CRICKET JOTTINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12069, 21 February 1925, Page 10

CRICKET JOTTINGS

VICTIRIANS ARRIVE i A FORMIDABLE COMBINATION. (By “Observer.”) Once again we have a team of cricketers from across the Tasman Sea amongst us This is the third since j the war, and as the other two teams have proved a grea’t draw, this latest j band of sportsmen should also be received by large crowds whenever tney make an appearance. They are a well-balanced side of youth and experi- ! enee; of bowlers and batsmen and I several are noted as fieldsmen even in a land where fieldsmen are as plentiful . as the leaves of the allambrosia, j One thing is certain. The publio ■are in fora feast or attractive cricket, while the young players of this country will see in action several players who are models to be copied. It is to be hoped that they will collect all the hints possible, and then do their best to improve the standard of the .game in this country. A FEW PERSONAL NOTES. Edgar R. Mayne, the Victorian captain, and former South Australian, got right 'hack to hie best form last season, and batted grandly throughout. He scored 367 runs at an average of 61 in Sheffield Shield games, and also played a great innings of 309 against Queensland, when he and Ponsford ereated a new Australian record by scoring 456 rune. Mayne is * very sound batsman, with a style that is a model for young players, and plays all the strokes with equal facility. In Sheffield Shield matches he has scored over 3500 runs, and he has been to England with the last two Australian , teams. V. S. Hansford, who captained the Australian team that visited New Zealand in 1921, and who was also a member of A. Sims’s team in 1914, is well known to New Zealanders. He is the best left-hander Victoria has had, and | although not yet 40 years of age, has . been playing in first-class cricket for nearly 20 years. He has s.cored over 3000 runs in Sheffield Shield cricket. He visited Elngland with the Australian team in 1909, and he and Bardsley, his fellow left-hander, were the I two great successes )pf the team. I ftansford bats attractively all round the wicket, with the cut as one of his best strokes, and he has made a name if or himself as an outfield.

I William M. Woodful has made a great name for himself during the past two or three seasons," haying scored prolifically' in the inter-State games. ]He is a remarkable batsman in that while he has not many strokes his defence is so extraordinarily strong, and he uses his feet so' well, that his dismissal is always a problem to the bowlers. His best stroke is the drive, in ’executing which he does not hesitate .to go out to the howling, hut he also | gets many funs by a peculiar push j through the slips. Albert E. : VI Hartkopf 'is a slow ■bowler who has done remarkably well in' the past few years. He is slower than Mailey, zut gets tremendous spin ion the ball, and is clever in taking advantage of a batsman’s weaknesses. On, New Zealand wickets he should reap a harvest of wickets. He is also a good' batsman who is naturally a hitter. He made a fine score of 80 in the second Test against the Englishmen. _ Arthur E. Liddicut, who toured' New Zealand with Hansford’s team in 1921, is one of the best length howlers in Australia and a batsman with a free, attractive style 1 . He has cultivated, a useful swerve in life ■ bowling and with his pace off the pitch’is a difficult man to bat ’against. ' Carl 8.. Willis, a dashing batsman and' a 'brilliant field, made a name for himself .in the A.I.F. team. He was one of tho players who were “knocking at the door” in the selection of the test, teams this year. Jbhn L. Ellis, the wicketkeeper ol the teem, is perhaps Oldfield’s greatest rival. Both are able men and both have shown that they can also, make runs. * '

Percy Mi. Wallace, the fast bpwler; has done very well in big games during the part three seasons. He ! is' not as fast as Gregory or McDonald but is possessed of great stamina and can 'bowl all day if necessary. Last season he took 19 wickets at a Cost' of 26.10 ruiiii apiece in Sliefield Shield cricket. > E. and H. Austin, H. I. Ebeling, and K. Miller have'performed' splen-’ didly in club cricket in Melbourne, where it is in a high plane. SUGGESTION FOR- THE SELBU- . y ,■ tor. ■; :• Mr K. H. Tucker, the Wellington Befeater, has chosen thirteen playeio for practice in view of the coming match against Victoria. He lino chos. cn the men with admirable judgment that' brought forth very: few Critics and little or no dissatisfaction, but there is one' player whom he might giiyo a chance with advantage. Years ago D. C. Obliins was taken from th«i ranks'of the juniors and placed in the provincial. eleven, and he proved ; a great success. There is another player with whom the same might be done, and I think the success would be .just aa striking. The player is Dolling*, of the ’Varsity team. ' He has taken a heap of wickete this season and. big scores have come from his, bat. 1 ■ it may be stated thit the junior grade is much weaker than senior but the argument is that Hollings has done phenomenally well with bat and ball, and in the field, and shows just as much promise as Collins did before'he went to Cambridge. • The Victorian& are a ride from whom a young player of this nature can learn, and I thjnk he should at least bo given a try out with the preliminary selection at practice. ■ He is the best player in the junior grade and why. shouldn’t • sucha colt be given an opportunity to show life mettle. It is not too late y.et to make the number up to fourteen. and I am sure if he ie given an equal chance with the other thirteen he will gain a place in the final eleven.