CRICKET NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 7

CRICKET NOTES

Tho eyes of cricket enthusiasts in Wellington—and also the Dominion—will be turned northwards to-day watching the struggle between the Wellington and Auckland representatives for possession of the Plunket Shield. Auckland has now held the emblem of cricket superiority of tho Dominion for so many years that it seems almost as if they have become the permanent possessors of it. They have warded off attack after attack from various quarters and indications point to them being able to do so again this year. Certain it is that those who follow tho game close!)' do not give tho Wellingtonians much hope of being able to return with the trophy. The di.-play of the representatives in tho trial match of Saturday last was not. on© to inspire confidence in their mission. Cricket has been, and undoubtedly is at a low ebb in this city at present, and many are of the opinion that a tour north should never have been undertaken this year. Unless something unexpected happen* the contest promises to be a repetition of that of last year, when our men gave a rather inglorious display, being beaten by the holders by the substantial margin of ; ten wickets.

On that occasion our batting strength, on paper, was infinitely superior to that of this year’s team, but the best the challengers could do was to make 140 runs in their first and 10S rims in their second inning?*. Auckland compiled 233 in their initial venture and wiped off the remaining few runs without the loss of a wicket. Last year’s winners will certainly he minus the services of Relf, who has been such a mainstay to them in past years, while Wellington, on the other hand, will be strengthened by the assistance of Saunders, but it is extremely doubtful whether these changes will have the effect* of equalising the strength of the respective provinces to any appreciable extent. Tiro strongpoint in.favour of the Aucklanders is their batting strength. It is the weak feature of tho challengers, with one or two noteworthy exceptions. Then again our players will be handicapped by the difference iu the wicket as compared with t)io«e to which they have gr:wn reenstomed here. The weakness of our combination is that it includes too many bowlers—non© of exceptional brilliancy —and not enough reliable run-getters. It is admitted that for a team to have a respectable chance against the defenders it must be canable of registering in the vicinity of 300 runs in each innings and it i« too much to expect that the genuine batsmen of the team will be able to accomplish such a performance. The selectors admitted their mistake in not including Blainires in tho original twelve selected by subsequently making a place for him as thirteenth man. Hon* he came to be overlooked in the first instance was a mizzle to everybody but the selectors. Their rectification of the mistake met with popular approval and it is to be hoped that it will turn out successfully.

Some idea of the strength of the Auckland team mar be obtained from the following particulars of the performances (up to within a fortnight ago) of the men who comprise it. Batting. Average A. Anthony: 71, 1, 157, 93 65.5 N. C. Sivecklen: 9, 4.-45, 100, 3, * 31. 33 : 32.57 W. Brooke-Smith: 18. 23, 80, 20, 22 (not out), 83 49.2 A, Hadden: 5, 21 (not out), 12, 126, 23. 49 47.2 O. Olliff: 47, 54 (not out), 12, ,18 43.66 A. M. Howden: 2, 9. 119, 29. 26 37.00 ' L. O. Remus: 21. 81, 1, 52, 1 20.60 V. Pearson: 11, C2, 7' 26.08 K. V. Sals: 33. 11, 9, S 3 23.75 G. Hayward: 2 (not out), 3 .5.00. . A Kerr: Details not available. Bowling. V; In tho bowling department Pearson, Smith, Howden, Hadden, Olliff. Anthony, and Sneddeu have all taken wickets im senior grade .matches. Howden has thq best average, having taken 23 wickets at an average cost, of 10.33 runs each, the bast of the others being Hadden, 16 wickets, average 14; Olliff, 20 wickets, average 15.1; Anthony, nine wickets, average 15.7; Pearson, six wickets, average 19.8. A. Kerr, who has been playing in Wednesday cricket, and has, therefore, not the same class of batsmen against him as the other bowlers. has. nevertheless, a remarkable record, his season's figures being eight for 18, seven for eight, eight for 16, three for 26, six for 26, five for 24. A total of 37 wickets for 120 runs, an average of 3.24.

The first test match between Australia and South Africa was responsible for two .cricket records—on the first day —one .in the number of runs (224) scored bv the brilliant partnership of Clem liill and Warren Bardslcy, the other in the runs scored (196) on the day. “Not Out" says’ that the two famous lefthanders established a thorough mastery of the South African bowlers, and gave to lovers of cricket an exhibition which has never been equalled by two lefthanders in a match of corresponding importance in Sydney. Hill and Bardsley had never playe-jl together. on. the one side prior to this match.

Dealing with 'Albert - Cotter’s -performance with the ball the same writer says—Here was a bowler who hhdl been pulled by some of the South Australians as though he were of ordinary medium pace but a few days earlier. And vet, in the - test match, ho came out with pace that compared with that of E, Jones at Ms top, and with accuracy and kick that compared with f.. Richardson’s. Cotter has perhaps only once before in Sydney bowled as he dial on Saturday. He was stung into acti-> vity, and he gave of the best that was in him. It was glorious to see such howling from a man whoso delivery has never at any period of his career givcm rise to a breath of suspicion, for a fairer delivery no, bonder ever had. It was a brilliant triumph for Cotter, because the wicket was one of the best batsmen ever operated upon. The South African break-down came before the rain.

Tho second, test match is to be played - at Melbourne on December 31st, January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. the third at Adelaide a week later, the fourth at Melbourne, and the concludin'? ono at Sydney on February 24th, 23th, 27th, and 28th.

Clem Hill’s record . in test matches against South Africa is: ■ In. N.O. lI.S. Unas. Avge. 6 1 191 508 , 101.60 In South Africa with the 1902 Australian team he scored 66, 112, 6, 12, and 91*. And to these ho now adds his last 191.

Clem Hill has made 41 centuries in first-class cricket, six of these in tost matches against England and South Africa, viz., 188, 135, 119 and 160 against England, and 112 and 191 against South Africa. In the matches with England he has. scored more runs (2388) than anyone else of cither side, and his average (36.70) is exceeded only by that of the Hon. F. S. Jackson.- among those whp have made not less than 1000 runs, though W. Bardsley and V. Hansford average a greater, number of runs per innings. The'Victorian has made 611 runs at an average of 12 per innings and the Sydney man 396 runs at 39.60.

Warren Bnrdsley has compiled 15 centuries in first-class cricket. He has reached three-figures twice in four matches against Victoria, twice iif five against South Australia, twice in five against England, once in three against tho Rest of Australia, once in two against Western Australia, and once in one each against an English team and against South Africa. He has also made three centuries in successive innings in test matches, two against England at Kenningtan Oval and the latest against South Africa, viz., 136, 130. and 132. And, besides, ha has the distinction of

having made a century in his first test match in Australia.

Next season the M.C.C. intends sending an English team to Australia, so that we shall have two great seasons of international cricket in succession fsay.> the ''Referee”). The largo number of fiiri-class matches, principally of international flavour, to bo played in this ■country before the close of the next summer, will help Australia to develop the younger men to complete the team for tiro triangular campaign in England in 1912-13. There is at present the test of reasons for believing that Australia will have a very select combination of batsmen for the great carnival. By that time, too, it may be found that toe bowling, if not relatively so great, will be of a very good quality. With M. A. Noble retire.!, Clem Hill may be regarded as the captain of A-ustraha ior the triangular contests. He handled South Australia and Australia in the latest matches with the skill of M.A.N,

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES.” AUCKLAND, December 23. The outlook for the Plunket Shield match to-morrow is promising. A good wicket, which looks as if it will last, has been prepered on the Domain, whiio the weather, which so far this summer lias been of a wretchedly uneven description with a little rain almost every day, looks like behaving well, and under these, conditions some interesting cricket, should result. Auckland has a team which is just about as good as that wiiich captured file Plunket Shield three years ago and those which have since held it. ‘

There is no Relf in the side. Pearson, his successor, lias not the same deadly accuracy in bowling, nor does he require so much "digging out” at the hatting crease, but he is a much brighter bat, and if the attack allows him to stay at the wickets for a while there will be urns. So with his bowling. He will he hit more than a little, but he will also get wickets, his variations in pace, flight and pitch being hard to detect. After watching tho local eleven at the nets some of the visitors expressed the opinion that* Auckland was in for a shock, and that Wellington would do' things to the howling. That may ho' true, but the local view is that after the first three or four the ■Wellingtonians do not go at the bowling so freely as the Aucklanders and have more of a tail, though admittedly there are three points in Auckland's caudal appendage— Howden, Kerr, and Hayward. On paper, the match .should be gpod and even, and Wellington must be given an excellent cliim= e ‘ of shitting the Plunket Shield.