CRICKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10734, 3 November 1928, Page 9

CRICKET.

riAY IN POVERTY BAY.

OPENING MATCHES TO-DAY

FINE 1 SEASON PROMISED.

(By “Willow-.”)

Weather conditions proving kind, Poverty Bay’s competition matches will open at the Oval this afternoon with/the first series of games in the qualifying round of the senior grade. And rarely, perhaps, lias the season ween entered upon under such favorable conditions. Unlike recent years, there has been -a considerable interval between the closing of Rugby and the opening of cricket, which has given .the Oval an opportunity to recover a little from the ravages of the winter game. The improved, financial position of the Association lias also enabled a largely-increased expenditure on tlio. ground and there lias been a large outlay in top-dressing, manuring and rolling, with the result that the Oval , has rarely been in such good order and certainly not so early- in the season. As during last season, eight teams I lave entered for the Saturday senior grade. This will be contested on the lines adopted part-way through last season; i.e., a round of one-day games will he played to decide the status of teams’ when the competition is divided into sections; all points are then cancelled and the teams in each section play one another, in two-day games. Two rounds of post-sectional play will probably be contested. At time of writing, full club lists are not available, so the strength or individual teams is hard to gauge. Generally, however, this promises to be very much the same as last season. Celtic wdl be hard to rob of the championship, especially as atter all, they will have that bjrilliant. allrounder, F. Bennett, to assist in all departments of tlio game. Old 803 s will prove a solid combination also while CHy, if they maintain the ,form -shown over the latter part of last season, should also be well m the limit. High School, With* their fine fiekling ability, may well be as prominent as in past seasons. Of .I* 1 ® other teams, Turanganui lias briglit prospects, for, during part pf the season, at least, they will have VV. Blair, one of tlie local “stars’’ a few years ago, to assist them. “Hanj BUis the over-gree/n, will also be returning to the game' after over a season’s absence; and he has thrown m his lot with Turanganui. He will be invaluable to the team, not only tor uis plav, lint also for the valuable advice which he will impart to the many colts among his team-mates. Civil Service, with the encouragement ot their success last season, should prove no feeble opponents in tliis and their ranks" may have been augmented by new blood. The two club teams are uncertain quantities. Poverty Bav s strength will depend largely on the players available each Saturday at full strength they would be the hardest proposition in the competition. Gisborne, after some fine performances two seasons ago, relapsed into mediocrity last; season, tilt had occasional flashes of fine work. Their hatting, last year, was far too uncertain, but, this year, they may spring some surprises. . The season is to be officially open, ted-bv the president of the Association Mr. W. F. Cederwall, this alter-iioo-n. The Hon. K. S. Williams, who is expected to play for Poverty Bay in to-day’s match against Gisboine, will also he present. Incidentally, will G; w. Albertson figure among the Gisborne players? . All supporters of the- game are invited to attend this afternoon and it is to be hoped that there is a good muster for the opening of what may prove one ot the best seasons; yet enjoyted m Bay cricket. .'' . . '• The draw for this afternoon is Turanganui v. School. Celtic v. City. Civil Service v. Old Boys. Gisborne v. Poverty Bay.

M.C.C. TOURISTS.

CHAPMAN AND HIS MEN

J. C. WHITE.

White, John Cornish,'is a Somersetshire farmer, who first played tor liis. County in 1911, but not till 1913 did he appear regularly. Primarily a slow left-hand bowler, he developed iis a useful batsman and was always a sound field, writes Capt. E. _W. Baliantine in the “Free Lance, ’ Ihe responsibilities of captaincy of til© County dp not unnerve him. • His bbwling has a most deceptive flight, but needs atmospheric resistance to be dangerous. ,He is extraordinarily accurate in length and untiling, I have seen him bowl for two hours on end, and he has oeen v 'Ht>l© to keep the' batsmen playing at him all the time. He is a successful bowler-' even on good wickets and a dangerous bowler when he is getting assistance from the pitch. -Ever since .7. C. White has been a regular member of the. Somerset team he has topped the howling averages of His side, and in '1919, he took 1§ tickets m the course of one day against Worcestershire. Never lias he made 1000 runs in a season and taken a Hundred wickets. , In .192 L at Leeds, lie played against: tfio Australian XL and he has represented the Gentlemen at Lord r s against' the Players.; l H®; mighty easily bb ’successful on Australian wickets, .even,if-only.a foil for other howlers. Born' February 'l9th, 1891, he is in his 38th: year. *-; : A-'London “Daily Express” -writer discusses him. thus-: From , a cricketer who -wasplayed almost entirely fOr-diis bowling White ‘developed into qjigi -of the .most-." useful > all-rounders in'England. He made a reputation as a: slip.' field, and nowadays ha can stop* mpsV shots at inid-bff. He is n steudy'-batsmahy better than lie looks, and there was some truth m the winds of an' opponent- * who. complained.that lie 1 found it asr difficult to get •White''C'ut>as to score off his bowling. ; White- looks to 1«3 ;such an innoceiif;;'ih; attack. : His' healthy, middy ooihplbxidnV.and-. his slightly grizzled h'ii’HcbmbiiiiV, to give him an aspect oi bepevole ; nce- There ; . .is ,something guileful.' perhaps, m the (suggestion of hiding.'behifid the,., unipire> .as; a .prelude to . the i;u» up, but the = rum-up itself so simple, had a dozen uhhiirrted steps, and the easy rhythm of - thewhole, 'movement,: interrupted '•only: T>y >a characteristic sticking for--walrd’ of the right leg uKjt before the left"arm: swings oyerw Hie real gu-de ' is r in’that'loft, arm and the brain that directs if. White’s bowling, as war.-.-'cbted' from the ringside; works, out its . plbts' mbrc-'.by. flight.: and length Ulipm ' ‘ c

BIG SEASON OPENS

AUSTRALIAN PROSPECTS

M.C.C.’S ARRIVAL.

With the arrival of the English cricket team, under Percy Chapman, in Fremantle yesterday, and .the commencement of tlie first match against West Australia’; at Perth to-morrow the big cricket campaign in Australia commences in earnest (writes E. M. Baillie, the Melbourne “Globe’s” representative with the M.O.C. team, on October 17). From now on until well into March next we shall have a feast of cricket of the highest class. The season promises to be one of the most memorable in the history of the game in this country. The inter-State fixtures and tlie matches the States against the Englishmen in the next few weeks will be but a 2>reparation for the all absorbing Test matches, the first of which will start at Brisbane. on November 30. The programme is the biggest that has ever been submitted to tlie Australian public, and our players are going to have a busy and exacting time. ' Some of tlie youngsters will get oppor tun ties that otherwise would not have come their way. The Englishmen received a warm welcome in the 'West, one and all expressing their delight that the long voyage was over, and that they were about to enter upon' their big campaign. They are looking; forward to this tour with particular interest, for having wrested the ashes llack from the Australians after so many years of defeat, they are determined that they will not relinquish their hold of them without a tremendous fight. Shortly after their arrival they were given a civic reception at the Perth Town Hall, and were later' guests of the Governor of West Australia at luncheon. They will have their first practice on Perth Oval today.

Mr. Tone, the manager, and Chapman, the captain, both spoke hopefully of their prospects, and declared that they had one of the finest teams that had ever left England. They had no fear in regard to hatting, and while not prepared to commit themselves as to the success or otherwise of their bowling,- they declared that it was the best that could be obtained. They, are confident Tate and Larwood will prove a great pair of opening bowlers, and that Tate will have more support than on his last tour, while the howling will he more varied. ' .... Mr. Tobne declared that it is the strongest Putting. team over sent to Australia, and he expects some very high scoring. I travelled with the team from Colombo, and there is no doubt that they are a remavkably fine body of men. who should become very popu'ar in Australia. They are keen and enthusiastic, and one and all, from tke oldest of old players to the youngest of the new ones, are delighted that they are taking part in the tour. ... “To sav that-.T am delighted is to put it mildly,” said one of the new men. “I have realised the greatest ambition of my life in being chosen for an Australian tour, and I don t car© now if I never get another trip. Hobbs, who is making his fifth trip, is as keen fas any, and says that ov€n if lie Titid not V'66ii clio&eii jot the team, he would have come out for the trijS, this despite the fact that he is a poor sailor and that he lias had an unpleasant, trip owing to sea-sickness. Hendren, Tate, Sutcliffe, and other members of previous teams, aie equally keen. All are the picture or health', and despite the great heat on the voyage, particularly in the Red Sea, have enjoyed the trip. They were very popular among the other passengers, and took a prominent part in the ship’s amusements. Just before their arrival at Fremantle a number of Australians pn board entertained them, and wished them a pleasant and successful trip. Several English supporters of cricket are accompanying the team, and propose to follow them in all their principal matches. V- *

RANDOM NOTCHES. - NOTES FROM ALL CREASES. t From a report of a recent meeting of the Australian Board of Control it appears that a wrong idea is held of the class? of opposition against the Australian team in New Zealand last season. For the purpose of computation of averages? the board has accepted “the two Tests and the fixtures (against North iand South Islands” as first-class.

Writing in. a London exchange on August 26, Maurice Tate commented that there was “nothing fresh to bet. said about the prospects of England beating Australia during the coming tour, and thus retaining the ‘Ashes.' But at least one thing has happenea during th© last few days to cause us to he even more; cheerful concerning the prospect than we were before—the .amazing form of ‘Wally’ Hammond.' - During the last few days ,he lias had the sort of time aoout which every cricketer must dream —a time when lie has been taking wickets, scoring ruins; and making catches. When you think about the coming trip to Australia, don’t forget the possibilities of Hammond. Remember that the Hammond we have .Heard about-during the last few days. *s a player who is sure to make a, lot of difference to the England teanu We. wanted a Wally Hammond very badly whdn we were, -.lqist in ; Australia. (Hammond’B performance in the open-' ing match of the toui* hears out Tate’s remarks well.)

The . columns of the- English sporting Press still continue to .welcome individuals -with a(deep conviction of the low-down cunning of the Australian cricketer (says the Sydney “Bui* letin”). .’The aristocrat, who some time ago pointed out the undesiratiilit.y .cf appointing any person of gentlemanly habit as a captain of all English side, since he would be at a disadvantage against the .unscrupulous Antipodeahs, has been followed by the discoverer of. a hideous plot, • aimed at the ' English bowlers. He points out that the reason the Australians are insisting on the eightball over in all- matches save the Tests is that they hope by this means to sap the energies of Tate and his confreres. “Knowing the Australian mentality in sports,” sums up this escaped Bedlamite. “I am eonyHicecL that this is a move to put a spoke ui England’s wheel by somewh'at curbing Larwood’s speed.” ‘ Considered _as an attempt to draw • a seething: red . liei - ring helter-skelter under (the rose, to continue in the path of * appropriate - metaphor, it also can claim atteii- , tion. V- - ' . : v~ ’.