CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 5

CRICKET

Notes and News COUNTRY WEEK REVIEWED Two Prospects for Rep. Honours Country cricket week has more than served its purpose. It lias given the leading players in the minor associations of Otago, the opportunity to show their mettle against the best eleven that can be fielded in Dunedin, and on the face of it the showing of the Combined Country side in the match against the Town which wound up the week was such as to indicate that there is some promising material with one or two real prospects for the Otago Plunket Shield eleven.

It was unfortunate that rain on the second day should have affected the fixtures, because the game between North Otago and Southland was expected to 'provide a keen tussle, and created a good deal of interest. On the previous day a player in each of these teams had scored a century apiece—L. M. Uttley 111 for Southland against Vincent and Kinder 107 for North Otago against South Otago. “Buster” Uttley is well known in Dunedin cricket, and he and his brother (last year’s Otago skipper) are very alike m_ appearance, but the'younger Uttley is not so polished a batsman as Ken. Nevertheless, the Southland player has particularly sound defence, and he is reputed to he one of the most difficult men in Southland cricket to dispose of. He is inclined to hang out a dead bat to the straight goodleUgth' Siuff, blit in the later stages of his innings of two hours he brought off some crisp off shots which were quite worthy of the Redpath Cup winner. Kinder, the North Otago man, is also a very, solid batsman, ahd, although he has not a great range of strokes, his defence is very sound. Another North Otago player who batted very attractivelv- was Houghton, a lefthander, who made 45.

Although J. ; Cutler, the tall exManawatu player, was given out Ibw for 24 against Vincent, he displayed form sufficient to stamp him as a real batsman, an impression which he more than confirmed in the match between Combined Country and Town, on the Saturday. His wrist work w T as particularly good, and he seemed well set for a good total when he was given out.

Scandrett. who represented Otago in Plunket Shield cricket three seasons ago, and C. K. Saxton, another former shield player, had a merry time in the match against Vincent, these two Southlanders and M‘Gowan_ taking heavy toll of the tired bowling and slack fielding. Scandrett ran up a total of 69 very quickly before being bowled by Mount, his score including 11 4’s. The University Oval is of considerable size, and these 4’s are not so easily obtained as on certain other grounds. Saxton made 29 and batted well, his runs coming mainly from off drives and cover hits. The form shown by South Otago and Vincent was rather disappointing, although F. Partridge got 69 not out for Vincent against Southland. His innings was somewhat of a mixture, however, including some that were good and others not so good. Smith, who put together a total of 32, was the highest scorer for South Otago. The fielding in some cases was bad. the pace of the ground being evidently too much for Vincent and South Otago, but North Otago and Southland put up n much better performance in this department. The outstanding bowlers for Southland were M'Kenzie and J. Purdue. M'Kenzie, an ex-M‘Glashan College player, was swinging the ball against North Otago in a disconcerting fashion, the dip taking place in some cases very late and in many overs sent down, the batsmen were unable to connect with the ball. On Friday morning he took four for 21 and Purdue three for 33, the latter’s pace also having the North Otago batsmen in dire trouble. As far as the bowling of the weaker teams was concerned, it was not at all of a striking nature, most of it being purely up and down stuff which batsmen of any merit could scarcely miss. When up against South Otago, however, Mount, the Vincent trundler, came out with the very creditable figures of five for 39. taking all the wickets that fell before rain put a stop to play. CUTLER’S FINE DISPLAY TOWN-COUNTRY MATCH The Town-Country match which brought the week to a close, did not provide anything much in the nature of fireworks partly because the wicket had been affected by the rather soaking rain of the previous day, and partly because the batsmen used excessive caution in dealing with what was in most cases rather stingless bowling. Nevertheless, the country side put up quite a good showing and at the drawing of stumps had Otago fighting to keep up their wickets to avoid possible defeat. F.asily the best display of batting during the day was that by the Southlamlo.', J. Cutler, who played an attractive innings for 70. Although the exManawatu pla.,e-' did not score at a err-n 4 ’ rate and hit only four 4’s, his display was such as to strengthen the opinion that, he should he included in the Otago team for he looks a real batsman and is also a good field.

In scoring IS2 the Country side did particularly well, as the wicket though dull was a trifle uncertain and 215 minutes were taken to make this score.

Next to Cutler, C. K. Saxton (30) madh the best score, and he got his runs nicely. He gave a peculiar chance, the ball hitting the wicketkeeper’s gloves and glancing off to Knight, who also dropped the ball, the bowler being Macdonald. Ultimately, Saxton was howled by Groves with a leg spinner. Scanclrett, who captained the Country side, made 19. He batted soundly in the morning session, but w'as uncertain after lunch. Kinder, who made 17 in orthodox style, Purdue (12), and Uttley (12) were the other doublefigure scorers, Uttley going Ibvv to Macdonald in playing back. Silver and Macdonald were the most successful bowlers, the former getting four for 37 and the University trundler three for 41. Both, however, were on occasions rather erratic, which seems to be the case with bowlers of any pace seen here this season. Elmes, who took two for 48, occasionally had the batsmen thinking, but he still lacks that little bit of extra nip so essential to the success of a left-hand bowler. L. Groves, easily the best slow bowler in Otago, has taken 18 wickets at- a cost of 7 apiece in club matches this season, but he was bowled only in the morning session when the wicket was all against a bowler of his type being effective, and he claimed only one wicket. The fielding of the Town team was quite good, although a few catches were missed, including two by Mills behind the widkets. The latter will require to show a little more alertness if he is to retain his place, especially in view of the good form being displayed by Hercus. Knight, K. Uttley, H. Cameron (who deputised ’ for G. J. Robertson) were all out with the Town score showing only 37, but Holden and Elmes improved the position somewhat, 77 being on the board before Holden was easily caught at mid-off in mistiming Scandrett. His 18 were got in correct style, but they were rather slowly made. Neither Elmes nor Fraser took advantage of the poor bowling, while Purdue and M'Kenzie were absent from the crease. Only singles were obtained, especially by Elmes, where a little more vigour and enterprise woud have sent the ball to the boundary. Elmes played a stolid unenterprising knock for 36, but Fraser got his 21 in his usual correct style. Their main scoring strokes were offdrives and cover drives, many wild attempts at leg hitting to the loose deliveries failing to connect. Five wickets were down for 112 and six for 112, but the dependable Leader (10 not out) and Mills (6 not out) managed to hold on until stumps were drawn, when the score was 129 for six. Leader almost invariably rises to the occasion, and will he hard to keep out of the representative eleven. The only bowlers who showed form were J. Purdue, who took four for 45, and M'Kenzie, who, although he took only one for 43, kept a better length than any of the changes tried. Purdue has a particularly deceptive late swing, and is capable of bowling at long stretches without markedly diminishing his pace, which is definitely fast. His four wickets were got in 17 overs, three of which were maidens. Scandrett got one for 16, but did not look like a bowler.

The two prospects for the Otago team who were revealed by Country Week were J. Cutler, as a batsman, and J. Purdue, as a bowler. The former is certainly a better bat in style and effectiveness than several of the recognised members of the shield team. Although Macdonald and Silver, both of whom are on the fast side, have been picked for representative practice, it is just a question whether Purdue would not be at least the best second string to Silver. OHGLEYS TO THE FORE The name of Ongley has figured prominently in New Zealand cricket over a 'long period, and was well in the limelight on Saturday, when J. A. (“Joe”) Ongley, son of Mr A. M. Ongley, Manawatu and Country (Wellington! selector, and his cousin, P. A. (“Jim”) Ongley. played a big part in the high score piled up by University against Wellington College Old Boys (says the ‘Dominion’). Mr A. M. Ongley, who is also president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, was in his day a splendid slow bowler. The qualifications of J. A. Ongley are as a batsman, and that he is a potential Wellington player was indicated by his sterling display for 12.3 on Saturday. Twenty years of age, Ongley is a product of Silvcrstream College, where he

was in ilie first eleven for four years and captain for three. He has already represented Manawatu, and appears to have a very bright future. Beautifully crisp strokes flowed from his hat against a rather innocuous Old Boys attack, the wicket being dead easy. P. A. Onglcy, an aggressive left-hander, who came in when the score was 208 for throe, dealt with the bowling with refreshing zest, the partnership between the Ongley cousins being one of the most colourful of the match. AUCKLAND BATSMAN'S SUCCESS The outstanding success of the colt V. Scott has been a feature of the Auckland Cricket Association’s senior championship matches this season. Scott in five innings, including three not outs, has scored two centuries, and his average is 206. He had a remarkably successful season last year and scored over 1,000 runs. In his first representative match for Auckland he made 122 against Canterbury. Playing against AVellington at the Basin Reserve later, ho scored 11 and 74 not out. Scott is also a prominent Rugby League player and has played some fine games at full-back, wing, and centre for North Shore. He is a very good Soccer exponent and has represented the North Shore senior team with credit at this game. He is a younger brother of Alf. Scott, who was Auckland’s wicket keeper some seasons ago and was also one of Auckland’s leading Rugby League forwards. POLLOCK AT CRICKET H, R. (“Bunk”) Pollock, after failing miserably in his first game of the season, produced the goods in Wellington cricket recently when he scored a bright 92. Even though Pollock’s name immediately suggests a football game, he has made quite a name for himself at cricket and is recognised as a very fine bat. Whenever he gets set he scores off every ball possible, and can be relied on to brighten the dullest of matches. His 92 the other day was scored in fast time, and he was most unfortunate in going out just short of his century to a ball that did not really deserve a wioket. CRICKETERS' DAY There is an adage to the effect that the Lord helps those who help themselves, and the cricketers of Wellington on December 10 intend to act upon it. There has been an acute shortage of playing fields in Wellington since a portion of the reserve at Lyall Bay has been taken for the exhibition buildings (savs the ‘ Dominion ’). With the object of raising funds to help the Wellington City Council to provide more playing fields, the cricketers of the city have decided to postpone their championship matches • on Saturday, December 10, and play a series of matches between teams representing the Wellington Cricket Association, the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League, and the Hutt Valley Cricket Association. One of the most interesting games on this programme will be the match at the Basin Reserve, in which veterans will pit their skill against present-day players. It is expected that such renowned players of the past as J. S. Hiddleston, D. C. Collins, and H. M. M'Girr will be in the veterans’ eleven. It is doubtful whether T. C. Lowry, the one-time Wellington and New Zealand cricket captain, will be able to play, as he recently had a spill from a horse and broke a small bone in, a foot. Followers of the game will hope that this will have mended in time to let him take his place in the team. HIRD'S FINE DEEDS During recent cricket seasons Australia has lost a number of promising colts to England (says the Sydney ‘ Labour Daily’). Outstanding among them is Sid Hird, former Balmain all-rounder, who has been in the Ramsbottom Cricket Club for three seasons. Hird recently signed on with Ramsbottom for another two years. Last season Hird created a Lancashire League record by scoring a century and securing eight wickets for 28 runs against Accrington. In addition he was the first batsman to score 500 runs in Lancashire League last season. He reached this total when he scored 128 not out against Burnley. In the match against Rishton the brilliant all-rounder secured eight wickets for 25 runs. NOTES The announcement of the selection of Sir Stanley Jackson as the new president of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, in succession to the late Lord Hawke, has given pleasure to Australian cricketers who knew him in the days when he was one of the stalwarts of the county and of England on the cricket field (says the ‘Sporting Globe ’). Like Lord Hawke, he is a former captain of the county team, and he had the additional and greater honour of captaining England against Australia. A wonderful all-round player, who was always at his best when his side had to fight, it is a matter for deep regret that he was never able to visit Australia with a test side. In texts he had the fine record of 1,415 runs at an average of 48, and he took 24 wickets at 33 runs each. The Auckland captain, A. J. Postles, has struck his best form. His last two innings have yielded 40 and 60, and he was unlucky to be run out on the latter occasion, when he appeared well set for his century. There was an unusual incident in a match at New Plymouth the other day when a bowler, V. Parkinson, appealed to the square log umpire when the umpire at the bowler’s end disallowed his appeal for a catch behind the wickets. Such an appeal, of course, is “ not done.” It is only the umpire who can appeal to his colleague when in doubt. Parkinson realised his error almost at once, and made suitable amends. Test cricket lost a great exponent of the game when, after a highly successful season in England,, W. H. Pous- (

ford announced Ids retirement from first class cricket, says a writer in a Melbourne paper. Since then he has been the mainstay of the Melbourne Cricket Club team in its four pennant successes. Now he has deserted that field of activity and will devoto himself to coaching; the juniors of his club. When Sydenham were faced with the task of scoring 72 in 47 minutes for an outright win against East Christchurch at Lancaster Park recently a group of spectators fell to discussing rates of scoring, and someone recalled that remarkable over in which Roger Blunt scored 42 runs—seven G’s (says the ‘ Star-Sun ’). It was in a match at Hagley Park, and the unfortunate bowler was E. B. Cargill. An over like that enlarges one’s ideas of the possible in cricket. Theoretically 500 runs an hour is not impossible. But in practice the rate of scoring is nearer 50, and batsmen who can make runs against the clock are rare. Fast scoring is generally done when runs are not wanted in any particular hurry.