CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22209, 11 December 1935, Page 5

CRICKET

[By H.P.S.]

December 24, 25 26, and 27 -Otago v. Auckland (Plunket Shield), at 'Auckland. , - „ December 31, January 1 and 2. Otago v. M.C.C., at Dunedin. January 2,3, 4, and 6.—Canterbury v Wellington (Plunket Shield), at "SSS’IO, 11, and 13.—M.C.C. v. ■New Zealand, at Dunedin. January 24. 25, 27, and 28.—Otago v. Wellington (Plunket Shield)’, at DunFebruary 7,8, 10, and 11.—Auckland t. Wellington (Plunket Shield), at Wellington. „ February 14, 15, 17, and 18-r—Otago t. Canterbury (Plunket Shidld), at Christchurch. . February 15.—Otago v. North Otago, at Oamaru; Otago y. Southland, at Invercargill: Otago Colts v. South Qtago, at Balclutha, THE OTAM TEAM WEAKNESS IN BOWLING The Otago team for the first Plunket Shield match of the season against Auckland hhs been announced, and tne, first tiling that strikes one is the decided weakness in bowling. It unfortunate for Otago that Dickihson finds it impossible to travel, for in addition to the fact that he has been bowling in good form his reputation in the north has always been such as to instil at least caution into the opposing batsmen. Of course, _ there is something to be said on Dickinson s side in regard to travelling at holiday time. He has for many .years given excellent service to the province, and if during the past few years he has preferred to spend his holiday otherwise he can scarcely be blamed for that. Dickinson is certainly getting his share of wickets in the club games, and last Saturday against Dunedin took six for 25 It will be remembered that Oldfield, the eminent Australian player, has lately declined to go away from home at Christmas time, pleading that he has not over a long period of years spent the festive season with his family. Talbot was another Otago player who was unable to travel to .Auckland, and though the former New Zealand representative; has not shown outstanding form in. club matches since he came to Dunedin. he would undoubtedly be an in a really first-class match.

Coming to the chosen eleven, Badcock ‘and Dunning are really the only howlers who appear likely to command the resnect of first-class batsmen, and even these two have not shown quite first-class form so far. Dunning, however, has had plenty of success in Auckland previously, and for the sake of his province it is to be hoped conditions suit him on this occasion. No one will gainsay the fact that Dunning 'is as great-hearted a player as there is in Otago cricket. The others who must be called upon to handle the ball are Henderson, Elmes, Scandrett, and Smith, none of whom seem likely to be particularly dangerous. On a fiery wicket, however, Henderson might possibly be effective for a while if he controls his direction, while the slows of Scandrett and Smith will lend variety to the mediocre attack.

It must be confessed tbat the selector Had not a great choice so far as bowling was concerned, and the only other possibilities in that department were B. Silver and J, Allen, both of Albion. So far as batting is concerned the choice is sound enough, and given favourable conditions any one of the eleven is capable of making runs. There are some on the side also who can make runs quickly, and it is to be hoped that without taking undue risks, such as Badcock', for instance, is prone to do, Otago batsmen will not adopt the pottering tactics which marked the display in the Southland match. Elmes is batting particularly well this season, and is certainly a prospective New Zealand representative. Saxton, L.. Smith, and .Uttley have also

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shown good form, and Badcocb, once on the way, must get among the runs. Cavanagh has been selected as captain, and with his aptitude for playing his best cricket in good company he may bo looked upon as one of the most likely scorers.

Henderson and Scandrett are newcomers. and both have shown sufficient promise to warrant their being looked to for able assistance. Scandrett is a Southlander, and it is known that the former New Zealand representative W. R. Patrick has a very high opinion of his ability as a batsman. ' Toomey, who has gained selection as wicketkeeper, did quite well in his first year of shield cricket last season, and besides being perhaps the best of an even lot of ’keepers in Dunedin at present he is a solid batsman who is very hard to shift. - , ~ , The fielding of the team should be quite up to the mark, and if all chances are held the weak attack will not be felt so severely as otherwise would be the case. Nevertheless, one fears that, given a fast wicket and scoring conditions, the Otago team will have a fairly lengthy occupancy of the field. But it is well known that cricket is a i( funny game.” BOWLERS’ DAY OUT OLD BOYS IN COMMANDING POSITION It is not often that a wicket plays so important a role in making a game so devoid of the display of proper performance as was the case in the encounter between Old Boys and Dunedin at Tonga Park. The previous Saturday the pitch was in fine order, but in this match it was certainly not fit for first grade play, being decidedly dangerous, the ball bumping disconcertingly at both ends, to the'evident discomfiture of the batsmen of each team. In fact, some deliveries, especially from Dickinson, flew head high, and it was indeed fortunate that no one was injured, for quite a few had narrow escapes from being struck. Water is badly needed, and the outfield improved by cutting liefore the game is resumed. Indicative of the sluggishness of the outfield was the number of boundary shots registered, only eight being recorded all afternoon, Graham notching four in his fine innings of 43, and Smith three. Holley, of Dunedin, scored the solitary one for his side. It was extremely fortunate for Old Boys and clearly unlucky for Dunedin, which deserves to. have the tide turn in its favour after a series of disheartening setbacks, that • Smith and Graham should have stemmed the procession. Their association came at a critical moment, for the innings at that stage had produced only 29 runs for six wickets. Holley’s medium-paced deliveries had proved very effective, and three of the six batsmen were caught as the result of the ball swinging away. Giles, however, lost his wicket through one delivery proving the exception to the rule by striking a crumbly . patch- and coming in sharply. Holley’s catch off his own bowling, first of all juggled l before being safely held, was a splendid one, for Dickinson put plenty of force into the shot that brought about his downfall. No more' enthusiastic devotee of the game is playing cricket in Dunedin than J. A. Smith, and his 28 was one of the most pleasing features of the play, besides being one of the most courageous. He did not flinch from the most dangerously wild deliveries, but instead watched the ball closely. His was a chanceless knock, containing a wide variation of strokes. Graham’s was also a very plucky innings, and he displayed some very pretty "shots and drives in particular, these being faultlessly timed and deserving of boundaries on several occasions instead of being brought to a standstill in the outfield. The partnership carried the total to 90, at which stage Smith was beautifully caught in the slips by Torrance. Had Macassey just been a second later in regaining his crease when playing a ball from Groves, the Dunedin innings would have been concluded and the side forced to follow on for the second successive match. On a safer wicket Dickinson would not have been so effective. Nevertheless, he sent the ball down at his usual hurricane rate and much more accurately. Reddington, -a newcomer to the fiunedin side, made the highest score of 9, with Callan and extras the second biggest rungetters. Mahony took the remainder of the nine wickets and bowled really well, his consistently good length being his greatest asset. CAN KASKDRAi GET THERE ? ISSUE STILL IN DOUBT As a result of Saturday’s play between Colts and Kaikorai, a great responsibility has been placed on the shoulders of Heenan and Cook, the last men in for Kaikorai. If all the Kaikorai batsmen had done as well as these two, the issue, as far as the first innings was concerned, would have been placed beyond all doubt., Colts inade 166, and

Kaikorai has lost nine wickets for 144, leaving the Jast-wicket partnership 22 runs to get to carry the team total past that of Colts. This is asking a great deal of the tailenders, but if they maintain Saturday’s form—well, nothing is beyond the bounds of possibility in cricket. However,' there are always difficulties associated with a new start, and the fact that the bowlers will be fresh will add to the troubles of the pair when play is resumed. Each batted soundly and with determination before stumps were drawn, successfully evading the traps that were set for them. Holden opened his innings with confidence, but Payne at that stage was in good form with the ball and bowled him after he had scored 6. -Smales, who batted stylishly, went a little further before succumbing to the same trundler in a like manner. The top scorer for Kaikorai, M'Gregor, had a bright and forceful knock for 31. With his batting ability and effective bowling action, M'Gregor is undoubtedly one of Kaikorai’s best all-rounders. Burgess was steady, but Vial was stumped when he failed to get on to one from Stevenson. Kaikorai missed a useful contribution from Talbot, who had scored only a single before being run out. This misfortune came at a rather vital stage of the innings, and from then on until Heenan and Cook made their fine stand the Hill side seemed to bo fighting an uphill battle. Badcock and Campbell did most of the bowling for Colts, the coach, who kept the length for which he is noted, proving less expensive than his promising pupil. In the ultimate analysis, however, Payne and Stevenson claimed the same number of wickets—two. Badcock’s early departure from the batting crease did * not 'dismay Saxton and Knowles, who batted their side into a good position by sound cricket, in which the right balls to crack were selected. Saxton, whose strokes were characterised by good timing and judicious placing, 1 showed the kind of form which has carried him into the Otago representative team to make the journey to Auckland. Payne failed to get’ going this time, and most of his remaining colleagues fell early before the bowling of Cook, M Gregor, and Talbot. Cook’s slows were again troublesome; it is evident that he is working into something like his old form..