Cricket Champion

NZ Truth, Issue 889, 9 December 1922, Page 9

Cricket Champion

AN APPRECIATION OF MACLAREN.

Advice to Young Playerst

\ Were Archie Maclaren less remarkable a batsman his strong individuality and wise, deliberate ways would suffice for distinction (wrote C. B. Fry some years ago). Naturally, his traits call less for criticism than for appreciation. For, has he not' won a pre-eminent position m the sunny world of cricket? Of course, he started with advantages. , A clear eye. a strong wrist, a minimum of personal error — and you have a potential champion. But, equally, he owes his buc--o>ess to serious thought, patient application, and a sound end ' hopeful heart. There are problems to solve, difficulties to conquer, and grey days to live through before an assured reputation can be won with all its pleasant sunshine. He is a genius, but not of the kind that finds fulfilment without hard trying. They say that those who learn easily forget soon. Archie always strikes me as one who, having found just a little difficulty m learning, has mastered his lesson all the better; who, perhaps, had to take his points one by one and elaborate them / severally till he established his present robust; versatile game, and stood ■ forth a ' ,■ WELL-NIGH PERFECT BATSMAN. Whatever the process of development, there are no two ways about the result That 1b not only solid and strong, but brilliant Archie goes into bat, armed at all points, able and ready to meet any /bowling upon any wicket No one was ever less a fair weather batsman. Never is he more likely to come to the front than When runs are badly wanted or difficult to get. Who makes a century against the Australians m the fourth innings of the match? Who makes thirty-two for Lancashire against Surrey on a birdlime wicket, with seventy to win and no one else looking like getting two? Why, Archie! ant no other. And so one has c6nfidence m him, expects big scores to his name, and understands how they are put together. The keynote >of his style is fixity of purpose. Ho knows what he/ exactly means to do, and does iy This applies not only to his innings as \ a whole, but also to each particular ball as played. He declines to be puzzled or nonplussed. If it pleases him to start with free cricket, he does so. Should he fancy to play himself m rather carefully, this, too, happens. On the whole he Is a careful player. Even when he is scoring . most severely there is nothing rash or ill-considered m his strokes. As a matter of fact no great bats, however dashing and brilliant their game, really play carelessly. They may give a contrary impression, but their attention is closely concentrated and their strokes QUITE DELIBERATE. Ranjitsinjhl appears scarcely to look at the ball or take any trouble. His flashes seem almost as insolently careless as they are brilliantly successful. Actually, he watches, the ball with feline insistence every time. Francis Ford looks like six feet six of don't care. His bat acts like an irresponsible flail; but he knows, he knows. Archie Maclaren's concentration is more easily perceived. That is the difference. Sometimes — not often — he lets himself go. Poising his bat well backhand rather high, he swings it at the good-length ball with a strong swooping motion that has glorious results. As a rule he plays well within his strength. All his strokes are good, and few batsmen have more. His off -drive is as effeotive If not quite as graceful as Lionel Palalrot'a. His hitting !• olo*n and sound as Stanley Jackson I*.1 *. Hit cutting and hooking are second only to Ranji's. But, m none of these strokes Is he as frequent as the above three players respectively. He has two specialities. His back play is magnificent it is not only extremely safe, but has that late cut scoring ' power, so rare and so telling. ' His method is uncommon. Stepping back decidedly with his right foot, his bat held rather high, he comes down plumb on tho bull with a distinct, though nicely modulated, swing. Tho bat meets tho ball "with no compromj ise. Then again, ho is I VERY SKILFUL at forcing: good -length balls away to tho on-Hldc; this ho effects with a swinging lllck of the wrist, holped out by a alight following turn of tho whole body. Moat of his runs come from this HtroJce. Archio ia very determined and always In earnest. Does he lack humor? Well, ho has a Scotch name. Ho -la very thorough. Even when ho is clean bowled there is no mistake about it, no half-and-half measure, no being caught In two minds; ho has tried a definite, fulllledged stroke and failed, and he goea away leaving that impression and ii great sense of relief bohind him. AW know him well. Raroly does ho "Stand ready to strike ono and Htrlko no more."