CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22902, 9 March 1938, Page 4

CRICKET

[By WAttABT,]

GRANGE DOMINATE PLAY OLD BOYS IN BAD POSITION Whether it warf the absence of its skipper, or just one of those things which happen in cricket anyhow, the High School Old Boys did not play up to fonn in any department of _ the game against Grange. Illness, it_ is understood, prevented Dickinson assisting his side. Conditions were quite good—though the wicket was inclined to “ kick " a little at the north end on occasions—until late in the afternoon, when black and angjry-looking clouds gathered and the light became bad. Old Boys’ batsmen made repeated appeals to the umpires, but it was not until 6.20 that they melted the 'hearts of the men iri the white coats. From the Press table it certainly appeared as though this melting might have eventuated at least a quarter of an hour earlier. The teams, by the way, were very late in starting the match, the first ball being sent down at 1.50. Chettleburgh and Knight again gave Grange a good start of 76 runs. Chettleburgh’s knock of 41 was, as usual, of a bright and cheerful nature, and he wasted no time in preliminary ” digging in.” He was bowled in trying to hit Graham into the blue, the ball being a trifle short for this to be successfully accomplished. Knight was a trifle more subdued, but his 35 was well made. It was Elmes, however, who outstayed most of the rest of them, and it was rather hard luck for him to miss the century by only 8 runs. After settling down, the left-hander, who managed to get quite a lot of the bowling, scored steadily, his best strokes being wristy forcing shots to the on off the back foot and leg glances. There were some nice off-drives also, but it was a weakish stroke which brought about his dismissal, caught by Groves in the deep off Graham. He hit 13 4’s and a 5 came to him by reason of an overthrow to, the boundary. Toomey’s 20, was soundly obtained, and Powell followed his meritorious performance of the previous Saturday with a bright and workmanlike S 3 not out, again providing most of the motive power in a tail-wagging performance. The rate of scoring right through was quite satisfactory, 200 coming up in 150 minutes. Another proof lay in the fact that it was not until 5 o’clock that the second maiden of the day was bowled.

Graham, who came out with the best bowling figures (four for 63 in 11 overs), was steady. His victims were Chettleburgh, Toomey, Elmes, and Mercer, so that it was a very satisfactory ” bag.” His length was consistently good, and he swung the ball a bit. Groves kept a fairly correct length also and got a nip from the pitch which made him need watching. Colvin was mostly on the short side, and ho dragged badly and should have been “ called ” more often than he was. Old Boys’ fielding was not up to its usual standard, and this includes wicketkeeper Mills. Old Boys began their innings at 6.35 and disaster at once began, Mills being badly run out before he had scored. This was the second foolish run-out of the. day, Henderson suffering that fate earlier. In both cases the ball was hit straight to a fieldsman, and the run should never have been attempted. M'Knight and M'Leod were both disposed of in quick time, and when the umpires at last allowed the appeal for light, three wickets had fallen for 14 runs. So that the leading team is in a tight fix, though It is scarcely likely that it will be deprived of ultimate honours; its margin of points is too wide.

VARSITY BAT POORLY H. CAMERON A CENTURY University made a poor showing against the bowling of Dunning (four for 29), Nimmo (three for 63), and Stevenson (one for 10), and its total just reached the bare 100. Morrison, coming in sixth wicket down, batted brightly, hitting four 4’s in making top score ot 22. Uttley, who, of course, opened the innings, found 13 an unlucky number, as, when he had accumulated runs to that extent ho was out Ibw to Nimmo. Pour other modest “ doubles ” appeared on the sheet, but nobody got very far along the road. Dunning pegged away in characteristic style, and of the 16 completed overs he sent down eight were maidens. Nimmo was loss accurate, and none of his 13 overs were blameless.

When Carisbrook A batted it began in worse shape than its opponents, the two opening batsman. Cox and Carter, failing to score. However, Dunning and Fraser, the veteran and the coit, stopped this sort of thing and set the side on the road to victory by scoring 35 and 49 respectively, Fraser mistimed quite a lot of his strokes, but t'-o Varsity fieldsmen were not sufficiently alert to take advantage of these and other chances which were offered. The innings of the day was the 102 not out which went to the credit of H, Cameron, and the accent may safely bo placed upon “credit.” On more than one occasion this season Cameron has knocked at the door marked “ century.” but got no further than fhe top step, and it was but a just reward for bis consistency that on this occasion the doer was opened, and he was able to r"ter +he ball (if fame, so to sneak The three figures came to him onlv three minutes before the last wicket fell, so that he was very nearly cheated once more. It was fortunate

Notes and Comments

for him that Caradus stayed and made 23, as none of the others got as far as 10. However, it was a cffanceless knock up to the hundred mark, and a good one. The University attack was sadly handicapped when Jolly, its fast and most hostile bowler, strained his leg and had to retire after bowling three overs and taking one wicket for 6 runs. Morrison followed up his batting success by taking four for 48, which was easily the best average, though Gowlnnd’s three for 66 and Begg’s two for 57 were useful efforts.

HOLLEY OUTSTANDING ALLEN'S FINE AVERAGE Dunedin’s 175 against Albion was a one-man affair, Holley making no fewer than 91 of that total by some forceful driving. It was hard luck for the young batsman that he should have got so near and yet failed to reach the century mark. But he will no doubt get the distance at some future time, for he has cricket in him. Tobin was his most useful ally on Saturday, his tally being 25, and Groves got 18. The fact that so many batsmen failed was largely due to the bowling of Allen, whose slow medium stuff -was too much for most of the Dunedin side, and ho finished with the fine average of five wickets for 22 runs. Allen is one of the best club bowlers in Dunedin. Silver appeared on the field again after his enforced spell, but it was obvious that his injury, sustained during the Otago v. Wellington match, was still troubling him, and after bowling 11 overs and taking two wickets for 66 runs he had to vacate the crease. Albion has made a satisfactory start with the bat, for, after Everson had been brilliantly taken in the longfield by O’Sullivan off Robertson, Ditchfiohl and Miller defied the attack till stumps were drawn at 6.10, Ditebfield, as usual, was carefulness personified, and made 22 while Miller was running up a snappy 53. O’Sullivan’s catcli was not the first good one ho has made in brilliant fashion this season, and his fielding is, generally speaking, much above the standard of his fellows. M'MUUAN AGAIN KAIKORAI FIELDS WELL Cricket of an entertaining nature was seen at Carisbrook, where the home olub’s B team met Kaikorai. The wicket was just a little lively, and when the first five B wickets went for 88 runs it looked as though it was to he harvest day for bowlers. But M'Mnllan, who has so often proved a stumbling block in the way of opposing bowlers, once more stuck them up, and once more made top score, which has become a habit with this old-time leftbander. He began none too well, however, and was left off when 18; but, settling down after the tea adjournment, he completed a verv useful 64 before playing inside a ball from Rennick and being bowled. He hit nine 4’s. so it was no “ safety first ” innings. Pinney was his partner for quite a while, and drove solidly in getting 39. MncGibbin, Lumsden. and Procter all got into the 20’a, ami “ Mr Extras ” obliged with a contribution of 30. so that the B’s total ultimately reached 239. Pringle, the big fellow who has worn the AH Black jersey, did good work with the ball, especially in the early part of the inninus, and his figures read; Four for 73 off 15 overs. Renniek finished up with three for 17 off 4.5 overs. Kaikorai’s fielding was first class, and the fieldsmen gave nothing away. This was quite refreshing in view of the many poor displays by senior teams this season, Kaikorai started none too well with the hat. Mathias being run out when 5, hut Holden (40) and M'Gregor (33) held the fort for the- rest of the afternoon and were undefeated when stumps were drawn at 6.15. Both hatted attractively. The match is in an interesting position, and each side will strive for a win. which will lift it, a little from its lowly rung on the ladder. A GREAT OLD-TIMER SOLE SURVIVOR OF IS7B TEAM The veteran' cricketer, Tom Garrett, who is the only surviving member of the first (1878) Australian Eleven, performed the ceremony of bowling the first ball in the match between Bigg’s and M'Cabe’s teams recently played in Sydney as part of the sesquicontenary celebrations. After Garrett (who will bo,Bo years of ago next July) had doffed his coat, swung Iris arms once or twice ns a loosener, and sent up one well on the off, and Rigg had played it, he walked hack to the pavilion, accompanied by Stan. M'Cabe. “ Nearing the gate,” records the Sydney ‘ Referee,’ “ Tom Garrett again heard plaudits such as long ago were music to Ins ears as he entered or emerged from the field of play on great match days. Spectators paid homage to the veteran. They realised that a man with his record, now last of the stalwarts who played star parts in the early drama of international cricket, is a man to honour in the game.” - This brought hack to my mind an occasion when, as a boy, 1 was present at an intercolonial match on the Melbourne Ground and in which Garrett made what proved to be his last ap-

pearance. He had, if I remember right, been brought back into the New South Wales team after a period of retirement, or absence from big cricket, and fielded rather badly. And I recollect how the crowd, forgetting the great service given by the player, jeered him, told him in no uncertain tones to “ get a bag,” and generally heckled the boarded Tom. It was typical of the sporting ” fan,” in few of whom there is any senitment, whose memories are lamentably short, and who demand continuous “ top speed ” of their favourites.

LEFT AND RIGHT E. S, White, the slow-medium pace howler with,, the Australian touring team, bats right hand, and bats well. Of notable players of the past, W. Howell and T. R. M'Kibbin were righthand bowlers who batted loft hand. ‘ln last week’s match White sparkled, with the break eased, for 62. And his steady length bowling brought in six victims for 61 runsl O. G. Macartney and H. L. Collins bowled left hand and batted rght, as White does. Apart from these White is a better batsman than any other left-hand bowler Australia has sent to England. Jack Ferris, however, developed into a tip-top batsmen when he became a Gloucestershire resident. This season White has taken 19 wickets at 17.20 a piece and scored 224 runs at 24,88. NOTES Some good averages have been registered by Plunket Shield batsmen this ooason. V. Scott, of Auckland, heads the list with 103.5, but ho batted only three times, and one of his innings was an uncompleted one. Whitelaw, also of Auckland, averaged 80.5 for five innings (one not out). Uttley, the Otago skipper, appears to have put up the most meritorious performance, as he has the highest aggregate (420 runs), the highest individual score (138), and has no not-out innings to help his fine average of 70.0, obtained in six visits to the crease. The next four places are occupied by Aucklanders, Postles (61.0), Weir (53.0), Wallace (51.0), and Carson (49.0), Fraser (Otago) following with 42.50 for four innings, twice not out. Gallichan (Wellington) heads the bowling averages with 10.86 (six wickets), and Wellington trundlers also fill second and third places. These are Parsloe 13.50 (eight wickets) and Browne 14.11 (nine wickets). Then come Mulcock, of Canterbury, 14.50 (16 wickets); Pritchard, of Wellington, 15.13 (16 wickets); Carson 17.0 (8 wickets) and Cowie 17.44 (18 wickets), both of Auckland; and Dunning, of Otago, 17.44 (20 wickets). The most useful bowlers on their respective sides were Mulcock (Canterbury), Dunning (Otago), Pritchard (Wellington), and Cowie (Auckland). When one speaks or writes of the superiority of old-timers _ at cricket there is always room for discussion and argument, even in the face of recorded averages. But there would appear to be a clear ease for comparison when it comes to the matter of throwing the cricket boll. During an interval in the special match at Sydney between M‘Cabe’s team and Rigg’s team there was a competition for ball throwing, and the winner (F. Gorrick, of the Moore Park Association) threw 97ycls 6in. R. Cook, of Manly, was second with 92yda 2ft. _ F.ven allowing for the handicap of a slight wind against which the competitors threw, this is poor work when compared with the 140yds 2ft covered by R. Percival at Durham in 1834, the I4oyds 9in by Ross Mackenzie at Toronto in 1872, and the 140yds by the aboriginal “ King Billy 11 at Clermont, Queensland, in 1873. In later years George Bonnor. Frank Laver, Victor Trumpcr, and other prominent players used to throw well over the 100yds. Who will captain England in the tests? Home critics favour Allen, in spite of his statement made in Australia that he was finished with that kind of cricket. Robins has also been mentioned, and would be a popular choice, though on form to date he would scarcely win a place in the team as a player. Then there is Hammond, who, now that he has turned amateur, would be eligible. It seems an extraordinary state of affairs that a leading player who is acknowledged to possess all the qualifications of cricket leadership should be precluded from captaining an England side because he openly receives payment for his services as a cricketer, and so is not entitled to the prefix “ Mr ” which is still used by the Conservative newspapers in the Old Country. One sees in England a player of mediocre ability in a country side because he is the only amateur and so_ the only one who can possibly captain it. Old customs die hard in Old England. 1 Overhearing complaints regarding the practice wickets prepared for the High School Old Boys at Tonga Park, the writer had a look at them on Saturday, and could understand immediately how it was that at least two of the club’s members had received nasty injuries at the nets last week. It was not surprising to learn, too, that practice had ceased after that night. Even though it is late in the season it should surely be possible to provide reasonably safe wickets for practice. The match wicket, considering the dry conditions prevailing of late, was a good one on Saturday. It is scarcely any wonder that an occasional champion batsman or bowler comes to Sydney or Melbourne from the country districts. On a recent Saturday in Victoria no fewer than 23 centuries were made in recognised country competitions, the scores ranging from ]73 to 100 neat. As for the bowlers, there were two instances of averages of five wickets for 1 run; then there was a six for 7, a six for 8; a nine for 13. a nine for 18; an eight for 20. and so on. Plenty of Bradmans and O’lV illvs in the mnki”g, one would say. There may not bo many who remember W. ,). Crawshnw as a member of the Otago and Canterbury cricket teams, for it is 60 years since his first appearance for

the former province and 60 years since he played his last game for Canterbury. In those days big scores were not as plentiful as they now are, and Crawsbaiv’e highest score for Otago -was 39; yet he played in eight matches and averaged 8 runs per innings, _ He was a good field, however, and his batting averages were greater when ho played for Taranaki in 1895-7, when he made two centuries. He also played for Wellington and for Marlborough prior to this. He was a banker, and retired in 1916, when ho left the Dominion to live in England. His death there was reported last week. Don Bradman put on a fireworks display at Hobart on Friday last when ho made runs by the gross for the Australian touring team against a Tasmanian Eleven. In his 144 there were 19 ” fizzers ” which went to the fence along the ground, and three rockets which went over the pickets. Don was at the wickets only 98 minutes, and in that time he and the Tasmanian-born Jack Badcock added 242 runs. Badcock’s tally was 159 when he followed Don to the pavilion. If in one of the tests Bradman, Badcock, M’Cabe, and Barnes happened to strike form at the same time, the Thames, or the Mersey, as the case may be, would be set on firo all right. Barnes, aged 20, has made over 1,000 runs this Australian season. The Aussies made mincemeat of the Tasmanians in both the matches played there, winning the first by 346 runs and the second by 485 runs. One can agree heartily with the critic who remarked that the team would have been better employed playing a couple of matches in New Zealand. “ Soft things ” such ns the Tasay matches proved to be are not very valuable as practices. A promising boy is A. Jenkins, of the Port Chalmers third grade team. Although only 14 years of age, he is already something of a ” veteran,” having made his debut with the team no more recently than three years ago. On Saturday he claimed four wickets for_2s runs in six overs, two of them with consecutive balls. He is also an excellent field, so that his acquirement of a “ pair of spectacles ” in the match was not such a serious matter.

It would appear that the finish to the match between M'Cabe’s and Rigg’s elevens in Sydney a week or two ago was even more than the “ picnic ” nature that the cables described it. The Australian Press stigmatise it as “ farcical.” The captains, it seems, agreed to play the match to a finish rather than-have the teams assemble at the ground next morning for a half-hour’s play. That was all right as far as it went, but the manner in which lobs and full tosses were bonded, easy catches deliberately dropped, and balls allowed to go to the boundary was not pleasant to see. Whether it was thought inadvisable for the Australian Eleven to be beaten, or whether it was a so-called “ sporting gesture ” cannot be said. But it wasn’t “ cricket.” New South Wales not only won the Sheffield Shield this season, but Us women cricketers also brought the championship to that State, Their success is said to be the result of coaching in a training school specially arranged by the New South Wales Women’s Cricket Association, as even the young girls in the State side displayed the same finish and polish as players who had been in the competition for several years. F. Hinton, the Union (Invercargill) player, did some Pritchard-like hitting towards the end of that team’s innings against Old Boys. In knocking up 35 in double quick time he hit three 6’s in succession. Scandrett was the bowler who suffered the indignity, his last over costing the side 24 runs. A correspondent inquires regarding the longest recorded distance which a hail has been carried when a bowler has broken the wicket with a ball delivered in a match. 1 Wisden ’ gives the record distance as 83yds Ift 9in, by A. O. Barrows in a match Newtown v. N.W. Ho bay t, Tasmania, in 1925. The longest distance recorded in a first class county match is 67vds Gin by R. D. Burrows, playing for v. Lancashire in 1911. H Larwood, in a match England v. Tasmania at Launceston in season 1928-29, sent the bail 66yds. ' ... A correspondent from Waitati writes concerning the much debated Ibw rule. The point which is troubling him may bn explained by the interpretation of the words “ in a lino with the wicket.” The rule states that the ball must he “ pitched in a straight line from the bowler’s wicket to the striker’s wicket,” not “ bowled in a line with the wicket,” as my correspondent puts it. To this, of coarse, must be added the proviso covering the new Ibw rule, under which a bailsman may be out if he himself is in a line with the wickets and the ball pitches outside the offstump. It does not matter where the bowler delivers thi ball from. If, for instance, he is able to straighten it,up it is quite possible to get a decision when bowling right-hand round the wicket, though it is not at all an easy matter. The whole thing is in the bands- of the umpire. This is understood to have happened in the match New Zealand v. Victoria a few months age. Sievers was bowling and Wallace batting, The tall Victorian sent up a short one which tha young New Zealander promptly hit out of the ground. Sievers sent the next well up—and it went hard and high over his head for 4. Another halfvolley, and agnin the hall rattled against the rails. Sievers scratched the back of his head, looked sorrowfully at Wallace, and, as though chiding a youngster for doing something that was outside the rules, remarked: ‘‘l say. old chap; that isn’t done, yon know.” Doubtless it was’completely contrary to Sievers’s experience to have any batsman, with the possible exception of Bradman, hitting so hard and so often in a first class match.

Planet, with 27 pouts, still lead in the A grade . competition of the Women’s Criohet Association. Then come Grange 23 points, Albion 21, Albany 13, St. Hilda 9, Y.W.C.A. 8, Roslyn Mills 7, and Koputai 4. In the B grade St. George are at the top of the ladder with 18 points, followed by Mornington 15, Invieta 15, Green Island 14, K.K.P. 14, Grange 0, and Elco 2. When Marti# caught Tilbury off Groves in Grange’s innings on Saturday, it gave the Old Boys slow howler his fiftieth wictet in club matches this

season. Groves’s figures to date read: 139.3 overs, 16 maidens, 558 runs, 60 wickets; average, 11.16. Of these wickets, 15 were bowled, 18 caught, 5 Ibw, and 12 stumped. A splendid performance for this typo of bowling.

LEG GLANCES Skipper H. Cameron, of Carisbrook A, deserved hia century after no many “ nearlies.” M’Knight b Knight. Good night 1 Dickie ” absent from Old Boys’ team on Saturday, The match looks a “ bird ” for Grange. When over two yards of Pringle unfolded itself before Carisbrook B batsmen it looked a bit fearsome until they got used to him. Ditchfield dug in again on Saturday, while Miller played quite a flowery minings at the other end. Morrison, of, University, produced a useful ” double ” against Carisbrook—top score (22) and four wickets for 48. The N.S.W. v. South Australia match returned a surplus of £1.539; the surplus from the N.S.W. v. Victoria match was £l3O. Magnetic Bradman 1 Bob Coupland, ex-Dunedin and Otago all-rounder, took eight wickets for 17 for Canterbury v. South Canterbury, including the “ hat trick.” Though they might bo “ Quid Bhoj’s ” to an Irishman, they are not Owl Boys. That’s why they could not see in the dark on Saturday. When the T. and P. representatives met Pride of the Leith in the league competition recently it was no milk-and-water affair. The cream of the joke was that T. and P. won.

The 111 made by Grange A grade women’s team nearly all came from Gaffaney bats: A. Gaffaney made 42 not out and I. Gaffaney 25. M. Hollis, for the same side, took five wickets for 9 runs.

The Green Island selectors picked two good Berrys in William and George of that ilk. W. made 16 and took two wickets, and G. captured four wickets against Grange second grade A. When Cox deposited that ” duck’s egg ” on Saturday someone remarked that he had discovered a mare’s nest.

Jolly hard luck for Varsity losing its fast bowler through a leg injury during the match.

The huge scores put up by the Australian eleven at Hobart and Launceston indicated that the Tasmanian bowlers had no “ devil.”

” They’ll be glad when Holley leaves,” said someone at Logan Park on Saturday. They thought the young Dunedin batsman was ” Christmas.” Thera was a Martin on either side in the Grange-Old Boys match. Birds of a feather flocked together, Scott, the Auckland Y.M.C.A. batsman, has had a great season. His tally of runs to date is 1,626. Any contributed matter to the 1 Star’s ’ crioket notes must be handed in not later than 9 fan. on Tuesdays.

Powell, of Grange, has definitely joined the Tail Waggers’ Club, He again made things merry at the latter end of the innings. Albion’s left-hander, Frood, who bowled so well against Grange, failed to take a Dunedin wicket on Saturday. Silver wasn’t very bright against Dunedin. His leg injury was still troubling him. Two century makers in the Boys’ Association competition: Mason, who built up a score of 108 not out for Logan Park, and Wood, who laid it on to the tune of 101 for Kings, Holmes made 98 for Kings IT. Hard luck! Institute (Wellington), who were top of the list, beaten by.Karori, who thus registered its first win for the season.

Ponsford, at 37, is still Victoria’s best bat. His scores this season are: 8, 41 not out, 40, 17 not out, 127, 76 not out. 43 not out, 182 not out, 4, 43, 13, and 106—700 runs at 100 per innings.

COMING TO NEW ZEALAND SIR MIEN GANN'S TEAM BLUNT AND DEMPSTER INCLUDED Sir Julien Cahn’s cricket team, including Roger Blunt and Stuart Dempster, the New Zealand internationals, Crisp and Dennis Morkel, the famous South Africans, and lan Peebles and Walter Robins, English stars, will tour the Dominion nest season, staying at least four or five weeks (says the ‘ StarSun’). This is according to information published in English newspapers. Official confirmation of the visit has been withheld in the meantime by officials of the New Zealand Cricket Council, presumably because all details have not been completed, but the matter was mentioned at a meeting of the Auckland Association a few days ago, when the chairman (Mr W. R. Fee), who is also a Dominion delegate, intimated unofficially that there was a definite possibility of Sir Julien Cahn’s side coming to New Zealand for a programme of matches in 1938-39. It is known that Sir Julien Cahn, one of England’s greatest cricket enthusiasts, has been keen for some time to have his team visit New Zealand. In recent years the cricketers in his employ have toured South America. West Indies, Ceylon, and the Malay States. Recently they were in South Africa.