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Evening Star, Issue 21269, 25 November 1932, Page 4

anco in a truly representative Otago team, and he is a young player of whom good things are hoped. On paper all round the Otago team appears to have an excellent chance of doing itself justice and of holding its own with some of the provinces.

MATCHES AT INVERCARGILL AND OAMARU.

Two other Otago elevens will play on December 3 at Invercargill and Oamaru respectively, and in both sides are several players whose form in those matches will be closely watched in view of their requiring to bg considered before the Shield team is finally selected. The team for Southland is one that should be capable of providing the southerners with a good display, the captain being A. W. Alloo, while others included who have played for Otago in shield cricket are Reg Cherry, George Lemin, W. Vorrath, and Don Cameron. The last-named was looked upon as a likely opener for Otago, and even yet his claims cannot be altogether disregarded. Much depends on the form shown in the three representative games next week.

In the North Otago match the Otago team will be captained by A. Galland, and others who have represented their province in shield cricket include S. Duncan, D. Hetman, and W. A. Priest. Duncan is reproducing his best form this season, and is one of the most attractive batsmen here, while Priest has also been playing sound cricket. It says something for the improvement in Otago cricket in the last few years that it should be possible to field what, on paper, appear to be three good, solid teams. The games next week should do good for Otago cricket, and possibly may bring to light one or two prospective shield players from the outside districts. HAWKE’S BAY TOUR. The Hawke’s Bay cricket team which will make a tour during the last week of this mouth and the first half of next month, to play games in Wellington, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Christchurch, will be much the same as the one that did well against Canterbury in Napier last season, a Christchurch ‘Sun’ reporter gathered on a recent visit to Napier. The only players who are doubtful of being able, to get away arc T. P. Heaney, the medium-fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman who played for Wellington in the Plunket Shield series last season, and M. K. H. Beuth, who played for Riccarton as a fastmedium bowler when lie was a student at the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College three years ago. M. Williams, a very able young wicketkeeper who has played for Hawke’s Bay for some seasons, recently shifted to Auckland, and efforts are now being made to arrange for N. Dorreen, who used to play for Canterbury, but is now living in Hawke’s Bay, to make the tour. Judging by reliable reports, A. Finlayson, who learned the game in Adelaide, where he played for the same club as V, Y. Richardson, and who is now working in an architect’s office in Napier, is a batsman of real promise, and it would not be surprising, if lie gets among tho runs at all on this tour, to see, him in the Wellington team for Plunket Shield matches this season. M. MacLeod, secretary to the Plawke’s Bay Association, and well known to administrators of the game in Canterbury because of his regular attendance at conferences of the New Zealand Cricket Association for some years, will manage the Hawke’s Bay team. How this team will faro on tour will depend to a great extent on the wickets played on. Napier wickets are among the hardest and fastest in the country, and experience has shown that Hawke’s Bay teams which have wet or slow wickets to play on away from home seldom make many runs. UNIVERSITY DEFEATED AGAIN. University has shaped disappointingly in the games played to date, and tho Old Boys’ match saw two more points dropped. Tho side has some reliable opening batsmen, but .there is a tail, and the bowling generally lacks sting. J. L. Jolly showed much promise last season, but ho is not bowling with tho same venom this year, and on Saturday was very erratic, taking only one wicket for 59 run's off sixteen overs. Jolly bowled an occasional good one, but there was little nip in tho wicket, and he did not worry tho batsmen unduly. Conditions certainly favoured Old Boys. University had the misfortune to bat on a tricky wicket. Old Boys resumed on an easy wicket, and, since the bowling was not very deadly, it was surprising that runs did not come more quickly. Had Old Boys forced the pace after passing University’s total there was the possibility of an outright win had the rain not interfered with play, hut instead of that the batsmen continued to move along warily, and it was not until Clark became associated with Alloo that things livened up. At the same time some good cricket was witnessed, and during Dickinson’s stay at the wickets he laid the wood on to good effect, playing some particularly good shots to leg and driving hard—both cover and straight drives. Arthur Alloo played himself in carefully, but once he settled down he gave a very good display, using his feet in going out to the ball, and scoring well on both sides of the wickets. His legglances were particularly well executed, but lie made tile ball whizz through the covers with powerful shots which frequently found out the gaps in the field. His knock for 60 was invaluable to his side, and included eight 4’s. Gale has not had the best of luck this season, hut starting much more quietly than usual he looked like making runs on Saturday when ho was caught by Priest off Cameron in going for a big hit. He was disinclined to take risks, but scored well with good strokes in front of the wicket, and occasionally patted one down tho gully. Groves got himself out foolishly when facing Cameron, and while I have suggested that the latter batsman might have adopted more forceful tactics it is well to remember that there is a happy medium. Groves simply threw his wicket away. .). B. Clark has been well tutored, and his innings for 43 not out was a very bright knock. His runs were made by correct cricket, he was timing the hall well, and showed a good range of strokes, and both as batsman and wicket-keeper he is going to he a real asset to Old Boys. A. R. Cameron proved t ho most troublesome of the University trund-

lers. On a wicket.that did not help him his figures of two for 44 did not flatter him. His slow leg breaks puzzled most of the batsmen, and if he continues to pitch the ball up as he did in this game ho will find plenty of wickets coming his way., Gilkisoii was all over the place at the start, but when the left-hander struck a length he was quite effective for a while, and claimed two more wickets. MTlaffie was steady without being dangerous, and Sinclair proved successful in dissolving the partnership between Alloo and Clark. Old Boys declared when 100 runs ahead of University with two'wickets in hand, and University put together 57 runs in pretty quick time, W. A. Priest playing another sound innings for 27 not out. Priest is a solid batsman possessed of some nice clean strokes, and his on-side play was again a feature of his bat- 1 ting. Ibbotson was batting quite well when bo was run out. The ball that beat Burt would have bowled many batsmen, and in this game Dickinson bowled very impressively indeed.

GRANGE HAVE LITTLE TO SPARE

Grange had little to spare against Kaikorai, hut accurate bowling backed up by exceptional keenness in the field turned the tide in Grange's favour, and when Kaikorai’s last batsman was dismissed last year’s champions had a margin of 24 runs on the first innings. Not a run was given away in the field, and swinging the ball dangerously with the wind Lomin proved most troublesome and took three wickets for 25. Klines bowled very steadily and finished with four for 41. Chettleburgh dissolved the partnership between Holden and Constable, and bowled well for a while, but later he lost his length, and Gotland took him off and put Lcmin on again. With the exception of Holden and Constable none of the later Kaikorai batsmen looked like making runs, hilt Holden played very carefully, and it was bad luck that he should have gone Ibw to Chettleburgh when ho seemed to be settling into his stride. Constable played quite a free innings for 25, and Stewart hold his end up well, but after Rcnnick and Holden had gone the outlook for Kaikorai did not appear very bright, and there was no one_ to assist Constable to retrieve the position. Grange fared better in its second venture to the crease, and .the feature was another fine innings by Elmes, who scored well all round the wicket and put together G2, his well-timed driving bringing him a lot of runs. Boyd ended a run of small scores by making 50 not out, and Tonikinson also hatted quite well for 20. The wickets were fairly well divided, but the Kaikorai fielding showed a slackening off in Grange’s second innings.

TKST MATCH BOWLING STRENGTH.

The. decline of express bowling in Australia has marked a clear line of demarcation in the attacking powers of Jardine’s team and the Oho that will represent Australia (says the ‘ Australasian ’). The Englishmen apparently arc putting their trust in fast bowling, which may bo described as a shock battery. The team has evidently been chosen with a set purpose. Our batting strength is in our opening batsmen, and if one or two of them can be dislodged early we are seemingly at their mercy. It may be that they possess an overdose of opening bowlers, as Larwood, Bowes, Voce, and Tate are all partial to a new ball, and only two can bo employed at a time, which is some consolation. Dangerous as it may be, we have confidence in our grim opening fighters. We are poor in opening bowlers of distinct class. Wall, 1 should say, is our best fast bowler, and he is a rare and willing trier. But a well-balanced team should possess opening bowlers as well as opening batsmen; otherwise the weakness can easily spell disaster. Our other bowlers, such as Grimmett, O’Reilly, Ironmonger, and Fleetwood-Sniith, are spin artists, more to ho dreaded when the sheen- is off the ball. Our attack promises to bo more subtle than that of the visitors, but whether it will he as effective has yet to be proved. In spite of the gruelling he received at the hands of Bradman in Sydney, it does not follow that Fleetwood-Sniith will not trouble the Englishmen, whose fast-footed methods make his class of attack a rather deadly one. In our lack of opening bowlers and in our pronounced batting tail wo have weaknesses that seemingly cannot be overcome. It just goes to prove what a great responsibility will be thrown upon the shoulders of our first four or five batsmen and on tho skill of our spin howlers. There is no doubt that our eleven will not bo as well balanced as that of the Englishmen, and it would appear as if reliance must be placed upon the quality of the component parts of tho combination.

CARISBROOK COULD NOT GET GOING.

At no time during Carisbrook’s innings against Dunedin did the batting side look like making runs quickly enough to pull off a victory. As time went on it became clear that all the supporters of, the home team could hope for was a draw, and when a little bit more time had passed by it was certain that only the intervention of rain could make even a draw possible. There was no suggestion that the Carisbrook batsmen failed through “ turning it in ” because of the big task in front of them. The wicket was good, and every one of the eleven did his best. The trouble was that one or two of them tried to be too careful. The bowling was decidedly good, but in some instances it was flattered by batsmen who were prone to dodge having a hearty crack at the off stuff. Others again felt for the off theory in a manner far too gingerly. Taken as a spectacle the innings was not exhilarating. Undoubtedly the finest batting achievement of the day was that of Denis Smith, who since the previous Saturday's play had been suffering from a torn muscle in the hack. Smith opened brightly, but his knock had not advanced far when it became apparent that he was not in the host of nick. Later still ho was practically a cripple for the time hoing. and Dunning had to run for him. In spite of all these triaN and tribulations, however. Smith went on scoring steadily, and until he

was bowled by a low shooting ball from Coupland never looked like losing his wicket. His injury should soon right itself, and on current form it looks as if Smith will be one of the mainstays in this season’s representative team. In view' of the position his side was in his innings on Saturday was a model of pluck. H. Cameron and J. Cameron did finite well with the bat, each showing the ability to time the ball well and keep it down. I). Cameron struck Claridge at the peak of his prowess, and was bowled before ho was properly set. Dunning, Proctor, Allan, and Nimmo all scored freely; and Herons at ono stage looked like helping Nimmo to put up a valuable last-wicket stand. Moloney batted stylishly while ho lasted, but hardly showed the punishing form he displayed during his last knock on the same ground. Still, a man cannot bo expected always to turn on the very best exhibition possible. Moloney has improved a groat deal since last year, and is likely to be among those who do well for Otago against the northern provinces. Behind the stumps for Dunedin D’Hclin was very keen; in fact, some of his appeals wore considered overkeen. However, they were generally made when he was standing back to Claridge. and under such circumstances it is not always easy to hear exactly what happens. D’Holin, who looks very fit. is exceptionally quick in his movements, and wittt a little further practice in senior games should do still better.

The bowling left little to be desired. Claridge bowled with consistent pace and accuracy, a noticeable feature of his performance being the absence of the short-pitched balls with which he has formerly regaled batsmen. Coupland, who bowled longest and took most wickets, put in a useful afternoon for his side. No one enjoys his cricket more than Bob. A _ distinct “ find ” is Douglas, a right-hand medium-pace trimmer with a good action, except that he fails to follow up after delivering the hall, and so loses a little in his pace, which, however, is quite fast. He kept a good length, especially the first time he was on, and had to be played all the time. There were uo dullards in the field, the work of Ditchfield and Cavanagh at point and cover being particularly snappy. An incident which created comment was the fact that the umpire (Mr Wright) did not allow a 4 to be jotted down to Allan’s credit when the batsman released a sure boundary shot that was fielded by a player in a junior game. Strictly speaking, the player in the junior game should not nave interfered, but it was clear that ho stopped the ball in the effort to be obliging and save time. Under the circumstances, tho umpire should have stretched a point.

ALBION’S SOLID COMBINATION. Albion’s definite superiority over Christian Brothers has greatly increased the confidence of the team’s supporters, who are hopeful of the club annexing the senior championship honours for the 1932-33 season. In its first match against Carisbrook the Albion side failed to show anything like its true form, though an element of luck might have turned the tide in its favour. Since then the team has staved off a strong challenge from High School Old Boys and made the Christian Brothers' team look like a second grade eleven, despite the fact that the Brothers accounted for Carisbrook. Not for many seasons lias Albion fielded so strong a batting combination, while the attack provides every type of bowling that a good bowling side requires. Every member of the team is capable of collecting a useful total, so that under normal conditions, someone generally conies to light to save the side from a collapse. Experienced players, such as Shepherd {who has scored over 40 runs on each of the last three occasions he has visited the crease), J. Barron (who opened the season with a solid 43), S. Duncan (who is displaying some of his old form by scoring 115 runs in four innings), and W. Vorrath (who scored 51 against Christian Brothers), are all capable of doing big things; while Miller (70 against Old Boys) and L. Silver (63 not out against Christian Brothers) and Dalziel (43 against Christian Brothers) arc others who have proved themselves capable of frustrating the attack; while R. Silver. L. Smith, L. Henderson, and D. Hecnan aro all capable run-getters.

Against Christian Brothers R. Silver distinguished himself as a bowler above thq average, capturing four wickets at a cost of 27 runs off 17 overs. Against Old Boys he captured three for 34 off 18 overs; and of his nine wickets taken to date six have been clean bowled.,His success generally results from a fast, good-length ball pitched just outside the off pin with sufficient turn to take the batsman’s leg pin. Jim Shepherd collected two for 11 off 14 overs, eight of which were maidens, proving that ho is still one of the best trundlers in the province. Albion’s fast bowler, L. Silver, has bowled exceedingly well at times, though he has not yet produced his best form. As the wickets get harder he should be more prominent. S. Duncan, who can break the ball both ways and who succeeded in reaping quite a good harvest last season, has not been figuring a great deal in the attack, and it is the writer’s opinion that he should have been used more against the Christian Brothers’ batsmen, who were content to allow the greatest majority of the balls merely to hit their bats. Of the Christian Brothers’ batsmen Cusack wa« the only one who gave the slightest indication of possessing a knowledge of scoring shots. His 26 in the first innings and 30 not out in the, second knock were bright features of an otherwise dull and uninteresting performance. Albion's work in the field was of a high standard. Keenan's performance behind the wickets being particularly outstanding. During the Brothers’ innings, which lasted for nearly three hours, only a single bye was recorded. Keenan taking every ball beautifully, in addition to missing no opportunities of catching any of the batsmen out of their creases. Another feature worthy of praise was the smart fielding work of S. Duncan, when Godding and his partner were separated through trying to sneak a run. Duncan’s brilliant work in the field has been responsible for many batsmen being run out and the saving of a lot of runs to his side.

NOTES. Outside of the shield team altogether good opportunities are offering this season for players to engage in representative games. The latest to seek a match with an Otago team is the South Canterbury Association, and clubs are to bo circularised to see who are available for such a match over the holidays. The suggestion made by Mr G. A. Martin at this week’s meeting of the Otago Cricket Association that a subcommittee should be appointed to go into the matter of giving recognition to old representative players is a good one. Too many old players are allowed to drop out of the game unhonoured in any way, and such a committee as that suggested by Mr Martin would do something to remedy this. In making 200 runs against New South Wales at Sydney in the recent Shield match Ponsford is credited with seven centuries against the northern State, thus equalling Armstrong’s record (says the ‘Australasian’). It completed his fortieth century in firstclass cricket. By going better than the Victorian in compiling a brilliant 238, Bradman has now made sixteen scores of 200 or more in first-class cricket, a number that has been exceeded only by Hendren and equalled by Fry, who experienced ordinary county matches upon which to operate. Bradman has made 200 or more against England on three occasions, once against the West Indies, twice against South Africa, once each against South Australia and Queensland, thrice against Victoria, once against South Africa for New South Wales, one for an Australian eleven, and three in England, exclusive of tests, He has now made thirty-seven centuries in so-called firstclass cricket. In view of the English invasion, it is pleasing to know that the champion is still on the warpath. A last wicket stand at the North Ground between Grange second grade A team and Christian Brothers increased the latter team’s total by 51 runs. A correspondent writes that the feature of the partnership was the good hacking up by both batsmen and the smart running between the Wickets. In junior matches particularly, many runs are loist through a failure to back up properly. If. N. Lambert, who has played cricket for Wellington for a good many seasons, and who also has represented New Zealand, is at present coaching in Hawke’s Bay, having been engaged for a short period by the Hastings Subassociation of the' Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association, to give instructions to some of the young players there.

Cricketers will regret the departure from Dunedin of Aleo Regan, a popular member of the committee or the Otago Cricket Association, who is leaving to re-enter the theatrical profession in Australia. Alec was a member of the Dunedin Club’s senior eleven for a season or two, and always enjoyed his cricket, being a genial, likeable fellow at all times. He did good service on the 0.C.A., and last Saturday played his Inst mtaeh here for Dunedin in the 'second grade A competition. It was a fitting finale, for against Carisbrook Regan and Hope indulged in some hurricane hit'ting, and off eight overs the pair scored 68 rims without loss, rain interrupting play. In a quarter of an hour Hope scored 38 not out and Regan 29 not out. Cricketers will miss Alec’s bright personality. W. C. Dailey has his name writ large in the records of Rugby football, and bv bringing off an amazingly brilliant catch at Hagley last Saturday he deserves to have nis feat inscribed in tho cricketing halls of fame (says the Christchurch ‘ Star ’). Dailey was fielding at deep square leg, right on the boundary, when an opposing batsman hooked a ball that appeared to be going well over his head and out of reach, but with wonderful agilitv and judging the height of the ball to a nicety, bo leaped up with his hands outstretched. Gathering in the ball, he somersaulted in the air over the boundary after making the catch, finally landing on his nose, still grasping the leather tightly. The burst of applause that greeted Dailey’s great effort was well merited. Tho Auckland Association’s three selectors have chosen, already, nineteen players to practise for their province's Plunket Shield matches of this season. Besides the nineteen potential representatives, one of whom is C. C. Dacre, there will be at the special practices for the representative’team three players nominated by the Auckland City and Suburban Cricket Association and half a dozen promising juniors from the Auckland Association’s own clubs, says an exchange. B. Mallard, the boy googlie bowler who, last Saturday, on his first appearance in Wellington first-grade cricket, took five Midland wickets for 52 runs for Petone, has played for Wellington against Canterbury in Brabin Shield matches, for juniors, in two seasons (states the Christchurch ‘ Sun ’). In the Brabin Shield game of the season before last, at Wellington, he took three for 46. In last season’s match, at Lancaster Park, he took three for 49. Mallard has been “ nursed ” carefully, and it looks as if Wellington will reap benefit from that policy.

A comment anent the VictoriaQueensland Sheffield Shield match: “ Eddie Gilbert is finished. He couldn’t get above half-pace, and the whip through that made him a bowler to bo feared by batsmen last year was missing. The Barambah man couldn’t strike a length, and Ponsford and Woodfull had no difficulty in getting him away to leg. He only bowled eight overs during the Victorians’ innings. It looks as if the aboriginal’s big cricket days arc over. He seems to have burnt out.”

A young player who looks like redeeming the promise of his Wellington College days is V. N. du Chateau (says the ‘ New Zealand Free Lance ’). A left-handed batsman with plenty of strokes and a pleasant manner, he has started out this season very convincingly. By the way, he is a nephew of Ted Roberts, the Petone player and well-known New Zealand representative half-back.

Glancing through the Petone team on Saturday, one wondered if the village enthusiasts knew their own players (states a Wellington writer). Allcott, the captain, is tho ex-Aucklander and New Zealand representative, Dempster is Wellington’s coach ami leading batsman, Mallard is a city boy, and Roberts and Grant reside at Eastbourne, and Petone is their nearest

senior team. Five out of the eleven places are filled by non-residents of Petone. Acording to one Australian writer, L. Nagel, who put up such a sensational performance against the Englishmen during the present week, has not got the performances in club cricket that stand to the credit of his twin brother, and it was even suggested that the wrong brother had been chosen. In view of his performances in an Australian eleven against the Englishmen this week, one is inclined to think the brother must be pretty good to be better than the one who hns been chosen for Australia in the first test.

An interested spectator at the Uni-versity-Old Boys match last Saturday was Dr D. R." L. Stevenson, who was bettor known in Dunedin for his prowess on the Rugby field. At school here and in Napier, however, Don was a good all-round cricketer. Don has been in Melbourne for some time, but is shortly leaving for England.