General Gossip.

NZ Truth, Issue 128, 30 November 1907, Page 3

General Gossip.

1 have said a few things m previous notes as to the late starting an-d waste of time between innings, and there's no doubt abput it, but this time-wasting lost Old Boys another two points.

Matches, according to Association rules, should start at 2 p.m., with quarter of an hour's grace, but it is seldom that games, get a start until 2.30. It is noticeable as a rule Old Boys' team are pretty bad at getting off the mark.

Their dressing room and material is located 'at the College ground, with the result that they seldom put m an appearance at the Basin until after 2,15, and should they be supplying the material for the match it is nearly 2.30 before the wickets are pitched.

Should the Cricket Association invest the Umpires' Association with the necessary power to award a match to the team not putting m an appearance at. 2.15, 008811317 there will be some "hurry up" instilled into the different teams, especially tktf local ones.

Some consideration should possibly be shown to Fetone on account of the distance its representatives have to travel, and still the suburbanites are about the most punctual on the ground. If this is so, then there-, can. be no argument adduced m favor of the town teams.

Phoenix batted two men short on Saturday. Burton, senr., and Moore, the latter having to, attend a wedding function— 'his own. Congrats to the happy pair, and may the step have the same effect on him as on Stan Hickson, whose batting has been so vigorous since the event.

In a walk round the College ground I noticed some excellent fielding by Midland juniors against College juniors. It was keen and crisp compared with some' senior teams.

The veteran left-hander, 'Joe Smith, put up 84 m this match when they were wanted, without a chance. He was bowling nicely also. *

There is a nice colt coming out m the person of Grace, playing for College juniors, who would strengthen the Old Boys team or any other senior team for that matter. He is the makings of a clinking bat, and bowls rather a nice ball.

A diminutive collegian son of Burbidge, . some time Wednesday cricket enthusiats., was showing his mates how. to field without any mistakes, &n& was downright business-like. He should do well when he develops a bit more size and muscle.

Another likely looking lad is Greatbatch, who has some nice strokes with a good deal of force and a nice straight bat. With such a splendid ground to field on as the College has the Collegians are not good m the field.

Bull's team of batters just now m the Commonwealth are truJy showing a fart of their ability. " Already welted the stuffing, out of West ami South Aust and the ma state, and drew with Victoria,. Most people run away wit. the idea that Jones's team are mostly youngsters, but three only axe under 25, Craiwford is tinder 21, until next month, w-hen he will touch his majority. Manager Major Trevor is the author of a weighty book on "Tire Prob* lems of Cricket." One cricket critic, wfoo apparently knows something of 'Ome cricket, reckons the present team is as, good if not better than any other that ever visited Australia. The bowling is all | right and up to now the batting is so- ! lid right to the end. Tlie scores so far Have shown a great evenness, which speaks for itself. Hayes and Kfutc' fogs should please Australians ; they are the two hard hitters of the team.

Any of our enthusiasts taking a run over to see a test match should get their moneys worth out of the trip. Sydney' "Bulletin" sums the team up m the good, better, best style, re-* versed, viz., fielding, batting and bowling. Looks as though bowling; has got a chance for first honors when Trumpcr, Noble and Co. can be dealt with to live tune of 100 and 06 on a nerfect wicket;

Nice bit of hitting by one Barnes at Meadow Creek, near Orange, New South Wales (appropriate name that, Meadow Creek, all creeks on t'other side are mostly meadows about this time of year). One over he stouched to the tune of 38. Scored 251 and took 6 wickets for 12 ; takes a bit of beating. The Englishmen now wipimg the floor with the Australian willowWielders are said to be the jolHest lot of fellows that ever set out on an over-sea journey. The amateurs and. pros, are all pals together. The management of the Queensland Cricket Association is said by a Brisbane paper to be the worst today that • has control of any sport m the State, and comprises for the most part, Civil Servants, or those wham it takes all their time to manage their own jobs. An incident happened during the progress of the Old Boys— Phoenix match which caused some amusement. Laws was bowling to Tucker, who played a ball to Burton at mid-on. It was not a hard stroke,' and it was a pound to a pea-nut that the fieldsman would stop It, and just as it reached ' him the umpire called out "Over," loud enough for the bowler to hear, when to everyone's- surprise Burton let it go through his legs or somewhere, and the batsmen looked, saw what had happened and started for a run, but it was too late ; the ball was dead.

Says a Dunedin writer ;— "Tiie little new blood which has trickled into local cricket this season has not developed our resources to any extent. The principal weakness is m the bowling department, and when Fisher and Downes drop out, as assuredly they must shortly, Otago will indeed be m a poor way, as there is . nothing sensational coming on." "Among the fizst-flight players m N.S.W. there is hardly one really great slip, and the bowling is only passable when the wicket is at its best," is the comment of a Sydney scribe. '

H. B, Lusk, now of Hawke's Bay was. known m Auckland as "Lucky* Lusk"— in one match he was dropped thirteen times m making SC. H-is cousin, H. B. Lusk the second, now m Christchurcb, is following m his footsteps, and has been dropped oftene'r than any man m . Christchurch this season.

• Bob Barry, the ex-Canterbury rep and toeball referee, has taken up his permanent residence m Auckland and will play for City. He is a cousin of the Parnell batsman of that name and things will get a wee bit mixed if R. W. Barry is caught and bowled by R. W. Barry, or when Barry hits Barry for a six.

Talking about the non-expertness of a wicket-keeper, the sticks custodian m a school match played m Sydney a month ago would take a lot of beating, as no fewer than 99 sundries figured on the score sheets of the opposing team.

A rule is ricridly enforced by the Auckland Cricket Association, whereby it is ordained that practice shall cease at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. Any player -infringing this is liable to a fine of 5s and suspension Until the fine is paid. The enforcement of this rule assists the Association m securing something like punctuality m the opening of the matches. We want something of the same sort here.

It is understood that Mr A. C. MacLaren will visit Australia on private business before the tour of the present English team concludes. MacLafen married a , Victorian lady who has interests m her native State, so that a visit from tne captain of a former team would be no surprise. T. Hayward on the team skippersd by Jones: — "Of course, I am-sor-ry I am not going with the team to Australia, because now there is litfcle prospect of my ever crossing over -.igain for cricket. It is a good young side. All are fine fieldsmen, and the bowling is good, but the batting strength is doubtful. So many of our ■bftstmen have failed m Australia !

Though Warwick Armstrong is not available for the Victorian team now playing the Englishmen, he is available for the match of the English team at Brisbane against an Eleven of Australia. By that time no doubt his eyesight will have regained its wonted keenness. Warner's team flattened out the Welshmen badly, and now Jones's crowd has repeated the dose. It would seem that as far as the State matches are concerned, the visitors will have a clean slate.

■G-. Austin, the Carisbrook and Otago representative cricketer, has been seeking medical advice for a severe strain received on the cricket field. He has been advised to discontinue bowling for a time, and will accordingly take a rest from the trundling crease.

Otago frarrackers are whining about the threatened paucity of bowlers m their team to tour this island shortly, because Downes won't come further north than Christchurch and Fisher's travels end at Wellington.

When the Otago and Canterbury rep. teams reach Wellington it is intended to "house them at the New Zealander arid Albert Hotels tivelyAs the Wairarapa men will probably find the 21st inst. an inconvenient date for them to try conclusions with a local combination. It has been suggested by the Wellington Cricket Association that Xmas and Boxing Days might l|e a more suitable occasion for the trial of-. strength.