CRICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4871, 24 January 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

CRICKET

(By "The Hittite.”) The jxxsfc concluded, game between Lord Hawks's eleven and the Wellington representative team will undoubtedly liave a good effect on local cricket. In iho matter of Holding 'improvement there was an immediate fruit, for never boloro had a Wellington team given so clean and effective, an exhibition ot ground-work as that which characterised the Held work of Wellington in the second innings of Lord Hawke's team. J.u this writer’s opinion the chief lesson the Englishmen have taught local cricketers is the'advantage of celerity in fielding. As to batting, they have set a lesson to be learned by local cricketers, which is only a subsidiary one after all. But in a nutshell this lesson is to 1 play the good balls and bash the loose ones. Tins does not mean though that the Englishmen play a stonewalling game. Ear from it. They play freely when “set," 'but they take few risks. This point needs to be grasped by local players, for there is a vast difference between careful batting ‘and indisorimiuatiug stonewalls. The bowling of the visitors taught Wellington nothing, for as a matter of fact there was little or no difference in the bowling merits of the two teams. The Englishmen are undoubtedly weak in this department for a travelling team, and though they may not be defeated in Hew Zealand the odds on their not winning a match against New 'South Wales or Victoria will bo Sydney city to Moore Park “tip “ This augury is simply based on honest opinion formed by actual observation, and it is written in iio unkindly spirit. The visitors have done aa immense amount of good to New Zealand cricket (which is much further below Australian standards than tho form of our visitors is), and this writer joins with the great bulk of colonists in thanking Dr Warner and his men for the benefits they have conferred on cricket in this, colony in both an educational sense and a financial one. This last point evokes a thought that recalls the title of a once famous novel, “What Will He Bo With It?" A similar query now presents itself to the Wellington Cricket Association, which as a result of the match concluded last Satnrday springs from the position of a suppliant body to its banker into that of a concern freed from an overdraft that for years lias clung like Sinbad’s "old man*of the sea,” and endowed in place thereof with a credit balance of some hundreds of pounds. There have already been a lot of suggestions made, but “The Hittite” confidently puts forward his double-barrelled iot for consideration. These are, that one-half of the sum be set apart, irrevocably, as a sinking fund to be spent in the fulness of years and interest in purchasing a private cricket ground; and, secondly, that the other half of the surplus be devoted to obtaining the services of a professional “coach” for next season, who would be available for one night in the week to the senior clubs. There, is now ample cricket enthusiasm in Wellington to ensure a sufficient sum being guaranteed by the passive and active followers of the game to augment the Association’s vote of one-half the profits to a sufficient amount to defray all expenses that would be entailed by such an experiment. Tho second suggestion is the most important one, but tho necessity for a private ground is so imperative for quite a number of reasons that need not be now specified that this writer would be inclined to deprecate any suggestion that the whole of the funds should be hypothecated for any separate purpose. “Mid-on," of “The Leader," has lately been discoursing in his column on the question “How to Improve Cricket.” Some rather revolutionary suggestions that he makes are as follow:—“In considering this comprehensive subject of cricket reform two distinct sections of tho game—representative and club cricket —have to be dealt with separately in regard to detail for manifest reasons. The question of unreasonable protraction, however, applies to both and equally to each. Cricket readers of the “Age” and “The Leader” do not require to be reminded that I have for many years strongly advocated the abolition of the second innings in all matches. In still demanding tho downfall of forty wickets in order to arrive at finality cricket legislation is surely behind , the times. Cricket, even if all matches were restricted to one innings for each side, would still be the most protracted athletic sport in the world, and under the existing conditions the protraction is absolutely unreasonable and Indefensible. As I have frequently pointed out. the conditions which now prevail could not possibly have been anticipated when two innings for each, side were originally pro-vided-for, notwithstanding which the fossilised order of things remains unchanged. As to the element of luck, it can never be eliminated from the game: indeed, sudden and unexpected changes in ibe chances of the respective side supply one of the principal and most interesting features. In this respect the side losing the toss would probably be no less

favourably situated in having to play the second innings against me first than when having, os ac present, to bat second and loimh against first 'and third, •furthermore, the abolition of the second innings would do away with the lollowon, which sometimes actually gives an unmerited advantage to' the side whose first attempt has been the least successful. In running, rowing, billiards, swimming, boxing, and kindred athletic exercises matches are decided by one contest, In cricket alone when one side has won or lost, as the case may be on the first innings, the whole performance has to drag its weary course all over again lor finality to be arrived at. Surely _ at the world's present rate of progression, such an observance can be little, if at all, short of ridiculous. No wonder our up-to-date and go-ahead American cousins refuse to give up baseball for cricket, while the latter is played under rules which, while suitable enoislh fifty or a hundred years ago, ore totally inadequate to present day requirements. Just think of it! An inter-State or international cricket match frequently monopolises more time than is taken up by the running of 2S important races at a Melbourne Cup meeting!” Tho people who made an outcry about the “urgent necessity" for a fifteen to bo selected to reoresent Wellington against the Englishmen, and who pointed tlioir lugubrious 'utterances with forecasts of crushing defeats, are now endeavouring to justify their shattered prognostications by a plenteous use of postulates. “If the Englishmen had batted first!” we are told; also a dozen other “ifs” and ‘‘hads.” One “if” suggested that if the Englishmen had batted first they would have made over 400 runs, and so 'have won “hands down.” The obvious retort to this was that if the Englishmen Lad had only ono hour instead of two and three-quarters in which to make the final So required for a win they would probably have won by only a couple, of wickets, through having had to force the game. These “ifs" are all so much nonsense, and tho incontrovertible event remains that ’U.ellington, meeting the visitors bn terms of equality, gave them a good match-find demonstrated die printed contention of this writer that cricket in Wellington at tho present day is of a higher quality than it ever previously was. Tho first innings sxore cf Wellington (213) was only exceeded ty 46 runs when the Englishmen had done. That tire local team failed 'in tho second essay is undoubted; but will tho agitators have tho temerity to assert that four admittedly inferior batsmen to those who did so fail would have materially altered the result? To say so would be absurd. As a matter of truth, the odds-in men have not a fact to stand upon, and they should cheerfully admit the impeachment instead of trying, squid-like, to cover up their retreat by a trail of inky blackness. There remains the great item—at once final and foremost—that j team playing against odds never regards the game seriously, whether it be won or lost. The visiting Englishmen candidly admit this to be true, aud they further admit that in AVellington tbe3 r had to play to their utmost capacity to win the match, and that having won it they have reason to be proud, because they were meeting a good eleven, and the first team in the colony that had made them “play up.” What tho Englishmen think of odds-on matches is plainly shown by the following extract from a special correspondent’s letter to a southern paper, the writer being a man who lately has been in intimate relationship with the visitors, and who as a result is well aware of their feelings; WELLINGTON, January 19.

The English cricketers have gone to Greytown, where they meet a Wairarapa team. There is no disguising the fact that they were loth to go; and this is not to be wondered at. for such matches really amount almost to a farce—indeed, it is generally recognised now that the association has given the Englishmen far too much of' this sort of thing, and it is to be hoped when the next English team visits us that a more' attractive programme will bo provided. There the whole matter is in a nutshell. We had here in AEellington agood match on level terms, with both teams straining every nerve to secure victory, and as a consequence a rapt public interest in the contest that an odds-iu match could not have evoked. The players of this city have derived a great educational lesson from the game, and tho young players who looked on have had an equally effective lesson. The executive of the AVellington Cricket Association has had n splendid reward for the firmness it showed in adhering to its first resolve; and for the fact that it refused to be moved from its position it is deserving of great praise. As “The Hittite” took occasion to remark when the movement for “odds-in” began to gather strength, the arguments were based upn poor showings made by weak teams such as Auckland and Taranaki, and were in no way applicable to Wel-liuo-t.on. The result has proved the truth of this 'contention, and the people who took tho other course should now either admit their mistake or emulate “Brer Babbit" by saying nothing.

JUNIOR NOTES.. (By “The Canaanita”) Unavoidable absence from town during the earlier part of last week prevented my usual budget of notes arriving in time to be published. I had been supplied with some very interesting notes on tho Wellington—Gas Company fixture but as same are now ancient history, I must perforce leave them out. The Wellington team, however, is to be congratulated upon its substntial victory by 10 wickets, which was a much larger margin than the club’s most enthusiastic barrackers had dared to hope far. The following table shows the position of junior teams to date:

The leading club—Wellington—has again done excellently, and it is now fairly safe to predict that they will again be returned champions. The new men in the team (Johnson and Pery) have both done good work, while Luckie. Crombie, Ashholt and "Hanji” Wilson nave contributed largely to the team’s victories. I am glad to note that Wilson has been taken again into the seniors, as lie is a very keen field as well as a good bat. The Gas Company for a new club has done very well—in fact, it has exceeded expectations.. Several hitherto unknown players have come to light as good men, but much disappointment has been felt so far by the comparative failure of Hutchings in the batting line. Last season, when, in the Midland senior eleven, this player was regarded as one of our most promising “colts," but this year he has done nothing out of the ordinary. The usually strong Midlanders have only one win to their credit, but they have two unfinished matches, both of which they may win. Taking it all round, the batting of the team' does not seem any too strong after Weybonrne and Johnson are got rid of. Weybonrne has now two centuries ho his credit, is in great form, and is surely worth a place in his senior eleven.

Newtown has performed consistently, but what of Phoenix, College and Old Boys? The Wellington team is really only leading by one point, so any of the "outsiders” may dpset the position. The team chosen to play the Wednesday representatives on Thursday wa s evidently the result of a well thought-out selection, and no fault can bo found with the men chosen, except, x*ciiap», that either Johnson (Midland) or Ashbolt (Wellington) might have displaced O’Sullivan. The team was as strong in bowling as in batting, and no doubt will have achieved a handsome victory ere this appears in print. Considerable amusement has hem, caused on- the Basin Reserve by certain junior batsmen trying to emulate the stylo of a Warner or a Burnup, but

without (at preseat) the desired effect. D. however, these players show a .narkuU improvement in their fielding, their sine may perhaps benefit, but tiie gain is vulikely while the batsmen Iry to bit -ixers.

The junior fixtures for to-day arc Midland v. Gas Company, Wellington v. Phoenix, and Newtown v. Old Boys. The first-mentioned team should in each case win. The Newtown —Old Boys fixture belongs to the second lound. I note that Macintosh is playing fer Old Boys juniors. Is he not worth a place in their senior team? Dan Niven (of Phoenix juniors) was picked for the Wednesday representatives to play against the junior team on 'Thursday. The absence of the local small fry from the eastern portion of the Basin Deserve on the llfth was the .subject of much favourable comment amongst those juniors on Nos. 3' an d 4. Bi-d fielding ground and small boys, far too numerous to count, cause cricket on these wickets to be anything hut pleasant. It is reallv tune that something was uono to improve the ground on this side. In concluding, permit me to congratulate the Wellington Cricket Association upon tho successes, financially tin! other wise, of the match against Lord Hawses team, and to hope that there will be many more such in the future.

THIED CLASS NOTES.

(By "The Jebusite.”) The third-class heats this afternoon will attract considerable attention among the third-class fraternity, as the committee has a-snod the leading teams to face each other. The Vivian-Newiowu jiear at the time of writing was to have been finished last evening, and should have resulted in a victory lor the Vivian team.. If my assumption on this point results an ticipato, tho Johnsonvilie and Vivian teams each meet this afternoon with four accredited wins. The strength of the Johnsonvilie eleven is located at the bowling crease, and if Jack Moore and Pieken are on the “job,” I do not think the Vivians will amass a large score. The batting of the Johnsonvillo team is not "class enough” to win a third-class championship, and it will be this department that will receive a shock at the hands of Prod. Laws. Tho Vivian batting is points ahead of Johnsonvilie, and us the team contains several tried truudlers I shall select Vivian, to win this—ono of their most important matches this season.

The Midland A.—Phoenix A. elevens have each lost a game this season, but tho latter has ‘‘come on” of late, and the recent performances of Neiybold and Co. should provide the Midlanders an excellent afternoon's 'sport. The “red and white” combination is one that takes a lot of beating, but the A. team has sent several of its promising players into the Junior division, and in consequence A not as strong as of yore; but I fancy the Midlanders will be in a leading position at the termination of the game. The Wellington—Eover liea-t should not prove to bo a one-sided game, but I expect the former team to win, and I have an idea, that the Old Boys will down Midland B. The two Newtown teams will probably arrange a match Smokers v. Non-Smok-ers, and I think tho former representatives will secure a victory.

The Karori-Phoenix B. heat ■will no doubt prove "willing,'” and I hear one of the B. players has backed his opinion against a member of the suburban team, but the asphalt wicket may not be to the liking of the Phoenicians, who make their debut at Karori this afternoon. Knrori siiould not have any difficulty in winning in spite of the fact that several of the leading lights of the team are "under a cloud" at present. The Vivian club played an eleven skippered by B. L. Salmon at the College Ground last Thursday, and Mr C. Byan. as usual was to the fore in arranging an "off” match for the members of the Phoenix club, which was a “return" game with the Pahautanui team. Fred. Laws obtained 4G (not out) against Newtown last Monday evening, and Collins also played well for his contribution of 21. „ A third-class wag was the cause ci; a rumour which prevailed in town tins week .that Mahony, of the Wellington club, had been secured by Hargreaves the Berwickshire professional bowler, vo keep wickets for a second-class county. The members of the various clubs ba re not attended net. piactico in large u’y!.ubers of late, and in consequence Lie Basin Reserve presents a bare appearance of an evening. If the third-mess players expect to win their championship matches they must attend regularly at the "nets. ■ The majority of the Wellington third eleven visited Peton© last Thursday* aun had an enjoyable day’s cricket with. Mr Thornton’s team. . Blincoe, late of the Excelsior clu h (Auckland) will make his debut in thirdclass cricket this afternoon, and. his opinion on the Vivian team should ]>rovo interesting. I hear that the third-class skippers will be "sounded” during: next week in reference to the third-class “social." and I hope a strong committee will he formed to bring the reunion to a successful issue. Ken Stevens (Phoenix A.) returned to Wellington .this week, after spending an enjoyable holiday on the "other side.’ Fred. Midland acted as ■ pilot for the third-class player, who ."enthuses" over the excellent batting display given by Trumper and Duff against South Australia. The "Walers”’ fielding was a revelation to Stevens, who witnessed the ball arriving at the wickets from the long field with accurate precision. Fred. Midland wishes to be remembered to his numerous cricketing friends on. this side on the "salt pond.” J. it. Collins was an interested spectator at the recent "hi""’ raatcib. He was a member of the Wellington 22 which played against the IRR6 Australian eleven. Shortly after RO was hoisted th« ex-College tutor missed .Tones off Hryden. in the long field, and it was not until 202 runs were scored that McGirr bowled Palmer. The decision of the Athletic Park directors to reduce the number of thirdclass wickets during the month of March has caused considerable disciussiou among third-class players this wenk. The question has been reviewed by the third-class committee, which will probably be forced to resort to the one-innings system or the cutting” of the teams which are not in a leading position for the championship. If the committee is compelled to adopt the latter alternative, third-class cricket will receive n. considerable check this season. The Park t.enAnts during the football "recess" deserve better treatment at the hands of the directors, who should endeavour to devise other ways of popularising their ground before carrying out an eviction of third-class and Junior Association players. I hope the third-class delegates will not be talked into supporting any proposition to "fritter" the present surplus of the Association’s funds bo assist tbo representatives to visit Auckland or Napier this season. The Basin Reserve will require considerable attention from the ground committee at the close of the season, and the question of a “coach” or "coaches” is of moire importance to the future welfare of the game in AVellington than a tour to the above localities. I would like this question to be ventilated by the Association, with a view of testing the Australian cricket arena, as I believe suitable men could be obtained from the Commonwealth if the local governing body received any outside financial support. ■Ji.B.V.’s” remarks on the "coaching question,” which appeared in the "Times” this week, coincide with my views on the subject, but I am of opinion that Australia should he worked before any inquiries are made in England.

During the English season of 1901 th? gross receipts of the Surrey—Yorkshire match (three days), played at the Oval, J£643 IBs 6d. and to earn this amount J 6161 -was disbursed. The gross takings of the SurreydLancashire -match during the sam© season were <£sl2 Os fid. and of thi© sum JEI69 Is was expended. The gross takings of th* 1 recent English game amounted to orer .£6OO. and T consider this amount .compare favoura-hly with the loading county ''gates” at Home. •The subcommittee of the Association which carried out the inatiy'duties relat-

ing to last week's "big” game consisted of Messrs 1. llvams, vJ. 11. Manson, M. Lucidc, A. Asiibolt, C. A. Eichaniaon, and C. E. Slovens, and they are lo be ccngraiulatcd on the splendid results of thwr work, which is a decided record in connection vrith the game in' M elliugttui.

Won. Lost. Incomplete. ■Wellington ... 5 0 0 Gas Company ... 3 1 0 Newton-n ... 2 2 1 Phoenix ... ... 2 o 0 Midland ... ... 1 1 2 College ... ... 0 3 1 Old Boys... ... 0 4 0