CRICKET PROSPECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 25

CRICKET PROSPECTS

THE NEW SEASON NEED FOR BRIGHTER ' PLAY KEEN SPIRIT IN EVIDENCE While there seems little prospect of any overseas teams visiting the Dominion. the coming cricket season promises to provide a highly interesting series of club and representative games. Auckland will have the advantage this season of having two home Plunket Shield fixtures—the Canterbury and Otago games—and these should serve to relieve the usual run of Saturdayafternnon, cricket. M uch will depend on the players themselves as to the success of the coming season, and it is the earnest hope of many enthusiasts that all teams will make an effort to provido cricket of a brighter nature. Waning public interest during the <past several seasons represents a warning which must not be overlooked, and unless the players are prepared to show more initiative, the game, in spite of the earnest efforts, of those responsible for its management, will decline even further. While no one with the interests of cricket at heart wishes to sec the rise of reckless batting at the expense of the more scientific side of the game, it has to be admitted that the majority of batsmen would be all the better for a little more daring. The local club championship will be commenced next Saturday, and although the majority of the clubs are still in the process of moulding their best elevens, indications are that some strong teams will take the field. DACRE NOT AVAILABLE NORTH SHORE'S STRENGTH Although the fact that C. C. Dacre will not be available will make the side less formidable. North Shore, the champions for the past two seasons, should rank as favourites for the premiership honours. The club is rather embarrassed by a surplus of talent, and the hardest task facing the r selectors is in choosing whom to eliminate. All the members of last year's team will again be available, the most prominent of whom are Simpson, Sale, Walters, Emery, Edmonds and Archer. If there is anything that will prevent the club from having another run'of successes, it will be the lack of suitablo and efficient leadership. Eden should profit this season from the experience it gave a number of colts during the last two years. Carsons, who is travelling with the New Zealand team, will be missed during the early part of the season, but the club has the nucleus of a sound side in Postles, Mills. A. F. Weir, L. E. j Vivian. Burgess, Cantlav, Harrison and McMahon. A newcomer is Barber, formerly of Melbourne. . PARNELL ABSENTEES . U 1 —• McCOY A SERIOUS LOSS Until the return of its New Zealand J .representatives,"~W. M. Wallace and H. G. Vivian, the Parnell side will not reach Full strength. However, Parnell is another club which pays strict attention to building up its junior talent, and it should not experience much difficulty in assembling a side of formidable calibre. The most serious / loss is A. W. McCoy, a splendid allrounder, who was transferred to Taranaki recently. Duncan and Anthony, "staunch members of tho club, will again be available, while Whitelaw, Hay, Stehr and Sjddle will represent the main batting strength. Hay is spoken of as the likely captain. University has suffered some serious losses, but ha,s compensation in some valuable recruits. C. K. Jackman, the former- Canterbury wicketkeeper, should prove'a great asset, as he will be filling a gap which, has been one of University's main weaknesses for several seasons. Cramniond, of Victoria College, /, also has good recommendations. Although its batting is not as dependablo as could be wished, University can claim probably the strongest attacking force in the competition. Matheson, Bush, Garrard and Butler provide an effective bowling combination, while Schnauer, Dixon, Lange and Hayden are other stalwarts.

GRAFTON'S TALENT / FEW CHANGES NECESSARY The Grafton side of last year, which pursued North Shore very closely in the / race for premiership honours, will show little change. 'L'ho club's chief difficulty will be in bolstering the attack until J. Cowie's return The remarkable success which attended Cowie's efforts overseas indicates that he will be an . even greater assot when he rejoins the Grafton side. Burke, the team's former slow bowler, has returned from Wellington and ho should materially strengthen the bowling and batting. The more prominent of the other members are Ellis, Angus, Byerlev, Ratcliffe, Horspool and G. Wallace. The Grafton Club is one which seems to have achieved the ideal combination of bright cricket and successful ance. , The King's Old Club side should re- ' quire a fair amount of moulding, as the club will be trying out a number of new players.' A new recruit will be Erskine-Wilson, a former Army player, ' who is reported to be a very aggressive batsman and a clever swing bowler. Two distinct losses will be Morris and It. W. Rowntree. The veteran wicketkeeper's place will be taken by L. S. Smith, a former Y.M.C.A. and Auckland representative. Most reliance will be placed on L./M. Smith, Pearson, Andrews, C'aughev, Martin, Fisher and S. G. Smith. HOOK TRANSFERRED PROMISING J CXI OR PLAYERS " ~ . The transfer to Wunganui of G. Hook will weaken Y.M.C.A.'s batting, and the club should also miss the~Auckland representative's left-hand bowling and brilliant lidding. There seems to be some doubt as to whether Elliott and Paton will take the field. However, thoro are several promising juniors, and players of last season who will be again turning out are Sutherland, Cooper. Gillespie, Solomon, Harrison and Scott. General regret will be felt at the decision of N. C. Sneddon, still one of the finest all-rounders in the province, to retire I'ronii the game. His absence will bo keenly felt by the Ponsonby with which he has been associated for over 30 years. Cleave, the Scholium brothers, Clark, Cotterall, McNabb, Williamson and Monteith will be lending assistance. Simmonds a former Canterbury player, is the most promising ®W[uisition.