Personalities In Sport

Evening Star, Issue 21227, 7 October 1932, Page 4

Personalities In Sport

One of Otago's best all-round club cricketers is C. J. Elmos, of the Grange Club, who lias the makings of a left-hand howler of real class. He has the height, a good delivery, and other natural gifts, but for some reason has been rather inconsistent in big cricket. On occasions ho has bowled really well against good batsmen, and then again his bowling has boon of the ordinary typo that is a “ gift ” to the batsman. His form on such occasions has been more than ordinarily disappointing, because he not only looks like a cricketer but shapes like one, and if ho would give more concentration to his play he would probably do bettor. He is comparatively young in the cricket sense, and with a little

more confidence in himself would be one of Otago cricket’s best assets since left-hand bowlers with his natural ability are rare.

Ced. commenced playing cricket at Christ's College, and later won a place m the Cathedral Grammar School eleven in the secondary schools’ competition in Christchurch. Erom 1923 to 1925 he played in the under-sixteen representative eleven of the Canterbury Boys’ Association, another member of which was A. W. Roberts, the New Zealand representative batsman. He earned his place as an all-rounder, and after leaving school joined up with the St. Albans Club, playing three matches in the senior B team before ho left for Dunedin.

Pen Sketches

[By H.P.S.]

No. LX IX.: C. J. ELMcS

Me became a member of the Grange Club at the beginning of 1026, and after one game in the second grade A team was nrpmoted to the senior eleven, of which he has been one ol the leading members over since. During the six seasons or so ho has been with the Grange the senior eleven has won the senior competition twice, and Elmos has played no small part in helping the club to achieve that success. His best season probably was a couple of years ago, when he made IG3 against Albion, and also ran into the eighties and nineties on a number ol occasions. During that season he also put up some fine bowling performances, one of his feats being three wickets with four balls against Dunedin. For his club he usually goes in third wicket down, and his batting has been characterised by soundness, his stroke play being developed considerably during the last couple of .years or so. Invariably ho lias finished well up in the Grange batting and bowling averages, and in 1929-30 headed the bowling list, in club cricket he has proved a great asset to Grange, and on his day is undoubtedly one of the best trundlers in Dunedin.

He first played for Otago in Blanket Shield cricket in 1927-28, taking part in all three games, and with the exception of a couple of matches has represented the province in all the Shield games since then. He has registered good performances with bat and ball, one of bis best bowling feats being five for 80 against Gifligan’s M.C.C. team in 1931. hi the same match he batted well when things were not going too well for Otago. Another good performance with the ball was four for 70 against Wellington in 1928-29, and if inconsistent he has done well in other matches, hast season, in the Shield games, he achieved more success with the bat than ball, putting together 49 against Auckland and 19 not out and 24 against Canterbury. As a slip field he is sure, and at times really brilliant, and given decent weather it would not occasion surprise were lie to show what he is really callable of as a bowler in this year’s shield engagements. Elines was a member of the Cathedral Grammar School Rugby (ilteen for three years, and on coming to Dunedin had a season as centre three-quar-ter with the Alhambra second fifteen, giving up the game to take part in winter coaching at cricket. At school ho won the senior athletic championship. his best distances being the 100yds and 220yds. A modest cricketer, iie is one of the best-liked players m the Grange Club.

KAIKOHAFS HOPES

Mainly owing to the probability that Coach Baclcock will play for it, tho Kaikorai Club has much brighter prospects than at the _ beginning of last year. Given promising young material to control, Baclcock has proved his ability to bring about a considerable improvement, and there is little doubt that while playing for Kaikorai he will have a good many young keen cricketers to work on.

Fully 100 players and supporters rolled up to the opening day last Saturday. The president (Mr Freeman) wished the club every success during the coming season, and after Mr D. Solomon had spoken in a similar strain on behalf of the Otago Cricket Association the president bowled the first ball and declared the season open. An enjoyable game between Past and Present players resulted in a win for the latter by d runs.

During the tea adjournment Mr Wilkinson (past president) thanked the ladies for their interest and assistance, and in a few remarks on cricket stressed the important part played by fielding in the games of the club. Mr Robson (0.C.A.) complimented the senior team on Us fine fielding in last season's competition. and also paid a warm tribute to the condition of the club’s ground, which he considered was a valuable asset, and would, with a little attention, become one of the finest cricket areas in Otago. Mr Alec Regan supported these remarks. After tea the ladies, captained by Mrs Stewart and Mrs Wilson, played a game, Mrs Stewart’s team, owing chiefly to the efforts of Mrs Daniels, winning rather easily by 35 runs. The transfer of Holden, of Old Boys, means that the hill club is the richer for a keen young batsman, who, according to last season’s form, seemed to be on tho verge of making big scores. Holden’s style is very sound, and he has sufficient enterprise to make things lively for the bowlers and fieldsmen. M‘Knight, who headed the batting averages last year, will again be available for a job as one of the openers, and there is no reason why his success of last year should not bo repeated. It is likely that Constable, Rennick, and Wood will support Badcock in the bowling attack, these three being capable of supplying between them the variety of pace and flight necessary in anv good side. One of the most encouraging features of last season’s matches was the success of H. Balk, who transferred his Allegiance to cricket from tennis. Balk’s batting equipment is particularly sound and attractive, and with the additional practice he will get in this year there is every indication that he will turn out to 'be one of the highest scorers in the team.

Burgess and Ahlbrandt have been lost to the club, but Stewart (a good all-rounder), Smaile (a very useful batsman), and Hollander (who kept wicket during the latter part of last vear) are all to be available. Lennon and Barnard are two juniors who should win promotion. DUNEDIN MORE HOPEFUL. For some reason or other, the Dunedin senior eleven did not realise the hopes of its supporters last season, and finished well down tho table, there was some promising material available, but the attack lacked sting, and too much work was given to R. W. Couplaud who, nevertheless, came out of it well, though his figures sometimes suffered as a result. He will again be available this season, and in bowling should have good support from Claridgo if the fast merchant will onlyr endeavour to pay more attention to length. Cavanagh was striking form towards the end of the season, and finished up as twelfth man in the Otago team. A return to his best form is confidently looked for this season, and as a change bowler, too, he is quite useful. W. Strang was another who did not enjoy the best of luck last season, but his club supporters arc hopeful that he has passed the lean patch. Ditchfield was one of the club’s most consistent run-getters, and time and again proved the mainstay of the side in batting. Reg. Cherry will again be available, and from such a proven run-getter as he good things will be expected. R. Torrance, jnn., is a promising batsman, and Langley is a young howler in whom tho club is placing some hopes. Noble has changed over from the Carisbrook second grade A team, and is a likely candidate for the first eleven, while De Heiin, the e.\Kaikorai wicketkeeper, is another newcomer. Alec Regan will again be available, so there may be competition for tho position behind the wickets. Young Alf Eckhold is a promising colt who will be a candidate for a place in the senior team, and Rackley (who comes from Oamaru) is reported to be a good all-rounder. Another new member is Bye, who has played for Eden in Auckland.

A more hopeful feeling is in evidence regarding the team’s chances, and the opening day will be held at the Oval to-morrow. Practice this season will be held at the Speedway Ground, and it is expected that five teams will be entered in the competitions. Th club is fortunate in its executive officers, Mr J. Robson again _ being president, with Mr A. Valentine (a very keen official) as secretary. Mr R. C. Torrance, sen., is the club captain. NOTES. A personality who will he missed from the 0.0. A. Management Committee table this year is Mr George Wycherley, who, after twenty-four years of very valuable* service was, at the annual meeting of the association last weelc. unanimously elected an honorary life member. Mr Wycherley’s opinions on matters connected with tho game were invariably sound, even when they were not, as happened on occasions, immediately accepted. A good, logical speaker, lie was not one who jumped to his feet on every possible occasion merely to air his views. His services to the game have often been alluded to, and it may merely be mentioned here that he was president of the association for two years and acting president for the best part of a third. He was vice-president for a number of years, and, in the earlier part of his membership, he served on important sub-committees, including a term of seven years on the Grade Committee. As a delegate from Otago 1o meetings of and conferences with the New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr

Wvchcrlev always stressed with considerable “weight'’ the claims of his province, and was never content with the often, vague explanations of the governing body’s neglect of Otago cricket. Having served through a long and difficult period, it is a pity if Mr Wycherley is to drop out of the administrative part of cricket now that the financial conditions have improved. True, as a life member he is entitled to full privileges as a member of the executive, ana it is to be hoped that he will not follow into comparative retirement those other stalwarts who have been similarly honoured. Surely the oldest cricketer in the world is George Taylor, of Wyong, New South Wales, fn a few months time “Uncle” George, as he is known far and wide, will he ninety-three, but he reckons he still has many years of good cricket in him. “ Uncle ” tells a good tale concerning himself and the demon bowler Spofforth. “ This Spofforth was bowling them over everywhere at the time,” relates “ Uncle.” “ When he came to my town somebody suggested that he should have a bowl a>, me. He did. Ho bowled twelve balls at me, and I played the lot.” “You’re a good cricketer,” said Spofforth to “Uncle.” And “Uncle” puffs out his chest when he tells you nis reply: “I know I am.” It is a matter for regret that out of a committee of ten delegates, four vice-presidents, and a president of the Otago Cricket Association there should not be a single representative from the Grange Cricket Club, the premier senior club of the province. That the Grange Club has not a single man on the executive indicates that there is something wrong with a system which can permit of one of the oldest clubs in Otago being, to all intents and purposes. disenfranchised. The writer agrees that it is desirable that the experience of business men on the committee is desirable but, nevertheless, the fact should not be overlooked that many old cricketers who have given their services to the game over a long period of years have some claims of being appointed to administrative positions.

A. Jackson’s appointment to a coaching position by the Queensland Cricket Assoication has probably been the means of retaining for Australian cricket the services of the brilliant batsman. Jackson’s luck has not been the best since he returned from England with the last Australian team. Apart from the severe illness which kept him out of the game last season, he found the -task of securing congenial employment rather difficult. It is understood that Jackson, in addition to his coaching duties, has also secured a contract to write for a Brisbane newspaper. The Queensland offer to Jackson has caused gratification in Sydney cricketing circles, even though it means the loss to New South Wales of such a great player. Mr J. M. Fraser’s appointment as president of the Otago Cricket Asociation was unanimous, a sure enough indication that he has earned the confidence of the club delegates by his valuable work last season in the presidential chair. Mr Fraser is an honest and fearless administrator, and one has the satisfaction of knowing that anything he undertakes is done in the belief that it will be for the good of the game. A big season lies ahead of the Otago Cricket Association, with two shield games here, and every probability of a match against Hawke’s Bay, and under Mr Fraser’s leadership a further increase in the popularity of the game will be looked for confidently. . The Management Committee for the season includes a little “ new ” blood, but though a newcomer, Mr A. W. ■Alloo has had years of experience as a member of the General Committee, and Ids great knowledge of the game should be of considerable benefit to the association. Mr F. M. Hanan has shown his worth as an administrator with the University Club, find has played for both the Grange and University senior elevens. Be is posessed of very sound judgment, and should he an asset to the committee Mr A. H. Allen has done so much valuable work for the association that his election to a seat on the Management Committee, where his business ability should be of value, will be approved by all cricketers. Messrs D. A Solomon, E. Ferguson, J. Dunning, and F N. Binney were all keen members of last year’s committee, and Mr J. A. Robson has been so long a member of the General Committee that he needs no introduction. A good working committee has been appointed, and a successful season will be looked for.

Senior matches will be commenced next week if the wickets are in lit condition for play, and Otago’s first shield engagement is get down for December 24 against Wellington, at Wellington. The Management Committee of the O.C.A. is to be commended on its proposal to make an effort to arrange a match on Labour Day between a team of city players and a combined South-land-North Otago team. If there are any likely candidates for inclusion in Otago’s shield team, this match should give them an opportunity of showing their wares.

Maurice Tate has played for England in 37 cricket tests—2o against Australia, 13 against South Africa, 3 against West Indies and 1 against New Zealand. In all these games he has taken 151 wickets at a cost of 25.94 runs each. Of these wickets, 83 were of Australian batsmen at an average cost of 30.55. Fifteen of them were taken in the tests in England in 1930, at 38.26 runs each. Australia ought not to forget New Zealand (says the Sydney ‘ Referee ’). Last season matters did not seem to become too pleasant when New Zealand tried to arrange for the extension of the English visit to the dominion, and the board was not prepared to fall in at once with it on the ground that Western Australian interests had to be considered. However, the visit of a strong Australian team, fortified with the best of the younger men, to New Zealand at the earliest opportunity would be good for the game ,in both countries. Jt is to be hoped Ecw Zealand ardour in international cricket will not have been cooled by the fact that some of the Now Zealand flayers brought out through tours to England have since been drawn into the Lancashire League net. It is disappointing, certainly. But international sport generally produces problems _ more or less unforsocn, and these are invariably tackled successfully as they arise. I have to acknowledge with thanks a copy from the Melbourne Herald Feature Service of the ‘ Sporting Globe Cricket Book,’ which has just been pub-

lished. There are 100 pages in tha' book, fully illustrated, which has_ been compiled by Mr E. H. M. Baillie, of the Melbourne ‘ Sporting Globe,’ who is recognised as one of the best authorities on cricket in Australia. Those who secured a copy of the' previous publication by Mr Baillie some years ago will not be without this latest collection of stories, records, and averages of the test matches, in view of the coming matches between England and Australia. Interstate records are dealt with, and in addition it has biographies and photographs of English and Australian players. Among the many interesting features in this valuable book are a history of the test games between England aiid Australia, Australia v,. South Africa, Australia v. New Zealand,. Australia v. West Indies, the amazing records of Hon Bradman, results and averages of last season’s cricket, the origin of the tests, Grimmett’s fine record, and other valuable information.No cricket enthusiast should be without this book, of which the price is only Is.It may be obtained direct from the publishers at Is 2d.