CRICKET

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 January 1931, Page 10

CRICKET

THE HAWKE CUP

After winning the match against Wanganui against odds, Taranaki, it was honed, would he ahle to secure victory in the challenge against Waikato. After being only a small number behind on tjje first innings, the Taranaki players dismissed their opponents for a moderate total and were left with 159 to win. Despite the loss of two good wickets for no runs, three did so well that only 59 were left to get and five wickets to fall. But once more the tail failed to rvag and five wickets fell for 18 runs.

South Taranaki batsmen bore, the brunt of the attack in each innings, and but .for them the total would have been a sorry one. Cheevers (Old Boys) and Stan Betts (Kaponga) were outstanding in both innings and Barker and Eden helped very materially in the first. The two former are quite the most reliable batsmen in the district and both are good change bowlers and good fields. South Taranaki will be able to put a strong all-round team in the field this season.

PLUNKET SHIELD

Two matches have been concluded in the annual contest for the Plunket Shield, the blue riband of the game in the Dominion, Wellington and Canterbury being the victors over Otago and Auckland. There was nothing outstanding in the former’s win; but in the latter there was a sensational victory for Canterbury when they put on 473 for the fourth innings after Auckland had scored no less than 537 in their second innings. Each of the Canterbury batsmen who contributed to victory in that innings ran into double figures and no less than five scored over 50 runs. It looks probable that the possession of the shield will lie between Wellington and Canterbury and their meeting next week will be followed with very keen interest.

NEWS AND NOTES

The championship fixtures in South Taranaki will be resumed on Saturday week, Stratford having a lead that will be hard for tlie other teams to overtake. The other teams will have to play their best if they wish to. beat them.

The New Zealand team is expected to leave on March 28 for England, and the first match will be played on May 6 against Financial arrangements are reported to be progressng favourably, the scheme being, as previously, the* formation of a companv. of which the capital is subscribed hv the various centres. Players in the Plunket Shield matches will be out to do their best to catch the selectors’ eyes and no 1 doubt form in those matches will largely count in the selection. One of the greatest partnerships plaved in Svdnev for many a long day was that last week by Bradman and Jackson, wlio flogged Grinvmett and the other South Australian bowlers in a way they had not experienced before in their careers. Between them the two champion batsmen put on over 400

runs. Interest in the play* of the South Africans in their fixtures 1 with the English team will be greatlv increased by their win in the first Test over a team which is almost an all-England selection. It includes 10 of the men who were playing for England against Australia. Their further fixtures will he watched with keen interest.

The second Test between Australia and tlie West Indies touring team was commenced on New Tear’s Hav at Sydney and will lie. continued until Tuesday if necessary.

THE TEST MATCH

, Tlie following is ta-Ken from an address at Christ Church, Clacton-on-Sea, England, by J. Allardyce, on the Test match : “Harold Begbie sings the praise of cricket in this way : England has played at many a game, and ever her toy was a ball. But the meadow game with the beautiful name, is King and Lord of them all. Cricket is King and Lord of them all. through the sweet green English

shires, \nd here’s to the hat and the ball (how’s that?) and the heart that

never tires

“It is indeed a great game, and as one sits and watches a Test match, there comes to one in reflective moments thoughts that bear on the great game of life itself. Look at these players on the field, they are trained men, fit men, men who have disciplined themselves for their task. And in tlie game of life it is lioth foolish and futile to dream of playing an effective part without training, preparation and discipline. In the game of cricket the man who will not deny himself, drill himself, discipline himself, is unable to stand the strain, and will accomplish very little. And it is oqunllv true of life, for life is a game of skill, not of chance. A batsman must never relax his vigilance. “It- is the bower’s policy to get the man out. For a time the batsman is master of the field, and it looks as if he is going to carry his bat—not out. But suddenly there is a. click, a cry and a cheer; the stumps are scattered and the hero of the hour retires to the pavilion. Such is the picture of a man who has done well at the wicket. What of the batsman who fails, who is unsteady and uncertain, and only makers a run or two? Why is it? Because, it may he. he has the tendency not to make up his mind at- once. And that is suggestive. When some subtle and sudden temptation is hurled at you, don’t hesitate. Hit it away from you. . . . Then a side that fails at the first, very often makes good at the second chance. That was illustrated in the South African Test match at Birmingham six years ago. The form they showed was too had to he true. They were, capable- of much better things. And one feels like that about men sometimes. A man makes a mess of tilings, but we feel that that is not the best that a being endowed with such powers and potencies can do. . . “Cricket encourages the team 'spirit. A man not only thinks about himself, but about others. He nla'ys not for his own gain and glory, hut for his side- — the reputation and victory of the team. And that is a fine spirit. We could do with a great deni more of it in the land to-dav. A little more of it would help us out of the muddle in which we find ourselves—each for all, and all for each. It is this that helps a- man to play the game, and when the great