Out Door Sports And Pastimes Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 131, 3 January 1903, Page 18

Out Door Sports And Pastimes

Cricket.

By Touchline.

BUT little inteiest was taken in the representative match between Nelson and Wellington, played on the Basin Reserve during last week. Barring the first portion of the game, when the opening seven batsmen of the Wellington team were dismissed for 22 runs, the visitors were completely outplayed, and their displays at the batting crease were weak in the extreme. * ♦ • I have my doubts whether the Nelson team would have made a decent showing against either the Wellington or Midland senior elevens ; and, if the representative matches are to be continued between Wellington and Nelson, it would be productive of a better game if the team to play the men from across the Straits were selected either from the local junior teams or from the senior players after the first representative team has been chosen. * • • The two trips of the Nelson players to the wickets produced 132 runs — Knapp making 31 out of the 52 scored in the first innings, and McFarlane 35 (not out) of the second innings total of 80. Price (12) and Griffiths (12) made two-figure scores in the second innings. Brice (66) and Tucker (33) relieved the monotony of small scores in Wellington's firsi innings tally of 148. The second turn at the wickets produced 233 runs for seven wickets— C. Hickson 47, Quee 46, Waters 46, Williams 26. Hickey, with 9 wickets for 27 runs and 4 for 31, had the best bowling figures for Wellington ; Tucker, 1 for 22 and 1 for 12, assisting him. Brice secured 3 for 28 in the second innings. The match ended in a win for Wellington by 249 runs. * * * Brice gave a fine display of batting in Wellington's first innings. It was full of defensive strokes, but anything that wanted punishing got it. He waited for his ball and made his runs in good style. Knapp's vigorous hitting in the visitors' first innings was an oasis in a very big desert. He has a distinct trait in his style of play— he takes block about six inches outside the crease and makes play from there. During his first turn at the wickets he ran out to meet the bowling and rattled up a score quickly, but the second time the bowling was not to his liking and he retired early. McFarlane, who captained the visitors, m his day said to have represented Canterbury, showed a lot of defence in the second innings. He opened the innings from one end and was unbeaten when the rest of his team had all departed pavilionwards. Quee and Waters made a big stand for the second wicket in Wellington's second turn at the batting crease. The score was 33 when Quee joined Waters, and had mounted to 138 when the partnership was dissolved. Both played solidly, with occasional splashes of brilliant strokes. C. Hickson infused more life than usual into his batting and made his runs in good style ; and Williams' total was made in the way that is characteristic of him. The ground fielding of the visitors was very poor, though, in fairness, it must be said that the outfield was bumpy in places. Bannehr, the Nelson wicket-keeper, is great on the leg-before-wicket appeal. His turn at the wickets was brought to a hasty conclusion in the second innings. He made a stroke at the first ball he received from Hickey, walked round, and while doing so Williams lifted off his bails. The appeal for " stumped " was a successful one, as the back foot was off the ground while he was walking round. • # • The decision of the Wellington Cricket Association only to play eleven men against Lord Hawke's team is a bad one. After the display of the Auckland eleven against the visitors there can be no doubt whatever of the strength of the team Lord Hawke has sent to New Zealand at 'the invitation of the Cricket Council.

The total of 321 made by the Englishmen in their innings against Auckland, even if there were many chances of catching the batsmen not taken advantage of, proves unquestionably that when they strike form they will be worth any number of runs against the best bowling talent in the colony. The main argument used by the advocates of the eleven men a-side game is that the visitors would be cramped in their batting if there were more than eleven men in the field, and the spectators would be robbed of an interesting portion of the game thereby. But to my way of thinking what the general run of the public want to see is an interesting match strung out over the three days, and that they will not do if Wellington only play eleven men against the Englishmen. Our bowling is undoubtedly strong, but still it is not strong enough, on a good wicket, to dispose of the Englishmen under, say, a similar total to that which they made in Auckland if there are only eleven men in the field. Then, where do we come in with the bat ? Our batting, if the match against Nelson is any criterion, is on the weak side. Tluc, Richardson, Upham, Hales, and Stephenson were not playing, but our strongest batsmen were. Yet the timing of the ball in the majority of cases was very bad, and innumerable runs were lost through the loose stuff being allowed to go unpunished. One hardly needs to recount the performances ot the Wellington twenty-two against Harry Trott's Australian team, the sound drubbing administered by the Melbourne Club team a couple of years back to the Wellington representative eleven, nor yet the experiences of the selected New Zealand team on its Australian tour, to carry conviction that a Wellington representative eleven is a long way removed from a team of the class got together by Lord Hawke. Therefore, there would be nothing undignified in Wellington playing either fifteen or eighteen men in the engagement with the Englishmen if thereby a good game would ensue. I do not think the local team would even with the extra men defeat the visitors, yet the fight would be a much better one, and the spectators would be kept interested for the best part of the three days during which the match would be in progress. • • • They say that the class distinction so manifest in English cricketing circles is being continued in the Colony in connection with Lord Hawke's team. Hargreaves and Thompson, the two professionals, are not allowed to stay in the same hotel as the amateurs, and in a photograph I noticed the distinctive " Mr." was not in evidence, but instead the amateurs' names had the initials in front of them, but Hargreaves and Thompson had that courtesy denied them. It is a moral certainty that the two professionals will not be honoured with invitations to the many private social gatherings to which the amateurs will be invited, and it behoves those who follow cricket for the sport's sake to see that hospitalities are extended to the professionals. The various clubs could make them honorary members during their stay in each centre, extending all their privileges to them, and thus make them feel that the hospitality of the colonials is not merely a boast. It hurts many of us in the colonies to see the " Mr." in front of some names and not of others ; and let those who think with me endearour to make up to the two professionals in cordiality the loss of the prefix " Mr.," and the omission of the initials to their names. * * * The Wellington team to play against Canterbury in Christchurch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday was selected on Saturday night by Messrs. A. Ashbolt, Richardson, and Williams as follows :—: — Upham, Hales, Richardson, Mahony, Waters, C. Hickson, Williams, Quee, Stephenson, Bnce, and Hickey. This is a good selection, and fully representative of Wellington cricket. There are many who consider Mahony should be given the wicket-keeping position, but I am one of those who consider the Midlander custodian — Williams - siill the better man, and would give him the place in the New Zealand team if I had the allotting of the positions. But, I haven't, and so can only recommend him strongly to the selector. True, he lets a lot of byes go past, but a possible chance of dismissing a batsman is seized with avidity, and the team is the gainer by his being in it. Upham, Hales, and Bnce are a fine trio of fast bowlers, Hickey and Stephenson are our best break bowlers, and Richardson will be very handy if it is necessary to bring on another change.

Waters, Quee, Brice, and Hickson were the •' star " batsmen in the Nelson match. Mahony had a fine average till he run up against the Midland bowling, and he has had off-days since then. He is still our first batsman, however, and will make many more runs this season. Williams has not done himself justice with the bat so far this season, an apparent recklessness when he has made a few runs being the main reason of his tallies not being heavier. Richardson's luck has not been in in the Championship games up to the present this season, but his bat is always worth some runs. All said and done, then, the team as above set out is fully entitled to represent Wellington, and I feel confident that it will account for the Canterbury team this week end, and win the match by runs, if not by wickets. • • • Mansh is not pleacing the critics Sydneyside this season . "Not Out" says he is 1 a bit erratic in form. — one day a champion, the next day a. very ordinary bowler. The "Canterbury Times" Wellington co-respondent says that Hall is doubtful of being able to majke the trip to Christohuroh this week. Who is Hall, anyhow? Some Canterbury figures • — Kinvig 20, Frankish 40, Vincent 49, Boddington 32 (not out), Prebble 28, Lawrence 15, Orchard 32, Ridley 86 (not out), Callaway 13. (Continued on page 24.)

Ernest Upham, the captain of the Midland senior team, first played for it in. the 1889-90 season, and has been its recognised fast bou ler ever since. ♦ For nine years in .succession he headed the bowling averages in his team, and has been; classed in has day as the best fast bowler m tlhe colony. When Hairy Trott's Australian team played m Wellington, the expressed opinion of the visitors was that Upham was the sttraight^at fast bowler they had played against on the tour they were> then winding up. In senior championship matches, uip to the present, Upham has caused the dismissal of 490 of his opponents, and it is significant that 317 of that number should have been clean bowled Of the 183 other batsmen 148 w ere caught out, ten stumped, and fifteen declared out leg-bef ore-wicket . Witih such a record — I am safe in saying a unique one as far as New Zealand is concerned, and extending over so many yeans- — it is interesting to note that Upliam is still the opening bowler for hus team and his deliveries are as disconcerting as ever to the opposition batsmen. - That a tally of 500 wickets is within Ire grcjsp is not hard to prophecy That has right arm may not Jose its power, and that he may, for many years vet, be found xn his place at. the bawhn~ crease, is the earnest wish of the many Midland Club supporters in particular and" the followers of WeliiMlglton cricket in general. * * » Fry and Jackson are stated to be probables for Maclaren's next English team for Austraha Da.rb.ng has returned to Tasmania, where his home and family are He will continue to reside there. Hawke's Bay scores — Bishop 92, Young 48, Tuke 30 (not out). Baker 20, Oliver 40, Wilson 24, Grant 20. Stemson's bowlmq; for Auckland against. Lord Hawke's team is veiv favourably commented on by the Auckland papers Huch Trumble is next taking part in the Sheffield Shield matches in Australia this season which points to his retirement from bie encket. One of The Jebusiie's" comments reads strangely — "As I anticipated, the Vivian-Newtown A heat will prove a runaway game for the former club." Victor Trumper has been made a life member of the Sydney Cricket Ground by the trustees, as a compliment to his ability and performances < 't the field. Significant of Kenneth Tucker, who captained the Wellington team in their match with Nelson last week, was the way in which he declared the Wellington second innings closed with the seventh wioket down. Going out to McFarlane, tihie visitors' captain he remarked "I say, bloke, have you had enoug 1 ! g " "The running between wicket® of Victor Trumper, R. A. Duff, and Clem Hill, when any two of the thiee were partners, can be adequately described as nothing less thin perfection. Off the mark they flashed from wicket to wicket like a streak of lightning, placing absolute confidence in. each other. It was artistic, for they were practically silent never hurried or bustled, seeming merely to glide along, and never over-running the crease. And, with tihe bounce of youth, they were off after the second ran iust as smartly. It was exhilarating to look at." — "Not Out " in the Sydney ' Referee," commenting on the New South Wales-Australian FJeven match.

"Curly" Ohlsoii is descubed as. the worst, offender in the matter of dropping .catches in the Auckland-Lord Hai\ ko match. Warner is credited by \he Auckland scribes with being the most finished batsman, of Lord Hawke's team. He is. an attractive bat, with an immense variety of strokes. I notice in exchanges' that the Wellington match with Lord Haw lie's team is stall set down to be played on January 17th, 19th, and 20th. The correct dates are January loth, 16th, and 17th. Victorian batting averages in championship cricket to date — Bruce lib. G. Stuokey 90, Layer 70.50, Tuck* ell 63 Warne 61.66 McMiohael 50, Mailer 49.33, McAlister 47.50 H. Stuckey 40, Koran 39.50, Graiham 35.80. An Auckland writer —"The Englishmen hit very hard, and when they eret into' better form the Southern batsmen will find them difficult to get nd of." Perhaps so, but stall we in Wellington wiiHl prefer to send the Englishmen back to the pavilion with our bowlers and fieldsmen. Barclay's claims for inclusion in the New Zealand team are being advocated in Auckland. D. Hay's place is oonsadered a certainty up North. General opinion in cricket circles in Wellington are to the same end as far as Hay is concerned but Stemson is preferred here to Barclay as a bowler Auoklanders are nattered. Mr P. F. Warner, captain of the English team has told them that the Domain Cricket Ground is equal in the matter of wickets to classical Lords or the Surrey Oval I hope nobody asks Warnei vvhat he thinks of the Basin Reserve bv nay of comparison. They are not do.:e with Trumper in the Home papers yet. Here is another comment — ' Victor Trumper is second to none as a batsman, and there is not a single stroke in the complete cricketer's repertoire that he does not possess from the elance to fine long-leg ught round to the late cut. He is the best batsman in. the world to-day — who shall siav he ill. not be a second W. G ?" One of "Dark Blue's" items —"That cricketers are h?rrd snags for a> cyclist to strike was shown at Lancaster Park on Saturday. A cyclist training v> a>% going at full tilt round the asphalt A cricketer, bat in hand, went to cross the track, and. before he could eret out of the way, the bike ran straight into him. Both men and the bike went spanning, but he with the bat picked himself up in a very unconcerned manner, whilst the bikisfc appeared a bit dazed, and had a spell "