CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 September 1927, Page 6

CRICKET

ENGLAND’S BEST PLAYERS. COMMENT ON THEIR FORM. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS BY CABLE--PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Sept. 4. The cricket writer of “The Times” says: “This has been Hammond’s year. He is a fast wicket batsman. If thewickets had remained firm there is no tolling what records he would have broken. His methods may be a trifle adventurous, but Fry, Hayward, Abel, Ranjitsinhji and other great runmalcers might well have had their great aggregates surpassed. “lie is now establishod as a batsman of the very highest class. If he curbs his inclination to score unnecessarily fast, he should be an even greater force on Australian wickets. Hallows has a better record on paper than in 1926, but he sacrificed much of his batting charm, because his mission was to see that the match was not lost rather than won. “Mead has been a tower of strength, but he has been consistently underrated, especially when the test was being played to a finish in Australia. “Hobbs is still the best bat in the world and can be trusted to give a perfect exhibition under any conditions. Sutcliffe is not far behind. Jardine has introdued a greater variety of strokes and an English team, especially tourists in Australia, would be incomplete without him. Bates, Leyland, Ames and Bailing may next July be regardable as highest class batsmen. “The fact is there is a wealth of batting talent. The bowlers provide a less cheerful outlook, remembering our chief task, the Australian visit of 1928. Tate is making too but a much-needed rest should restore his full g’ory. Larwood was bowling better than ever when he injured his knee, but. we must be pessimistic when a fast bowler damages the leg on which he puts his weight. ‘ ‘ The most important matter is to find good length bowlers who, in the Australian tests, count much more than funny bowlers. There have been wickets this season which would have helped combinations like Blythe and Fairservice, Haigh and Wainwright, but no bowlers gained advantage thereby. Sibbles has been wisely coached and offers the best hope. S. Staples has great possibilities. “The New Zealanders’ visit has compensated for the inter-country disappointments. They deserve unstinted ttanks for the pleasure which they have given. They have been stout-hearted, modest and able, and under Lowry’s captaincy they have avoided those stupid little frictious incidental to many team’s tours. The teams charm lies in its obvious enjoyment of playing. Their early successes did not alter their attitude. They came to learn the finer points.”

NORTH v. SOUTH. % LONDON, Sept. 4. Players made 336 for four wickets (Hobbs 119, Holmes 127). North in the first innings made 203 (Gunn 78). Hearne took six for 70. South made 85 for one wicket (Brown 50).—A.P.A. and “Sun.” TEAM FOR JAMAICA. KINGSTON (Jamaica), Sept. 4. It is • stated that Lionel Tennyson is bringing a strong cricket team next year, possibly including Carr, White, Lyon, Arnott and Gresswell. —A.P.A. and “Sun.”