Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 130, 27 December 1902, Page 19

Cricket.

By Touchline.

THE representative practice match did not promise to be any more interesting last Saturday than it proved the previous week, so I decided to give my attention to the junior championship match between the Wellington and Gasworks teams. • • • The game was played on No. 8 wicket, and before a start could be made a little persuasion had to be used on a team ol lads to shift their match, to permit point and short slip being allowed to field clear of their wicket. When this proved effective, the remark was made that this was the best opportunity that had been given players on No. 3 wicket of enjoying the game from the fieldsman's standpoint. Yet long-slip had to field out of his place for a game to be played there, longleg was forced to take his life in his hands by going dangerously close to a big match — Turnbulls versus Curtiss — in which an immense amount of excitement was being manifested, and in which the cricket was more of the agricultural than the scientific variety. Those two games were being played at the northern end of the ground. Between the match under review and the Fountain there were three more games going on, and contingent to the southern wicket were two more. Again I reiterate my remarks of last week. It is time these nondescript games were put under some control, and our junior cricketers given fair chances of playing the game. Before I get on with my task, would it be too much to ask why this game was not played on No. 2 wicket ? The creases were all marked out, and the farce was seen of a ground lying idle. A stock argument is that Nos. 1 and 2 wickets are for senior matches, and Nos. 3 and 4 for juniors, and if the junior game was commenced on No. 2 the seniors could not be expected to play on No. 3 when the matches are resumed. Why, may I ask ? The whole of the four wickets are supposed to receive the same attention from the ground man, and it should not make any difference where the various games are played. In my opinion as things exist on Nos. 3 and 4 wickets, the evil existing would soon be cured if senior games were played on those wickets, for the senior players would force the hands of the Association to have a fair condition of things brought about. • • • However, here is where I will leave it for the present, and get back to the match I started out to comment on. The Gasworks team batted first and totalled 135 — Taylor 36, Hutchings 30, Lingard 14, Stevens 11, Hollins 10 (not out). McLean was the most successful Wellington bowler, his tally being 5 wickets for 42 runs. Pery (2 for 23), Maunsell (1 for 21), Luckie (1 for 21), and Ashbolt (1 for 17) were the other successful bowlers. The Wellington team went 14 better than their opponents in their innings — 149. Cromwas top scorei with 40, Pery making 29, Cooke 16 (not out), and \shbolt 16. Topp (.3 wickets for 37 runs) and McMahon (5 for 43) were the successful bowlers. • • • Hutchings placed a nice innings, his leg hits and late cuts being most effective. Jack has a funny tuck of running out of his crease alter he has made a stroke and stopping just within leach of his home land. What his object is, to me, seems necessary of explanation, and I suppose the chance of an overthiow is the object of his by-play. Included in his total of 30 runs were 5 threes and 1 five. Taylor, one of the later Gasworks batsmen, played a very rneiry innings. He totalled 36 runs, included in which were 1 five, 4 fours, and 2 threes. His defence was sound, although most of his strokes were uppish. A chance given by him when he was nearing the thirties ended very amusingly. McLean was the bowler, and Taylor lashmg out, the ball went straight up in the air. Both point and the wicketkeeper went for it, point calling out, " I'll take it." This stopped the wicket-keeper, but the bowler called out, " Let Clayton

have it," which effectually prevented point having a try at the catch, and the ball quietly dropped at the feet of the two fieldsmen. Stevens was batting in good style when he played one of Luckie's fast ones on to his wickets, and Lmgard, though he has an awkward method, lays the wood on to good purpose. Hollins did not impress me as a batsman, worth a not out score, but he kept up has end manfully He scored 10, but he seemed to me to lose more than that number of runs in the field. He is one of those players who is subject to that "tired feeling," and, when not actually handling the ball, is resting on his haunches, the result being that he mulls the sphere when it comes his way. The fielding of the 'Works team, on the whole', was very weak, and thery have only themselves to blame that they had not a substantial lead on the first inniiics' play Notable exceptions were a brilliant oatoh bv How ell at point, and another by a lad whose name I have forgotten. >n the deep field. There d d not appear to be much devil in thei Wellington bowling. McLean was the most successful, and he bow r led a medium-paced good-length ball, which turned slightly from the off. His best ball was the one which disposed of Hutchings — a fine length ball, that landed on the bails. Perv sends in some ~ood balls occasionally, although he is at times eiratic This is the player with the peculiar action which leads you to believe 1 he is going to be called every time. There was. only one occasion on Saturday though, on which I considered his delivery was open to question, and he patt that one safely past the umpire. Perv bowled two extra good balls— the one that eot Topp curling beautifully from leg, and Howells dismisses beine a. ball pitched rather on the short side but which turned in from the off. Maunsell's bowling did not appear to have any terrors for the batsmen, but Luckie occasionally got a fast one that put am extra amount of life a,nd visrour into the batsmen * * * Giombie made his runs in the mannei peculiar to him, albeit at times heplaved steadier than was his wont in senior cricket. In his total of 40 there were some fine lusty hits, and a square cut or two were masterpieces. He skippers the Wellington junior team, but a place could easily be given him in his club's senior team. Methinks Taylor and he could change places with advantage to both of them. If Pery has a peculiar action in bowling, his batting comes under the same heading. In. the maiority of cases he allows the ball to hit the full face of the bat and this style of play brings the field in. Then, a loose ball, iust off the wicket conies along, and Pery suddenly wakes up, and a beautiful off drive is the result. He is a> useful man to have in a team, and his total of 29 was fully earned. The Wellington skinner made a mistake in sending Cook in so late. Time was, when he was a member of the Phoenix junior team, he used to open the mruno-s, and forties with him were very plentiful. He fathered together 16 (not out) on Saturday, included in which were two' forceful square outs. L. Ashbolt is a batsman with a lot oi defence, and plays very neat strokes. He has a failing though — he knows it. If he could get it into his head that a oncket match is a serious concern he would make' many more runs, and improve his averages accordingly. McMahon bowls a good length ball which gathers in wickets for the Gasworks team. At the opening of the innings, he pitched them up a bit short, but, finding hxs length in the second over, he had the batsmen in trouble early. McMahon is a bowler that improves with w ork, and it appeared to me. that he was taken off too early the first time. Another hint to the Gasworks skipper — and that is, don't have your stock bowlers fielding where they are hkelv to have a. lot of running and throwing to do. Keep them as near the wicket? as possible. Topp still throws up a good ball, with a very easy action. "Now and again he brmgsi them, across from the off, and a forward stroke bv the batsman makes an easy catch for the bowler to take. The Gasworks slow bowler — Harris — did not have any success I have read somewhere that Albert Trott, never mind how he is hit about, always has the impression that he is. goirte to take a wicket with his next ball. The want of success damps Harris' ardour considerably, so much so that on Saturday he had to ask his captain to take him off because) "he couldn't eret his length." It is 1 a bad fault in a bowler, and Harris is young enough to cure himself of it. Hutchings displayed good form behind the wickets for the Gasworks team, but. he does not relish the ones that come down on the lee side. Clayton kept the extras down for the Welline-

ton team, but missed a few chances of catching hisi opponents. The match will be resumed on the 10th January. • • * The bright particular feature about the practice match on Saturday was the battang of Y. Waters. He went for the bowling in good style, some of his off drives being particularly fine efforts. Wellington play Nelson on Boxing Day and Saturday this week, and Canterbury at the end of next week, in Christchurch. Mr Kelhnqr has a reply to me remarks on the Newtown-Gas Company match m last week's "New Zealand Times." That seems a very peculiar course to pursue. If there was anything to answer in my notes, surely they should have been addressed to myself. That is journalistic etiquette, at any rate. I know not who "Canaanite" is, but I have a pretty fair idea, and the courteous thing on his part would have heeni to have forwarded Mr. Kellings letter to me. As to his remarks about my being a "sport " they were uncalled for, and my Uisual fairness I can safely leiav& in the hands of those who know both of us to iudge. My information re Mr. Luckie's comment on the matter when brought up at the Association meeting was received neither from a member of the Newtown or Gasworks team, but from a member of the Senior Championship Committee (Continued on page 24.)

Not generally known tha/t W. S. Gilbert got the inspiration for the "Mikado" by gazing at a Japanese sword lianging on the wall of hie 'den." • * * Johnny Sheridan, after having closed the box on the costumes of Bridget OBrien for awhile, revived that darling creature recently at Sydney "Criterion." • • * Lee 1 Wharton, of Dixs and coon song memory, is asking Melbourne Opera Houee patrons "Why doan' yo git a lady of yo* o-own?" Les is threatening to get into the first flight. » # * ,Miss Roxy Barton, the handsome lady detective in "Wright," with the Wil-loughby-Geaoh Company, is a niece of the Federal Premier. Acting runs in tibe blood of the Bartons., evidently. • • * Sydney "Newsletter," discussing amateur opera companies, gives the world to understand that the "Wellington Oneara Company is the most solid and successful amateurs' institution" in Oceania. • » • Miss Billie Barlow, of "Bulletin" libel case fame, is playing principal "boy" at London Crystal Palace pantomime this Chrisrtmas. No one is at present making rude remarks about Bilhe's clothes. • * • There is a real live mermaid at the Sydney Cyclorama just at present. She was captured off the coast of Borneo, Bitting on a rock, combing her hair with a fretted oyster shell. She has already refused several offers of marriage. Her past is rather "fishy." • • * Paul Cmquevalh has balanced his last dog-cart for Harry Rickards, at Melbourne Opera House. It is said, by a usually sane writer, that Paul is engaged on the musical score of an opera, and that he intends to juggle less and jingle more as his hair grows whiter. » ♦ • "Willie" Percy is hitting the public in a vulnerable place by burlesquing the mighty Sandow. A propos, while the much-muscled one was in Auckland, Percy did it for his delectation, believing him to be. present. However, the mighty man did not turn up. • * » Mr. Williamson, who had one of the best "shows" of modern times swinging at Sydney Royal, in "If ] Were King," had to temporarily quit when Melba, the imperious Queen of Song, upheld her forefinger. From a London friend I hear that George Alexander has made the hit oi his life in "If I Were King." • ♦ • Charles Arnold has gone in for a country hous© near London — and gout. Mr. Arnold, who threatens 1 to leave the stage alone until another "Jones" comes along, is principally engaged m weeding a flower-garden, and spending capital made in these parts out of theatrical and mining "specs." • * * Mr. Chas. Hawtrey has been playing "Little Lord Fauntleroy," one of the most charming tales of modern times. It is cramming Sydney "Bijou." By the way, the book itself, on its appearance, some fifteen years ago, had the largest sale of any novel for at least twenty years previously. Mr. Hawtrey does Tasmania before bringing the youthful lord hither • • ■* A critic on the "other side" has been trying to dissect and classify the voices of Melba and Dolores. After painful cogitation he arrives at this result — "Nobody finds Melba's voice exactly what he expected. Most have looked for tremendous power, but this is the celestial voice. It makes you think of fountains. A different type of voice is that of Dolores. She has the Patti voice, the rippling of golden sequins, as you would say." • • • Theatrical papers in New Zealand are saying that Mr. Harry Rickards is showing a "laudable" desire to cater for the amusement of the Ne% Zealand public. Harry may be a whole-souled philanthropist, of course, but the "laudiable" project would not eventuate if New Zealand was not a tip-top show oountrv, plentifully besprinkled with ticket money. Ever noticed that if a member of a company volunteers his services for charity, it is (in large type) "by kind permission of H. Thingemebob, Esq."? • • * Queen idea the American parsons have of purifying the stage. They have formed an "actors' " church alliamce, with a bishop as president, and a committee will visit all the New York theatres and report whether the t>lays "are fit for religious men and women to see and for children to know about." Information as to the plays will then be sent to the clergy throughout the country, who, acting through the influential members of their congregations, will make an effort to induce people to stay away from all plays visiting their towns that have been adversely reported upon.

Mr. Milton Vickery, captain Newtown C.C, writes re the paragraphs inserted in these notes a fortnight ago anent sportsmanship displayed by the Newtown team in the Newtown-Gasworks junior championship match. In the course of the letter he states : — " Just before the match started Mr. Topp, of the Gasworks team, asked me if I had an umpire, because if I had pot he had brought two, and both were willing to officiate. Fortunately we had one. " During the first innings of the Gasworks team we were not too satisfied with the umpire. In three appeals for run out he decided in favour of the batsman, and in two of these cases certainly gave the strikers a very full benefit of the boubt. "But there was nothing of that shown to our men. Hawthorne was past the wicket when the bails were knocked off, and yet he was given out. " Then, in reference to Alpe being caught on the boundary, I say distinctly that the umpire could not tell from where he was standing whether Harris was on the boundary or not. If there had been a fence there it would have been different. " Several of the Midland seniors, who were present at the time, stated ot once that Alpe was not out. And the umpire, in explaining the position afterwards, stated ' that Harris had one foot on the path, but that both his hands were in the field of play.' " This is the Newtown Club's version of the occurrence, and, if the statements herein are read in conjunction with the ones published previously, it will be noted that the urnphe made a big mistake in expressing any opinions at all after he had given his decision, especially if both parties are to believed— and I do not wish to doubt them. The umpire appears to have told two different versions of the occurrence. One part of Mr. Vickery's letter I cannot agree with, and that is where he says the umpire could not tell from where he was standing whether Harris was on the boundary or not — I presume he means over. The boundary is plainly defined, being nothing more nor less than the footpath that encircles the ground. My opinion is that from a considerable distance any casual observer coul4 notice whether a player, in making a catch, stepped over the boundary in doing so, or made the catch previous to crossing the boundary. I can assure Mr. Vickery that what pleasure there is in umpiring is infinitesimal, and his club would have shown a better spirit if they had treated wha.t they considered adverse decisions as part of the game, instead of going the length of asking for the umpire to be replaced^ • • • An Albert Trott yarn is going the rounds, and as he has just arrived in the Colony again it may be a propos to give it here :—: — On one occasion Trott was touring with a Marylebone Club team, in the course of the trip arriving at a town where a oertain professional had given vent to the opinion that Trott was one of the worst bowlers that had ever won a reputation, The said professional's turn came round to go in to bat, and, as luck would have it, he had to face the Anglo-Australian. As he came up to the wicket he was handed a small piece of paper folded and asked not to read it till after his innings. His curiosity was not kept waiting long. The first ball hit him on the body, to the ill-mannered amusement of the field ; the second he hit out at with vigour, but missed, and again the field showed its ill manners ; the third ball bowled him clean, and everyone burst into roars of laughter. When, in the privacy of the pavilion he read the scrap of paper the horrible reason of the cacchination was made clear when the following was what he found thereon: — " Trott wins £5 if he hits you with the first ball, makes you miss the second, and bowls you in the first over ! Is he a good bowler '? " • • • A paragraph in the Sydney "Referee" reads. — "New South Wales has only once met am Australian Eleven on equal term® — m 1888, after McDonnells team had returned from England, and the match, was drawn." lam making the clipping just to draw attention to a certain fact, but, before mentioning it I will make a couple more extracts. "It is fourteen years since that match was played : time slips along. H. Dorman, who compiled a dashing 87 (not out), had previously played against Victoria, but this was his first performance of great note in important cricket. "Frank Iredale who sot 13, A. C. K. Mackenzie 34 James Searle 36, P. C. Charlton 50, and S. T. Callawav 13, all

made their first appearance in. first-class cricket in the maiteh. "The other members of the team [and tax.it> is the real reason of the clipping] were . C. A. Richardson (now in New Zealand), who made 73, Arthur Gregory, and H. H. Riddlestone." When you remember that this match was played fourteen years ago, and when Frank Iredale first played in first-class oneliet, it makes you wonder how old the popular skipper of the WeLlington Club is. Perhaps, he would not mind: telling us what his years were when he took part in this mateh — if he does, we will manage to do the necessary figuring to find out his age at the present time. * * • "Short Slip" says — "It is not generally known that Lord Hawkers team of English cricketers are to be 'billetted' with prominent citizens throughout the colony." This is news indeed, and can anyone tell me in whose residences they are going to be honoured guests in Wellington, and whether the professional members' of tihe team will be known in the colony without the "Mr." being prefixed to their name®? Whichever way it goes I wish to add my hope to those of fellow scribes that the Englishmen may have a pleasant tour through New Zealand and that their stay may be an enjoyable one. * * * Otago play Southland on January Ist and 2nd. Senior championship matches will be resumed on the 10th January. " Ranji " Wilson has been restored to Lis position in the Wellington first eleven, Clayton being sent down to the second in his place. As suggested in these notes last week Pearce has been given a place in the Phoenix first eleven, but " Barney " Ogier is still in the second. Some Otago bowling figures — Fisher, six wickets for 6 runs . G. Austin, two for 2 Eokhoff, four for 54- McKay, four for 21 , Baker, three for 24 , A. Downes, four for 68. Canterbury tallies — C. W. Garrard 37, Ward 23" H. Whitta 69 (not out), F. S. Frankish 67, A. Sims 37 (not out). Kin vi q 39 Reese 15, Egan 26, Orchard 23, C. Ridley 26, Barrett 28 (not out). Mr. A. E. Jones, an English professional cricketer, is in Christohurch, and intends settling down there if he can obtain suitable employment. He has come to New Zealand primarily for the benefit of his health. T. Ball 77, R. B. Lust 39, King 38, N. Williams 26, Fisih 21, D. Hay 22 (not out), Lundon 28, McCormick 77, Sales 65 (not out), Walker 36, Nicholson 21- — the best Auckland scores on a recent Saturday. The Auckland correspondent of the "Weekly Press" considers the Northern bowling talent to be on the weak side, but opined that Bairclav, late of the London C.C., might be of great assistance in the match against Lord Hawke's team. Mackersey had the biggest individual total (61) in Dunedin on Saturday week. Other scorers were- — Columb 41, Munro 19 De la Mere 35 (not out). Shaw 31, Haydon 29, W. Skitoh 24, Drumm 21, Harmann 27. A. E. Geddes 28 (retired hurt) Mills 41, Howden 32. Hussey 40. Seideberg 17. Gunthorp — 142 balls, 12 maidens, 21 runs, six wickets — had the best bowing tally in Dunedin on Saturday week, and was the main, factor in the club of that namel inflicting a defeat on the Grange Club. Baker, a probable New Zealand representative, was dismissed for a "blob."