CRICKET NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 21, 23 December 1925, Page 6

CRICKET NOTES.

AMONG THE PLAYERS. NEWS FROM ALL SOURCES. (By “Slip.”) Including the game against Victoria the Neiv Zealand batsmen liavo been dismissed in the following manner: Bonded 15, caught 14, l.b.w. 8, stumped 3, run out 2, hit wicket 1; total wickets fallen 48. In tlveir six strikes up to and including the Victorian game tlio New Zealanders have compiled 1747 runs for the actual loss of 43 wickets—an average of 40.62 per wicket. The M.C.C. has ruled that a player who “retires hurt” shall bo considered as “not out” for the purposes of averages. Thirteen men have been selected to make the northern tour with tho Otago cricket team this year. They will play Canterbury (at Christmas time) and Auckland. Tho Otago v. Wellington match is to bo played at Dunedin. Honours nro falling thick upon Blunt, for when the Canterbury representative compiled 216 against Goulburn ho registered tho highest scoro ever made by a Dominion representative. New Zealand's century makers in big cricket are ns under: C. A. Richardson, 111 not out, v. Melbourno C.C., at Christchurch, March, 1900. D. Reese, 148, v. English Eleven at Wellington, March, 1903. D. Reese, 130 not out, v. South Australia, at Adelaide, January, 1914. E. V. Sale, 109 not out. v. Australia, at Auckland, March, 1914. D. C. Collins, 102, v. English Eleven at Christchurch, January, 1923. C. C. Dacre. 127, v. New South Wales, at Christchurch, February, 1924. R. C. Blunt, 216, v. Goulburn, at Goulburn, Decomber, 1925. C. Oliver, 132 not out, v. Wagga, at Wagga, December, 1925. Despite the comparatively poor showing which the New Zealand cricket sido made against Queensland, critics gave the visitors quite a pat on the back. After describing how they seemed at soa on the fast wicket, many playing back when they should have gone forward, an Australian writer passes the compliment that, nyiking allowances for—to them—the rather norpl conditions, one would say that tho Now Zealanders are a better team than the. New South AYales side which Queensland beat recently. The New South Wales side referred to was a second team, comprising Brown, Phillips, Scanes, Punch, Oldfield, R. Bardsley. White, Morrisey, Campbell and Everett.

At the conclusion of the Hawke Cup ■ match, Nelson v. M arlborough, at Nelson, a presentation was made to A. Biggar, who made the highest scoro for Nelson (113 runs). Mr W. Max, in handing Mr Biggar a bat subscribed to by members of the Nelson team, congratulated him on lvis fine performance. Rousing cheers were given for Biggar by the Nelson College boys, who had assembled in great force. The acceptance by the Wellington Cricket Association of dates suggested by the Auckland Cricket Association for the Anckland-Wellington match has completed the programme for tho Plunket Shield contest this season. Tho Shield fixtures are as follow: 25, 26 and 28th December —Otago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch; Ist, 2nd and 4th January—Wellington v. Canterbury, at Wellington: Ist, 2nd and 4th January —Auckland v. Otago, at Auckland; Bth. 9th and 11th January —Canterbury v. Auckland, at Auckland; 22nd, 23rd and 25th January— Otago v. Wellington, at Dunedin; 19th, 20th and 22iul February—Auckland v. Wellington, at Wellington. A writer in tho Manchester Guardian, discussing the number of chances given to English cricketers for proving their ability, says: “Tho Australians arc more ruthless and realistic. W. W. Bardsley failed in two Test matches last winter, and lie was banished from the rest, despite that in State cricket his form rarely wavered. A. E. V. Hartkopf was chosen by Australia as a bowler; ho could not get wickets, but in his first Test match innings he mado some 80 runs —a score that our E. llendron has exceeded only once in many attempts against Australia. But Hartkopf, like Bardsley, had to go; the Australians wanted a bowler, and they were not to be fobbed off by Hartkopf 's opportunism in another department of tho game. These are examples of tho Australians’ stern singleness of purpose. A prophet hath but little honour in his own country (says the Christchurch Sun). In club cricket, Roger Blunt has the making of a change bowler, but in Australia, with the New Zealand team, ho has jumped into the limelight, his total of 12 wickets for 97 runs against Goulburn being a remarkable performance, even if the calibre of the opposing batsmen wore not high That he is showing great form was demonstrated also in tho opening match with Queensland. It clearly is indicated that on Australian wickets Blunt, when ho can keep a length, is very dangerous—possibly more so than any other man on the side. A glimpse of his calibre as a bowler in big cricket was given last season in tho second Test match with Victoria, when, on a hard wicket, he had several batsmen tied up in a few overs. The significance of his latest successes is that the wickets wero very hard, for, with tho topspin he imparts, the ball would come oif tho pitch at a pace much faster than the flight. Australian conditions suit his style. Neither Arthur Mailcy, of New South Wales, nor A. E. V. Hartkopf, of Victoria, in New Zealand justified the reputations they had made in Australia, for on our wickets they made no extraordinary pace from the ground, and whenever their length was at fault batsmen used their feet to them and indicted punishment. If Blunt can maintain a consistent length, ho should record other notable performances. “I looked in at Lord’s cricket ground a day or two ago and found the old place looking like a battlefield after a bombardment. The housebreakers have been busy, and the old grand stand on tho north side is demolished, as is tho smaller stand which adjoined it,” says a London writer. “But by tho time May comes round again a magnificent new stand will be in position, ready for the thousands who will want to watch the Australians ” English critics appear almost unanimous in the opinion that W. R. Hammond, the young Gloucester cricket professional must be considered for the coming Test matches

against Australia, oven on his batting strength alone. Versatility is Hammond's strongest asset.. So .brilliant is ho in tho field that his skill in this department is apt to bo overlooked because ho makes really difficult chances appear simple. He is also a useful bowler for his county. And ho is only 22. An Australian tribute. C. G. Macartney has thoroughly re-established himself as one of tho most attractive and accomplished of Australian batsmen. Match after match his form has gradually improved until in the Test trial_ it was better than at any period in the last two years. In their estimates of the Australian strength, some of tho English authorities appear to liavo overlooked that Australia had to take tho field last season without Macartney, who promises to bo ono of tho brightest all-rounders on the English tour. Ho is fielding with greater agility than marked his cricket for some few years, and his bowling is so good that it is likely to bocomo a factor on tho tour, if it bo found necessary to bowl him with any degreo of regularity. The foundation stono of tho pavilion at tho English Civil Service sports ground was laid at Chiswick recently. Tho splendid playing field will bo ready next May, and on September 4 next, tho Australians will play thorn a two-days’ match against tho Civil Service. COMBOSITION OF NOMA 1)M TEAM. For their tour of Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay, tho Nomads, wlm are assembling this week, will bn repi'm sented by: —D. C. Collins (captain and organiser), Ouglov ( Palnoonlon North), Blundell Jv. lb Cave (Wanganui), Fox (Weunntpn), Ashworth (To Kuil i), Crosse (blast ings), Cameron (llangil ikeil, Uneven (Gisborne), Wanklyn and Wliyln (Wellington). CHANGES IN COUNTRY TEA M Owing to (lie inability of Kingston (Taranaki) and O'Connell (llawkn'a Bay) to play lor tho county eleven at Wellington on December 28 and 29, Mr A. M. Ongley has selected Ritchie (.Southern Hawke’s Bay) and C. Heuth (Hawke’s Bay) to fill the vacancies. London (Wanganui) will now bo I'mit emergency and Pickard (Southern Hawke's Bay) 13tli man. TEST MATCH PLAYERS. NO BONUS TO BE PAID. SYDNEY, Dec. 22. The Now South Wales Cricket Association has decided to adhere to its previous decision not to pay a bonus to test match players.—Press Association. BOXING DAY MATCH. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TEAM. ADELAIDE, Dec. 22. Tho South . Australian cricket team to play New Zealand on Boxing Day consists of V. Richardson, A. Richardson, Pritchard, ltymill, Palmer, Harris, Lee, Mac Kay, Grimmett, Murray and Alexander, with Barry as twelfth man.—Press Association. SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCH. EASY WIN FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. ADELAIDE, Dec. 22. On the batsman’s wicket, South Australia fought desperately for runs today in the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales, but after lunch the wickets fell rapidly, V. Richardson being the only one to defy tho attack. He batted brilliantly all round the wicket and scored rapidly off Gregory and Mailey, eventually falling a victim to the latter, through Oldffeld. South Australia’s second innings was worth 270 (Gun 59, V. Richardson 61, ltundell 34, A. Richardson 24). Gregory took four wickets for 75; Mailey two for 64 ; and Kelleway three for 57. —Press Association. South Australia made 185 in tho first innings, to which New South Wales replied with 554. The latter therefore won by an innings and 99 runs. COLLEGE MATCH DRAWN. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 22. The Christ’s College v. Otago Boys’ High School cricket match concluded with a draw. School made 190 in the first innigs, and followed on, making 303 for seven wickets, when stumps were drawn. College in the first innings compiled 850. Tho best scores for school in the second innigs: Priest 79, Cameron 71, Barr 61, Maloney not out 58, Young 17. Bowling for College, Wilson took two wickets for 69, Gamer two for 47, Ball ono for 30 and Whyte two for 12. WIN FOR NELSON COLLEGE. NELSON, Dec. 22. The cricket match between Nelson College and New Plymouth High School was won by Nelson College by 76 runs. In the second innings, College scored 293 and School 194. The chief scorers for College in both innings were: Dickinson 73, Airey 37, Bryant 35, James 58, Biggar 64, Johnson 42; and for School K. Fookcs 45, Fletcher 45 and 45, Ewart 39 not out.

CRICKET CONTROVERSY. INTERESTING VIEWS. LONDON. Dec. 8. Commenting on the Lancashire County Club’s refusal to restrict players to men born in Lancashire, Lord Hawke says: “It would bo lino if all the counties could adopt tlio rule. Only Notts and Yorkshire rely upon natives. I myself was born in Lincolnshire, but the family lias always been associated with Yorkshire. I have no wish to criticise the counties, but it seems a pity to import players as Lancashire imported Macdonald, and Gloucester imported Ferris and Midwinter. “That is very different from playing men. who have settled in Great Britain. Douglas, as a man born in Cornwall, should not bo debarred from playing with Essex, if ho had lived in Essex for years; but I deplore professional cricketers becoming like professional footballers, sold for the highest purse. “I am dead against importing players from abroad for lucrative jobs.” Loveson Gower said: “It is a great mistake to bring players from overseas.” P. F. Warner expresses the opinion that Lancashire has taken the right course. “Wo do not want,” ho said, “too many pains and penalties. If a man is born on shipboard, may not he play for any county?” Mr Stockton (chairman of tho Lancashire County Club) says: “Birthplaces are accidental. It is the standard of play that matters.”