CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18172, 18 August 1922, Page 5

CRICKET.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

It is early yet to anticipate prospects for the coming season, btit sitrns are not wanting that it will be a good one, with special interest attaching to the visit of the English amateur team- under the management of Mr. A. C. McLaren, which is to sail for New Zealand on September 30. The team will touch at Auckland en route to Australia, where a aeries of matches will be played prior to the opening of the New Zealand tour, which will probably take pl'uce In January or early in February. Mr. Harold Watson, tho well-known exEnglish and New Zealand cricketer, _ who has been on a six months' visit to England, returned W the Niagara on Friday, passing through Auckland, en route to Wellington, on Sunday. Mr. Watson had an opportunity of Seeing a good deal of cricket during his visit. He speaks enthusiastically of English cricket, especially among the young players, and expresses the opinion that the team being brought out by Mr. McLaren will be a strong side. When Mr. Watson left England ho had no knowledge of the personnel of the team, but it has since been cabled that one of the most brilliant of youiig English cricketers. A. P. F. Chapman, who performed so well in the Gentlemen v. Players match a few weeks ago, when he compiled a score of ICO, will be included. Among new comers in Auckland cricket circles during the season will be J. Smith, the well-known ex-Otago representative cricketer, who played for Otago against Auckland in the Plunket Shield match last season. The young Carisbrook cricketer is a good batsman, a useful change bowler and a reliable field. He should be an acquisition to Auckland cricket. He has decided to join the Parnell Club.' , Other prominent playerc who have taken up their residence in Auckland since last season and who are available for local cricket are Burton, the well-known Wellington representative, and Grant, the Canterbury representative, -who have decided to join the Ponsonby Club. The forthcoming annual meeting .of the Auckland Cricket Association promises to be unusually interesting, as several important matters relating to the game will be discussed. The meeting will probably be held in the last week of September The funerat of the late G. A. Mills, of the Eden Cricket Club, whose death was announced last week, took place on Sunday. A large number of cricketers attended. J.lie Auckland Cricket Aswjciation was represented by Messrs. M.-E'lynn and W. Watts, and the-Eden Park Trustees by Messrs. C. Hay and N. Williams. t . _ :. J A rrao bowling feat was put up in English cricket recently. Arthur .Morton. * medium- . pace/bowler, of Derbyshire, took 12 wickets for 108 run*—five for 69 W the first innings and seven for 39 in the second—agamst Somerset. Soawnet also had a™£ ™ e i"J bowler in J. C. White, a slow left-hander tftha deceptive flight, who took three wickets for 42 runs and six for 32. Somerset won bv 55 runs. /%_r«.j A good recovery was made by the Oxford University crioket team m the second innings of it* match against Somerset a few weeks ago. Oxford had scored only 109 in its first innings.. It had half its side out for 45 runs in the second innings, but the later batamendid better. G. T. S. Steveaa was seventh out at 154 for a patient 51. Later V. R. Price (76 not out) and R. R. Robertson-Glassow (48) put on 106 for the list wicket in 80 minutes, the University total being 299. Oxford won. dismissing Somerset for 99 and 214 R. H. Bettmsrton finished Somerset's second innings by taking three wickets in four overs for 3 runs. J R. Barnes, formerly of Marlboroagn College, is reported to have played classical cricket in scoring 123 (not out) for Lancashire against Middlesex at Lord s recently. It was an innings played with the game going badly for his side, but young Barnes —he is 25 years old—batted resolutely, as well as with sDlendid strokes. He is considered to be a potential All-England batsSir Home Gordon has compiled the batting and bowling averages of English players in all eleven-aside matches played, going back lo tho first match (New south Wales v. Lillywhite's team in 1876-77). From these, published in the Cricketer. E. Henditm is shown to head tho batting with 67.82 .per innings. K. S. Ranjitsinhji is next with 60 89. The only men who scored over 2000 rims, are.—A. C Maolaren, 2769 at 55.25: J. B. Hobbs. 2947 at 49.11: W R. Rhodes, 3042 at 43.45; A. Shrewsbury. 2116 at 42.32; T. Hayward 2047 at 3936. Tom-Emmett heads the bowling with 65 wickets at 10.81, W. Attwell 129 at 12.33 and George Lohmann 171 at 13.20 being next. S. F. Barries secured 164 wickets at 20 07 and Bobbie Peel 156 at 20.63. F. T. Mann, the new English captain, is a Cambridge University cricketer, aged 34, who took up the leadership of Middlesex when P. F. Warner retired. He ha» the reputation of being a fine right-hand nard hiiterr''who plays straight and hits with tremendous force without degenerating into the sloggcr. An upstanding, powerful man. he is an all-round sport. * having played Rugby for Cambridge as a forward, done well at golf, proved a good shot. In the war Mr. Mann was. severely wounded l three .times,.but has thrown off the effects and is considered to be once again at his , physical best, Described as a captain of | tact and skill on the field and a diplomat ; off it, Mr. Mann scorns to bo a rare com--1 bination.