CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 9

CRICKET.

FIXTURES POE NEXT SATURDAY. Dec.. 6—Midlands v. Manaia, at MasElthain v. 'Excelsior, at HaTreraj Stratford v. Patea, at Stratford; Okaiawa, a bye. . The game last Saturday between North South Taranaki was one of the most exciting that this writer has ,It certainly goes on record as the 1 most dramatic seen on this coast a contest . between representative teams. The writer also remembers one Or two games in other parts where the scoring was. faster and much larger, That by the way, the game under re view was full; of. incident. There were some good samples of cricket and a ■ great many otherwise. The standard of play was not very bjgb-class, and 'the* ball generally was in the ascendant. The matting was not Idid as tightly as it might have : been, and in the second innings it was quite loose and wavy, Unless the surface on which the matting is laid is well rblled, and the matting itself well stretched; one cannot expeet to see the best of cricket.; “To be ready for the , unexpected ’’is a motto one has 'to bear in mind- constantly under such conditions; therefore there is too much restraint in the play. Another thing that, wants remedying is. the matting being in two pieces. When the South had finished their second innings; for T27* thus giving them.a lead of 1-39 and only 45 minutes to play, one would hardly have thought that they would be losers: ‘ From the first ball bowled in . the North second innings there seemed to he danger, and' a change should have been made in the tactics. The fielding side should hay?' tightened up', the play, and hot haye made .it so .much easier for the batsmen by opening out the field. The chief aim should be to constrict: the operations of the batting side as much as possible, and thus make them feel that they have to fight for their runs. These things cam be done very easily, without resort to any questionable proceedings,. The play throughout the early part of the. game was rather drab,- and it seemed to me that* the Southern batsmen did not make enough use of a lot of bad length bowling. Bottrill kept the. •• best ; length of the bowlers, and v rose up awkwardly at times.' Clarke did not strike, a length at any time during, the day and bowled too much on..the leg. pin. Pearson got six wickets, and; at times got in some good balls;' nevertheless, the batsmen flattened him. The North fielding was fair, but slow at times. ? •' 'The Southern bowling in the first innings was done by McCarthy, who came out with six wickets for 29, and Cole, wl;o captured three wickets. The forriier maintained a good length and turned the ball the whole time: He also- concealed his variations of pace extremely well. Cole is a good bowler on matting, as he makes one go with the arm at times. v 'Mclle'an for North was successful in the second innings, but he lias hot got' control of length yet, through tryipg. to . ; spin-’the ball too: much. The batting did not display much enterprise until the North second innings. Pearson showed great dash; and hits’fairly, straight, .but. he is not a found bat by any means. He gave three chances, but they were hard ones. However, he played the only game under the circumstances, ar.d showed himself the possessor of good nerves. Palmer .was the best bat on the side, and displayed good f?rm in both his innings.,’ He has one fault which wants correcting, and that is a decided tendency to pull the) left shoulder away when coming forward. It seems. as if his. feet were not' placed right in the stance. Bottrill is a fair bat, with some defence., /

’Terry shaped well each time and has some excellent off strokes. Naismith went fairly cheaply, but looks a rather stiff sort of bat. His elbows and wrist seem tied up somehow. ; ■' . - Cole got the highest score for the South and shows better form in these matches, than .in the cup fixtures. His driving is always well timed and he showed a very solid defence. Fulton made one or two good strokes and stayed a long time.: The matting seemed to'hamper him somewhat in going for the drive. Penny made top score in the second

innings, but is not a vc”y elegant bat » by any manner of means. He makes his shots with the forearm, without any freedom in the joints. . Hughes and Pratt did not shape well , in getting their runs, and both were too anxious to get • across the ball. .Monaghan was shaping well in both innings, but luck was dead against him. He played the ball he was given out ‘ l.b.w. to in the first innings, and in the second pulled a widish one. in. McCarthy looked like runs in the second.innings, but went in too late. Vowless.did not look like runs, and should make more use of his feet in the early part of his innings. He treats \ tlie bowler too gently. ' ■ The fielding on the South side in the first innings was excellent, but in the second the movements were a little lethargic. Thomas and Fuller, the wicketkeepers, both performed very well indeed. j AT AUCKLAND. v ;•'.** . ...

The following are the results of Saturday’s games, last week’s scores being given in parentheses— Eden v. Grafton—Grafton first innings (two wickets for 60) 267 (E. Horspool 58, Allcott 36, Pope 58, H. Wilson 20). Bowling for Eden, Whelan took four for 37, Cooper three for 43. Eden, first innings 164,' second innings no wickets for 92 runs (Postles not out 30, Mills not out 43), Grafton wins on the first innings. Ponsonby v. North Shore. —Ponsonby first innings 185. North Shore first innings 69 (Elliott 13). Bowling for Ponsonby, Smith took eight wickets for 35, Snedden two for 28. Ponsonby had seven down for 162 in their second innings (Snedden 33, Burton 22, Taylor not out 40). Bowling for North Shore, Daere took four for 37. Ponsonby win on the first innings. Parnell v. University—Parnell first innings four wickets for 125 (D. K. Smith- 41, McCoy 57). Bowling for University, Garrard took four for 40, Saunders four for 35. University first innings 176, second innings 293 (Saunders 105, Metge 44). Bowling for Par-

nell, McCoy took five. for 49. University won on the first innings.

In. the Suburban Association’s! second grade, Marist - beat Greenlane by one innings and 57 runs. Marist first innings 137. Greenlane 11 and 69. ,Gaw and Nolan each performed the hat trick.

CHRISTCHURCH GAMES. The second round of ' the senior matches was Vpucluded on Saturday in brilliant weather and on splendid wickets. Sydenham v. St. Albans.—Sydenham scored a two-point win. St. Albans (first innings 216) made 128 in the second essay (Woods 30, Thomas 30). Bowling for Sydenham, D. Mcßeath took three for 32, Cunningham five for 23. Sydenham (first innings 107) ran up 326 in their second strike (Gasson 10.7,, Oliver 21,, W. R. Patrick 78, McEwin 26,. D. Mcßeath 61). Bowling for St. Albans, D. Sandman t~ok three for, 135, Thomas five for 52.

Linwood beat Riccarton on the first innings. Riccarton (first innings 177) made 170 for nine wickets in their second innings (Evans 33, Powell 23, Cox not out 43, Haines 24). Bowling for Linwood, Read took six for 59. Linwood’s first innings closed for 228 (Condliffe 49, Armitage 24, Russell 69,. and Hallam 28).* - Bowling for Riccarton, PowelL took three for 46. West Christchurch beat East Christchurch on the first innings. West Christchurch declared their first innings closed with seven wickets down for 334 (Blunt. 131, Dr. Foster 44, Charles not out 38, Hitchcock 32). Bowling for .East Christchurch, Flood took. three for 95. East Christchurch, with 157 ,in the first innings, ran up 225 for the loss of only three wickets in the second strike (Gregory 96, Elvey 38, Brosnahan 41, and Blank not out 35).

MATCHES IN OTAGO. The first grade matches 'between Dunedin and Carisbrook and Grange and Albion opened on Saturday. Dunedin in their first innings compiled 331 (Baker 85, Higgins 70, Torrance 54, Strang 45, and Casey 40). Bowling, Douglas took four for 73, Bardsley three for 26. Carisbrook had three wickets down for 50.

Grange made 224 in the first innings (Knight 52, H. C. Alloo 46, Chadwick 29, and MeMullan 26). Bowling, Blamires took six for 42. Albion have three wickets down for 76.

SYDNEY RESULTS

Waverley, six wickets for 261, beat Gordon*, 252, by four wickets and nine runs on the first innings. ; Balmain, 165 and two wickets for 77, beat Western Suburbs, 23 and six wickets for. 271 (innings declared, closed) by 142 runs on the first innings. ' Manly, 33 and 255, tied with University, 191 and 97. Paddington, 185, beat Mosman, 120, ..and seven wickets for 201, by 65 runs on the first innings. North.-Sydney, seven- wickets for 397 (innings declared closed), beat Cumberland, 202, and five Wickets for 126', by 195 runs on the first innings. Glebe, four wickets for 343 (innings declared closed) beat St. George, 232, and five wickets for 114, by 111 runs on the first innings. . Sydney, 239, beat Eandwick, 130 and 97, by an innings and 11 runs. ; Petersham, 270, beat Marriekville, 86, and seven wickets for 288, by 184 runs on the first innings. , Batting—G. Morgan (Glebe) 146; H. L. Collins (Waverley) 132 not out; 4. F. Kyle (North Sydney) 116; A. Gee (Marriekville) 105 not out; W. Bardsley (Western Suburbs) 103; A. Punch (North Sydney) 81; R, B. Minnett (Manly) 69; F. Rowland (Mosman) 69 not out; S. Everett (Petersham) 57; F. Hack (Glebe) 56; A. Gray (Glebe) 54 not out; W. G. F. Brown (North Sydney) 52; R. Rolleston (Sydney) 50; T. Davis (Western Suburbs) 50. Bowling—E. Smith (Eandwick), 7 for 101; R, A. Bubb (Manly),. 6 for 42; ? J. Anderson (Mosman), 5 for 46; J. D. Scott (Marriekville), 5 for 74/

THE AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN,

A COLOMBO APPRECIATION,

(By “Not Out’ in Referee.)

Cricket, like the 'language, is common to the British Empire. Hence we find its problems and personalities discussed in all parts of the world, not forgetting the East, with its teeming millions.

Mr S. P. Foenander. of Ceylon, sends m ®. & . copy of a very comprehensive article on the career of H. L. Collins he published in the Times of Ceylon last month. The thoroughness shown in this survey of the career of Australia’s captain for the first Test match is astonishing. 'lf written by an Australian it would have revealed uncommon interest in the historical side of the grme, a little element by no means characteristic of the average writer on cricket in the Australian ewspapers these days. They appear to be on the qui vive for spicy personal tit-bits which have little bearing on the game. Of course there are several notable exceptions.

' The writer of this article expects a great deal from H. L. Collins as captain; his powers as leader are measured by the manner in which he handled the A.I.F. team. Those soldier boys revealed team-work of the highest possible order. In Test cricket the only elevens I have seen equal this combination were those of 1897-8, captained by Harry Trott, who was the best captain Australia ever saw. Whether H.L.C. Will get the, Australians together in this way has to- be seen. The A.I.F. were an extremely happy party of players, who teamed most admirably, and were loyalty itself to their leader! In England, no doubt, some of our teams have trained together superbly, notably that of 1921.

Harry /Trott was the greatest cricket captain on the field of play I have ever seen. This view was held by.some of the old champions who were associated with the elegant and popular Billy Murdoch. Alick Bannermann and Charlie Beal thought so. M. A. Noble was a very high-class captain, but it struck me that Trott was quicker to sense the weak points in a batsman, quicker to put on the bowler most likely to get him but, and quicker to manoeuvre his field to beat the batsman. If Collins were to take a leaf out of the Trott book in these directions, he would make the early run-getting’ by second-rate batsmen more difficult?

ECHOOL CRICKET. As - with other sports, cricket gets keen encouragement at the Technical High School in Hawera. Many excellent performances have been put up by the senior teams, and they are all as keen as possible and are heartily encouraged by the headmaster and staff. One point worth mention about their practice on the Park grounds is that when they go over there no boy is allowed to play unless he wears shoes. It is of interest to note that quite a number of ex-pupils are playing in the district teams and doing very well, showing the effects of the good training they have received at the school. Cricket at the district schools underMr Bates and Mr Jackson also receives very keen encouragement. The boys in the teams are all very enthusiastic. ANOTHER ARMSTRONG. In view of the success of Richard Tyldesley against New South Wales, the following comment by Dr. R. MacDonald, the Queenslander, is interesting. , , R. Tyldesley gets his wickets here by reason of perfectly maintained length bowling of the leg break and overspinner. The latter ball, coming straight through and making pace off the pitch, _ gets him many l.b.w. decisions. His is a form of bowling of which Warwick Armstrong is the prototype. Tyldesley. in the mass, also bears a physical resemblance to Armstrong. THE SPECTACLED BATSMAN.

Arthur Richardson, the piler-up of centuries against English; teams is on© of many spectacled cricketers who have performed with stricking success on Australian wickets. J.N. Crapfford was the finest all-rounder who played in glasses, R. A. Young, one of the wicketkeepers in first-class cricket, having to resort to artificial assistance to sight the ball, i - ;

In Sydney several cricketers of' some prominence play in glasses. Percy Dive, the wily slow bowler of Gordon, is one. 0. S. Smith, who used to figure in three-figure opening partnerships for Petersham is another. L. C. Berry, who has played for the State, and for Glebe and Petersham, batted with great dash though he wore glasses. And R. C. M. Boyce, one of the best batsmen in Sydney these times, and who has captained New South Wales, always plays with glasses. There is probably no harder driver on the off-side in Australia!} cricket than Arthur Richardson. He ha's riot often shown his top form against New South Wales and Victoria, thoup-h now and then he has settled into' his best stride and revealed the punching power applied with greater consistency~against the Englishmen.

P- F. WARNER’S OPTIMISM.

Speaking at a cricket luncheon in England a little while Kick ,P. F. Warner said they were all interested in English team. He thought it was a very fine side, strong in batting, fine fielders, and their bowling would, he thought, turn out better than some people imagined . “I may be wrong,” he added, “but I think we are going to beat Australia this year.” SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS : IS THE WEED HARMFUL ? (By The Gentleman In Black.) i A. correspondent writes asking how many -pf the- Efiglish cricketers who are going to Australia are non-smokers and also whether I consider indulgence in the weed is a handicap to a player. I fear I cannot give precise information on the former point, though it may safely be stated that the majority smoke. • As to the second question smoking may prove prejudicial if indulged in to-excess, the same may be said of drinking or eating. I remember being told years ago by a man who had been eiltered for a Sheffield handicap that, whilst he was training* it'"became known that he had had a cigarette, the consequence being that the circumstance, trifling though it may seem to have been, caused the betting in his favour to become less flattering. Possibly it would be better for an athlete if he never smoked, but experience has proved that indulgence in moderation can do little, if .any, harm. Inhaling, however, may cause mischief, and some attention should be given to the quality of the tobacco used. - On the whole, smoking in modernation need not be condemned so far as cricketers are concerned. So far as I know neither Richardson nor Lockwood was ever handicapped through their devotion to the weed; each was a very heavy pipe-smoker, but was capable of doing as much work a-s two or three men if necessary.

There was a time —certainly within the last one hundred years —when smoking was considered a most objectionable habit. Nor was the prejudice against it readily removed. Admiral Rous regarded it almost as an ungentlemanly act, and many persons, otherwise quite intelligent, "affected to believe that smokers were capable of almost any crime. Calveily, in his “Ode to Tobacco,” “writin’ sarcastic, told. How they who use fusees All grow by slow degrees Brainless as chimpanzees, Meagre as lizards: Go mad, and beat their wives, Plunge (after shocking lives) Razors and carving knives Into their gizzards.

Those lines were penned when gentlemen who wished to smoke in country houses, after the ladies had gone to bed, used, as a matter of course, to go to the servants’ hall or to the harnessroom in the stables.

Even a,mong men themselves opinion was so divided as to the desirabiliev of the practice that it was only after much discussion, covering a period of manv years, that members of the M.C.C. were allowed much freedom of action in the matter on the club premises at Lord’s, and it was the same in many of the great London social clubs.

Bearing all these things in mind, it was perhaps out of sheer devilry that the Cambridge undergraduates used to arrange an annual match between Smokers and Non-Smokers. It was always played at Parker’s Piece, generally some time in May, and a pictor. ial representation of the game used to hang in the.pavilion on the University ground.

From the purely cricket point of view the contests were -nothinoy ]es s than farcical. One condition was that the Smokers should prove their right to inclusion in the side by smoking unceasingly whilst play was in progress, and acrordinglv they “provided themselves with a tolerable stock of weed, which thev blew into the air until oblivion was.the result: the amusement was intended to.be felt, for it was entirely out of the question to derive anv of it through the medium of the. sight.” Occasional!v a really interesting firstclass match, however, ha : s t.akecu, place in which Smokers and Non-Smokers have been the contending. sides, and, remembering what good cricket they

furnished, it seems rather strange that the game has taken place so seldom. The length of modern programmesmay, perhaps, be held partly responsible for. this.

' in .such a match at Lord’s foiiy years ago, when the fourth Australian team was visiting us, Bonner played, an amazingly brilliant innings of 124, punishing Spofforth most severely and making his large score whilst only thirtytwo other runs were being obtained. Whilst he was flogging the • attack unmercifully many old ladies and gentlemen present, wishing to point a moral, stated emphatically that the successful batsman’s quick eye was due to his abstention from tobacco, though they had the wind taken from their sails when during the next Ponner strolled round the ground folio >v«-d by a. crowd of admirers « -.th a. hn-c cigar between hi s teeth. The Somkers at least must have thought that his art ion added insult to inpj. Then there was the match on the East Melbourne ground, in March, 1887, when the Non-Smokers ran up a total of 803, notwithstanding that so great a batsman as William Barnes did not bat.

Shrewsbury scored 236, William Gunn 150. and Bruce (the graceful lefthander) 131. The total was at the time the largest ever obtained in a •first-class match.

' To quote Galverley once more:

Cats may have had their goose Cooked bv tobacco juice; Still, why denv its use Thoughtfully taken? We’re not as tabbies are: Smith, take a fresh cigar: Jones, the tobacco-jar! Here’s to thee. Bacon!