Out Door Sports and Pastimes Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 174, 31 October 1903, Page 20

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Cricket.

By Touchline.

THERE was a maiked impiovenient noticeable at the Basin Reserve on Saturday— the cutting of the grass m the outfield had been, attended to, thereby giving the batsmen the opportunity of getting the full value for their strokes. The wickets, themselves, were not good, although a liberal supply of water had taken the fire out of them, and made them easy. But, on No. 2 wicket especially there were some weak spots — holes, m fact. Several of the players can bear witness to tihis statement if it is necessary to call upon them. There is still too much grass on the wickets themselves, and this should receive the attention of the Ground Committee. The grass in places, I will admit, covers defects m the trueness of the pitches, but still a positive' hole 1 is better than one overgrown with grasisi — the batsman knows what to expect if the ball lands in said hole. * * * The Midland- Wellington match was continued on No. 2 wicket, the latter, with 10 runs on the score-sheet when they started, occupying the batting crease for nearly all the 1 afternoon for 130 runs, or a full total of 140. Richardson (44), Mahony (23), S. Hickson (13), Gore (11), and Williamson (10) were the double-figure scorers. » * * Richardson took about two hours and a-half altogether in compiling has total. His style of batting is a weariness to the flesh, his crouching forward stroke particularly so, but there is noi denying the fact that the way he keeps his end up is of immense benefit to his side. The old saying, "Keep your wicket up, and the runs will come," is true m Richardson's case. Mahony shaped splendidly, and with plenty of confidence. He went for the bowling better than the rest of his comrades, but foolishly gave his wicket away in attempting an impossible run Thus, to mv mind, is Mahiony's main weakness — he is too keen on, trying short runs, which, even if he succeeds inj getting, is only done at tihe expense of much anxiety to himself or to the batsman at the other end. I never like to see possible runs missed, but, at the same time I alw ays think a wicket is w 7 orth more than a run, and, their©fore, an impossible run should not be attempted. Mahony is a keen cricketer — on© of the best — but he should cure himself of this defect. Stan Hickson gathered together his baker's dozen in a quiet way for him, seemingly feeling his way till he got his eye well in. He banged at a ball from Hutchings on the leg side, but it broke towards him and glanced off the back of the bat to his brother in the slips. Gore made one or two nice' strokes in his contribution a cut past pomsb being a particularly clean one. He hit too soon at a ball from Tlpham that was going away from him, and was- held in the slips. Williamson — Arthur of that ilk — showed plenty of confidence, but did not get fairly going. A drive or two on the off, and a neat square cut, were the principal features of his innings. Fish, who comes from the Gordon Club, Auckland, did not make much of an impression as a batsman. He has an off drive in w hioh he. puts ai lot of power — Clarke, of the Midlands, can testify to this, as he stopped one — but beyond that stroke he appears to be weak. Hales had two hits — four each — but tried to play his third ball, and was caught in the slips. Latham shaped well in making 6 (not out). * * * Among the Midland bowlers, Mitchell, the latest promotion from the junior ranks, bowled splendidly. His average of five wickets for 20 runs speaks for itself. Mitchell bowls an off-break left-handed, which generally comes from beyond the off stump right on to the leg stick. He does not vary them much, bowling more of a regulation ball than otherwise, but his 1 extra good one varies the monotony. I con^ gratulate "Charlie" on his initial performance in senior cricket.

The absence of Holdsw orth from the Midland bowling side an- Saturday was keenly felt. When Upham tired there was iio fast bowler to take his place. Moss was tried, but three overs weaned him. I would recommend tho Midland skipper trying Quee as his first change fast bowler — he used to bowl a good ball some tw o or three seasons ago, and they tell me he does his share of bowling ait the nets now-a-days. Hutohings (two for 34) put plenty of variety into his bowling. Now, it would be a fast straight one, anon a straight ball breaking away to the off, or one breaking in from the off. I tihmk if he did not vary them quite so much, but brought in his variety ball w hen it was least expected, lie would meet with more success. On Saturday, it seemed to me that the batsmain always knew when Hutchings was coming at him with a tricky ball. * # * Arnold Williams gave a rattling exhibition of w icket-keeping for the Midlanders. Four players weie dismissed as the result of his work — Taylor and RiC'hairdso'n stumped, Fish oaiught an'd Ma.hony thrown out. These, in themselves, denote the excellence of has werfoirmance, but if he liad doiie nothing more than stump Taylor and Richardson, the brilliance of those acts would have been sufficient to put the hall mark on his prowess as a w icket-keepei . * « Once again the' Old Boys team disappointed its friends. With a lead of 15 runs on the first innings they eventually lost to Phoenix by no less than 71 runs. Granted they had the worst of luck yet they should have made a better showing with the bat in the second innings than they did. Redgrave (46), Day (21), Naughton (18), Bartlett (18)," Bnce (15), and Hickey (11) assisted towards the Phoenix team's second innings total of 152. Redgrave gave an exhilarating display, full of life and vigour. His 'ate cuts travelled very fast off the bat, and his driving, hooking, and slamming strokes were all well done. But — Redgrave was clean bowled by Tucker when he had only five runs to Ins credit on the score-sheet. The umpire was bluffed completely by the attitude taken up by Redgrave 1 , who gave those w atching him the impression that something besides the ball had caused the bails to fall off. As the umpue's decision in this instance, in my opiinaon, upset the whole trend of the game, and turned a possible Old Boys' win into a defeat, I intend to w rite a special paragraph about it, and will leave it here. Bartlott, a last year's Midland player, show ed good form in compiling his score, and, by way of a. change, was not 1 dismissed by a ''run-out." * * * The most successful Old Boys bowler was Ralph, who disposed of four of hus opponents for 13 runs. Tucker (tw r o for 36), and Staples (three for 26) assasted him in sending the Phoenix batsmen back to the pavilion. The only life in the Old Boys' innings was w hen the two last, men w ere in — Ralph and MoGowan hitting in good style, but their partnership was a very brief one. Ralph (10) was the twofigure scorer of the innings. Bnce (six for 26) and Hickey (three for 34) weie the destroying agents. * ■* \ C T B. Turner secured six wickets for 4 runs in a match, Ramblers v. Petersham Veterans, at Norwood Park, Sydney, recently. The Midland- Wellington senior match will be continued at the) Basin Reserve to-morrow Saturday). It sh(c*uld produce an interesting finish. ' M. A. Noble has rarely achieved less in any class of match than he did at Parramatta, for he scored one run, and got one wicket for 72." — A Sydney "Referee" item. The "Athletic News" says — "George Hxrst heads both the batting and bowling averages for Yorkshire, and is beyond all cavil and argument, the strongest all-round cricketer in the world." Napier scores — P. Fulton 1<54, G. Hawke 86, R. G. Hail aim ore 39 S White 34 (not out), W. Smyrk 42 (not out). Bishop 47, P. S Reaney 38, W. J. Hughes 32. Lusk does not aippear to be a player this season. Ellis, the New South Wales oncke/ter, about w hom I wrote a pai agraiph a, w eek or two ago, is returning to New Zealand, having received an appointment in Chnstchurch. "Not Out" describes Ellis as in the first flight as a wicketkeeper. An "Onlooker" item —''Harry Trott still keeps scoring at Bendigo. It is said that he is in splendid foam. Could his weak knee be depended upon for 1 a long and close match, w hat a help Trott would be to Victoria, ]ust now, for he is batting and bowling finely." Covtimied on page 21.

An Umpires Association ! I have no ■doubt many of the readers of these notes are tired of this subject. Truth to tell, lam myself, too. But, when one sees a match possibly won and lost through an umpire's decision, amd when one asserts that such a decision would not have been given if tne gentleman acting was a membeT of an Umpires Association, can it be wondered that I return to the subject once again? The first qualification of an umpire at cricket is a knowledge of the rules of the game. Under the rules, an umpire, if in doubt, has the right of appeal before giving a decision, to tih© umpire at the other end. If the umpire a,t tlhe bowlers end in the incident wheire Redgrave was bowled by Tucker, in tihe Phcenix-Old Boys match last Saturday, had exercised this right of appeal, the batsman would have been given out. Therefore, if he was a member of an Umpires Association he would nob haive made the mistake he did — an error through ignorance. In senior cricket there are three umpires who act regularly week by week, the fourth is generally anybody that can be prevailed upon to stand. Failing the formation of an Umpures Association, it is the duty of the Oricket Association to see that competent men umpire at least in the senior matches. Ido not believe thiat umpires never make mistakes — they are but human, and liable to err — but I do say that those acting in senior matches should not err through want of knowledge. * * • A oorrespondeait has asked me 1 to state the boundaries of the senior wickets on the Basin Reserve. They are as follows • — On No. 1 wicket From the near side of the screen, behind No. 2 wicket, to the scoring board at No. 4 wicket' — hits striking the fence or rolling on to the path count 3 ; clean over the fence and path, 4. All other hits run ouit. No. 2 wicket . From the turnstilei in front of the pavilion to a marked post in the bend of the fence— 2 to thie fence and 3 over , from the said marked: post to seat directly opposite Kent Terrace, 3to the fence or track and 4 over ; beyond the turnstile m front of the pavilion, four runs if the ball is hit over the fence. All other hits run ooit. * * * Some Sydney first-grade tallies — W. Bardsley 41. A. Cotter 32. C. Clement 30, B. W. Farquhar 40, G. Payne 50, L. W. Pye 64 H. Cranney 32, Y. Trumper 54, D. Gee 32, A. C. Bannerman, 32 (not out), P. Winning 32 H. Ddnnan 55, F. Meares 59, G. Gan-nisey 55, L. Kemmis 37, A. Brown 35 (not out), H. Harris 32, A. Verge 32, W. Bell 34, T. H. Howard 37. Bowling figures — Hopkins, three> for 19 , Deane, seven for 28 , Gee, sax for 48; Fmneran six for 28; Bowden, six for 22. Dawes, three f or 6 ; Marsh, seven for 16 Mcßeith, seven for 30. * • ♦ Three ex-Australians — Ayles, Baxter, and Douglas — are playing in Auckland this season. Warner's team of English cricketers play their first match at Adelaide on Saturday next, the 7th November. lam informed that the Union Club (Wednesday) have two ex- Australian players — Hurley and Gibbes — in their ranks. Both showed fair form last week. Hugh Tramble has definitely retired from cricket. Who will fill his place in the approaching test matches is exercising the minds of the many followers of Australian cricket. A "Sydney Sun" item — "Clem Hill played brilliantly for 156 (not out) a,t Adelaide yesterday (17th October). We are informed that the South Australian champion is in splendid fettle physically." Murdoch, the old-time Australian representative cricketer, was 48 years of aige on the 18th instant. He averaged 38 runs per innings in the first-class matches of the London County Club during the past season. The keenness of the Midland senior players is one of the things thait is enjoyable about Wellington cricket.. But, methinks, that keenness carried several of the players too far last Saturday. To wit, the instances when Mahoniy and Richardson were retired to the pavilion. Granted, these were two fin© players to see the last of on that, occasion, yet' the rejoicing seemed to me to be so pronounced as to almost approach unsportsmanlike play.