HOME SIDE'S DOWNFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18649, 4 March 1924, Page 9

HOME SIDE'S DOWNFALL

"TAIL " SLUMPS BADLY. A VERY POOR SHOWING. .-INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES [BX TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CKRISTCHURCH. Monday. After commencing their second innings in a way which made New Zealand supporters very happy, the home side went to pieces to-day in an extraordinary fashion. When the news was circulated that Dacre and Blunt were making a great stand for the fourth wicket, a large crowd went to Lancaster Park in the anticipation of seeing New Zealand make a large score. They were sadly disappointed. Though Smith, the Auckland bat, filled Blunt's place in a very creditable manner, the tail of the team could no nothing right.' Collins went easily after making one good stroke, and the innings was practically over. Twenty-two runs for the. last five wickets was a poor showing. Great praise must be given to Dacre for his big score of 127, . the second century scored against the visitors. Dacre is always an enterprising bat, who looks for the ball from which to make runs. There is probably no more attractive scoring man in New Zealand. He showed remarkable restraint. He waited for the loose stuff on the off and made his late cuts in grand style. The ball travelled at an astonishing rate off his bat. This speaks well for his timing and wrist action. Smith's Faultless Display. Forward of the wicket, Dacre was always looking for runs, and was very aggressive against anything over-pitched. He gave several chances, which marred his display a little, but otherwise his innings was a delightful one. The veteran batsman, Smith, played another fine innings, in which he did not look like going out. It was a faultless display by a cool batsman. Smith was not so attractive as Dacre, but he timed every shot well, and got surprising power into his shots which would have cost another batsman a great effort. Smith's only weak stroke was a hesitating one to'Mailey. The ball came off his bat to Hendry, who was fielding close up to the wickets. Blunt, Canterbury's star, batsman, of the last few seasons, recovered some of his. old form in scoring 46. He opened very quietly, and refused to touch anything outside the off stump. It was his weak play to a rising ball which _ had cost him his wicket in the first innings. To-day he let it go by without touching it. But if Blunt was dormant to the off stuff he played some perfect strokes to leg, and turned the ball away from his wickets in great style.

New Zealand's Fielding. ■ The only other bat to make anything like a stand was .Alloo, who rattled up a dozen quickly. He set an example to the other members of the team by showing a lively desire to run for short singles. , In the field, New Zealand have much to learn from the visitors. The throwing in especially was wretched, and made Boon's task as wicket-keeper an unenviable one. The ground fielding with a few exceptions, was'mediocre. Collins, the captain, made little effort to . stop a ball which came hit? way, and on his showing in the field and with the bat should be the first man to be dropped for the second test match. Hiddleston was another offender in the field, and often returned the ball hard at the wicketkeeper's feet when this was quite unnecessary. Dacre at cover point was an exception. He held a hot catch from Punch. When the Australians went to the wickets it was a question of how many, or how few wickets would fall before the necessary 113 had been reached. Three men were missed in the first few overs, and the eight wickets win have been smaller. McGirr kept them quiet for a while. and clean bowled Mullarkey with a good one. Australians' Work Analysed. The Australian captain was as usual at home to the bowling and played it with uncanny accuracy. Bardsley made some fine carpet drives in front of the wicket. In the' field, the Australians were not so accurate as usual, and a number of chances were missed. Their throwing in and placing of the field were above criticism. Mailey, the googly bowler, finished up with an average of four for 101, but the figure flatters him, as at one time, he had over 90 runs hit off him without getting a wicket. 'He went through the tail end of the New Zealand team with ease. Punch came on late in the' inning and broke the Dacre-Smith partnership with a great, v leg break. Bowllncr for New Zealand, Mcßeth had several chances missed, but eventually 'captured Punch's wicket.

TOURING TEAMS' VISITS. MATCHES FOR DOMINION. MR. COCHRANE'S ADVICE. [BIT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. The question of touring English and Australian teams playing matches in the Dominion was discussed at. a meeting cf the executive of the New Zealand Cricket Council. Mr. C. B. Cochrane, manager of the New South Wales cricket) team, was present, and made a statement on the matter.

Mr. E. Heathoote Williams, president of the Cricket Council, stated that the matter had been discussed before, but so far nothing had been done. However, representations had now been made to the Australian Board of Control and the M.C.C., England. If the scheme were carried out, it would bring New Zealand into direct participation in international cricket, and would be the means of improving the standard of the game in this country. Mr. Cochrane said he had no authority to speak on behalf of the Australian Board of Control, but, personally, he was in qrisrjre. sympathy- with the proposal with regard to English teams jplaying here. There would be difficulties in the way of these teams playing in New Zealand on their way to Australia. However, he saw no reason why English teams should not go home via Panama or Vancouver and play matches in New Zealand en route. As for Australian elevens, they should be able to go to England via Panama. International players whom he had spoken to agreed that the scheme was an excellent one, for it would give Australian elevens a chance of picking up some combination before their English tour, and it would also serve to improve the standard of New Zealand cricket. It would be better to arrange for Australians to play here on their way to England, for on the way back they would be tired of cricket, and would not be so keen. He would do all in his power to further the proposal. An Australian learn would be Craving for England about February, 1926. As far as a visit of the English cricket team to Australia next season was concerned, the itinerary had been arranged. The first match would be against Western Australia. The team would therefore come via Suez, but he did not see why it. should not play here on its way Home, about March, 1925. That, of course, was a matter for the English cricket authorities, and not, for the Australian Board of Control. In reply to Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Williams said that' if English or Australian teams visited New Zealand they would try to arrange for two matches under the control of the council. Mr. Cochrane urged the executive to get in touch at once with the English authorities, but to wait until his return to Australia before approaching the Board of Control again.