CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 November 1925, Page 14

CRICKET

j_nceLe.sc m n.e eompccuions at nowc lUia cue ffunu over very yummy U«>ei ,u s , aiILL SO SU.LL CCLU^LUIOU, , ociiliieUCe so ooes cue eUCftuSIUsC IO m * cLie jeSuics ill tnose oisUxms, eeuwes, or 00-un cries m wmc-ti ne is specially „tc.esLea. .suit ne wants, almost lmloie 'mutcnes are competed, to mww uic results.

.\ud wuen the big matches start die test matches at tiome, the mate ties „„ tour 01 iNew /.eaianders, aim tae iiiterurovinciai m cue Uomimon-then is the interest raised to white heat • uni progress reports are necessa.y several times a «ay. Wnat should we no m tnese clays or rapid action, cud we not nave tne electric teiegrapn, tne te ephone and the wireless to Uasn .results over tne wires or through the air. at comes to this: the world could not uo without them in its present state of advancement and quick progress. A nd yet they had test matches oO coup years ago in iimgland and m Australia. It is, however, hard to picture test matclie s ill any sport without the results being known each day an horn or two after the play .has finished.

There is one point on which improvement might be made in the field, and that is the failure of a few p:ayei s to appear in real cricketing cSStume, with proper regulation shoes, or boots. Nothing looks smarter or more fitting than cricketers properly garbed. At the risk of being considered o.ver particular one might urge on all players to pay attention to this perhaps miuoiv part of the game. It may perhaps make no difference to the scores or the rpav but, it certainly adds to the pleasure of the player and pleases the aesthetic eye of the keen spectator to see every player as he should lie.

Umpires are wanted by the clubs, and it is much preferable that they should be men not aking part in the match, instead of a player relieved by one of his fellows just before it is his turn to bat. Will some old players volunteer ?

A writer in, the Hawke’s Bay Herald recalls in connection with the approaching visit of the Rangitikei Nomads to, Hawke’s Bay the fact that it is thirteen years since that team last visited that Province. On that occasion J. H. Board, the English coach, and Macassey played for the local team while the late H. M. Butterworth. and G. Bernnu were in tlie Nomads.

Wood full, skipper of the Carlton Club (Victoria) is mentioned as a very probable international for the trip Home to defend the “ashes.” He is showing remarkably good form so far, and. a fortnight ago played a wonderful innings of 83 on a more than doubtful wicket. His claims to-inclusion are considered very strong. His great showing against the Englishmen on a bowler’s wicket when partnered by Ponsford will not soon be forgotten.

A tribute is paid by players to the work of the committee of the Victoria Park in Stratford for" the very_ good wicket provided, which is considered one of the best in South Taranaki. Given fine weather, that ground is certain to be in good order after a, few weeks and will be popular with cricketers.

The simile used by Mr Baldwin, British Prime Minister, when he spoke of his Cabinet as a cricket team, of which he was on'y skipper, and in which every man can bat down to the eleventh, will have been, .read with interest by thousands of readers. One of his happiest references was to Mr Chamberlain’s century at Locarno, ‘‘one of the best ever made on a sticky wicket.” It was all very apropos and clever. ’ WANTED SCORERS. It would be a great help to teams, and incidentally to the newspaper, if volunteers could be secured to act as official scorers. The same request was made last week by a Hamilton paper, where the writer says: “The books are kept in s'ovenly fashion, and the recording of the bowling is very lax.” These remarks applied to the score books in Hawera, last week. It is undoubtedly a difficulty, but not insurmountable. The books are official records, and should have as much care as such records deserve. The committees realise this, and would be very pleased if someone would volunteer for the work. The work is not hard to anyone who undertsands the game, but it needs care. Its value to the players is very great-.

An endeavour is being made in Hawke’s Bay to get the youngsters in the primary schools some coaching by leading players, and also to institute a Primary Schools’ Association competition. The movement, which has been in operation in Taranaki for some years in a more or less satisfactory basis, is certain to be good for the game. J. B. HOBBS. Says “Woomera” in Australasian: “There are two things at which one should never work too hard —play and humour. Should any opportunist interject, “Why do it then?” I treat him with contempt, having nothing else to treat him with. I set out to remark that Mr. Jack Hobbs, who has on occasions made play very hard work found the lighter vein lately in lecturing to the prisoners in an English gaol on cricket jokes and experiences. There was nothing saddening about it. Having been in Pentridge—as a lecturer — I can congratulate Mr Hobbs on getting one of the best audiences in the world. The governor proved himself the right lcind of chairman in explaining that Mr. Hobbs had never been in gaol before, which was odd, seeing that he had been stealing runs all his life* One of the prisoners kept his end up with the observation that had they all played the same game like Mr. Hobbs they would have been outside —and incidentally would have missed the lecture. There is something comforting in the thought that should circumstances ever deny us the pleasure of seeing Jack Hobbs bat for England it may be only to put us in the way of hearing him as a lecturer.”

BRIGHTER CRICKET,

PROPOSED CHANGES

IN AUSTRALIA. Mr R. A. J. Massie’s proposals for for brightening Sheffield Shield cricket formed the subject of much discussion in cricketing circles recently. Opinion appears to be fairly evenly divided on the question. Many cricketers are of the opinion that the matches would he exciting if _the team behind on the first innings attempted to force a win. Should, however, the team lending on the first innings feel the

likliohod of defeat, its players would immediately play stonewall in order to prevent the opposition, from winning, and the present conditions would again operate. One well-known player said that much of the Australians’ success was due to their abilit yto “fight it out.” In the past the Sheffield Shield matches had provided a wonderful test for the more serious matches, and it would be a pity to curtail them in any way.. A leading official of the State association, and a member of the Board of Control, thought a change was unnecessary. Two Sheffield matches wei'e played each year in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and judging by the attendances, the public had not lost- interest in the games. The Australians. lie added, would be touring England next season, and the Australian selectors would want to see the probable personnel tested in a thorough manner. These matches 'to a finish would give them this opportunity. Players who could stand the strain, if strain it was. were wanted for the English tour. x “RANJI’S” WICKET. Here is a cricketing story concerning the classical “Ranji.” The .great batsman was at the nets one day while four ■or five howlers hurled down hall after ball at him. At the end of an hour or SO' the perspiring bowlers were relieved of their task and trooped away. An interested watcher ran across to the trundlers and asked on how many occasions they Had taken “Ranji’s” wicket. “Wicket!” echoed one of the players. “Why, good heavens, we never even struck the back net!”