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TROTT AND HIS TEAM

A Dunedin sporting critic writes quite caustically on burly Harry Trott and his team of South Melbourns cricketers. The match against Otago was being commented ugbn, and the scribe in question states:—Most things were verified •during the day save the one expected —South Melbourne did.not bat up to reputation. For a side of acknowledged "strength and repute, the visitors gave a tame and colorless exhibition, unredeemed from mediocrity by^ the occasional dashing batting of H. Trott, who, standing Sphinx-like at his- crease, saved himself an amount ol_ running between the wickets with drives to the- boundary. As a matter of stern fact, the batting of the South Melbourne side, in such favorable conditions and against bowling not generally regarded as strong, was disappointing in the extreme. It , was popularly believed that if the Victorians won the toss and took strike! they would occupy the wickets all the afternoon and compile anything from 350 to 400 runs. , More might have happened, but little less was expected. No disappointment wouldt have been occasioned had the batting of the visitors been less.orthodox and some semblance of stjrle, as waa expected, introduced. The batting for the most part was distinctly orthodox, and of style, finish, and character there was none. It may be that we anticipated too much, and thai) the South Melbourne team is an orthodox side, but our public naturally look to the Australians to show something beyond the! ordinary^ something distinctive in style and,< finish, j Jfor a time admiration was occasioned iy the capacity of some' of the batsmen tq'keep the ball along the turf, but this- feature was blurred by subsequent uppish strokes, mishits, and "Harrow" drives. This much the visitors .did show—-a proficiency for leg glancing,—a productive and safe stroke, which might well be cultivated 'by ..local batsmen. In the field the South. Melbourne team showed a brightness and distinctiveness of character, and we are primed in the knowledge that every man on th^ safe can bowl. . . My own dfeap-. pointment lay not in Vfche failure of tne visitors to make a big score-^the best of teams are liable to be dismissed before their time—but in the nature and character of the batting. I had expected some style and finish from players who had learnt their cricket in Australia, some skill of execution and distinctiveness of feature from men who were on the fringe of State cricket in the Commonwealth, arid who had represented Victoria, but one might have been witnessing a drib .match for all the distinction and atmosphere of Australian cricket. 1 do not wish to do the Victorians an injustice by this comparison, but that ,ia how- the batting presented itself. At the same time one is prepared to believe that on the wickets in .Australia, South Melbourne is a better batfirig team than the showing on the first day against Otago would indicate. . ,

To. those who witnessed the Victorians iii action locally the above ; comments no doubt seem severe, and ! indeed convey the impression that tho l writer's purpose was a glorification of : the Otago bowlers. Of course, it has to be. admitted that the lo&al bowling is not up to Otago strength; But there was a manifestation of something be- j ypnd^ the ordinary, something distinc- i tive in.style and finish. Unfortunate- ! ly, Scott failed to get going at Dunedin, or else there would have been ! some .cricket of character; but in tho ' performances of Trott, Sykes, Kyle, i Deaa, and Kenny there must surely hare been something attractive even , to the most critical eye. = The return match'between South Melbourne and Canterbury commenced to-day. It is not surprising that considerable interest is being taken in this match, for the previous match brought out some fine cricket, and showed the sides to be evenly match-' cd. Patterson, a Sydenham batsman' who scored 161 in a convincing manner last Saturday, replaces Sims, and Taylor is substituted for Boxshall behind the "sticks" in the Canterbury team. "The Native" in the Re- \ ferea writes as follows on the combination :—The team is a very strong one, and I believe that .the selection for once will meet with general approval. The inclusion of Lusk would, of course, have strengthened the batting, but with-the West Christchurch crack batsman not available, tho team, in my opinion, is the best that conld have been selected. I know there are some who consider that Perrin had strong claims for inclu|ion, and I quite admit that he could have been included without weaken-' mg the batting. But Caygill would nave had to be dropped, and though there: is not much to choose between

them, the Riccarton' man is a great . sticker, and a most useful man tc'; send in first to wear the edge off the ' bowling. At any rate the Canterbury men'as chosen are a warm side, and I am looking forward with con-! fidence to their giving the visitors i another good game. ■ ' ' |

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19130117.2.3.2

Bibliographic details

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 14, 17 January 1913, Page 2

Word Count
826

TROTT AND HIS TEAM Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 14, 17 January 1913, Page 2

TROTT AND HIS TEAM Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 14, 17 January 1913, Page 2