FROM THE PAVILION

NZ Truth, Issue 1148, 1 December 1927, Page 14

FROM THE PAVILION

Looking Over The Players In Dunedin Grade Games

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.) A peep or two through the spy-glass of. privilege the other day, disclosed a heartening interest among cricketers.

AND this despite execrable weather, and continued apathy on the part of Dunedln's city councillors. Running an eye over Albion's little lot, we find a strong batting. side, with Jew bowlers, .although it is, perhaps, rather soon to commence with the sharp scythe on some of the young blades.

First of all, Shepherd. Three or four seasons ago, Shepherd saw his name on the blackboard of first class cricket as one of the finest cricketers m the country, tout his endurance sagged m the middle until his Bign on the wall became almost a smudge of mediocrity. But he's back again this ?/ear, seemingly, ang his first innings this year yielded him 63, and the second 23 not out, with the one-time confidence and ease quite apparent. Which brings us to young Vorrath.

To be run out when his personal score was but one digit short of the century was the stiffest of stiff luck.

A potential member of the Otago eleven this season. Now we will cast a glimnse over the Grange club. Galland,.who was ia,ur 'I last season, has not yet demonstrated his onetime capabilities as a wlllow-wielder, his initial performance being decidedly colorless. His bowling arm can still show its favorite tricks, however, and with the progressing season should bring him to the tape of previous form.

McMullan— the man who seldom practises, but yet plays with unvarying evenness — sustained a wonderful , partnership with young Elmes, the 18 -years- old hopeful, when Grange had lost 6 tor 57 m a recent match.

Despite the torturing pain of dislocated fingers that were jarred by each successive ball, McMullan compiled 96 runs, and when Elmes left the crease with the score standing at 191, those m the North ground pavilion had seen one of the finest exhibitions of partnership play given there for many a season.

Lifts to the boundary were the majority strikes, each man revelling m the spirit of unquenchable aggressiveness.

The youthful Elmes has indicated an improvement m both batting and bowling, and, given consistency throughout the coming weeks, his inclusion m the reps, should be considered.

Dickinson, fast bowler of Dunedin club, has been doing some good things since the summer rains commenced to fall.

He took 6 for 40, as an earnest of improvement m his direction-finding apparatus, but there remain one or two weaknesses m the length, a fault which will find its place when- Dickinson has practised a little more. Turning to the Dunedin club we notice young Cavanagh, < son of the Rugby union official.

Cavanagh the younger is a natural bat, with the additional advantage of confidence to help him along the road as a cricket hope for the province.

They say old soldiers never die', and on looking at Dick Torrance we are very glad, If only for the sake of cricket and its traditions, that this Js so.

Dick has been m the van of first class cricket for quite 20 years, yet none of the old tricks and wheezes have managed to fall out of the Torrance bag, and his bowling is still a pattern of good form.