CRICKET NOTES

Northern Advocate, 27 October 1932, Page 7

CRICKET NOTES

UNIVERSAL APPEAL,

CIVILISED A

(By “Dee

’IILETICTSM,

pfield. ' ’

•‘There is something about cricket. Just that. It rests not on the hungry neurosis of partisanship, the primitive impulses of strife. It is peculiarly civilised. Even as early as 3 74-i, James Love who wrote the epic of cricket, said it thus: “ ‘First of all sports! Be first alike in fame!' “Fame is. not notoriety. It is dedefinite, tangible achievement. Universal acclamation may be the outcome of an impulse that strikes a chord responsive in a. million. It may mean tome. But cricket has struck countless chords, and struck them often. Very soon an Empiie will be breathless, not for a moment, but for days, hanging on the resn t of a, cricket match. And this Empire, the most highly civilised that this world has known. And this eliitrm has an appeal wider than mere athleticism. Sir James Barrie, endowed with one of the most sensitive n.inds in British literature, delights in the game. Then there wore Byron, Francis Thompson, Leigh Hunt and Sir Henry Newbolt, to mention only a few of the finer minds, who were sensitive to this charm. Yet no one has yet been able to put this charm on paper, all of it. Each in his own way, Nyren, Warner and Cardu have enshrined some of its facets. And no one talks about it like Barrie, who would bo famous for his erieket speeches alone. And much pleasure it would give, him, too, to have it this way, even if the other was denied him. J^ —The “Australian Cricketer.’'

Coach For Wiangarei. The progressive cleci siou of the Whangarei Cricket Association to seek tho services of a coach for a few days early in the season in meeting with commendation from many who do not participate in active cricket. The move is one which m overdue . Tt is difficult to think of a iv way better of advancing tho standard of the game locally than securing the advice and tuition of a recognised expert. In this district there is a real need for instruction, not only a nong schoolboys, but among senior players who hitherto, have been denied tho opportunity of improving tho game by learning from one who is really qualified to teach. So far the names of C. C. Dacro and Trevor Lyon have been mentioned. Tho presence of either of these wellknown coaches will result in a groat uplift to the game here. Draw Inequalities. Complaints have boon voiced upon the rather unbalanced manner in which the draw has been made. For instance, one club has had to fulfill the duties of home team on three successive. .Saturdays. In these days ground fees figure quite largely in the budget of many players. Some teams are being asked to travel too much on successive 'Saturdays. ‘ ‘ Yon will get your tuni next round,” some objectors were told. But a little forethought would have prevented any cause for criticism, in ■ what is admittedly a small matter. , School Teams Meet. F.xccpt for sound butting by Ross (2;l ) ami Williams (31) and good bowling by Bourke, who took 5 for (3 in five overs, there was nothing very exceptional in the meeting between the High School first and second elevens. Gnulton has not get into his bowling swing yet. He is not the outstanding success ou concrete that he was on turf, but his figures in the first two games do not do him credit. Williams b keeping well for the School firsts. His principal faults are that he is inclined to snatch at ihe ball and uso his pads too much. These tactics are not very effective in obtaining rim out decisions. Reference must again be made to the indifferent running between wickets. The 'batsmen forgot that every run counted, and that any one of them might win the match, Often the bail was fielded on the boundary with an easy two in the stroke. 3u nearly every instance the opportunity was declined because, before the runner with his back to the ball decided there was time for another, he stopped at the crease and turned round to see where the ball was. By the time the ritual was completed the chance was lost. The correct an .1 simple method is this: —The runner facing the ball says quietly as he passes his partner: “Two in it” or “Como again.” If lie does this, without question there is always another run gained. Balls In The Wind, Tt is possible that Services would have registered the first three-pointer of the season had they realised that summer time gave them an extra half an hour for play. Their last wicket fell at live o’clock with the score 32 ahead of Maungakaramea's total. Actually stumps should not have been drawn until ffilu, bub play was not. proceeded with. A stiff breeze was blowing cross the field, and the game, had to be played wit unit bails. Had bails been used the tv bid would not have been the only factor in removal. They would have been shifted at short intervals by the bowlers. Chitty was in deadly form. Most of the Mauugahavamea batsmen assisted him by playing back. The fielding of the Public .Service wes splendid, Langdon (slips') and Baird being outstanding. Bach team is in need of a good wicketkeeper. Grieve and Monk particularly require the services of a smart watchdog. For Maungakaramea, ! Monk (4 for 17) bowled well, using . tin? leg break to advantage.

Hill provided a bright spot, landing

one six over the wire netting round the tennis courts, and among the players. , Crucial Matcli. Nomads, champions 1930-31 and 1931-32, mot their Waterloo on Saturday when Whangarei lowered their colours in a stubbornly fought match. This is all to the good, for neither of these strong teams is likely to give much away in succeeding matches, and their meeting in the second round will be worth going a long way to

Afore than any other, Wilson was the match-winning factor. He got the utmost out of his team, bowled excellently himself, and then played a lino innings when his fellow batsmen had failed, and at a time when there was every likelihood of another Nomad victory.

Gash was the other dominating influence. He bowled with almost immaculate length and accuracy, and with Wilson penned the Nomads batsmen down te sheer defence, Wilson accounted for the first three wickets, and then Gash clean bowled the rest. His figures speak for themselves—l 7 overs, 2 maidens, 35 runs, 7 wickets. If more of the batsmen had used the drive the scorers Avould have had more ta do.

Gladding was in 65 minutes for G! A slow-pace Alarathon which should have made it easier for those who followed, but Gash seemed tireless. Wilkinson played a classy innings. Perhaps it would have been .better for him to have .opened up more when wickets commenced to fall at short intervals. He might have been caught hv Hughes at forward leg when in the the twenties.

With the exception of Gash none of the earlier Whangarei batsmen appeared to be at all comfortable. In 44 minutes (5 of the best wickets were down for 43, but Nomads were unable to press home the advantage. Up to that point the scoring had been almost as slow as that of Nomads, but Wilson accelerated the pace a little. However in the first half hour he took no risks, being content to consolidate the position. Both Dunn and Wilkinson just, missed his wicket, but seven balls out of eight were met in the centre of the bat. Nesbitt played the innings for the occasion at the other end, and never really looked like getting out. The score was approaching the seventies when the first bowling change was tried, but CotteriH, in shoes, could not get a foothold on the slippery grass. Wilkinson was brought on at the opposite end, but Wilson chose the occasion to open up and took 22 off the over, which yielded the winning hit. In CotteriH's next over the Whangarei captain lost his wicket in attempting another tremendous liit for six, a shot which he had already made successfully on four occasions.

At times the high piti-li :it which the gnrnp wns played was noticeable in the conduct of players. Several ridiculuoa appeals were made from players who were not in a position to judge whether there was the slightest foundation for a. dismissal. However, two incidents showed that the true spirit of cricket was not dead. Onee Wilkinson was.given out to a ball which even the spectators knew he had played. Members of the Whangarei team explained the position and lie was allowed to continue. On another occasion Connell played a hall bard into the ground. It reared up and mid-ou caught it. Connell, not realising it was a bump ball, was on his way out, when the ball was returned to the howler, Gash, who instead of whipping tlie bails off as he was quite entitled

to do, allowed the batsman tp. regain liis crease, HONomas ust. Batting. Wilson (Whangarei) .... 55 Wilkinson (Nomads) .... 52 not out Williams (School A) .... "1 Bowling. Gash (Whangarei) " for 35 .Chitty (Services) d for 11 Bourke (School A) 5 V 6 Dunn (Nomads) 5 fv/ 42