CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17957, 6 December 1921, Page 5

CRICKET.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES). December 31. January 2 and B.—Against Otago, at Eden Park. January 6, 7, and 9.—Against Canterbury, at Eden Park. January 20, 21, and 23.—Against Wellington. at Eden Park.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The first of the Auckland representative matches will bo played in a few weeks, and action is now being taken in connection with tho selection of players to practice, in view of their final selection as Auckland representatives. The standard > of cricket in Auckland! this season stf far is not such as to justify the belief that a straight-out selection will bo easy. The form of the majority of the players is not flattering, particularly that of the old representatives, who, with fow exceptions, have been somewhat inconsistent. Several of tho younger players have been showing good form, and their qualifications will have to be eeriously considered before a final selection is made. Meanwhile, Messrs, N. C. Snedden, A. W. Brooke-Smith, and H. B. Lusk aje engaged in the selection of 18 to 20 players to practice in view of th« forthcoming representative matches. The names of tho players are not yet available, but the new men who have good claims to bo considered by the seloction committee axe Allcott (Grafton), Cameron lEden A), Dunning (University), and Postles (Eden B). The first practice will be held at Eden Park on Thursday evening, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings of each week prior to the match against Otago, " Enthusiast " writes:-"With representative nxturoß commencing in. about a month's tune, Aucltianders aro looking forward to the selection of the team which ia to endoJivour to bring the Plunket Shield back to Auckland. 1 notice Iroui Wellington papers that- centuries are being made very frequently, and all their representative players are in great form. Otago and Canterbury are also reputed to be exceptionally strong, and with these three teams visiting Auckland this season, wo will require a Bound all-round team. I underetand the Plunket Shield is no longer won in one match, but that the team winning the most matches holdo tho shield. Auckland will therefore require its strongest team in every match. You will notioe that I mention Cameron of Eden A. and I now learn that Bass, the Y M.C.A. fast bowler., ia back in Auckland, and playing for his old club. Bhould Bnfta strike form, it should be a duel between theeo two playere for a place in the representative team, as they are both good f»st bowlers, and both very useful with the bat. The namos I suggest for practice are: —-N. C. Snedden, S. G. Smith (Ponsonby); Horspool, Eountree, Allcott, C. Snedden (Grafton); Player, Lusk, R. Garrard (University); Brooko-Smith, Cameron, Cummings, Whelan (Eden _A); McLeod, Anthony (Parnell); C. Dacre, Hornue, L. Dacre (North Bhore)." , . Tho Auckland Cricket Association will play all tlie representative matches this eeasom on Eden Park. This ground is eminently suitable for big cricket, aa a fine wicket can be prepared and the outfield is faat, yielding full measure for every stroke. It line been deeded not to play competition matches on the Saturdays preceding Christmss Day and Now Yew's Day. but it may be noted that on the Saturday precodinfr New Year's Day Auckland will be engaged in tho match against Otago.

Notable Otago Playera. In view of the Otago team's northern tour and the match against Auckland at the end of the month, it is interesting to note the form of some of the most prominent of the Otago players. Playing for Albion asainßt Grange, Shepherd, the Otago and New Zealand representative, failed in the first innings, but played good oricket for 29 in the second strike. Sledeberg. who is now something of a veteran, but still in the first class, compiled 84, not out, in the first innings, and in the second gave another sound display for 49. In the same match T. Carlton, the Otago Cricket Association's coach, made 23 in the first innings, but failed to get going in the second. A good performance was that of Donaldson, who played fine cricket for 40. This player will probablybe included in the Otago team. Frank Williams, who was the wicket-keeper for Otago for more yean than one cares to remembor, is still playing in first-grade cricket, and. although never famous as a batsman, has maintained his form wonderfully as a wicketkeeper. Torrance, the well-known Otago bowler, is still in fine form with the ball, iiaring for Dunedin agt* ist Carisbroo'i, the lefthander seour:jd five wickets at a cost of t\ runß and was s contributor the batting oreiwa, Torrance is almost certain to be inoludcd in the Otago team that will meet Auckland this season. Straw?, anofttr possible member of trie Otago toara, I'aying for Dunedin against Canshrnok, ccxipilea 53, batting well with fine ihoU on both sides of the wioket- Eofcbold, the footballer nnd cricketer, who must now be classed among the veterans, is still abl» to hold bis own at tho batting crease, His l atflßt e "ort waR a solidl? compiled 47. wl ich he made with good strokes all round tho wicket. LOfib Saturday'? Play Reviewed. Cricketers were favoured with fine weather, fast wickets' acd !wen outfields for the resumption oi championship matches under the auspices of the Auckland Cricket Association on Saturday. s':« batting throughout, although it has not yet a high standard is slowly improving, and sove.al good individual performances were registered in the various matches. The honour of compiling the highest score in the first grade championship was won by University in the match against Parnell, on the Remuera ground. Iho wicket at Remuera was fast, the outfield keen, and the conditions generally in favour of the batsmen. More by good individual play of several members of the University eleven than by a combined team effort, University ran the total to 292 when the last wicket fell. Lusk and Graham gave University a good, start, and took a deal of -sting out of the bowling before they were separated. The batsmen opened brightly, and runs came steadily in spite of freQuent ch&azes in tho attack. Tho century was passed before a dissolution came. Graham being yorked by ilill with tho score at. 10?. Graham Played a distinctly useful ipninm for 46. soorin* mainly by strong leg-hitting. The University captain ia to be congratulated on his contribution. , . ~ , . Lusk. who has not boen showing his best form this 'season, or perhaps has been unfortunate in being dismissed cheaply,, stowed something ol his old-time .batting in compiling 07. It was a sound innings, the runs being put together by fine shots on both sides of the wicket, the driving and square cuttine being exceptionally good strokes.

An Aggressive Batsman. A solid innings was that played by Metge, who compiled 64, and earned his bat at the finish. He adapted himself to the bowling, varying his attack and defences, but punishing anything loose with powerful shots to the boundary. Player looked like making runs, but after running to t double figures made a poor stroke, spooning ono up to Dow at mid-oil. Goodwin was very aggressive during his term at the oreaso, and put colour into tho game by hard hitting. Goodwin does not stand on the order of his going, but opens his shoulders to tho bowling, and with powerful shots, is not long in compiling his score. His latest contribution of 36 included two hits for six each and three fours. In attempting a big hit off Anthony the aggressive batsman lost his wicket, being smartly stumped by Badeley. The partnership was a useful one, the association of those batsmen accounting for 73 rjins for the ninth wicket, when Saunders was bowled by Hill after compiling 39. Saunders batted well, playing several good shots, the best of which was a clean and crisp late cut, which made pace of! the bat, denoting acourate timing ,;and clever wrist play. The bowling honours were divided, Hill being the most Successful with five wickots for 56. Anthony secured three for 58. The Parnell batsmen, Anthony and Moore, in opening the first innings, were/, wise not to take any chances in a failing light, and no wickets were lost for 53, Anthony 13 not out, and Moore 15 not out. Although Parnell has a big score to face, with good batting the match should be carried to an interesting finish. TJio batting of Y.M.C.A. in the match against Pqnsonby on Saturday was extremely disappointing, only two batsmen'showing form to .the bowling of Snedden and Smith, who dismissed the side for tho small score of 59. Of this total J. Cooper claimed 14 and Burton 22. Tha Y.M.C.A. batsmen found Snedden almost unplayable. The' Ponsonby captain just .missed the "hat trick," but finished up with the fine figures of seven wickets for 29 runß. »

The Ponsonby Innings, Ponsonby batted fairly well,, but tho experienced members of the team have not yet shown their best form. Snedden, who gave a good exhibition the previous Saturday, did not get going last week-end, and was out early to a oatch at the wicket. Flynn played »venl good shots in compiling 23, but has yet to gain confidence in attacking the bowling. A trifle over-cautious, he ie inclined to underrate his powers," and would make more runs by tho infusion of a little daring into his batting. Smith has not yet Btruck his- best form, and played very steady cricket for his 32 before being stumped, by Buckley off Cullimore. A batsman of style and easy grace, much ie expected of Smith in view of the forthcoming representative matches. The best exhibition of batting in the Ponsonby inninss was that given by, lighten, who, prior to the unfortunate collision winch cwsed him to retire, played attractive cricket for 64. He was confident from the outset and went for the bowling in free style, scoring the majority of his runs with a clipping off-drive -that almost invariably reached the boundary. It is a pleasure to announce that Riehton is none tho.worse for his acoident, but in'' the collision he was, completely knocked out for a time. His fitness, as. a footballer no doubt assisted toward a Quick reooTeud

Despite the inconsistency of tlie batting, Eden B made a very good, showing againat Eden A at Eden Park, the colts compiling--241 before the last' wicket Jell. McLeod played, a fine innings for 87 in the scoring of which he- made several good shots, the one weak strolte being that which brought about his downfall. P. Horspool batted in his usually aggressive and attractive style, hitting freely at everything, though on occasions selecting the right ball to administer extra severe punishment. With a good eye and a Quick tuni of the wrist Horspool 13 well endowed for the style of battifiig he adopts. The feature of the Eden B inning* was the batting of Postles, who had the honour of, compiling th 6 only century in first grade cricket for the dag. There was no brilliancy about the performance, but it was a speci ally steady exhibition of sound batting wjth good shots on both sides of the wicket, rostles took no chances and gave none, watching the bowling carefully and selecting the right ball to hit. In his score of 100 rostles hit one six and twelve fours, On his latest performance Poatlea should find a place with the players selected to practice m view of the representative matches. Brooke-Smith was the most successful bowler for Eden A, securing four wickets for 88 runs. Taylor three for 57, and Gillespie two for 42. The Eden captain did not make much use of Cameron, who was probably not feeling up to form. Grafton's display in the match against North Shoro was disappointing. A strong batting aide as a rule. Grafton eavo an unsteady exhibition, ana the whole side was dismissed for the comparatively small total of 105. Ihe wickets of Horspool and Sneddon went cheaply, likewise those of Sandman and Adams. The association of Sloman and Allcott improved mattors, but a rot set in, and it was loft to Leeoh and Baker to carry the score over the three-figure mark. Baker's innings of 19, not out, was the best of tne side, Hemus, batting well for 34. and Elliott, for 82, gave North Shore a good start, 70 runs being put on before the first wicket fell. _ C. Dacre compiled 16 in attractive fashion, and Parkes played steady cricket for bis contribution of 81. L. Dacre was not long in compiling 15, and Prime played a useful innings for 28, before he was bowled by Horspool, who got the remaining wickets cheaply, leaving the score at 182 for nine wickets, when time was called. In aLI the years cricket has been played in Wellington, no batsmwi haß yet succeeded in making more than three centuries in the same season. H. E. Burton, with three-figure scores (803 not out, and 128 not out) in his last two innings, seems to have a reasonable chance of putting up a fresh record. The holders of it at present are: — C. A. Richardson (Wellington), 102 not out, 151. and 102 not out—l9ol-02; C. G. Wilson (North), 181, IG2, 101—1917-18; W. A. Baker (East), 155, 103, 101-1917-18. C- P, Cartor, the Natal bowler, who secured six Australian wickets at a cost of 91 runa, in a total of 450 in the second test match at Johannesburg, is one of the veterans of South African cricket, being now 40 yeaiß of age. He debut in the Currie Cup matches in 1898, when only 17 years of age. by capturing five Transvaal wickets for l 7 runs, and has since been a most consistent performer. For a time he transferred to the Transvaal, and in 1911 for that provinoe, tool: 38 wickets at a cost of 10 runs each, but he returned to Natal in 1912. Last season one of his best performances was when he captured six Transvaal wickets for 61, in a total of 150.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS COMPETITION. The following players have been selected for the primary schools trial representative match to be played at Victoria Park tomorrow atf 2 p.iji. After the match the Primary Schools representative team to play Grammar junior representatives will A Team.- Ellis (Edendale), Draffin (Napier Street), Commons (Vermont Street), Loveprove (Mangawhau), Monlt (Mount Albert). Butler (Mount Albert), Edwards (Ponsonby), Hurdle? (Bayfield), Turei (Remuera), Kayes (Mount Eden), Gribble (Edendale). Emergencies: Simpson (Vanxhall), Brobers (Grey Lynn). B Team—Turner (Edendale), Aoiiby (Napier Street), Morris (Mount Albert), Wells ißerr-sford Street), Walters (Nelson Street), Crab (Bayfield), Corfion (Parn-ll), Newdick (Richmond Road), Marshall (Grey Lyon), Denize (Vermont Street), Mace (Meadow Kins). Emergencies: Hulston (Ptmelli, Fantiiain (Devonport).

TAURANGA COMPETITION, [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAURANGA, Monday. The Baker Cup cricket competition wan continued on Saturday when the Town ekiven played Mount M? r.nsannj at th« Mount, The Mount made 13 in the Brat innings nnd 88 in the eeuond inningß, Tho Towa scored 108 for nine wic)-3ts and tficr- won by an innings and seven runs. H. McGougan '331 and A. Baker (11) wore highest scorers for tho Mount and E. T. Baker (J7 net out) for Town, United played Colts at T&uranga. United in the first innings made <58 and ir the second 177. Colts in the fir.it inning. made 165 lor live wiokcts, and ;n the second inm.nuu 88 for two wickets, thus winnir.ff easily. The highest socio for United *i w H. GriKtne (78 not out) in the second innings, Maokay for Colts made <S3 in the first innings and 62 in tho siv,ond.