CRICKET NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 17

CRICKET NOTES

MANY BATTING FAILURES

FINE INNINGS BY H. G. VIVIAN

FORM OF SUBURBAN PLAYERS

'Although the conditions last Saturday favoured the batsmen it was still obvious from the performances that many are still cut of form. Up to the present bowlers have generally held the upper band Ibis teason. but the figures of some trundlers are rather flattering. With more practice under the present fast conditions .oven team scoring should become more general instead of two or three individual scorers in each side, as has chiefly been the cuse to the present. Until last Saturday tho conditions for play in Auckland were not fast and as batsmen were not used to the ball making more pace off the wicket, perhaps this accounted for their downfall. A fault with many batsmen under the conditions was a Jendencv to play back too much. The splendid exhibition given by H. G. jVivian for Parnell against King's Old Boys was greatly appreciated by the spectators. Vivian played beautiful all-round »hots, the ball travelling off his bat at an amazing speed. It was only after passing his century that he became reckless and threw his wicket away in attempting to hit everything. Excellent clean and powerful hitting saw 17 fours and six fixes in his total of 144, making 104 in boundary shots. It was as fine an innings as anvoi>e could wish to see and on his form this season Vivian appears to be the best .-11-tound cricketer in New Zealand. Another fine innings for 110 was played hv I'. E. AVhitelaw, who, in partnership with Vivian, added 218 runs for the second wicket. In spit© of tho fact, that his timing was sometimes at fault, Whitelaw played some splendid shots, and on his present form he seems assured of a place in the representative team to tour south. It seems rather strange that Whitelaw, although given several chances, has rot yet succeeded in representative fixtures.

, Two Fine Catches The batting failures of Ponsonby and JT.M.C.A. against Grafton and Eden respectively were rather surprising. Against Ponsonby the veteran E. Horspool secured six wickets for 43 runs, showing what can be accomplished when a bowler uses his head. Fielding at cover for Grafton Angus took two fine catches, a low one especially being a splendid effort. Evergon, the former Mount and Farnell player, gave a good exhibition behind the wickets for Grafton. The meeting of the leading teams. .North Eh ore and University, was expected .to provide bright cricket at Devonport, but University, which batted first, rather disappointed. Except for a bright innings by Garrard for 75 the total would have been extremely poor. University compiled 192 and North Shore replied with for two' wickets, so the match is at a very interesting stage. The form of the suburban players, K. Btallworthy, E. Masters and H. Hunt, has resulted in their being chosen to practice with a view of finding a place m the Auckland representative team. It is understood that six nominations were asked for, but only three names -were submitted. Form in the past season is all the selectors apparently required, as little was oSering so early this season as a guide fo) prospective representative honouis. Stallworthy is deserving of consideration as besides being a useful bat, he can bowl well. Last season Stallworthy was high in the list of bowling averages. Hunt has undoubted claims for the position of wicketkeeper, but he is little, if at all, superior to either Lonergan or Wethenll. Lonergan is a first-class batsman and rarely fails to make runs. Wethenll showed excellent form behind tiie wickets last season, and again last Saturday proved reliable. A Promising Colt

E. Masters is a promising colt, but there are several with better claims Guinivcn's century on Saturday stamped the R.V. batsman as a possible representative. La.'t season Guimvrn returned an average of 29.24. His 120 in the las match-' last season, against Mount Albert, was a sterling performance, which lias apparently been overlooked, in all Guiniven scored 376 runs last year. On Saturday's form it will occasion no surprise to see Guiniven's name added to the list of players nominated to practise. P. Simpson (R.V.) is another batsman Capable of improvement with coaching. His 93 not out on Saturday was a fine effort. In his best form R. Innes (Poneonby) is worthy of consideration, lew batsmen have a more finished style than Innes, who made 70 for Ponsonby last Saturday. . ... . A good fast bowler is an acquisition to the Auckland team. Wooloxall and Mill* (Mount Albert Grammar 01d ( P°H c easily the fastest bowlers in the faubuiban Association. Mills bowled more effectively last season than K. G. Bush, and was Mount Albert's most dange.ous tnindler against Harbour Board last Saturday. A prominent Harbour 80. id player expressed the opinion that Al.l s would get wickets against the best loca talent. He has only to pay more attention In length, rather than pace, to be even iuore successful. ~ Watkins (Jnvicta), who performed wel Muring countrv week last Christmas, and A. Lewis (Ponsonby), are both consistent run-getters. The last-named is one rf the best bats in the Suburban AssoAnother promising colt is Donaldson, of Ponsonby, who kept wicket for the ut \ land junior representatives last season, lie is a good bat and made 90 against the [Wellington junior representatives.