Out Door Sports And Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 767, 13 March 1915, Page 20

Out Door Sports And Pastimes

By Touchline.

CRICKET.

Wet Weather. fOR the first time-this season in Wellington rain interfered, with the playing of senior championship matches last Saturday afternoon. After a slight delay at the beginning—-a start not being made until a little before three o'clock—a shower of rain later on drove the players from the field. In, only one match, on the Basin Reserve—that between East and North -cfelhe. Ko; 1 wickets-was play resumed, the- eaptains in the other senior game — Central and University^—and the jiiHior / {match agreeing to ypuU the; stumps out, and declare play ofE lor the rest of lie vrday. ■ ' *"

...Jt to me that, considering all 'things,-, our cricketers, have but • little to complain of. because of the fact that the

weather was unsuitable, if even for Only parfc of the afternoon. From, lall parts ®$t£h<3 country has come the cry for rain ~r&nd plenty of it. Therefore, the greatest good to the greatest number .sshould' be remembered by .the cricketers, and cause' their grumblings against the iderfc of-.:the;weather;on this ocieasion to beonly slight murmurings. Cricket. taw. ®i 6 circumstances set out above, as . regards the two senior 1 games cause one to wonder how- they could: happen in matches played under;the same code of rules. In my opinion, the action taken ,by the # two sets of captains is consistent with the laws, of cricket, and the decisions given thereon by the Marylesibgne Grickefc Club*; There; should^-libt?-

ever, be, a local rule governing: circumstances such as arose. last Saturday. A pogtpojieflient ground I '.' committee ought be appointed .to control the • playing of the matches,. and,. after- they have decided that the games must be plaved,: any other decision ;as .to postponing | the matches after they have commenced ; should be the -hands of the umpires. Some people claim that the umpires have this power already, but my opinion is that i&i&' is not ihtferpretation of the laws, •* For instance— .*• "At the commencement of a match, the umpires may be appealed to by either side as to the fitness of ground for play." This means, if it means anything, that the eaptains of the two opposing teams have the power to agree amongst themselves whether the conditions are favourable or otherwise. If they disagree, then the appeal is made to the umpires, and it is not until such appeal is made that the umpires have a say in the matter at all. A Case iit Point happened some years ago- —-viz., •in a match between an English team ' and Wellington—when rain prevented the commencement of play. The respective captains were E. G. de Trafford and C. A. Richardson, who, after waiting some time for the rain to cease, agreed to abandon play for the day. They did not consult tho umpires at all—only informing them of their decision when they arrived at it —and in the way. I read tjie laws of the gatne their action was a perfectly correct one. * * * « Another Point. One law has it, "In case of interruption from rain,'' etc.. and a decision on the laws generally reads- — "Save as provided by the Ivaws, the umpires have no right to interfere in the progress of the game ex-

cept on appeal " The way I interpret thfe is that, no matter how hard it rains, if both teams are prepared to go on with the game, the umpires have no' power to lift the bails to indicate that the rain has interrupted the play. The appeal must be made to them before they can take any action. It does seem the height of

foolishness for cricket to be played to the accompaniment of rain, but if the players care to keep going the umpires have no ]jower to prevent them.

The final. point in this connection. When play has. been interrupted, as it was on Saturday, on -whom rests the onus of calling on the playei's to resume? One instruction distinctly states : —

"As soon as the rain has ceased, the umpires shall immediately, without further, instruction, inspect the wicket and decide upon its fitness. This seems clear enough, but another instruction has it—

"lii lie event of the captains agreeing as to the conditions of the ground or light, the umpires will, so far, be relieved of their responsiblity." ■ " Cricket is _ a game played between - men of a sporting character, and • the -whole "trend of the laws of the game, with the decisions given thereon b.y the Marylebone Cricket Club, are. in the direction of elaborating this fact. It is possible jfor the game to be conducted without alppeal to the umpires at all—although "the men in the white coats are necessary at tiiness. What I mean is as regards the fitness of the ground and the quality of the light, at any rate.

It is rarely, however, that two sets of captains _ are found in accord.- It happened with us on Saturday that the captains in both games agreed on a certain course, although the findings were diametrically opposed to one another. t They were within their rights, in my opinion, according to the laws of the game, but a rule- should be framed by the Wellington Cricket Association to prevent any difficulty in the future. The Marylebone Cricket' Club has issued instructions that, by-laws, can be, made to govern local conditions where necessary, and I. take it that this is an instance in the direction indicated. The Play, Both C. Gr. Wilson and F. A. Midlane, tbe captains of North and East respectively, were among the absentees last Saturday*, and their mantles for the time■; feeing fell on W. T. Bray and W. 'JL. Gibbes respectively. The latter called correctly when the coin was tossed, and invited the North team to take the first turn in the field.- < A little heap of sawdust behind each wicket told the tale that the ball was going to be difficult to hold, and that the batsman's task • was, therefore, likely to be the easy one. And so it turned out.

W; A. Baker and W. S>. Gibbes opened for East, and things went along nicely bill 65 runs "were' on the board. Then Baker spooned one up in the . air, and P. .Walters obligingly held it, causing Baker's exit with 41 to his credit. G. Lambert came in, only to be given out l.b.w. to his first ball. J. Nash joined lip. with Gibbes, and shortly afterwards the rain began to pelt down, and it did come down, too, for a while, so much so that I felt in agreement \tdth those who. declared that cricket was done for; the afternoon.

It has often been - proved, however, that the man who; prophesies about the weather in Wellington generally falls in and i so it hatmened on, this occasion. {Round about f four o'clock the, sun came out once again, and by half-past four the players in this match were out in the field again. The, conditions from the batsmen's, standpoint had improved timing the interim,' and Gibbes and Nash were; quickly • at it, making much hay—or runs, if you like-awhile the sun shone. The score went to 164 before

Gibbes was dismissed—99 for . the wipi.ket, his own contribution being 84.. -Ifr- . Baniett helped Nash to carry the total along to 197 for three wickets, when another shower of rain sent all Kgrifts back to the pavilion. Nash's total was g* and Barnett's 13*.: " The University' Match only, went a. very, littleway,, but during that time the University feHows. found much difficulty in getting out of trouble from G. W. Robinson's deliveries.'' Our fast bowler mustered up a lot' of pace, many balls singing off the pitch'. :He hit the sticks _ a couple of : times, 'riarroWly "escaped doing so on several other occasions. and now and again a stiiigmg catch would swin£ into the slijis. Probably, if the game had been resumed, the ball would-have got too sodden; for him,, but, as : it was, he was doing inofe than well up to the adjournment. •As it was, the University "score was 46 for two -.wickets. (F>. Joplin- 20*). ■ "•. ' ' * ' * •• * •.r #• Petone-Old 80y5,,.. V, ''' '1; Some people' are looking to- the- Old Boys to provide another surprise in the match commenced at Petone- on Saturday, for a defeat of- the suburban team would .be welcomed by . most of .the..- town elevens. ;As far. as -the., play has ; gone—and the rain does : not seem to .have been so persistent at Petone^—-the. game, is fairly even. Petone scored.' 164 (Gordon 35, Finlayson 22, . Senior 21 3 Rodgers 14, Donoghue 12, Cate 11), Old Boys' reply, being 47- for. three wickets Hay 28, F. Beechey 19). w*,. 5 : Passing Notes. . V In the East-North game' last Saturday there was only one extra in the 197 runs scored. This is something -so ; unusual these days as to deserve the-.spe-cial mention, and ~.W. Wagstaffe; ,-th© North wicket-keeper, is =entitled-; ;r ; ;fco whatever credit there is in: it. Writiiig thus reminds me that R..' G; Niven - . was l champion behind the wickets ~in the matter of keeping down the extras*; a ball rarely passing him after the batsman had missed it. But. this was not his only good feature, for he. was an excellent all-round wicket-keeper as. well. Many of the present-day- "keepers':' could do with a littlei of his activity behind the wickets.

They, tell me a senior player played under the. name, of "Hicks" in ;a Wednesday game last week. If so, surety! this is not playing the game?

- The, present, decision of, the. Cricket Association is to play matches until the. 10th. April. .It seema; be that .eysjry--body-will be- dead weary of. the. game by. that. time. No play will, take,' place, j morrow; (Saturday), all- matches having been postponed on acpoiint. of the athletic meeting.

So. little practice is being.; indulged in* by players these days that it seems-to me, it, would be a,^se_,thing for the committee' of the CricJrot Association, to close down ' th©'''' practice nets for the balance, of the sfeasoh.' It would not affect many and might save. a lot of trouble in the future. Things are, going along so nicely. from the pomt of view at the present time that it would be a wise thing to get ahead' of provable trouble. I know something, but I cannot- put it into plain language. Yet the hint m this ..can be read without an interpreter.

C &havles BoxshaS! Retires; . Z.-JKL

f fy Charles W. Boxshall, !the. well-known ,^yJG!dnterbury and New Zealand represen- ' iative w;icket-keeper, announces .his retirement- from active service as . a • player, in the following terms:— ... : ' r ,- "The Secretary s Canterbury Cricket Association. * ! Dear Sir.—-I beg to announce to yqur ■ my retirement from firstplass cricket. In doing s<J, I feel that iMCattixot leave the playground where I spent so many happy hours in assisting to uphold the prestige of Canterbury cricket during the t>ast 18 years, without indicating iny high appreciation of the successful efforts of your Association to carry on. the sport in. accordance with its highest traditions, and to bring it up to the high standard it at present occupies. "I feel honoured and proud to have assisted in some small way, both on and ;,off :the field; and, thoilgn naturally I regret that 'father Tim© 7 deprives me . «| the opjJortunitiee and pleasures which I have for so long a period enjoyed, yet I feel happy in the knowledge" that the . game is in good hands, and that those who succeed the veterans on the field .strong;jy : imbued with the cricket Spirit, %hich : at ail times demands that they shall' ( play the game.' Cricketers may come and go, but the game goes on fbr'ever'.'' ~ tYJ> ■ ■. * «• * I was not surprised to hear of C. W. retirement, for he had mentioned to me when here with the Canterbury team during the holiday season iJhalfeihisineiiji'ations were that way. He is the only one, besides Dan Keese, who was a member of the two New Zealand teams—lß99 and 1913—that toured and has given fine service to New Zealand, as .'Well /as Canterbury, juave Been aaaiiy fine wicket-keep-ers in New 'Zealand—A. B ; : Williams, 3/ N. Eowkej It. C. ■ Niven, W. p. Hawrkins, to mention a. few of them—and, pinions may differ as to which is the best that has represented the Dominion, hut there ~ can be' ilo douht that C. <W;Boxshall was the: equals in his prime, •of the 5 best of them. He has: made many friends up an»J down Net? Zealand during his eighteen years of active service for Ganterhury> ajad there will be many whp will' regret that 'Father Time' has indicated to him that his youth has gone. Into his retirement he carries with him the gpod wishes of the Wellingtoil cricketers and enthusiasts who have Tubbed shoulders with him at the good old game. " * * * » Stray Itenis. ■A query that was put to me: "A bitsniatt hit the ball into the air, and seeing no one was likely to get to .it before it reached th©' giound.< he quietly patted it; back- to the bowler, who caught it, "WJas. he out?" The answer is*. '' out.''' Here is the rule : "If the ball, from a stroke of the bat, be held before it touch the groundcaught;'' He could he out, also, "hit the ball twice," for the stroke in question was not made for the purpose of guarding his wicket. * : *■ *• An effort is heing made; to send - a team to Napier at Easter time, but the responses to the invitation are very few aiid.far jbetween, The players are; being asked to pay their own expenses, and not many of the rank and file can afford, to do that these times. It may safely be written down that this trip will -not <jome off.