CRICKET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12370, 13 February 1926, Page 17

CRICKET

In glancing over the probable selections, xirioe, Badeock, AicGirr, HuUilesion, Dempster and Collins —despite the latter’s slowness in the held must be regarded as “morals.” Lambert, in ■view of liis brilliant ail-rouml peiiormanccs, on present h«rm, should be among the first lour sclented, while K. James, behind the sticks, is also almost certain of a place*. On account of Auckland's remarkable batting strength, the presence of a pace bowier on the Wellington side is essential. M. Henderson appears likely to retain his place, although both It. Hope (Manawatu), who earned aucVj favourable- comment in Australiaas a speed bowler, and that fine lefthanded ail-ioundei K. 11. L. Bernan \Wangaiiui), appear to have far more' pressing claims toward inclusion in this direction. A. M. Rollings, the brilliant young ’Varsity all-rounder, despitj his consistently fine perform ances, to date hr.s failed to catch the •electors’ eye. Hollings is one of the finest all-rounders playing the game in Wellington this season and his selection should be assured. As an opening batsman he has few superiors, while against the solid batting of the visitors his good length, medium paced trundling should be needed. His inclusion would also considerably improve the slip fielding. This brings one down to the last place. On present form the choice schema to rest on W. A. Baker and I). Patrick, both of whom have considerable claims towards inclusion. Possibly the display of these two players against Hutt at the Basin Reserve "this afternoon will prove the deciding factor, as it appears unlikely that both will gam a place. Banks must also be considered, but does not impress. # • « .♦ * In summing up the best team the •elector could place in the field, on present form appears to be the following : W. S. Brice (captain), H. M. AicGirr, F. T. Badcock, J. S. Hiddleston, H. N. Lambert, C. S. Dempster. T>. C. Collins, A. M. Hollings, K. James, W. A. Baker or D. Patrick and H. L. Bern a u (Wanganui). Probably when the final selection is made, it will be found that- the selector lias given preference to M. Henderson, in place of Bernau. • 9 * * From the above it will be-seen that the writer is in favour of the dropping of McLeod, Tatteisall, Banks and Henderson, n favour of Lambert, James, Hollings and Bernau. * V * *

Nomad B. J. Kortlang, who was •elected agaii.st Otpgo on form alone •nd not reputation, appears to have little claims towards inclusion in th£. Auckland match, and is overshadowed or the considerable claimo ot Baker •nd Patrick •?• • *

It is to be hoped that the Wellington selector will think twice before passing over Wiri Baker when selecting the team to play Auckland. Baker has bee® a consistent scorer in xepre•entative cricket in the past, and has the merit' of being an experienced and still having youth on his ude. There is an clement of chanc* amongst sonio of our leading batsmen, hut Baker can be relied on* always not to give anything away.

8. Newdick, who provides the surgriae ejection of the Auckland Plunket Shield team, ' fills the bill of speed bowler in preference to Simpson. Newtek, who turns out for Pansonby, has this season proved a reliable fast •bowler. He keep® a good length and almost invariably steadies up the batsmen, obtaining presentable averages .Without being m any way sensational. • • *

In the veteran, g. G. Smith, and Cooper, who has improved out -of sight this year, Auckland has two dangerous slow bowlers who can be effectively used m conjunction with Newdick, and the met medium trundlers, Allcott and Player. • • • •

Who will take the field against Auckland at the Basin Reserve next Friday? This is the question paramount in the minds oft the Wellington cricket public at the present time. The fact that Mr Ken Tucker has deferred his final selection until well nigh the eve of the match, for the purpose of studying certain players’ present form, points to there being quite a number of changes from the team that suffered defeat •gainst Otago.

• • • * Auckland cricket is very strong thie Maon, and it must bo said that the team selected to meet Wellington, comprising 8. G. Smith, N. C. Sneddon {Pansonby); C. C. Dacre, R. Frater, A. Playea* (North Shore); C. Allcott, R. W. Rowntree (Grafton)* A. Anthony (Pirnell); I. Cooper, J. Mills, and H. Gillespie (Eden); and S. Newdick (Ponsonby) is undoubtedly one of the most •olid Plunket Shield elevens sc-en in Wellington for many seasons, and will require a wealth of beating. ••* i • '

In previous Shield matches this seaeon the strongest Wellington eleven has not been put in the field, and the selecinclusion of certain seasoned player* in preference to “new” blood has been the cause of considerable adverse criticism.

In view of tiiis it may be assumed that the selector intends raking form—not reputation—as the main criterion in the choice of his eleven. • « m «

Judging by tue reports which have reached Wellington since the Plunket Shield match with Otago, there is a vacancy for a really strong and capable man as captain in the Wellington side. The various references one hears have got garbled pretty badly in the course of telling and re-telliug,' but they leave a sense of disquiet all tne same. There ie no denying the fact that Wellington can put eleven very good individuals in the field, but whether they can make up a team in the accepted cricket sense is quite another matter. Auckland is coming in their strength week, and it behoves the local authorities to ensure that their players Will go on the field full of confidence.

It is a pity in one way that the Otago question was brought up at all, as it will most likely make everyone jumpy and nervy. No doubt Mr Hutchings is jealous of Wellington’s good name, but there are occasions when it is tactful to let sleeping dugs lie. However, the selector has his Hands full for the next match, and he should be given every .chance to do his best. But this he wants to get into his mind, that th© right choice of a captain dees not always lie in the, way of popularity or goodfellowship—the great essential is, how far can he be entrusted with the jpb of welding the men toUS as been Jackin*' in Wellington captains in recent years, •nd a change must be made.

JP 1 ® of bowling talent was painfully evident in our cricket last Saturcay. Under such favourable conditions for bowling better work should have been done. It is apparent, Saturday after Saturday, that merit of our young bowlers have no idea of .spinning the ball. Length, counted with spin, ivill get any side out" for nmdm-nte scores. The swerve howlers do h°*t mi fpst wickets, whore Ilie ball hurries along, but on slow v.jr*kHs is nullified. Tlmro is no

son why * young player should not be able to cultivate spin as well as swerve. The former is more difficult of attainment, but, once acquired, makes a bowler much more formidable. Sumo day, perhaps, a medium-pace, offbreak bowler will come to light—one who can bowl a length—then the crooked bat players will know all about it.

Already considerable interest is attached to the clashing of Auckland and Wellington in the final Plunket Shield mutch, at'the Basin Reserve next Friday, Saturday,, and Monday, February 19th, 20th, and £2nd. The Auckland representatives, who have already been selected, will arrive in Wellington on Wednesday evening next, February I7ths • ♦ * m m

The question of the selection of the Wellington wicket - keeper against Auckland inust be providing Mr Ken. Tucker with a. great deal of worry at present. In view of Tattersail’s great batting display for Hutt against Midland last Saturday, he must be given every chance of retaining his position, despite his rather disappointing performances against Otago.. IC James has undoubtedly greatly benefited by the Australian tour, and is showing marked improve; meat behind the sticks. As a batsman, he has also improved. The Old Boys’ ’keeper must be well in the running. Another ’keeper with claims towards inclusion is R. H. C. Mackenzie, the “ ’Varsity” skipper. Mackenzie is among the leaders in the batting averages, and has performed very creditably behind the sticks this season. **• . *

The gem of last week’s cricket was undoubtedly F. T. Badcock’s brilliant batting display at the Basin Reserve. The coach showed a pleasing return to hatting form, playing a chanceless and finished innings. Displaying delightful enterprise, he put on the. wood to great effect, rattling on 65 at a very fast rate by brilliant strokes all round the wicket. * , • • a>

W. Tucker, a promising colt, who played his first senior game for Wellington against Y.MrC.A. last Saturday, performed well both with hat and

ball. Sending down a slow left-handed delivery with a deceptive flight. Tucker kept the opposing batsmen guessing. The ball which snnt Grant back to the pavilion was “one out of the box.” That he could bat as'well as bowl was proved by the colt’s playing a solid knock for 26 not promising debut into senior ranks. * * * *

T. O. Lowry is playing in a senior grade cricket at Napier. Lowry has had a distinguished cricket career, • having represented Cambridge, University, of which, team he was captain, the Gentlemen ax Lords' and the M.O.C. during a tour of New Zealand and Australia. ’He was also a member of the New Zealand team which recently toured Austiulia, hatting with success while* on tour. He intends to play regularly in Hawke’s Bay in future. # • * •

Thfc principal cricket attraction in Wellington over Harter, will be the visit of the Nelson representative eleven, who will play a three-day match, commencing on Good Friday afternoon, against Wellington at the Basin Reserve. In view of th© fact that until recently Nelson successfully defended the Hawke Cup fpr the past couple of seasons, their visit will occasion considerable interest. A* it haa been ascertained that ’ the strongest possible eleven will make the trip, Nelson can b© relied upon to put up a creditable showing, even against the strongest eleven Mr Ken. Tucker can place in the feld. # *. • •

The, quality of th© bowlers I have raced from time to time during my career in first-class cricket must, to extent, be a matter of opinion, but 1 know the bowlers whom I have found most difficult to play, and the one I place nt the top of the list will no doubt surprise some people/’ says J. B. Hobbs, in an article, “The Bowlers Whom I Have Dreaded/’ “lie is Mr J. W. Jtt. T* the Essex captain. Mr Douglas has no great spin, but he has a swing either way which only reveals itself at the last moment, that has always had a disturbing effect on me. It is true that X have at time® got quite a* lot of runs when Mr Dougins has been howling, but, speaking from memory, I should say that few bowlers have got me out so often/’

The spoil sport! This is Mrs Jack Hobbs’s contribution to the cricketers’ wives controversy: "I am in favour of a wife accompanying her husband on a cricket tour. It is for hie Sake. We’ro sometimes certainly in the way, but we should go.”

• • 0 e Johnny Douglas recently voiced his opinions on the question of wiveß being taken on a cricket tour. Ho should be a good man to give an opinion. When lie captained an English team to Australia, he was accompanied by his wife, his father, mother and two sisters! If players generally did that sort of thing, a cricket team on tour would resemble a Williamson opera company.

Archie MacLaren, who loves.the minor cricketers of Now Zealand, is now in the sere and yellow leaf of 54, He made his cricket debut for Harrow in 1887, at the age of 16, and made 55 and 67 in the match against Eton. He captained Harrow in 1890, and made 76 out of 120, with 19 as the only other doublefigure score. He subsequently captained both Lancashire ana England, and in 1895 made 424 for his county against Somerset, the highest score in English first class cricket. He has played 61 test innings, at an average of 33.87, with five three-figure knocks. In all firstclass crioket lie scored 48 centuries and over 20,000 runs, at an average of nearly <U. Jfe captained the only eleven that defeated I lie Australian team of 1921. A remarkable victory whs gained nt Eastbourne,, when A. P. F. Chapman, 1!. (iihson, and Hubert and C. T. Ashton tt-ern playing. He will be reme7,>h*red ns «kipper of the M.C.C team vhi'di the Dominion in 1922 28.