedly useful scores to his credit, and last Saturday bowled in his best form, taking three wickets for 29 runs. H® is certainly one of tho real allrounders of tho team, and a good deal of tho work of tho attack is likely to fall upon his shoulders. Roger Blunt, of course, must have been one of the first men chosen, and ! ho has done well this season both with

the bat and ball. He was certainly a bit lucky in making a score of 85 last Saturday, but he showed signs of his very best form, and most Dunedin followers of the game will be anticipating a big crop of runs from Blunt during the shield matches. There is no need to enlarge upon his batting prowess, but it ngay be added that in one or two recent games he has shown that he still knows how to spin the ball most effectively, and on a Wellington wicket to suit him he is likely to bowl well. Reg. Cherry is well known in Plunket Shield cricket, and has don© well for Otago in the past. He contributed a well-played 60 odd to Dunedin’s total a week or two back, and will probably be found worthy of his place. It is a fact worthy of mention that for the two or three seasons Cherry was playing cricket in Southland he was not considered good enough for a place in the Otago team, and yet as soon as ho returns to Dunedin he finds a position in the shield team.

Cavanagh is well known as a firstclass player in big cricket, and he has some very good batting performances to his credit ip Plunkot Shield matches.; Ho has not always had tho best of luck in club cricket, but has made one good tally during the two or throe times be has visited the crease this season. Usually, too, h© is a very sound field.

J. A. Dunning is likely to be one of the stalwarts of the attack, and he showed that he can plug away all afternoon when Otago met the Englishmen last season. Dunning bowls a fastmedium ball, and though rather lacking in variety is very dangerous on a wicket that suits him. He has improved greatly as a batsman, and good things are looked for from him, both with bat and ball, in the coming games. Ho did well when playing for Auckland, and has also played first-class cricket at Home. In Dunedin he is looked upon as one of the strong contenders for a place in the New Zealand team for England, C. Elmes is one of the most promising of Otago’s younger all-rounders, and has represented Otago for two or three seasons back. So far he has batted rather disappointingly, but his lefthand medium-pace bowling will certainly be needed in Wellington. He has been among the wickets during the past two or three weeks, and the experience of the last two or three years should now be beginning to bear fruit. He knows how to make the ball swerve and has a particularly easy delivery. The position of wicketkeeper may have given the selectors thought, for although Galland does not play there in club games he is undoubtedly one of the best ’keepers Otago has had. Preference has been shown for youth, however, and Hawksworth, who found a place last season, again goes in. The Carisbroqk player is a most promising man behind the stumps and a fair bat, and he should justify his inclusion, thought there are bound to bo some who would still prefer Galland, the Grange man, of course, still being a very useful run-getter. Lemin has won liis place for his bowling, and ho is the one member of the attack who is likely to introduce fireworks into the game if he gets a wicket that is assisting him in any way at all. Lemin is faster than medium pace, and gets a lot of nip off the wicket. He iias been howling in grand style in club matches, and was included in the Otago side in several games last season. Playing against E. C. Beale’s Auckland touring team, ho took seven wickets for 4U runs, and against Wellington, at Carisbrook, four for 61 and none for 34. He is another who lias improved as a batsman under the tutelage of Badcock, and if not a polished batsman by any means, he has a few more shots in his repertoire than used to be the case. D. A. R. Moloney is one of the most promising colts in the province. Last season was his first in representative games, and his scores were; 0, 6 (not out), 1,0, 22, and 17. As a bowler, his figures were two for 34, one for 27, two for 20, and three for 132, so his usefulness as an all-rounder may bo gauged. He is a stylish and attractive batsman, who has made some good scores this season. He has a lino array of strokes, and is one of those who is likely to be a big success in tho coming Shield games. He is a useful change bowler, and his slow deliveries are likely to got the best of them tied up. With a wrong ’up in his repertoire, he is likely to bo among the bowlers utilised by _ Alloo if conditions are suitable for him. A. Knight and D. Smith are both a trifle lucky to be included in the selected twelve on their performances this season. Knight, however, lias the temperament for big cricket, and last season his scores were 8, 37, 3, 5, 3, 1, 44, and 51, his biggest tallies being compiled against the M.C.O. team. He is by no means old as cricketers go, but has represented Otago for a good number of years. Ho has not yet come to light in the club games, but as only three rounds have been completed, there is, of course, some excuse for that. D. Smith is an expupil of Geelong Grammar School. He is but a youngster, and one of great possibilities, but Ins highest score in the club games has been 20. L. Giles, of Old Boys, is one of those unlucky in not being considered, and R. W. Coupland, the ex-Southland player, is another whose presence might have strengthened the bowling. Ho is a consistent right-hand medium pace bowler, who has done well in the two games he has played since coming to Dunedin. In his case, however, it may be that he was unable to travel, as ho is the local district tourist officer, and Christmas is his busiest period. The side is a sound batting one on paper, but tho bowling is such as may make it necessary for Skipper Alloo to change it about a good 'deal. _ It can hardly be said that there is a great deal of variety in the attack, but handled as it will probably be by Alloo it may be termed fairly good. The side is one that should make a good showing in the initial Shield engagement of tho season, and it will carry with it the best wishes of Otago supporters for its success. LEAGUE NOTES. (Contributed.) The ‘ Star ’ Office team suffered a crushing defeat at tho hands of Standard on Saturday. ‘ Star’s ’ two innings produced only 10 and 21, batsmen forming a continual procession to and from the wicket as a result of the consistent bowling of Timlin (six for 1 and six for 4) and Quest (three for 8 and three for 15). Standard replied with '9O for seven wickets, M’Neill (64 not out) . batting bril-

liantly. Standard thus acquired a 3point win. The standard of cricket set by the winners in league cricket proved much too severe for the newlyformed ‘Star’ team. The excellent fielding and general team work set by Standard is one which could well be emulated by other League teams desirous of climbing higher in the series, . Town Hall, in defeating Milburn Lime, compiled their highest score of the season. . Although the wicket was rather bumpy, some good batting was seen, Gould, Lawson, Wilson, and Cameron all giving good exhibitions. Drew and Lawson were bowling at their best, and both secured good averages. NOTES. P. G. Monk, the ex-Dunedin Club and Otago representative player, has linked up with the Hutt Club in Wellington, and has already played in one game for his new team. He will be in Dunedin on leave during the holidays. To promote and finance the tour of the New Zealand cricket team to England next year a limited liability company, New Zealand Cricket Ltd., has been formed with a share capital of £12,000, divided into 12,00(1 ordinary shares of £1 each (says the Christchurch ‘Star’). The prospectus, just issued, states that the following members of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council are directors, without any remuneration, with five shares each: Messrs D. Reesfe, A, T. Donnelly, H. M. Taylor, E. R. Caygill, P. Dalrymple, J. llamsden, W. H. Winsor, and D. E. Wanklyn. There will be more than usual interest attaching to the match between Wellington and Otago next week, as both sides include several players whose careers in big cricket are all ahead of them. The Wellington team contains a good sprinkling of country players,, including the captain, T. C. Lowry, J. Newman, and A. Newman (though one of the Newmans has been playing clnb cricket in Wellington), and N. Gallichan (the promising Manawatu bowler). M'Girr, Dempster, James, M'Leod, Lamason, Blundell, and Crook make up a strong side. Lamason is a sound rather than brilliant batsman, but in the Town-Country match at Wellington recently he made a fine score of 70, which was compiled in sixty-four minutes by strokes all round the wicket. Blundell will be watched very closely in view of the fact that his claims for inclusion in the New Zealand team have been so strongly urged. He is a similar type of bowler to Dunning, perhaps a little faster. Crook, according to a Wellington writer, bowled with plenty of ginger against the Country side, and though the wicket was a bit easy for him he took two very good wickets for 64 runs. Gallichan did the bulk of the bowling in the second innings against the Town last week, keeping the ball up well and turning them a bit. He also came to light with a sound innings of 48. A notable omission from the Wellington team is Harry Foley, who has been unable to get going this season, and got only 23 for the Town against the Country. On the eve of the Plunket Shield campaign Wellington supporters were pleased to see C. S. Dempster sparkling in something like his best style (says a Wellington writer). Though he fell for 11 in the first innings, he made no mistake in the second knock, when ho scored 105 against really good bowling. He was more subdued than usual, but was as sound as a rock throughout. There was plenty of wood behind the one sixer and eleven fours ho hit before being well taken by O’Brien off Gallichan at long-ou.