CRICKET. PRACTICE WICKETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13414, 16 February 1907, Page 8

CRICKET.

PRACTICE WICKETS.

NOTES ON CLUB CRICKET.

Tn* weather was fine for la.) Saturdays championship matches. Chief interest was centred in tin. North Shore-Eden fixture, played on the former's ground. A large crowd assembled to watch the match, ami they were not disappointed, for the Shore team occupied the baiting crease all the afternoon and provided some interesting, even if at times slow, cricket. When stumpwere drawn thev had 286 on the board for the loss of seven wickets, and consequently are in a good position. Some speculation has been indulged in during the week as to whether Haddon should close the innings at once on Saturday, or .-end bis-other batsmen to the wickets. Personally, I think that. it, -would be better to close, for the fast-scoring batsmenhaw lost their wickets, and time might be wasted by playing the other batsmen, as they are not likely to make many run- However, muc'- depends upon the conditions prevailing on the day. North Shore, 1 think, should win. but it would make matters very interesting if the match was a draw and Parnell were beaten by City, for it would leave four teams with each a chance of gaming the premiership.

City did exceedingly well to sot rid of P&rrjfll for 150 runs, and everyone thought that they were going to secure their first win. Rut Hemus and MacCorniick were dismissed for practically nil. and four of the City batsmen were out for 56. City might jet win. but 1 prefer ParneU's chance. Grafton got rid of Ponsonby for 90, and themselves made 130 for the loss of four ■wickets. Consequently there is a.reasonable possibility of Grafton registering a threepoint victory against the western suburb. A. £- Rolf, the English professional imported by the Eden District Cricket Club, leaves on his return to England on Monday fortnight.

Eden were unfortunate in losing the services of Rolf at the bowling crease after he had .bowled 18 overs on Saturday. He had to retire on account- of a. rick in the back. The wickets were divided amongst Freeman, Brook-Smith, Stemson, and Geo. Mills.

W. H. Graham (Grafton second eleven) had the distinction of being the only cricketer in Auckland to get into three figures on Saturday. He got 107, and when stumps were drawn hud not lost his wicket. He gave two chances when well on in his innings, but beyond these played admirable cricket.

A. Haddon played a very fine innings on Saturday. When within three of the century he gave G. Mills a chance off Freeman, which was accepted.

The senior wicket at Victoria Park was aeither good nor bad. It appears that the caretaker had not been warned in time that a match would be played at the park, and consequently did not put the work into the. pitch that he would otherwise have done. The- wicket, was on the fast, side, but. occasionally the ball would get up. All the Shore batsmen who lost their wickets got into double figures. Hussey got 26, Hollingrake 19, Prime 18, Wallace Z7, Eowdeu 28, Woodward (not out) 14, while Philson plaved a sound and useful innings Of 51. E. V. Sale was Parnell's top-scorer with 39. He played good cricket, and to an extent broke the back of the City bowling, thus great!-.- ,->ssi St i'> the last five batsmen, foil'- <■','< ' ■••'."' iv "'. 'd double figures. Pon-OM'' v . ."• ■■'<>■< ■ times in succession been •.- > ■'- ■"<■' f'-T •'. '.-■>* if under a hundred. The fi-»u>c are: '.. ~0, and 90. If this continues tiheir batting averages will be anything but presentable at the end of the season. . F. R. Mason played nice cricket for his h3 (not out). He gave one chance, in the slips, but otherwise his innings was faultless. His drives and leg hits were excellently timed. Wilkes (18) and Marcroft (20, not out) batted in good style for their runs, and made a good stand for Parnell's ninth wicket. D. Hay played attractive cricket for 30 runs, and looked as if he was in for the afternoon. However, he did what he lias so often previously done this season—got his leg in front. R. Woods and W. Robinson were the only Ponsonby men to really do anything against Grafton on Saturday. They scored 22 and 24 respectively. A. E. Sloman (Grafton), who got two for 33, trundled really better than his figures indicate, especially when he bowled from the end that helped his break. Sims and Braithwaite, the two men who ■were chiefly responsible for Ponsonby's win over Grafton in the first round, were quickly disposed o? on Saturday. They both made a duck, and there was a look of relief on the Graftonites' faces when They saw the backs of these batsmen. The bowlers especially were happy. A repetition of the previous match would have been too much for them. J. Gavin saw four of his side's wickets fall on Saturday, but was unable to get one past the Grafton fieldsmen, and going in eighth he saw some 15 runs put on without making any himself. He was not out. I). Hay's form with the ball has been somewhat erratic this season, but he has had some "on" days, when he has bowled a first-class ball, with the result that his figures have made good reading. On Saturday he took six for 37. R. Neill (17) had batted nicely, but was unfortunate in getting out just before the call of time. Dr. Neill (City) gave a good all round display, and had 30 (not out) to his credit when stumps were drawn. ,

I am about tired of agitating for hotter practice wickets, and really if the cricketers do nob consider it worth the while to make a decisive move in the direction of having the defects remedied I might just as well drop the matter my.self. I hardly ever visit the Domain without hearing players remarking on the had state of some of the practice ■wickets, but beyond this they do not go. The matter is never, us far as I know, brought up at association meetings, either general or committee, but if it is there certainly is never anything definite done. If only in the interests of our young players, I •will make another protest and also appeal to tie responsible officials to do something that will assure better wickets next season. ' We are endeavouring to teach our young cricketers how to play the game, but what is the use whim nine out of every ton balls soma so high that the youngster has to rise his toes and then play the ball with the handle nearly as often as with the blade of the bat? The association deserve the greatest credit for the introduction of the coaching system, but the good effects of this is discounted by the toleration of such bad practice wickets. I'arnell, Grafton, City, and at present Eden, practise on the Domain, but the attendances at the nets do not, I think, average more than six out of each club a week. In fact the nets are often deserted. The abominable state of the practice wickets is one of the causes of this, while the absurd cricketers' vacation at Christmas time is another. I saw City practising on a wicket this week that I myself would have considered would spoil one's batting, and would have preferred not to practise at all ,As much benefit would have been derived from play on a spot picked out On the road. I asked why they did not i?> out on the outer Domain, and they pointed out tho inconvenience they would be put to in carrying the. material over there. One of their players told me that the caretaker had told thorn they could go over on the other fide of the ground, but that they had been unable to find a suitable pitch. It is every bit as essential to have good practice wickets as it is to have good match wickets, and equal attention -should be paid to both. In Australia tho practice wickets receive a* much preparation as the match wickets, and rijrhtly so. If tho association made a move in, the matter 1 am sure that they could have the defects, whatever they are, rectified.

JUNIOR CRICKET. Something- should be done to givo junior cricketers in Auckland an opportunity to test their combined strength. If, is no doubt difficult to organise or at least finance a trip for them, so that they might try ; conclusions with second grade players of other provinces?;-but something might be done locally. For instance, at Easter time , a. team chosen from senior players inAuck- ' lurid might play 11, 15, or 18 of the juniors, according to the strength of the senior team nicked. This, I have no doubt, would be welcomed by the juniors, who are always anxious to test their powers. Perhaps a trip could be arranged and a match played against a representative Hawke's Hay team. Hawke's Bay may bo too strong, and perhaps regard such, a suggestion as infra dig., in which ease 13 or 15 juniors might ["constitute the., team. However, it. is desirable that something should he arranged for the juniors, and the association might do worse than give, the suggestion careful consideration. If a trip cannot, ho arranged a match might bo played locally. HERE AND THERE. The New Zealand Cricket Council has instructed the selectors to publish the names of the New Zealand team for February 18. It was resolved to suggest to the captain of the English team that the side which loses the to*« in the first test match shall have choice of innings in the second.