Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 722, 2 May 1914, Page 21

Cricket.

. Wellington is losing three of its leading cricketers during the next two weeks. C. V. Grimmett, who is recog- . nised as one of the best slow bowlers in the Empire City, leaves for Sydney to- ' day (Friday). This youth has the googlie in his kit, and probably, if he gets in touch with some of the leading cricketers on the other side of the Tasman Sea, he may fulfil his promise. As a batsman he has plenty of defence, -with a good scoring drive. He is a sign-writer by profession. ; J. Gordon Kinvig learnt all his cricket and. football at the Boys' High School, in Chriistchurch, ■ and when he came hither five years ago he was just on the threshold of a promising career. As a cricketer, he has not risen to the heights predicted, although he has been more than a useful man on the side. This trip to Melbourne, wliithe.r he goes on Friday next week, is a promotion for Kinvig in business life, and maybe he may not have the opportunity for much cricket in the Victorian capital! But he carries with him a good .word to Warwick Armstrong, and this Melbourne Club and Australian Eleven.man can be relied upon to give Gordon a chance if he shows any promise. In any. case, he is still young enough to fulfil ' the good opinions his many friends hold; of him. The third to leave us is J. V. Saunders, the ex-Australian Eleven left-hand bowler, who has finished his engagement as groundsman and coach to the Wellington Cricket Association. He • goes via the south by the steamer leaving here next Thursday. As a groundsman J. V. Saunders has done good work during the term of his engagement, but as a coach ]p.e was not taken seriously by local cricketers, and after his first year did not do any coaching at all. simplv because no players offered. When Saunders was appointed, many exoected. that hp would be a big factor in Plunket Shield matches, and he had hardly landed in Wellington before a challenge went forth for that trophy. But- we haven'teven seen . a sight of the'Plunket Shield m Wellington—the Canterbury fellows keeping it tightlv locked up in a box when they brought it home the last time. Still, Saunders, it is onlv fair to «ay, did more than his share of the bowling in the matches in which he took part for the possession of the trophy. In my opinion, however, he never rose to the full measure of his form in "Wellington!