CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 4

CRICKET.

THE COMING TESTS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, December 18. Opinion in cricket circles favours putting the country before the county in connection with the projected suspension of county cricket during the Australian visit. There is a unanimity of opinion that anything tending to handicap England’s chances of regaining the ashes should be eliminated. Mr Douglas voices the viewpoint of another section, to the effect that the smaller clubs would be ruined by the proposed change. He points out that many prefer work to the last moment before facing the Australians. The professionals are inclined to disagree with a suspension on the grounds of their monetary losses. Tate, one of the hardest worked professionals, sums up t-husly: “ If selected, and 1 hope I shall lie given a chance to skittle a few of the Australian timbers, I shall ask to he allowed to rest. r l lie Australians nurse their men. It should be possible to do the same here. It is not advisable for a player to rush breathlessly from a county match to play the Australians.” Colonel Trevor in the “Daily Telegraph,” stresses the urgency of team work, which has only recently been regarded as applicable to cricket. In the past, he says, comparisons of the English and Australian elevens appeared on paper to favour the Englishmen. Nevertheless the Australians have persistod in ■winning? proving superior in ton in work, especially in volution to bowling and fielding. Unfortunately, England lias been handicapped in a way the Australians are not by tho fact that the first class cricket iu England is more ol a financial business than the game, while the English publie are not so keen on the tests as are the Australian crowds. Therefore, it may be difficult to suspend the county matches. Nevertheless, he says, England badly needs a victory to restore her prestige, which has suflered seriously, and which flimsy excuses have only made ridiculous. 11c adds: “England must run a financial risk if she does not mean to run the greater risk of irreparably damaging her cricket prestige.”

NIAY ZEALAND V. VICTORIA j VICTORIA’S TOTAL 532. A DRAWN GAME. MELBOURNE. December 31. The cricket match between New Zealand and Victoria was resumed in hot weather, there being also a strong wind. The wicket was good. Rat rick was still unable to field, owing to bis split linger. llendry continuing his innings, playing stylishly, while his partner. Lansdown. was neat, but slow. This lone-

ful partnership added 110 runs. ] At luiieolion it was decided to close the Victorian innings. Hendry bad bailed 333 minutes for 331 runs, hitting 3d lours. It was a magnificent display, llendry holds the record for a score against New Zealand.

Cunningham bowled best, obtaining a good length, lie was unlucky at times. Lowry kept wickets well. Tile fielding generally was of a high standard. The lull time of the innings was 133 minutes. In the New Zealand second strike, Blunt gave a grand batting display, nuikiiig the bowling look cheap, and making scoring strokes through all parts of the field, lie seined twice as last as Worker. Their partnership yielded 8(1 runs. VICTOR I'A—First Innings. I Mayne. e Lowry, b Blunt 37 Cosgrove, e Crawford, h Hone ... 33 llendry not outj 333 Atkinson, b Blunt 1!) Mitchell, b Cunningham 21 Riinsl'ord. •• Alleott, b Cunningham 19

l.amlsdow ne, e Lowry. b ( i.mumgliam ol 'Wilkinson (not out) S Extras 12 Total for seven wickets ... 592 Bonding analysis.—Mope 1 for 90, fiiniiingahm 2 for 172. Alleott 1 for 29, Blunt 2 for 152. Patrick 0 for 10, Alloo 0 for 27. The Xew Zealand hatting and lidding was excellent throughout, but the bowling was mediocre. The match was drawn. Xew Zealand---.second Innings. Blunt, b Eliding 57 Worker, e Mitchell, b bausdown 12 Alleoti. c Wilkinson, b l.ansdown 21 Dnorc. e .Mitchell-. Ii l.ansdown 12 Alloo (not out) IS l.owry, s Atkinson, h l.ansdown 1 Oliver, 1.h.w.. 9 Mitchell 5s Craw lord (no! oil!) ... 5 Sundries 7 Total lor si\ wickets 221 Bowling: analysis: Camlile 0 for 12. Wilkinson II for 22. Eliding one for 22. l.ansdown four for 7b. I.iddii utt 0 for 21. Hansford I) lor 1. Mitchell one for 9. X.S.W. V. SOUTH AI'STR Al.l A. ADELAIDE. December 21. I n the Sheffield Shield cricket match Xew South Wales first innings realised 551. Kippax scored 50, Gregory OS. and Oldlield 3(5. Scott took 5 for 17 and Whitty 2 for (ill. South Australia in the second innings made 97 for 2 (Pritchard 20. Gunn not out 24). Rain stopped play. Gregory was in rare form with the ha I and cracked tDo hall all over the field. He gave a eahnee off Griniinel t when 22. With the exception of Oldfield, the remainder of the team offered little resistance. CANTERBURY REPS. CHRISTCHURCH. December 21. The following have been selected fn represent Canterbury against Otago in the Plunket Shield match, conilneneing on Christinas Day: E. A. Glasson, 1.. R. Brunton. R. O. Talbot. M. L. Page, J. L. Findlay. R. Read. D. Sandhain. ,T. Mervin. 0. R. Gregory. A. Cox, F. Woods and G. Mortloek (twelfth man).