CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 November 1925, Page 3

CRICKET.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ENGLISH PLAYERS. REPUDIATED J3Y MEIMBERS OF TEAM. by cable—press association— copyright. LONDON, Nov. 23. The English cricket team which visited Australia, are indignant at statements made by a football manager Mr. Lewis, who is a prohibitionist ’to the effect that he had heard while in Australia that the cricketers might have done better had they been teetotallers. Hearne declares that- he saw nothing wrong while in Australia, nor anything likely to be detrimental to cricket form. They were very keen on putting up the best show to regain the ashes. There was no intemperance either on the steamer 01 while jn Australia. Fender declined to treat the allegation seriously. Anyone could say the same sort of thing. If a man had a touch of liquor prohibitionists immediately said he was drunk. Douglas, in an indignant denial, de_ dared that the allegation was a scurrilous and wicked shame. The members of the team were extraordinarily steady and played the game both on and off the field, though Strudwick and Hobbs were the only teetotallers. Mr. Lewis owed the entire team an apology. . Gilligan, who was the captain ol the team in Australia, said: ‘T regard Mr. Lewis’ statement as a slur on Mr. Toone (the manager) and myself. If there hail been drinking it would have been our duty to deal sternly with offenders. The statement is grossly’ wrong. It is the first indication ever received of any complaints. Such nonsense makes me angry.” Hobbs -joined in the condemnation. He asks why should Tate and Sutcliffe, who are not teetotallers, have performed better than he (Hobbs), who is a teetotaller. RIG HTS O'F BOWLERS. OOMGVI.KNT ON M.A I LEY’S; CLAIM. Received Nov. 25, 10.33 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 24. The Daily Telegraph, discussing Milliley’s advocacy of using resin and raising the seams on the ball in bowling, says: “\Ve are grateful;, to Mai ley for expounding his theory regarding bowlers’ rights before the season begins. Our players, captains, umpires and legislators now know the claim*, they must expect. The practice of using resin and raising seams lias been condemned by English cricketers’ first authority, but Mailey ns able to show that there is a precedent or analogy for everything he wants to do; nevertheless no game can he pleasantly conducted by formal legality. Many things may be lawful which are inexpedient in argument, from sawdust to resin, and which are liable to abuse in a game which is better without the danger of such devices. It is, most important that before the Australians begin to tour a clear and friendly agreement sliould be made regarding bowlers rights over the hall. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MORE ABOUT SEAM-PICKING. OPINIONS OF PLAYERS. Received Nov. 25, 11 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 2’. I t is statod th at the Mary I elm ne Club discussed the. question of seampicking, following a condemnatory letter from .Lord Harris. It decided to instruct captains of County clubs to desist. Douglas declares that a mountain is being made out of a molehill. He does not mind what a howler does, so long as it does not damage the ball. A bowler needs a thoroughly dean ball, so why should he not use resin or sawdust if they are helpful. Umpires should decide the fairness or otherwise of the methods. Gilligan declare® that lie is not altogether in favour of resin, but admits that there is a lot to be said on both sides. Mailey always bowled fairly. He -was unaware) that seam-pickling occurred on the Australian tour, and anyway it did not help Mailey in the slightest.—Sydney Sun Cable.

N K\V Z l'jA 1 jiANJ> TBA-M SA ITS. (BY TKI.KORAPH TMIKSS aRSOPI ATI ON . . W3MjMNHT!O.N, NoV. p. Mr. J. F. Peake, manager of the Now Zeal a ml cricket, team whit!) 101 l last night, for Australia, says that he intends to urge New South Wales to send another side over as soon as possible. The Prime Minister sent a telegram of farewell, extending- his best wishes to the team. , , , , Mr O. 0 Da-ore was elected by the team to act with . the manager and contain as a selection committee. The personnel of the team is as follows : R. de R. Worker (Otago). A. W. Alloo (Otago). R. O. Blunt (Canterbury). 0 Oliver (Canterbury). W. R. Patrick (Canterbury). W. Cunningham (Canterbury). J). J. Moßeath (Canterbury). K. James (Wellington). T. O. Lowry (Hawke’s Bay). B . Hope (Manawatu). 0. 0. Dae re (Auckland). If. Gillespie (Auckland). Cl. Alcott (Auckland). J. F. Peake (Canterbury). Manager: REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. AN INTERESTING SEASON AHEAD The cricket season promises to be most interesting. With the Hawke (’up fixture this week on Inday mud Saturday, the match with Canterbury in January, and a play-off, it is hoped, between the winners in the North anti South comnetition, there will he plenty of outside‘attra-tions. It is much to he regretted that the Otago match could *not he arranged, for the associations with the southern province in pricket, as in football, extend a long I i mo hack, and are among the most interesting in the history of sport. LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The fixtures on Saturday were unfortunately interfered with by the North v. South match, atid in the north the championship games were postponed. Down lie re they were played, each team practically being weakened by the ahtcnee of one or two of the best players. Probnb'v QWiiawn suffered most because if had to meet Excelsior. The htter was l"pkv m be’ng able to secure tbe finv.viees of t"o o'd nlayers who materially sfreimthened the. team, hnlh in baftime and bowline. MoAuliffe, a new Excelsior player, shaped exceedingly well, and created a

very good impression. He played a good innings (not out), hit well, and showed capital defence, lie also showed in his short term at the howling crease that lie will he a useful howler. He is altogether a desirable addition to the cricket world of the district. L. Little again showed his consistency by putting on a very useful 33. He is a very useful bat, with fmo hitting powers. . The only other batsman in the Excelsiors to show any form was Fleming, who just reached the score when he was beaten. Machin and Mills shared the bowling honours, both getting three wickets each. Okaiawa, without the aid of Penny and Pratt, made a brave attempt to beat the leading team. Crawford and Thomas .both did well, and scored the majority of the runs. They also did most of the bowling, and Crawford’s five for 40 read very nicely. He is fast becoming one of the strongest members of his team.

Midland had the bad luck to be without their crack bowler, Giblin. and also Vowless, and in addition Nielsen and Wallcley were unable to get to the match until the first innings had been played. But it was Eltham the team met and scored a good win. McKenzie amte eclipsed any previous effort in howling, getting the excellent average of seven for four and five for 15, finite brilliant howling figures. Inch in the first innings and McFadyen in the second came out with useful tallies of three for 8 and five for 8 respectively. All these nlayers, too, shaped very usefully with the hat. Stratford did not -travel to Manaia, and the latter claim a forfeit. AMONG THE JUNIORS.

Stratford juniors were much too strong for Hawera High. School A. Beere for the former showed great hitting powers in securing his 88 (four sixes) and 34 not out. Fie would surely be a useful addition to the seniors, for his bowling was also very good,' six for 16.

Cheevers was the mainstay of the School attack, getting nine wickets for 34 in the two essays at the bowling crease, and that in a heavy scoring list against his team. He did not shape so well as usual with the bat. Walker played a capital innings of 33 against odds, and is to be commended. for his fine effort. Jordan 13 and Cheevers 13 backed him up well. The School 13 team was hopelessly outclassed against Hawera juniors, but Garrett and Glenny made a gallant attempt to meet the heavy opposition. Pacey also bowled very well, and his four wickets for 68 was good when it it is considered that the innings totalled over 170. The feature of Hawera’s innings was a finely played 96 by Moloney. He showed sound defence, and hit lustily

at times. It was an outstanding, ef°McCartliy 20 and Foster 20 also played welt. HAWKE CUP MATCH. Friday will see the opening of the Hawke Cup match at Hawera, and the Taranaki team should stand a very good chance of success. The match should prove very interesting, and will give a useful fillip to the game.