OUT DOOR SPORTS AND PASTIMES

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 749, 7 November 1914, Page 19

OUT DOOR SPORTS AND PASTIMES

By Touchline.

CRICKET.

.The Champagne of Cricket. EVEN Gilbert Jessop, the great Gloucestershire hitter and fast scorer,. could not have given a brighter or a more exhilarating exhibition of the fireworks of batting than Charles W. Robinson, of the Central team, gave at the Basin Reserve -slast Saturday afternoon. The Management Committee of the Cricket Association had, in its wisdom-—of which more anon -—decided to make boundaries on all four sides of the senior wickets on the Basin Reserve, and this, played right into the hands of a forcing batsman like the . young New Zealand representative is. That he was in the humour to take advantage of his opportunities redounds to Robinson's credit, and also served to please the goodly crowd of spectators .. who were tempted by the fine weather during the early portion of Saturday " afternoon to wend their way to our main cricketing arena. To show the speed with which Robinson' scored 101 runs off '■■ the bat, it is but necessary to say that he was only fifty minutes at the batting crease, and that in his tally there were three hits for 6, nine for 4, nine for 3, four for 2, and twelve singles. The drive was his main scoring shot, some of his lifts over the boundary being real beauties. A few more displays like Robinson gave on Saturday would popularise cricket in Wellington more than anvthing else possibly could, and with that thought in my mind I extend my hearty congratulations to the young Central player in scoring a-century on his first - ' appearance on the cricket field this season. "To Begin at. the Beginning. in which, this exhilarating exhibition was given was between Central and North.. .The former had first strike,; and from half-past two till a few ' 'minutes of six o'clock they occupied the batting creases, during which they ran up the decent tally of 303 runs —a much bigger" total .than usually results from one innings in Wellington. * :. * * * Stan Hickson and Naughton were the pioneer batsmen,, but they were very slow in making runs in the.early part of their innings, the slowness of the wicket at -the-beginning of the afternoon's play being mainly responsible. They both shaped soundly, and it was not until 36 ■ia-uhs were on the ■ board that the first Central wicket fell. After' this pair had . been about an hour together, Hickson began: to open his 'shoulders, and lifted one or two over or up againsti the pavilion fence. He should have been caught out fairly early in-the innings, but the North fieldsmen were catching but little . on Saturday, and it seemed to me that if any luck was Hickson was entitled to his share. Naughton, who ..keeps his form with the oassing years, is a.- very hard man- to shift, and he deals effectively with anything loose coming down on his left hand.

Burton shaped gingerly until Hickson •. .was dismissedr-r-the -latter, was. using the bat he had been practising with—but. he shaped, confidently and in good form after that until he was run out in trying a third run off a ball that is said to have crossed the boundary at long-on. Bowles walked out of his crease on one sion, and still kept on. batting, but he. ". tried the same trick a' few balls' later, and went back to the side of the ground. Dind, who played for the South team the first year of the district scheme, shaped like a man out of practice, but he will be a source of strength to Central when he gets his eye in. He originally came tins way from Queensland, and, after playing here, went to Westport for a year or two. Dind was in Wellington last year, and had a season of outside cricketj but he is in his correct place among the senior teams. * ■» # * The North Bowlers. had a truly troublous time, and before the afternoon was far advanced Gillie Wi'son was at his wits' end what to do ' to bring about the dismissal of the opposition. As a last resource, he went' on himself—for the first time in senior cricket in Wellington—and was successful in bringing about Naughton's retirement. Wilson bowls a peculiar ball —almoist a round-arm—which keeps very low in its flight and rises but little after it has pitched. The other bowlers—with the exception of Quinn —got an unmerciful trouncing from the Central bat'sinen, but they "were . shabbily treated by their fieldsmen. Catch after catch was dropped, and altogether these- North fellows gave a deplorable exhibition of out-play, not the sort of play that goes to the winning of matches. * ■* * » The University-Old Boys Match was given the pride of position on the No. 1 wicket on this occasion, the former occupying the crease all the afternoon. Stainton, who went in. second wicket down, was still batting when stumps were drawn. He is not what you would . call an aggressive batsman, but his shots are neat and clean all the time, the straight drive and the cut being particularly well made. Fenton and Broad were the opening batsmen, the left-hander keeping things going while' he was at the wickets. Broad is the most patient of batsmen, being one. of those fellows whom it is extremely hard to coax out of a walk, to use a term that is not a cricket one. But he is a useful man to have on the side all the same. Dickson started' well, but he forgot that Tucker is still a good fieldsman, and ' he found out his mistake too late, aB many another batsman has in the past. Tucker's return was as true as of yore, and "run out" caused. Dickson's retire-. me""t. Ward and Caddick "both shaped •well, the former putting plenty of power behind his strokes. * * *' * The Old Boys tried a couple of bowlers new to senior cricket in Wellington. Both created a fairly favourable impression, and'should, do better as the strain wears off them. Beard, who is making a name for himself on the Rugby field, delivers a fairly fast 'ball, one" he could make a deal more faster if he. cultivated a runup. A fast bowler can get up a lot more pace if he does a gallop before delivering, and the hint. in this should be taken by Beard. The other bowler is a lad fresh from Wellington College—Marris, to wit. I like this boy's delivery,.. as .he keeps a good-length with just a nice : turn on it.. As his strength develops, he should improve as a bowler. Norman Hales, Ken

Tucker, Ernest Beechey, and Dick Hay "all had a turn at the bow-ling crease with varying success. * * * •• *. • . How the Matches Stand. . Central v. North.—Central, 303 (Robinson 101. Hieksoii 61, Burton 37. Naughtori 34. O'Connor 12, Dind 11)/ University v. Old Boys.—University,. 211 for eight wickets . (Staintoh 64*,. Ward 31, Broad 29, Caddick 17, Fenton 16). .. . Petone y. East.—Petone J .271 (Rodgers 57, Bennett 48*, Brice 44 3 Gordon 34. Donoghue 12, Cate 12, Nunn 11, . Barber .11, Bold 11); East, 32 for six wickets (Dooley 11).. * # » * The New Boundaries. At its last meeting the Cricket-Asso-ciation decided to make boundaries, all; round the two senior wickets at the- Basin Reserve. For years past—twenty, at least —on two sides of these wickets all hits have had to be run out,, arid the fieldsmen were not restricted in their a,rea, and could, go out as. far as they liked. It is generally admitted that on the sides on which there were boundaries fixed the. slow. howlers had not a possible chance Tof prevailing: against hard-hitting batsmen, therefore the people responsible for the original idea argued that on the. open, side things should be evened up from their -stand-.' point. .._ '...."■ Of late years there-has been a complaint that the batsmen were' tmduly exhausted by having to; run out; so .many ' of their strokes, and *■ it was : to meet their wishes, I . take that- a . change was decided Upon.-,' .The Cricket, Association made two mistakes, however. The first was that they mader.the feoun- - daries altogether too small on'the open Bide of the field, and the secpnd. .was that they forgot altogether that' "the umpires shall arrange boundaries where necessary and the allowances to be made for them" (Rule 44 of the .Laws of Cricket). There is an Umpires' Association in Wellington-—a small ..body. I will admit—but big enough to provide umpires for all the senior games, and to that bodv should have been submitted any :->roprsal to alter the boundaries before •they were given effect to. However, by tills time the. Cricket Association have discovered their mistakes, and I have no doubt an alteration will be made; therefore I will not discuss the matter further, , '~.-.. » ' * *. ' « The New Zealand Cricket Council. The annual meeting of this body was held in Christchurch last Saturday night, and I have to thank Mr. Fredk. C. Raphael, the late hon. secretary, for forwarding me a copy of the annual re- v port and balance-sheet. I desire to extend him my . congratulations on the booklet he has issued, for, besides the report, it contains the detailed scores of .i the matches played by the New Zealand team in Australia and by Mr. Arthur Sims' Australian team in. New _■ Zealand. For reference; purposes ' it is an extremely valuable document, : and "'.it;; has enabled me to-bring up to date th'ax batting and bowling averages'of all New; . Zealand representative cricketers. The occasion may arise later on ..in the present season vwheir I can publish them- 1 — . in the meantime it is pleasing to me to have them by me. • ""■ /■;■'•■

• I have" many times expressed .myself not .in accord witlt the 'New Zealand Cricket Council. in the Yme'tlib<is ; a"dpr>ted ny that'body in. the- government" of .'cricket ; in New Zealand:' This hasv caused me to review unfavourably many of'"Mr. Raphael's actions in his position as hon. secretary, but/that does not prevent me, ■ .in common fairness, from reprinting- the following items ..from/.-.the. annual report of the Council:.—; ■;..'- '--•.: ■■■;-■' "It is since rely- to-be regretted 'that our honorary jstecr'etary has decided' not to seek, re-election...- ;■% •■—; > ' "Mr: Raphael wais:'.fpr. 'six;'years' -lion. secretary 'df the Canterbury .Cricket "Association, and resigned; from that'.'position to- accept his present: appointment, which he has: held : for' fifteen yearej so . it he has now carried out the - duties of a cricket secretary for a period of •twenty-one years. : ; v. "The'Ciji.cie.tfers of this Dominion have, exceedingly fortunate in'rhavmg/algejltleman of Mr. Raphael's leisure and necessary enthusiasm.^6i-;.the game to control itscricket^affairs;>; Only those taking a , Hand: in th% "working of cricket matters immense amount of carrying out the duties; to-the New "Zealand Cricket Council.." .'•'..'':•-'',":',■,.:'"'. V . "The. members of the Management : Committee de.sire to place on record Mr. < Raphael's' long "arid faithful services toNew Zealand/cricket, always so cheer-. fully .given, :,and: to add that one and all are- .under; a deep debt of gratitude to/ him for his valuable work."

The Petone Team. It is rather early in the season yet to say so, but it seems to me that the Suburban eleven is going to ; be champions this time. They, trounced the Old Boys "unmercifully in the opening match, and the East fellows are' not faring much "better in the game now under progress. Rodgers, of the Hutt, was the highest scorer last Saturday, and, now that he has got "into a side in which he will not be called upon to do much bowling, I would not be surprised to see him making many runs, for he is undoubtedly a class batsman, as we know them in Wellington. Arthur Bennett, the Petone secretary, had an enjoyable time at the. batting crease, and was unbeaten at the finish. Brice and Gordon also helped the score along very materially.. From the way the East men went in to bat, the light must have been on the poor side, for neither Gibbes nor Midlane have yet batted. Without assistance from this pair, the East batting is weak. * *## Casual Notes. Dan Reese's figures as a; New Zealand representative are .as follows: —Batting, 35 innings, twice not out, highest score (48, total runs 952, average 28.84; bowling, 1707 balls, -28 maidens, 1008 runs, 44 wickets, average 22.90. The Canterbury and New Zealand' captain has made more runs and taken more wickets than any other player as a representative of the Dominion. During last cricket year Mr. F. C. Raphael, as honorary secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, received) over 800 and despatched 1500 letters, and he received over 300 and sent away 340 telegrams. This looks as if a naid •secretary'was a positive necessity. I was a bit premature last week _in congratulating the players on making an early start with the matches. It was half-past two before the first ball was howled last Saturday—a quick return to old methods. In his first match this season (for South Melbourne), J. V. Saunders was not tried much with the ball. He had 14 runs knocked off him without the -compensation of a wicket. New South Wales and Victoria will meet at Melbourne during the Christmas holidays. Warren Bardsley (126), R. V. Minnett (131). H. Goddard (93*), E. F. Waddy (76), E. L. Waddy (68), C. Kellaway <65), C. G. Macartney (96). These are a few scores picked out at random from the Sydney "Referee's" score-book, and indicate that many of the batsmen we know in these parts are in form. But little attention was paid to the annual meeting of the- New "Cricket Council by the Press Association ■man in Christchurch. From the list of officers telegraphed, .it would appear as if a clean sweep has been made. Mr. J. Fanning, of the University team, at---tended the Council as a delegate from Wellington, but I have not had the opportunity of a chat with him yet.

The raising; of the age limit for recruits in England from 30 to 35 proved at once that men over thirty are keener to serve the King than men under thirty are. Some of the young fellows were inclined to skulk, and on that the women took up the work, and commenced deliberately to shame the slackers. Young fellows hanging back found themselves exposed to the derision and contempt! of English girls. Then the young fellows ■went forward. In New Zealand here and there eases were heard pf in which girls dissuaded, their "boys" from volunteering. So far as can be discovered, there were no cases of that kind in England.