International Cricket

Evening Star, Issue 22234, 11 January 1936, Page 8

International Cricket

WEIR TOP SCORE WITH 21 it is useless attempting to describe the individual innings played. Weir was . top score with 21, and one or two of Lis scoring strokes were good, but the one to which he got out was badly timed, the batsman playing all round , a yorker from Head. Vivian made 15, and at one stage ; looked ‘as though he might brighten the cricket a little, but neither he nor Lamason, who compiled 14, got very ; far, and these were the only 'batsmen to reach double figures. . . ■ . Lamason showed decided indiscretion in playing at the fast off stuff, for after putting an uppish one down the slips ' to the boundary he repeated the stroke his next ball and was easily taken, an obvious trap. ' The Otago representative, Elmes, like the.other left-hander, Vivian, gave promise at the outset of his innings, but after a few strokes he fdl a victim to what was the best, ball of the day. It was from Read and was a perfect . length, the batsman playing out to it, s but the ball going over the shoulder of the bat, struck the top of the wickets. This, was a ball that might have beaten anybody. Interest was also taken in the appearance of' Moloney, the ex-Otago ... player, who, however, was somewhat shaky at the start, and when he had made 2, he missed an off-swinger from Baxter and was out Ibw. Both Mills and Gromb who opened the innings batted very: cautiously _ for a while and neither got very far in the way of runyi -getting. Mills was very well taken at second slip by Smith off Parks before ■ ha had opened his account, and Gromb was out to a ball well up. Roberts was out to the second ball • he received, and Merritt after collect- ; ing a few smart singles, fell a victim to an: Ibw decision from a ball that was pitched well up. Jackman and Cowie tried to put some vigour into the batting, and after scoring a lofty 4 and one or' two odd ones Cowie was well caught by Barber near the stand gate , at long-oh. Jackman remained not out. VISITORS' VIRILE BOWLING The English bowling was more virile and effective than it was against Otago, Read appearing to be easily a 60 per cent, bettor bowler. Starting pff by bumping them, he abandoned his short-pitched efforts to Concentrate on . length, and in so doing had all the 1 batsmen in trouble. His pace also Was - ■ much greater than he showed on his , previous appearance at Carisbrook, and altogther he was seen in a much more favourable light as a first-class fast bowler. His average was a remarkably ■ good one for a match of this descripfiion, his six wickets being obtained at ’ a cost of only 26 runs. , ■ Parks got two for 38, and he again bowled an immaculate length, the ball doing enough after pitching to bother the non-aggressive batsman. Parks is a Wonderfully . useful all-round player, and, the more one sees of him the greater, is one’s admiration for his play, Baxter was not used a great deal, but • from the little one saw of him it was obvious that the Scotsman is a bowler of a high class. He takes an energetic run, brings the ball well over, and pitches mostly a consistent length f oh_ or about the leg stump and swings away slightly . to that < side._ He uses a strong leg field and is extremely difficult to score from. One gets the impression that he makes pace from the pitch, although some , authorities maintain there is no such thing _as accelerated pace from the pitch in the case of a' medium pace or fast bowler. MARKED CONTRAST IN FIELDING .; The English fielding was smart, and . although two or three chances were put on the floor the display in this department also was in marked contrast to that of the New Zealand team, many of the members of which moved stiffly, and in the_ case of one or two, made bad misses in their ground fielding. An exception to this was Vivian who was always alert. Although it must be conceded that the English batsmen are adepts at placing the ball, it nevertheless appeared as though the New Zealand field was very badly placed. It was difficult to understand why men like Mills, too, should be placed in deepfield when obviously they are poor throwers. There were some examples of bad catching, and in this respect it was surprising to find Elmes one of the cul- , prits.' The Grange man usually is a ; safe catch ki this position, but he made •

M.C.C.’S COMMANDING LEAD Dropped Catches Prove Cpstly Centuries to Parks and Barber Yesterday was anything but a good day for New Zealand cricket, for the standard .of play in the Dominion was shown to be very considerably lower than that of the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club team which itself is not by any means the •full strength of England. Taking a line through this, the outlook for the visit of the New Zealanders to England nest year is not bright, though there will be another season here before then, when some fresh talent may be brought to light. It is extremely difficult to explain tho deplorable exhibition of batting seen at Carisbrook, which resulted in the New Zealand first •leven being disposed for a paltry 81 runs on a perfect wicket and under perfect cricketing conditions by bowling which has been proved to be" below international standard. At no time did any of the eleven New Zealand batsmen look like establishing themselves at the wicket. Indeed, were it not for the fact that’ several of these players have extensive experience in big cricket, not only in the Dominion, but also in England, one might also be disposed to put their display down to “ stage fright.” There was not a particle of attack shown, and some of the strokes, or attempted strokes, by which wickets were lost were inconceivably feeble. When Otago was disposed of a week or so ago for 78 runs, the batting shown by the local men was weak enough, but it can be confidently asserted that not one of New Zealand’s eleven yesterday showed anything like the batting ability of Knight in his innings. This will give an idea of the display of batting which, in the circumstances, was more than a puzzle.

a poor attempt at taking a ball off Barber’s bat when the batsman was 1. This was an unfortunate and most expensive miss. Cowie, another of • the slips, 'also dropped one that should have been taken, and the wicketkeeper, Jackman, whose work could not be highly commended, accounted for a couple more missed chances. It is evident, therefore, that the New Zealand players have not improved in that important department, fielding, since their last tour, during which they suffered so severely .from dropped chances. POLISHED BATTING DISPLAYS With regard to the Englishmen’s batting, it can only be said that the ease and correctness with which every one of the four men who went to the wickets scored were compensating elements in an otherwise drab day, but even in this case there was a little more of the “test match attitude on the part of the batsmen who were not disposed to take risks. Nevertheless, the rate of scoring was such as to compare very favourably indeed with the rate manifested on the occasion of real test matches, the Englishmen’s 277 runs being made in 191 minutes. Smith and Parks began confidently and soundly, and put on 52 before the former was clean bowled by Roberts witL a “ swinger ” which the batsman attempted to on-drive. Smith revealed a slight weakness in shots back of point, and had Gromb placed fieldsmen closer in in that position instead of deep the left-hander would probably have ended his career sooner. However, he batted attractively for his runs. PROLIFIC PARTNERSHIP After Smith’s departure a prolific partnership between Parks and Barber ensued. The Yorkshireman made a century against Canterbury, up to which he had not got properly going, and yesterday he was just a trifle shaky at the outset of his innings, but once he got a good sight of the ball he gave a remarkably sound and attractive exhibition .of correct batting. His stylo and that of his partner Parks are not dissimilar, and it was a treat to see how each of these polished players treated the bowling. The ball was watched right up the bat, yet when hit was hit hard. Even the defensive play was crisp, and hero again the comparison between the English and New Zealand batsmanship was greatly in favour of the visitors. The features of the batting of each of the professionals named was the artistic leg play. Some beautiful strokes were made to fine leg round to square leg, the wristiness of the action making the strokes really delightful to watch. Another stroke which brought many runs was the cover-drive, and one which approximated a square cut also scored heavily. Indeed, all round the wicket, runs came to these two batsmen with the greatest ease. Footwork, of course, was a prominent and pleasing feature of their play, and those who were curious to see how slow bowling would be dealt with were convinced that to this stylo of attack, as to all other styles brought against them, the Englishmen were thoroughly at home. They went out to meet the slows when they were anything like a good length, and gave the spin little chance to take effect. The short-pitched ones were usually despatched with accuracy either in. front or to behind point. a : RACE FOR THE CENTURY There was quite an interesting contest between these two as to which would reach the 100 first. They came in to the nineties practically together, and at one stage were 99 all. Parks made one or two dangerous looking swishes at Elmes, who was bowling well out on the off, and this made spectators gasp and the batsmen themselves smile. However, Barber reached three figures first, but Parks followed quickly, and almost immediately afterwards he was caught by Roberts. Barber went on to reach 122 before stumps wore drawn, his tally including a 6 and 16 4’s. He had with him in the later stages that delightful batsman. Hardstaff. who bad 21 to his credit at the call of time. These runs were made with that ease and grace which characterise bis batting, although he, too, was naturally a little subdued in view of the short time remaining for play, when ho came to the wickets. There were 277 runs on the board for two wickets at stumps.

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTACK The New Zealand attack brought into action no fewer than six bowlers, and of these Roberts was easily the best. Bowling at orthodox medium pace, the Canterbury man kept an excellent length, and, moreover, rose _ sharply from the pitch to a height which made him anything but easy .to score from. He was cxtreraoy unlucky, as throe of the missed chances wore off his bowling, and, although 60 runs were scored from his 20 overs, his performance, in all the circumstances, was quite a meritorious one. Elmes, who took the other wicket, bowled a consistent length, but kept the ball well outside the off stick. Indeed, his bowling was so consistently off ■ theory that it was only from perhaps one or two balls in an over that the batsmen even attempted to score. Possibly, Elmes was bowling to instruction, and his persistency was rewarded by the capture of Parks’s wicket. Of the other bowlers, Cowie showed a bit of pace, but not sufficient to be classed as a really fast bowler, nor to trouble the batsmen to any extent. Vivian sent up some good balls, which turned appreciably, and Merritt also spun the ball well, but in neither case was there sufficient nip on the wicket to make the bowling particularly dangfetous. Cromb’s mixed bag Inever troubled the batsmen. The wicket had more grass on it than is nsual, but this did not affect it in pace or otherwise,' although it might possibly have allowed the bowlers to do a tiny bit more than they would have done on a wicket devoid of turf. Prior to the match the Hon. p. J. Lyttelton, who was not taking part in the game, remarked that the wicket appeared to be a wonderfully good one, and that it was not often that so perfectly a natural wicket was seen. Usually artificial aids were necessary to make a batsman’s wicket. The attendance at Carisbrook yesterday was very satisfactory for a Friday, there being a large crowd present in the afternoon. AFTERNOON PLAY IN DETAIL The M.C.C. innings was opened at 2.30, Smith and Parks being the opening pair. The former faced the bowling, Roberts, right-hand medium-pace, taking up the attack from the pavilion end. Smith opened his account by turning one to square-leg for a single, which was all that came from the over. Cowie (fast-medium) bowled from the other end, and Smith leg-glanced him for a single. Roberts’s next over was a maiden, and Parks obtained a 4 to fine-leg off Cowie. Parks cut Cowie to backward point for a brace, and when his score was 6 he gave a. chance to Jackman behind the wickets off Cowie, which was not accepted. Parks appreciated the let-off, and reached double figures by squarecutting Roberts to the boundary. Smith cut Cowie sweetly through slips to s'he boundary and 20 appeared on the board soon afterwards, Smith, who was how in double figures, despatching Roberts to the off boundary. The runs were coming steadily, and Smith swept Cowie to the square-leg fence, and Elmes was brought on in place of Roberts, who had bowled four overs, including one maiden, for 11 runs. Parks drove Elmes through the covers to the boundary, and 30 appeared in 22 minutes, Parks cutting him through slips for a single. Smith cut him square for another one, and facing Cowie ho obtained a single with a similar stroke.’

Parks placed Cowie nicely to the on for 3, and a cover-drive brought him 2 off Elmes, which brought 40 up in just under the half-hour, Parks reaching 20. Vivian earned applause for smart work in the covers, and Smith sent Cowie sizzling to the off boundary, a square cut giving him another single. Elmes was bowling well off the wicket, and bowled a wide in this over.

Roberts replaced Cowie at the Cargill road end, the latter having howled six overs for 25 runs. Roberts was keeping them well on the wicket, maintaining a good length, and bowling a maiden to Parks. Merritt took up the attack from Elmes, from whose three overs 9 runs had been scored. Smith brought 50 up in 40 minutes by coverdriving him for a single, 1 and 3 runs came from the over. Smith was bowled by Roberts with a “ swinger,” which he attempted to on-drive. 52-1-26. The left-hander’s knock occupied 43 minutes, and he hit four 4’s. Barber joined Parks, and he had just broken the ice when he skied one from Roberts to Elmes at first-slip, the Otago man failing to hold a simple catch. The rate of scoring slowed down somewhat, and Roberts in particular was treated with respect. Conspicuously good work was being done by Vivian in the covers, and Parks reached 30 in 60 minutes, Barber cover-driving Merritt to the boundary, 6 runs coming from the over, and 70 being hoisted. Barber swept Merritt to leg for a single, and Cowie replaced Roberts, whose figures read 10 overs, 4 maidens, 20 runs, 1 wicket. Parks cut Cowie square to the. boundary, and Cromb took up the attack from Merritt, Barber late-cutting him for 3, which brought 80 up and made Barber 10. The Englishmen passed New Zealand’* score after 71 minutes’ play, and Parks reached 40 in 72 minutes. The tea adjournment was taken with 87 runs showing for the loss of one wicket (Parks 40 not out, Barber 16 not out). PARKS HOISTS THE HUNDRED. When play was resumed, the slow bowlers took charge of the attack, Cromb Himself operating the pavilion end and Merritt bowling from the opposite end. The board showed 90 after 80 minutes’ play, Barber taking his score to 20. Roberts took over from Cromb after one over, and Parks placed him nicely between square-leg and midon to the boundary. Parks hoisted the hundred in 88 minutes by straightdriving Roberts to the boundary, and he reached the half-century at the same time. Parks obtained a brace down tHe gully in Merritt’s next over, and Barber swept Roberts to the square-leg fence, the rate of scoring now quickening appreciably. Parks ' forced Merritt to the on for a brace and obtained a single from the next, Barber running into the thirties by cutting Merritt to backward point for 4, a cover drive bringing him another single. » At 121 Vivian replaced Roberts, and Barber slammed him to the boundary beyond forward leg, the over producing 8 runs. Cowie took over from Merritt, and Barber cut him behind point to the grand stand pickets to hoist 130. He placed Cowie nicely to _ third man for a brace, 'which made him 40, another stroke-in the same direction giving him a single. Parks turned Cowie to the leg boundary, 11 runs coming from the over. SIX TO BARBER! Both batsmen appeared well set, and 150 was hoisted in 112 minutes. Barber hit the first 6 of the match off Vivian, a lofty drive just node of the howler’s head landing inside the pavilion enclosure, and Barber reached 50 in 66 minutes. .There were some! bad lapses

by the New Zealand fieldsmen, and when 76 Parks had a life, Merritt, in the slips, making a very poor attempt to hold a catch off Cowie’t bowling with his left hand.

Further changes were made in the bowling, but without effect, and 180 appeared in 125 minutes. .Barber was racing towards his century, and just on 5 o’clock he drew level with Parks, each batsman being 79. Merritt was brought on again in an effort to dissolve the partnership, and both batsmen ran into the eighties. Elmes displaced Cromb, and the 200 was brought up in 183 minutes. Parks, straight-drovo Merritt for a single, and Barber placed him wide of mid-on for a single. Parks reached 90 in 140 minutes with a brace to square-, leg, and Elmes’s next_ over was a maiden. Parks got jvithin four of his hundred when he despatched Merritt to the leg boundary. Barber was not to bo tempted by Elmes’s off stuff, but eventually lie drove him to cover for a single, which was all that came from the over. BOTH REACH THREE FIGURES. came on again in place of Merritt, and Barber drove the first through the covers to the boundary, running into the nineties with another well-placed cover shot to the boundary. Barber was dropped again at 93, when he edged one from Roberts into Cowie’s hands in the slips. Oowie juggled with the ball and threw it into Merritt’s hand, the latter also failing to hold it. This was the second chance missed off Roberts’s bowling. Barber cut Elmes through slips for, a brace to get within one of his century, 230 appearing on the board. Parks was then 97, and he also had a let-off when Jackman dropped a catch behind the wickets off Roberts’s bowling. The Canterbury man had been bowling well, hut bad catching affected his figures materially. The batsmen were having a race towards the century, and when Parks cover-drove Elmes for a single ho brought his score level with that of Barber, who was 99. Cutting Elmes to backward point for a single,_ Barber reached his hundred in 107 min, and he off-drove Roberts for 3. Parks brought his tally to 100 in 154 min by cutting Roberts behind point for a single. His end came in the next over when he swished at one from Elmes, the wicketkeeper deflecting the catch to Roberts at second slip. 237 2—loo. Parks batted 156 min and hit 10 4’s. The partnership added 185 runs. Hardstaff partnered Barber, and the Notts man quickly opened his account. Cowie replaced Roberts at the Cargill road end, and Hardstaff drove him to cover for a jingle, Barber placing him nicely to thf square-leg fence. A for-ward-leg stroke added a single, and 250 appeared on the board in 173 min. Four overs later Vivian took over from Cowie, and Barber helped himself to 10 off the over. Elmes persisted with his off theory at the other end and when he sent down a straight one Barber met him with a full face of the bat. In Vivian’s next over Hardstaff ran a single from a shot to cover,, but Cromb’s return went to the boundary. Vivian sent down the last 'over for the day, three runs resulting from his efforts. At stumps the Englishmen had 277 runs on for two wickets— Barber 122 not out, Hardstaff 21 not out. Details: NEW ZEALAND. First innings ... ’. ••• 81 M.C.C. FIRST INNINGS. D. Smith b Roberts 28 J. H. Parks c Roberts b Elmes ... 100 W. Barber not out 122 J. Hardstaff not out 21 Extras (2 byes, 4 leg-byes, and 2 wides) \ 8 Total (for two wickets) ... 277 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

HAWKE GUP MANAWATU V. SOUTHLAND [Per United Press Association.] PALMERSTON N., January 10. A match was commenced tp-day in which Manawatu is defending the Hawke Cup against Southland. Manawatu batted for three hours and 50 minutes to be all out for 230. Southland was at the wickets for two hours and 40 minutes before the close of play, and lost six wickets for 90 runs. Manawatu’s batting was not brilliant for the most part, and there was a debacle in the middle of the innings, J. Ongley’s 06 saving the situation. Southland began stolidly, obviously intent on establishing a first innings lead if possible, but the loss of three wickets, for 1.0 runs almost shattered its hopes. 'With a deficit of 140 runs and only four wickets in hand, Southland ,is in an unfavourable position. Details:— MANAWATU. First Innings. M'Vicar run out 16 Robertson c and b Carswell 22 Murchison b Patrick 49 Cutler o M'Gowan b Uttley 17 M. Ongley b Brittenden 4 Norris b Carswell 6 Gallichan c Spence b Patrick 5 Hallamore Ibw b Patrick 2 •1. Ongley st Hawke b Patrick ... 66 Hearsey Ibw b Uttley 23 Borquist not out 5 Extras 16 Total 230 Bowling Analysis.—Uttley, two for 26; Pickard, none for 21; M'Gowan, none for 25; Carswell, two for 65 ; Brittenden. one for 28; Brew, none for 14; Patrick, four for 35. SOUTHLAND. First Innings. Spence st Norris b Cutler 27 Brew c Murchison b Gallichan ... 13 Brittenden Ibw b Cutler ... 16 Uttley b Hearsey 13 Anderson Ibw b Hearsey 5 Poole c Murchison b Gallichan ... 0 Extras 16 Total for six wickets ... 90 Bawling Analysis.—Berquist, none for 7; Murchison, none for 27; Gallichan, two for 21; Hearsey, two for 8; M. Ongley, none for 4; Cutler, two for 8. SHEFFIELD SHIELD SOUTH AUSTRALIA V. QUEENSLAND , Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BRISBANE, Januay 10. In a Sheffield Shield match versus South Australia, Queensland, in the first innings, ]jas lost Iota; jyiofcets

136 (Rogers 39, Andrews 30, Christie 24). The commencement of play was delaj’ed by rain. ENGLISH TEAM'S AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES OF'the test matches Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ADELAIDE, January 10. The dates for the English team’s tour of Australia in 1936-37 have been announced. The first match, versus Western Australia, will be commenced at Perth on October 16, and the last match, versus Victoria County, at Benalla. on March 5, 1937. The test dates are: — December 4-9.—At Brisbane. December 18-23.—At Sydney. .January 1-6. —At Melbourne. January 29-Februnry 3.—At Adelaide. February 26-March 3.—At Melbourne.

0. M. R. W. A. W. Roberts ... 20 5 60 1 J. Cowie 16 0 62 0 C. J. Elmos 16 3 34 1 W. , E. Merritt 13 ]. 44 0 I. B. Cromb 5 0 26 0 H. G. Vivian. ... 8 0 . 43 0