CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22808, 17 November 1937, Page 4

CRICKET

[By H.P.S.]

DUNEDIN UP AGAINST IT M'NULLAN SAVES CARISBROOK 8 The veteran left-hander, .J. M. M’Mullan, played a knock of 69 for Carisbrook B last Saturday which saved the day for his side against Dunedin, and although he was very lucky his contribution was one of the utmost value. He was dropped several times, his first chance being given to Rodgerson at second-slip off Robertson when he had scored 3. Nevertheless, his innings was an object lesson in Watching the bail and running between the wickets. He was very slow to start, but once he got going he employed a characteristic pat down the gully which brought many runs. He made some nice placement shots to the on-side, varied with some particularly powerful drives 'through the covers. Coombs, who opened for Carisbrook B, batted very steadily for 18, showing a good straight bat to everything that came along. Botting played a good innings for 20, scoring with clean strokes all round the wicket. Francis held his end up towards the close, running up a scote of 23. Douglas, with 3 for 33, secured the best bowling figures for Dunedin, but he again bowled too wide of the wicket and should learn to attack the batsmen more. Robertson. Dunedin’s skipper, bowled better than he has done previously this season, but did nob have much luck, although he finished l with three wickets for 47_ runs. His length was a little inconsistent and he'was hit fairly freely at times, but now _ and again he gpt in one of those typical “ fizzers ” outside the.-off stick which left the batsmen standing. Macassey was steady, and Russell, the left-hander, bowled a long way better than his figures showed. _ He was swinging in from the off the ball very nicely, but he again spoilt a good bowling display by poor fielding. Dunedin began promisingly this season, but they will never accomplish anything of note until their work in the field sparkles up very considerably. There is no excuse for slackness in this direction, especially when the side is ledby a, captain of G. J. Robertson’s calibre, but the indifferent display given by the Dunedin men was very disheartening to the team’s supporters on Saturday. Holley, however, gave a much improved display. A. Kerr struck a spot on the pitch when Dunedin began their innings, and making the ball fly very awkwardly he had all the batsmen in trouble, finishing with three widfcets for 20 runs. O’Sullivan and Robertson were associated at stumps,- and with 170 to get Unique Strike. In probably the world’s most unique strike, 28 cricket umpires at Queen’s Park, Sydney, staged a sit-down strike and demanded more pay on a recent Saturday. When the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association refused their demands, the umpires, tired of “ sitting down,” left the park. Fourteen matches were affected, the games being continued with either players or bystanders J who volunteered, to umpire. The umpires have been discontented for some time. They have been paid 5a an afternoon, and recently approached the association and asked for 6s. Surf Life Saving. In common with all other branches of sport which are sending teams to Australia this sum's*.r, surf life-saving organisations are hc'vng important events earlier than usuaf. The New Zealand Surf Life Saving championships are to be held at New Brighton on January 22 and 24. The first competition locally will be conducted by the St. Clair Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday, when some of Otago’s best surfmen and swimmers will be taking part. Comt-back Contemplated? Melbourne cricketers are said to be wondering whether it was purely for sentimental reasons that W. H. Ponsford has made himself available foe the Richardson - Grimmett testimonial match to be played in Adelaide shortly. It is rumoured that Ponsford will return to first-dlass cricket if ho does well in the Adelaide match, and if he does play regularly in first-class fixtures he may well reach the test team for England. In club cricket Ppnsford has been batting well, and his test feats against England in 1934, when he made 669 runs at an average of 94.83, have not been forgotten. End to Sport Snobbery? If 1937 does not provide anything else of Outstanding importance in sport t it will have one brilliantly red day in the calendar the day the absurd amateur definition was removed from the A.R.A. books and the rules of Henley Regatta (writes Geoffrey Simpson, in the ‘Daily Mail’). To permit a clerk in an office to take part in the best-class regattas and prevent a mechanic of the same firm the right to do so, seemed to me a mixture of bad logic and snobbery. It has taken Mr Charles Tugwell, secretary of the National Amateur Roving Association, 13 years of hard work 'to get the reform. Thirteen years! How long will it take to break down the last barrier between amateur and professional in county cricket? Somewhere about 2037 T should say, if county cricket lasts until then. Did Not Compete. According to the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ the Parnell Club has secured the services of W. J. Jarvis, the former Otago and New Zealan(T sprint swimming champion. Jarvis is training in the hope ot winning further championships and of being selected for the British Empire Games, but though entered for the 100yds event at the carnival in Auckland last week ha did not appear.’

Notes and Comments

and six wickets in hand Dunedin is in a difficult though not impossible position. FAST BOWLERS PROMISE OPEN ISSUE AT HORTH GROUND A fine spell'of bowling by the Old Boys oolt, N. M. Colvin, brought about the dismissal of several of Grange’s best batsmen very cheaply on the North Ground, but the “ tail-enders ” saved Grange from complete collapse, and another good patch by George Lemin saw Old Boys lose four wickets for 75 runs in reply to Grange’s 205. The match is in an interesting position, and although 205 is a comparativley moderate total Old Boys are not likely to find the task of getting the runs an easy one. The issue is very open. Old Boys did well to dismiss a powerful batting side of Grange’s experience and calibre for so moderate a total, and at one stage six wickets were down for 96. Old Boys have a well-varied attack, and are fortunate in being able to call upon bowlers of pace such as Dickinson and Colvin. These two shared l the honours on Saturday, the former claiming throe for 44 and Colvin five for 39. Dickinson was very steady for the greater part, and although he has sacrificed some of his pace he is showing better control, and is undoubtedly bowling better than he has done for some seasons past. Colvin trundled with plenty of vim and attacked the batsmen throughout. He sent up one or two real “ trimmers ” and at one stage was almost unplayable. Colvin takes rather too long a run, but be has a good command of length and though he bowled a few loose ones he impressed as a howler of real promise, especially as he is only 17 years, of age. Groves obtained only one wicket, but the slow spin merchant had no luck. Dey was dropped off him at short-leg by Dickinson when he was only 14 and the same batsman went on to score 50. Groves had many of the batsmen anchored all the same, and kept the ball up all the ■ afternoon. To flatfooted batsmen Groves will always he a source of extreme danger. Vern. Leader is a useful howler in any side, being steady and accurate, and if he mixed them up just a more more success would probably come his way. Be is still a very good' allrounder, and gave his side a start by scoring 37 out of the 48 put on for the first wicket. His partner was J. A. Smith who may have been playing the game for his side in keeping the bowling out, hut his eight runs in nearly 50 minutes savoured of unenterprising batting, to say the least. Ced. Elmes played a solid knock for 47, getting most of his runs round to fine leg, but the representative lefthander has given more attractive displays, from the spectator’s point of view. Still, with the wickets toppling, Elmes adopted the right policy in keeping the bowling out, and he was at the wicket 74 minutes, hitting six 4’s. The ex-New Zealand rep. is in rungetting mood this year, as is indicated by scores of 77, 102. and 47 in successive innings. He is also bowline well, and can be ■ depended on for brilliant work in the slins. Alex. Knight looked like being in for_ a long stay, and be executed some delightful souare cuts and pats down +he gully, blit when just in double ‘'"iires be stenned riebt in frrmt of one Dickinson and was out l.b.w. Good for 30 or 40 as a rule, Frank Toomey is a most useful opener for Granee. He batted soundly for 29, and his solid defence was relieved with some well-played strokes on the leg-side and some good drives through the covers. Chettlehnrgh did not shape impressively, and pulled right hack to one from Colvin who clean howled him. when he had scored only 1. Colvin got Elmes with a “ beauty ” and howled Galland next hall. Dey cam© to the rescue, and in association first with Henderson, and then with Rush saved l the day. Dey’s 50 was -worth a lot more to Grange, coming at such a critical time, for it was a real fighting knock. He gave a chance, but made his runs by nice front-of-the-wioket strokes, hitting the ball with plenty of power. Dey can generally be depended on in an emergency, and is also a more than average change bowler. Henderson and Rush got 22, and though the latter was recalled after being given run out—a lady fielder in an adjacent game stopped the ball—he could not have cavilled had he lost his wicket, for he was very slow to begin the .third run. Mills and Giles retrieved the position for Old Boys after four wickets had fallen for 62 runs, and they were together at stumps. Lemin gave a fine display of howling, and made the ball get up at awkward heights, securing three for 15. He is invariably accurate, and a very effective member of the Grange .attack. A feature of the match was the smart display behind the wicket by G. Mills, the Otago representative ’keeper, who accepted three catches and whose taking of the hall was first-rate, especially on the leg side. As he is also batting well, this is encouraging with the representative matches in :prospect. HOWOEH AGAIN UNIVERSITY !H STR6KG FS3ITIOH C. P. Howden, the _ University _ allrounder, has placed himself definitely in line for representative selection by his displays this season, and he played another fine knock of 64 against Kaikorai on Saturday, getting his runs with cleanly-made and attractive strokes all round the wicket. He drove the ball with plenty of power and was

also very strong on the leg side. Howden has been a consistent run-getter, scoring 25, 35, 117, and 64 in successive innings. An ex-King’s College (Auckland) player, Howden is also a good bowler, being a little above medium pace, displaying plenty of life and vim, and having the ability to bring one back from the off now and again. I. Dunn, an ex-M'Glashan College player, contributed a useful 20. He is a very solid hat r and although he does not employ many strokes as yet, he watches the ball very carefully. Ken Uttley has examinations on his mind at the moment, but the University captain should soon bo among the runs. His partner for the, first wicket on Saturday was N. Lawson, who put together a score of 23, and was placing his shots very nicely through the coyers. He has been in good form this season. For Kaikorai, Reg. Cherry bowled very cleverly, and took five wickets for 55 runs" He spun _ tho ball and was not afraid to toss it well up. Kaikorai made a very uninspiring showing, and R. O. Talbot, with 50, was the only one to_ reach double figures. The faster wickets are to the liking of the ex-New Zealand representative, who played a splendid innings, though the University l bowlers adopted tactics which slowed him down a little. N. Begg put up a first-rate bowling performance, and finished with five wickets for 47. Ho is a medium-pace bowler who employs clever variations of pace. He was swinging away to leg and mixed up a few leg-breaks. Jolly and Howden also bowled well, and it will be interesting on .Saturday to see whether University is able to obtain another eight-pointer. VETERAN RETIRES CAREER OF 8. G, SMITH Tho veteran S. G. Smith, one of the finest cricketers to represent Auckland and New Zealand, will close an eventful and successful playing career at the conclusion of the present series of first grade matches. Playing in his last game for the King’s Old Boys’ Club last Saturday, Smith gave a glimpse of his former batting brilliance with a stylish display for 60 (says : the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). A fine personality, both on and off the field, Smith will be greatly missed from local club" cricket. Possessor of a wealth of experience, he has always been ready to pass on his knowledge to the younger players, and he has earned the respect of all those who have been associated with him, not only for his all-round ability, but also for the fine spirit in which he has played the game. Now in his fifty-seventh year, Smith can look back on a highly, successful record in club ana representative cricket. He was a member of the West Indian side which toured England in 1906, being considered the finest allrounder in the team. He scored two centuries on this tour, and took the largest number of wickets. Smith came to New Zealand during the war and played his first Plunket Shield match for Auckland against Wellington in 1918. Ho made 83 not out in this game, and took four wickets for 75. In his first game against Canterbury the following year Smith secured six for 109 and six for 93. In 1920 he compiled 256 against Canterbury, this score standing as a resord for Plunket Shield cricket until R. C. Blunt made 338 not out for Otago against Canterbury in 1931. Smith represented New Zealand on five occasions, playing against Australia, M.C.C., and New South Wales between 1920 and 1924. 'ln all firstclass games in New Zealand he aggregated 1.891 runs, at an average of 39, and his 149 wickets cost 23 runs apiece. AUCKLAND'S SOLE SELECTOR EX-OTAGO PLAYER The appointment of H. Duncan as sole selector for the Auckland Cricket Association is at least an interesting experiment. It must be about 25 years since Auckland has had a sole selector; frequently the proposal has been mooted, but not until this year was anything done about it. Mr Duncan is undoubtedly as well qualified as anybody to fill the position, as he has had a long career in club and representative cricket, and has been a member if the Auckland Cricket .Association’s selection committee for six years (says the N.Z. Observer ’). He, played his first cricket at the Mount Albert primary school, where he was coached by Frank Ward, a well-known English professional. After a couple of years at the Auckland Grammar School he joined Parnell in 1916, and played for that club until 1918, when his position with tho Sun Insurance Company began to entail a considerable amount of travelling round New Zealand. In 1921 he went to the Dunedin office of his firm, being appointed manager the following year. _ While in Dunedin he joined the Oarisbrook Club, and was secretary and club captain for a number of yegrs. Ho also represented Otago in all matches for which he was available from 1921 to 1925. Back in Auckland again in 1926, lie joined up with Parnell again, and was captain for six seasons. The last two seasons of his captaincy the club won the championship outright. He retired at the conclusion of the 1933-33 season, hut continued to take a keen interest in club coaching activities, and last season, when Parnell was in rather low water, ho staged a very successful comeback, finishing the. season third in the batting _ averages, which were headed by Vivian and Wallace. His appointment as sole selector will, o f course, take up a lot of his time, and it looks as if he will have to retire from active play again. Mr Duncan played a first-class game of hockey in his time, lie represented Otago, was one of tho founders of the St. Luke’s Club, Auckland, and was club captain for a number of years. He is now manager of the Auckland branch of the Sun Insurance Company,,

ALBION OUTPLAYED CARISBROOK A TOO GOOD Bowlers were definitely in the ascendant last Saturday at Logan. Park in the Carisbrook A v. Albion game, tho highest score of the day being a modest and subdued 30, compiled by T. Fraser for the former team. The wicket was tricky, deliveries alternately bumping and shooting, so that every ball had to be watched on to the bat., and no liberties taken. Another factor in the low scoring was that the outfield was slow indeed, therefore what would have been a certain four shot any other day had to be run out, and mostly drew three. Carisbrook was the better team in both batting and bowling; thc_ attack launched by Albion lacked sting, and the batsmen, with tho exception of N. Mitchell, lacked aggression. Probably the brightest spot in an uninspiring day of cricket extended over the final half an hour, when H. Cameron and J. Dunning proceeded to set about the Albion bowling to register 27 and 20 respectively, both undefeated, in the second innings. Runs came freely, the exhibition being the nearest to long handle work of any except when J. Nimmo batted. He made little pretence of playing anything jelse but a “ walloping ” innings, and finally mistimed badly, directly the opposite to the other pair, whose strokes were hard, yet models of style and accuracy. The other outstanding feature of tho play was a brilliant ■ catch made by R. Silver off his own bowling to dismiss J. Caradns. Six Carisbrook batsmen reached double figures in the first strike, and of these five were either bowled outright or out l.b.w. Boundary hits were few, and scoring generaly slow in the earlier stages of the game, tho wicket becoming easier only late in tho day. Fraser put together his 30 in just under the hour, playing a sound game, mostly on the defensive, and waiting for the easy ones; Stevenson, who contributed 18, adopted a similar style, and was at the crease half an hour; and Dunning (16) took five minutes longer than Stevenson. The best partnership of the day was in Cariabrook’s second innings, Cameron and Dunning producing 51 between them, but the first innings found only one association of any great value, Fraser and Stevenson adding 35; Carisbrook used only three bowlers, Nimmo, Dunning, and Carter. The latter was the most successful, taking three for 4—the final three batsmen. Dunning was rewarded with the lion’s share of victims, taking four for 40, while Nimmo disposed of the remaining two. All three. had 'the batsmen scratching for runs, and Dalziel and Mitchell were the only ones to show any confidence in _ the face_ of this attack. The former is an opening batsman of fine type, and Lis team would bo well served if it contained more men of equal quality. Silver was the best of the Albion bowlers, taking six for 69, but Frood took the average with two for 9. Silver showed some improvement on his recent form, but even, yet ho is not proving as dangerous as h© was lost season. NOTES The Grange Women’s Cricket Club can boast of a mother and daughter in its senior eleven. Captain of the team is Mrs A. Gaifaney, who is also secretary of the club and a vicepresident of the Otago Women’s Cricket Association. Her daughter, Imelda, is also a member of the .senior elevn. Mrs Gaff an ey took the first Otago women’s representative eleven to Christchurch to play Canterbury some years ago, and has been a member of the Grange Women’s Club since the women’s competition was instituted six or seven years ago. Thirty years ago Mrs Gaffaney was a Wellington, West Coast, and Taranaki representative at women’s hockey and played for the South Island, and she was also captain of the Wanganui Ladies’ Life Saving Club. P. E. Whitelaw is in great form early, and now has two centuries to his credit. In the last series of matches he scored IX6, and finished, on Saturday with 122 (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). The state of the game made him more subdued than usual in the early stages, but he scored freely all round later on. Ho was particularly severe on anything short on the leg side. Whitelaw continues to show that ho is the leading opening batsman in the Dominion. W. S. Coltman, who captained the North Sydney senior eleven last year, is back with Kilbirnie this season, ana has struck form right away (says thei ‘ Dominion ’). Following Ms 60 against Wellington in the opening series, Coltman played a brilliant innings for 98 f against Wellington College Old Boys i on the Kilbirnie Recreation Ground on Saturday. Though favoured with a few “ lives,” he cut and hooked with power and precision.. In the Canterbury one-day cricket competition, Lancaster Park leads with 36 points, St. Albans being next with 26, Sydenham, Old Boys, and Old Collegians 16, Kiccarton and East Christchurch 8, and West Christchurch 6. The annual game between Christ’s College and Otago Boys’ High School will be played, at Dunedin about the middle of December. Ricoarton, one of the most powerful teams in the competition, which has been surprisingly near the bottom of the ladder all the season, showed better form against Old Boys, and had an easy win on the first innings (says the ‘Press’). Old Boys batted first and j could make but 156, of which Menzies | made a powerful 68. ' He forced the pace from the start, with graceful cover I drives and punishing shots to tho on. Truscott, with four for 41, and Dawson, i three for 20, came out with the best! averages. Riccarton lost only six wic- j kets in making 252. Jacobs, with 101, played a large part in the win, and others to score well were Stringer 43, Cade 36. and Hose 34. Jacobs hit four sixes and 11 fours. Former Auckland and New Zealand representative, H. D. Gillespie, showed a return to something like his old form

by compiling 80 for Y.M.C.A. (says a northern exchange). A little uncertain at the start, Gillespie settled down to play several powerful and well-timed square-outs and drives. It was an exceptionality fine catch by H. Cooper at cover which brought about the batsman’s dismissal. The fieldsman dived for and held a strong drive inches off the ground. A Sydney writer declares tiiat one doubts if ever a bowler'has proved a greater attraction in Sydney Cricket than “(Big Bill” O’Reilly. On October 30, he was again the leading actor, taking eight wickets- for 41 runs tor St. George against Waverley, and finishing his good deed with the hat trick.” It is many years since a bowler stood out as O’Reilly does now. In four rounds of matches he has taken as wickets at an average of 5.39. It is the belief that O’Reilly is bowling now better than at any stage in his career. He also takes his batting in a carefree happy style that is popular. One of the outstanding features of a recent Saturday’s cricket in Auckland was the success of G. Richards, the promoted Parnell junior, who was unbeaten with 142. More credit is attached to Richards’ innings owing to the fact that he scored his funs at a stage when his team was in a bad position and acted as a fine support tor Whitelaw. Richards has a very soxmd defence and showed that he knew the right ball to leave alone or the on® score off. He .drove strongly and 1 when he develops a few more scoring strokes ho should make a lot of runs (says an Auckland writer).