AN EXCITING MATCH

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 9

AN EXCITING MATCH

M.C.C. V. WELLINGTON NOTES AND COMMENTS. fFor the "N.Z. Times.”) Enthusiasts had plenty of excitement last week-end, and the pros and cons are still being argued out without result. Ram completely upset anticipations, and it is quite a moot point whether it did not add an extra spice to the game. On a well-soaked wicket, which gave the bowlers every assistance, batsmen were sailing under difficulties. Not many of the players showed much capacity in dealing with the adverse conditions. Especially was I disappointed with the display of most of the visitors. They get enough bad wickets at Home to give them the requisite experience m dealing with such a wicket ns that of last Saturday. The match was a triumph for the bowlers who could turn the ball, and Calthorpe and Brice each howled splendidly. Gibson, in the first innings, made the ball jump about, but does not look overimpressive under those conditions. Of the local bowlers, Brice came out. on top easily. He botvled; slower than usual, and turned the ball, while keeping an excellent length. At the same time his changes of pac| were well concealed, and this was his greatest feature. Ten wickets for 97 runs represents extremely good work, and it is a great pity the other bowlers were not able to rise to the occasion. McGirr bowled some good balls, but his length is not perfect, and he does not make the batsmen so uneasy as Brice. AVhy Bernau was howled on such a wicket in preference to Henderson or McGirr was a mystery, and several competent critics gave an adverse opinion to the Wellington skipper. Henderson is miles ahead of Bernau as a bowler, is steadier, and can bowl the ball that nips back from the leg-side. The way the bowling was handled in the M.C.C. second innings did not reflect much credit on the responsible party. Some of the changes were well meant, no doubt, but they did not reflect much knowledge or judgment. It was a great pity t hit. AUlersley was not playing, and stjasif ssleatorwdoes not display the inmost ’archinteli ‘in consistently overlooking this bowTer. The batting of Wellington in .the first inningß was not wonderful, except for sound, careful displays by Hiddleston (38) and Baker (30). It was a great pity that no effort was made to go for the howling, and that is a great lack of our cricket to-day. A good driver would have been worth his weight in goid. None of the others showed any ability whatever in either attack or defence. The English bowlers kept a good length, and Calthorpe certainly turned the ball a lot at times. Gibson kept a | gcod length, but did not strike one as i being a wonderful wet-wicket bowler, ’ The M.C.C. team did not reveal much ability. Titchmarsh and McLean were the only ones who looked like get- j ting runs. The former has a 6olid de- ‘ fence, and watches the ball very closely. He is able to score off anything the least bit loose, and displays more than usual ability on -the leg side. I would not be surprised if some day McLean developed into quite a first-class batsman. I I am frankly disappointed in Chap- | man’s batting. On a good wicket ! and with his eye in he can hold his j own wit-i the best, but on a wicktt doing anything ho seems quite crude. I might bo wrong, but he seems to me at times ns if there were a hole somewhere in the bat. However, on the wicket last week end he did not display any better form than anyone else.

In 'Wellington’s second innings the batting was worse than the first innings. Dempster was the only one who showed jny form at all, and his 36 was in my opinion quite one of the best innings in the whole game. On this form it will not be long before he is the best batsman in the land. Henderson displayed surprising defence in helping Dempster. Bernau got 21, but his hitting is extremely wild, and he hits with a pull. The bowling of the M.C.C. team waa again very Bteady, and none of the batsmen looked happy against it. Kortlang failed tq show.any form, but he got bowled with a splendid ball in the second innings. The fielding was keen and first rate.

M.O.C. second innings was noticeable for a splendid effort by Titchmarsh, whose 64 won the match. He watched the ball carefully, and gave nothing away. He made sure of anything at all loose, and promptly hit it. Hill-Wood showed stubborn defence in getting 21, and aided in a partnership of 91. Ho has no graces of style, but keeps a straight hat. Calthorpe got a pair and in the second innings was bowled with one right out of the box.

Another thing was noticeable all through the M.C.C. innings, and that was the Wellington w standing back. I understand he wa* told to, if such was the case, then the captain of the side did not know his business. At anyrato Tattersall did not display rep. form, nndin'tho second innings let far too many' extras go through. Taken all through, the game was exciting enough, and showed that Wellington has unite a capable team, even if the skippering was the last thing on earth. " , OTACO V. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY’S EASY WIN. Hie Blanket Shield match. Otago T. Canterbury, resulted in a very Jieavv defeat for the former. The match revealed another promising >laver in Tallmt. of Canterbury. It is to he hoped he develops into something good, as his province needs some young and enterprising plavers. Wellington will not hive things J their own wav in the south unless the g best team goes down. It. is about

time the selector and the Association saw to it that players get plenty ' f practice, and that the men are available. SYDNEY RESULTS Mamckville (193) beat Moeman (170). Glebe (339) beat Western Suburbs (242). (Creber-90.) Balmain (.191) beat North Sydney (127). (Dr. Campeing 8 for 65.) St. George beat Manly by 6 wickets (L. Wall 4 for 25.) Sydney (Brown, .74 in 35 minutes. Asher, 7 for 53) beat Randwick by 130 runs. University (238) (Nothling 6 for 20) beat Paddington (62). Waverlcy (264 for 9 wickets) heat Central Cumberland (129). A new. round of matches was started In Melbourne, and it was noticeable for the fact that Woodfull lias been clean bowled at Vast; after making 93. This is the first time he has been bowled since playing metropolitan cricket. Ponsferd got 98 for St. Kilda versus Richmond. N.S.W. V. VICTORIA SOME “REFEREE” NOTES. New South Wales has won 57 matches to Victoria ' 46. Each has won four of the last eight, with Victoria winners in the last three, two in Melbourne and one in Svdney, this latter being their only Sydney success since 1915. TOPPFJD TWO HUNDRED.

The highest innings ever played in the series stands to the name of tho illustrious W. L. Murdoch with 321 on the Sydney Ground forty years back. The highest for Victoria is Frank Tarrant’s 206 in 1908, also m Sydney in a season marked by ' tremendous scores. The other innings of 200 or over for New South Wales are, in order of time, 239 by P. S. McDonnell ; 297 not out, H. Moses; 230, V. Trumper; 281, M. A. Noble; 210 not out, A. Diamond; 201, S. E. Gregory; 213, M. A. Noble; 216 not out, R. B. Minnett; 201, C. G. Macartney; and 247 not out, T. J. Andrews. F. Tarrant’s is the only innings of this character played foy'^Vietoria. WHY NONSUCH A MATCH?

One would like to see a match this season between Australia and The Rest, either in Sydney or Melbourne.. if such a match were played, selection of the team would be influenced by form shown in the match this week. In the light of the last two seasons’ cricket there might bo several changes in the Australia team, though most of the men are young enough to be right at their top still when in full practice In any case, with J. M: Gregory and E. A. McDonald not’ available, there might not he very much difference between the two elevens. Take the last Australian Eleven as a basis for the first team and we get something like this: Collins, Macartney, Bardsley, Andrews, Taylor, Kelleway, Ryder, Hartkopf, Oldfield, Hornibroolc, and Wallace. The Rest would be something like this: Hansford, Park, Willis, Woodfull, Liddicut, Kippax, A. Richardson, Hendry, Mailey, Ellis, and Morton. H. Love, now residing in Melbourne, wouldf strengthen The Rest-, as he is a better batsman than Ellis, nnd quite a first-class wicket-keeper. The first team would have the big advantage of combination, and more sea eoned batsmen of high class. SOUTH MELBOURNE EXPLAIN ADELAIDE CRICKETERS SETTLE IN MELBOURNE FOR BUSINESS REASONS. The following exposition of the causes for A. Richardson and F. Morton, the Adelaide men, discussing, or agreeing to, take up their residence in Melbourne throws fresh light on., a matter of importance to Australian cricket. Tho extract is from the “Melbourne Herald” •• By the Adelaide express to-morrow. F. L. Morton, the youthful South Australian bowler, will arrive in Melbourne to tako up a position here and to play with the South Melbourne Cricket Club. -Mr Brereton, the South Melbourne secretary, explaining the position in connection with tho transfers, said: “Morton has heen out of work for six months in Adelaide, and a position has heen found for him over hero. There has heen no monetary offer in the business at all.” He expects Arthur Richardson, the champion all-rounder of South Australia, over as soon as he settles his business transaction in Adelaide. Arthur has been testing water-meters in Adelaide, and he has not been making much money. “I am against trafficking every time,” said Mr Brereton. “The transfer of the two players is being effected apart from any monetary consideration altogether—that is, ns far as cricket is concerned.”

A VETERANS’ PICNIC. Tn a recent match at Hobart, Joe Darling bud 90 minutes to get 201 runs. They won. He went in first, scored 133 not out, arid in 19 hits made 90 (seven 6’s and twelve 4’sj. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TROUBLES It is generally expected that a scheme will be evolved whereby . the services of Arthur Richardson will he retained for the State. Rumours are current that nothing further will be done in respect to the engagement of of tliei Si. 0.0. amateur team, as a ground bowler. Still, lust at present everything is very much in tho air. Something will have to be done, and done quickly. MIDDLESEX COUNTY CLUB. At the annual meeting of the Middlesex County Club at Lord’s, on Dorember 13th. it was proposed to increase the subscription from one guine- , two guineas, the number cf

members not to exceed 750. Members not exceeding 500, who shall pay a guinea a year, will have fewer privileges, not being given admission to tho pavilion on Middlesex match days. Tho committee invited Mr A. .1. Webbo to become president of the club in succession to tile late Mr R. D. Walker. Mr Webbe was a member of the Lord Harris team in Australia in 1878-9. A benefit match lias been granted to E. W. Hendvon next season