COUNTY CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 6 September 1927, Page 3

COUNTY CRICKET

ENGLISH PLAYERS REVIEWED. NEW ZEALANDERS COMMENDED. London, Sept. 4. Tire “Times’ ” cricket writer says: “This has been Hammond’s year. He is a fast wicket batsman. If wickets had remained firm, there is no telling what records he would wave broken. His methods may be a trifle adventurous, but Kry,’ Hayward, Abel, Ranjitsinhji and other great runmakers might well have had their great aggregates surpassed. He "s now established as a batsman of the very highest class. If he curbs his inclination to score unnecessarily fast he should be even a greater force on the 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 sm that a match was not lost rather than won. Mead has been a tower of strength, hut he has been consistent’ underrated, especially when tests were being played to a finish in Australia. BEST IN THE WORLD. “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 introduced a greater variety of strokes. An unglish team, especially tourists in Australia, would be incomplete without him. Bates. Leyland. Ames and Barling may next July be regardable as highest class batsmen. The fact is. there is a wealth of batting talent. “Bowlers provide a less cheerful outlook, remembering our chief task, the Australian visit in 1928. Tate is making too many runs. A muchneeded rest should restore his full glory. 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 length bowlers who, in the Australian tests, count much more than funnv bowlers. There have been wickets this season which would have helped combinations like Blythe and Fairservice. Haigh and Wainwright, but no bowlers have gained an advantage, thereby. Sihbles has been wisely coached and offers the best hope. S. Staples has great possibilities. STOUT-HEARTED PLAYERS. . “The New Zealanders’ visit has compensated for the inter-county disappointments They deserve unstinted thanks for the pleasure which they have given. They have been stouthearted, modest and able, and under Lowry’s captaincy they have avoided stupid little frictions incidental to many team tours. The team’s charms lies in its obvious enjoyment of playing. Their early successes did not alter their attitude. They came to learn the finer points!’’ HERETAUNGA CLUB. LAST SEASON REVIEWED. The annual report of the Heretaunga Cricket Club to be presented at the annual meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms next Monday week states:— “The committee desires to congratulate the club on another very successful season. The club is financially sound, while on the field the team won senior championship honours in a most convincing manner. “The balance-sheet shows a very satisfactory position, there being a cash credit of £l5 4/7. while assets amount to £26 17/- and liabilities are nil. “The committee desires to record its appreciation of the support given by the club’s patron, presidents, and vice-presidents. “The committee congratulates those nlaying members no less than seven in number, who represented the province in various games during the past season. Particularly is T. C. Lowry to be congratulated upon his successes as captain of the New Zealand team in England.’’ GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE. WIN FOR BENOIST. Rome, Sept, 14. Benoist won the Grand Prix of Europe on the Monza track, averaging a speed of 90 3-8 miles an hour. —(A. and N.Z.)