CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 11

CRICKET.

Spring is here, and with the lengthemng of the days and warmer atxnospheie enthusiasts of the willow are beginning to shake off dull sloth and look _out bats and flannels in. readiness for the coming season. Prospects for the incoming ‘ season look very promising, and if all the players turn out and strike form South laranaki will see some good cricket. liie same number of teams as last season have entered for the competitions under the local cricket association. The Hawera Club had a decent practice match last Saturday and 6ome good form wsts shown* The bowlers were in the ascendant owing to the pitch being tricky, but nevertheless Some of the batting was good. Everybody was keen, and with steady practice the Hawera teams should be hard to beat. Most of last season's players were out. and one noticed some new faces. A good many young players were to be seen, and with some coaching they ought to develop into good players. The Manaia Club expect ton be strong this season, and with the return of Dr. Maunsell will be a hot proposition for the other clubs. It is understood that L. J. Furrie will be taking a hand again with the Stratford team. Okaiawa will be a little weaker perhaps than last year. Terry Smith, who shifted to Wellington, will be hard to replace, and there is also a little doubt about Henry Hughes being able to play regularly through the -early part of the season. Stratford is likely to find it- a hit difficult to put a strong team m the field, but until the first matches are played the playing strength cannot be gauged with any certainty. Bltham are likely to he fairly strong, and wall no doubt prove a tough nut to crack. It is understood that most of their best players will be out again. P’atea have lost a stalwart in N. Harding, but they still have some good players, and will always bo hard to beat at home. It is to be hoped that the movement to infuse real life into the primary schools bears fruit, as they are the nurseries of all the future players. A thorough grounding wdiile young makes all the difference to the player. Judging by the annual reports submitted to the various associations, one can be justified in saying that the greatest optimism is allowable when looking at the prospects of cricket in the Dominion. The tour of the New South Welshmen did a’ great deal of good last year, and the young players especially should he able to apply the lessons given by the great Australians. The batting shown by such men as Kippax, Macartney, Bardsley and Andrews was of the- best, and there was a complete submersion of anything that, was not sound and inimical to the best interests of the youngsters watching the play. The Wellington Cricket Association, under that stalwart Mr. C. G. Wilson, has hit out on right lines in getting a big supply of the best top-dressing for the wickets on the Basin Reserve. The soil has been obtained from Oamaru, and is identical with that used on the Carisbrook ground in Dunedin. The engagement of Captain Badcoek by the Wellington Association to coach the rising generation is a- step in the right direction. He was the best batsman in the Wellington College XI. in England, and since the war has been coaching at the Oval. He also played for the Surrey second XI., and did good -work for this team. Wellington College in Berkshire has turned out some very fine cricketers; but owing to the college being principally a school for those going into the 'army, most of its great players have become known in that arin of the services. It is well co note that the present coach at the college is A. E. Keif, who used to coach in Auckland prior to the war. It is a pity that the West Indian visit has had to be postponed, although it might turn out to be for the best after all. If the visit does materialise New Zealanders will have to meet some very fine players. During the 1923 season the West Indians visited England and did very well indeed. It w'ould be interesting to see how our batsmen would shape against the really fast bowlers of the Richardson type. The West Indian bowlers were faster than any in England last season, and in the final match of their tour against an England XI. at Scarborough created something like consternation amongst their opponents. Three of their players made "great names for themselves, namely, G. Ohalloner, Francis and John. The first-named showed himself to be one of the leading batsmen of the world, while the last two, who are black, by the way, w'ere in the front rank as genuine fast bowlers of the old type. Juvenile cricket appears to he flourishing with a vengeance in South Canterbury. The Timaru Boys’ High’ School proposes to establish a new record as regards multiplicity of representative teams. “There should he

■MM'iiiiriiwaMßß—PlPßWBMB—3BEMBOM no shortage of cricket players in the future,” remarks the Timaru Post; “It is understood that the Timaru Boys’ High School will place, no „fewer than 22 elevens in the field this season, accounting for 242 players. To equip this young army will take a small fortune.” That’s the stuff. An interesting figure, .if not an imposing one, disappeared from Australian cricket in the death of Alick Bannerman. (says “Woomera” in. the Australasian), and obituaries of the great little man dwell-upon the contrast offered when he and George Bonner were in together. I remember one occasion on which they opened an innings, and both scored heavily, but the giant batsman from Bathurst came out not at all exalted, “You catch me going in with Lord Alick again,” he remarked. “One minute it’s ‘Come on, Bon., are you asleep?’ the next it’s ‘Go back. Bon., are you mad?’ and then, at the end of the over he’ll come half-way down the wicket and read the * riot act to you.” Peace be with them both. Each was a picturesque personality, and both helped in their way to make history. Mr F. Earl, president of the, Aucklnnd Cricket Association, was unable to attend the annual meeting of the association on account of illness. He forwarded a letter of apology, and in the course of this he stated that there were one or two outstanding matters which demanded attention. Eden Park needed considerable expenditure, which was impossible while the trustees were under the heavy debt with which- the property was burdened. Some means must he devised for the reduction of the debt. Then there was the question of the improvements of ±he standard of cricket, continued Mr Earl. He could never be .content until the supremacy of Auckland, in Dominion cricket was beyond doubt. . This opened: up the question of a cricket coach) Mr Earl’s personal opinion, was that the real and only value of the coach was in his work in the schools, and that as; that; work was, the most pressing need' Was that of firstclass practice wickets. He 4'.-was. strengthened in this belief by a conversation with Mr Warren Bardsley, who viewed practice wickets as of. paramount importance. Mr Earl suggested the formation of a sub-commit-tee to consider this matter immediately. A FAMOUS CRICKETER. JACK HOBBS—A LAW UNTO HIMSELF., ' „ It lias been argued- that Hobbs, the famous English batsman, who is included in the team to tour Australia, 1 is no longer the “Jack Hobbs we used to know,” says “Onlooker” in the London Daily Chronicle. He got tii'ed at Nottingham, says the writer, but so would many men hatting practically a- day arid a half, hut lie never lost liis command over the bowling;; He was the master all through, even though, when tired, lie had to push the hall for singles on occasions. Hobbs is still, arid always will be, a law unto himself; a delight for the crowd to watch,- but impossible as. a model for a young cricketer —never dealing with the same ball twice in the same way, always watching the fielders as well as the bowlers, and placing the ball where they are not’. Still, the despair of those who have to bowl to hini, and the inspiration of those who have the fortune to hat with him, Hobbs will, in five years’ tiine, he what he has been the last, fifteen or more years in cricket—a man who makes the best howlers look easy, and takes runs with' the same impartiality from all howler's—good, bad; or indifferent. SYDNEY GAMES. The 1924-25 cricket season opened on Saturday in duH and oppressive weather, when the first round of district grade matches, controlled by the New South Wales Association, was commenced. Keen interest was shown in the varioue matches; and the - form of likely State and international players was closely followed, in view of the visit of the Marylebone Cricket Club and the Sheffield Shield series. RESULTS. Gordon, eight wickets for 201, v. Sydney, one wicket for 34. Waver ley, five wickets for 439, v. St. George. " ; University, 284, v. Glebe, no wicket for 21. - Marrickville, 134, v. Western Suburbs, three wickets' for 92. Randwick, eight wickets for 254, v. Manly. •, • Paddington. 253, v. Balmain, no wickets for four. . . Petersham, 189,. y. North Sydney, four wickets for 54. Mosman, 235,. v. Cumberland, three wickets for 61* BATTING. 11. Davis (Waverley) ;.... 170 J. M. Taylor (University) 115 H. L. Collins (Waverley) 85 R. G. Stanley (University) 82 N. Grant (Marrickville) 74 A. G. Moyes (Gordon) 70 C. Lambert (Petersham) 70 M. A. Noble (Paddington) 69 M. Ward (Randwick) 68 A. Ratcliffe (Paddington) 62 W. W. Chapman (Mosman) 62 R. Levy (Waverley) 61 O. Ward (Randwick) not out 59 BOWLING. R. C. Coogan (Cumberland), eight wickets for 83. H. Dupain (Western Sjuburbs), five wickets for 37. A. Punch (North Sydney), four wickets for 55. W. Clark (Glebe), four wickets for 72). At a country cricket match a farm servant was selected as umpire. All went well until one batsman got his leg in front of the wicket, the bowler appealing for leg before. “Out,” said the umpire. “I am not,’’ said the batsman. No little amusement was caused when the umpire said: “Just keep thy leg where it is and come to this end and look for thy set.”

in the world. It the meeting resulted in fostering social fellowship it would be all to the good. Mr. Mayall (Chief Constable, Old-liam)Ji-:iri: reply, ..-recalled the fact that the 'ifiter-county games began in the nineties, and that in 1901 and for some years v iffeywards he played in them. The objeettevas to help the funds of that, worthy institution, the Northern Polite Convalescent Home and Orphansome reason or other the matches lapsed in 1905, but were renewed last year, and he sincerely hoped they Would be continued. Mr G. Muff (member of Bradford Watch Committee) remarked that when they saw their president amongst them they knew that he embodied not only the whole Watch Committee in the Northern County but the police force as well. They as members of Watch Committees and Chief Constables had to recognise,, as was once said of the Quakers, that the police were in the worldy/but not of it. It was their duty to provide every opportunity for the socialviamenities of the police force. Aldv Hbt. Turner (Halifax, President Yorkshire Council), speaking to the toast/of the Yorkshire County Police Cricket Club, said that cricket was eminently suitable for policemen, because it gave them the opportunity of improving their activity of mind. The cricketer had to be alert and have anticipatihhy, and know when to defend or attack." He was under the jurisdiction of the captain, playing for his side with the one object of winning. In congratulating the ■ victorious Lancashire team, he said that if a Yorkshire man had to he beaten at all hewould prefer being beaten by a Lancastrian than any other. Chief Cqnstable Mathews (Leeds), in reply, remarked that the cricketing policeman not only played cricket , in the field but also in his- work. Colonel Coke said he was born in Derbyshire, was Chief Constable of the West Riding, and had served in the York and Lancs. Regiment, so he would let them guess where hi s sympathies were. They wanted nothing higher than that cricket should have given them the saying, “play cricket” meant “play the game.” Cricket brought out the spirit of co-operation, the working of a common end. Major A. H. Richardson (Chief Constable, Halifax) said he did not underestimate the value of cricket for those men who were to some extent ostracised. The Halifax police were consistent with their own responsibilities, allowed to play not only cricket, but every other ./game they wanted. He heartily congratulated the Lancasshire men on- their victory. He said that they all hoped Major-General Atcherley would long continue both in his official duties and as their president. - Major-General Atcherley, in reply, said he hoped and believed he still belonged in some sense to the body in which he served so many years. Although by appointment he was an inspector, he was informed it was also his duty to see to the recreation of the police in the sense that the police had during the last few years improved and been organised on those lines. That organisation, for which Supt. Turner deserved the whole credit, was one tending in the right direction, to bring together the police in their amusements. The police should be provided for and be given the means. of recreation. If such an organisation failed, the police the passives-ought to he responsible. Athletics/ and sports of all kinds should he organised and should have a trophy to be-, competed for at a general meeting, the trophy to be the blue ribbon, of the police service. They did n<jt;:/rgqiiire a cup, they wanted sport.teg^HkySafrhre. - - <W>ite prepared to have j&'siunpie memento,- 1 siueh. as -a silken ribbon • with, say, a silver brooch attached. -He did not know whether the Police Federation: had ever considered the point-. He felt it was going in the direction: of something greater, and he wanted to let it go forward, not only a$ his desire, but as their desire, thate-something on those lines should'he;.(Joiie-Hhear, hear). CHARA MISHAP. CRICKETERS’ STARTLING EXPERIENCE. A chara load containing a cricket team, committee, supporters and lady friends, left Halifax recently to fulfil a Yorkshire Council engagement. The ‘ ‘young : “bTood's'” 'of -the party attempted to Maintain high spirits under the depressing conditions, and, says the local paper with quaint irony, unfortunately tried to introduce harmony and melody with! disastrous results. The effects of then-solos and choruses, especially the former, must have affected the mechanical apparatus of the conveyance, which revolted under its “heavy burden,'?’ and shortly after passing Bolton Abb-fey, en route for the cricket destination. got very much out of course, tlnqiigh the left-side wheels entering a guilty, the effect being that the chara tilted somewhat against a wall on the roadside, where- the hedges abound in prolusion. The doors' of the chara were jamihed closely against the said wall and)|liedge, which necessitated the passengers scrambling out in the best “Hpudini style,” and dropping into the!; [adjoining, field, near the river.