CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 10

CRICKET.

13 v Long BUi'.

It may be interesting (o know in connection willi tho ctforts that ;m . |v.' m ,r made by .Mi- C. G. Wilson am] Ah- G\ if .Smith (two enthusiasts who have the game much at heart) to secure coaches from tho Australian side for Otago. tlitit Jim Kelly, of Australian l'llcvon fame, was one of tlio-y approached. Kelly expressed delight at Ihc prospect, hut regretted that a prior engagement prevented him accepting Ihe engagement. Jt, was a near thine. Kelly would have been a particularly good man for Otago oricket. Two others approached have reasons for believing they will he included iti the next Victorian Woven so that must woiprh considerably with them in accepting any engagement in .New Zealand.

It is quite on the cards that three coaches will bo in Dunedin before tile season is far .advanced. Several good men are otFoi-ing, but ,i:i addition to their cricketing abilities the local authorities very wisely stipulate tlmt they must, bo inch of character. The idea is to secure the host men availably who will not only prove good crickotors, but likewise good citizens. A sum of money has been guaranteed to cover the expenses in connection with the services of three men for 24 week;- during the cricket, season at £3 per week. Although not having committed themselves, the two gentlemen who have the matter in hand are making efforts to secure .suitable positions in business for tho successful coaches. It is hoped that at tho next mooting of the association something definite will be placed before tho members. If we are to derive any direct benefit from coaches this season, it is apparent that their services will be required immediately. On this point nothing more Kin be done than is already accomplished. A gentleman in Sydney, well known in cricket circle;, a.nd another in Melbourne have been asked to advertise for likely mc,ti w-ho would come to New Zealand under the stipulated conditions to act as coaches. Tho question of the northern tour of an Otago team in quest- of the Plunket Shield hulked largely at the meeting of tho Crickct Association last week. There appears to be a misunderstanding ovor the proposition which is past finding out at this end. To traverse the preposition it is necessary to go back to last season, when an Otago loam toured New Zealand— somewhat disastrously, it is trite—in quest of the Plunket Shield. The team was a fairly good one, but its hopes were shattered by inglorious defeats at Christchurch, Wellington, anil Auckland. In the northern city it was a contest for the Plunket Shield, and Otago collapsed badly, several of the men playing degrees below form. Two enthusiasts, Air C. G, Wilson and JJamierman, lato of this city, but now of Invcrcargill, being of opinion that Otago had not. played up to form, and certain that the province was capable of a better showing, prop&od a visit to Auekla-nd this season by an Otago team in another quost of tho Plunket Shield, when it was felt that if tho team failed it would at least, have had the, enterprise (o "try again." The a-soeiation could net finance th<! team, so tho players were approached, and what amounted to a thoroughly representative team agreed with praiseworthy enthusiasm to financc themselves, and challqngc Auckland for the shield as representing Otago and under the jurisdiction of the Otago feccialion. No difficulty, was cxpericneed in getting the players, who were prepared to pay their own expenses to Auckland. But a bomb was dropped in the camp a few days ago when it liecamo rumoured abroad that Canterbury's challenge to Auckland for the shield bad been placed before Otago's, although this province lvr-d issued its challenge somo time before Canterbury. It was felt- by Otago players that if Auckland was to play Canterbury for tho Plunket Shield before Otago. and Canterbury should suecoed in defeating Auckland—always a possibility, particularly this year, when Canterbury will ha.ve the services of the English professional Humphries—it -would bo onl.v a farce in despatching the Otago team. This view of it struck homo on the principal Otago players, who, w-hilo quite willing to go under the conditions that Auckland met Otago first, were not prepared to bo made to spend £20 each ivith the possibility of l>oing mado fcfols of. This was the position of things when tho matter cropped up at- the meeting of tho Otago Onckot Association last week, when Mr C. (J. Wilson, who was the prime mover, asked to -report oil tiie pro]>osition. Tho chairman then read a. letter from tho Auckland Crickct Afr-ociation, in Which tho rumour of Auckland meeting Canterbury before Otago was b'nrno out. Yel, as the chairman explained', no advice had been received .from the Now Zealand Oricket Council as to any departure being made from the original dates, and, so far us Otago was concerned, these would bo adhered to, the dates December 31 ar.d January 1 and This put, a moro hopeful view of the case, and when it was decided to write the Nov.- Zealand Council pointing out- the apparent alteration and the fait that Otago intended to adhere to the origin;;! date. Air Wilson agreed to appioaeh the players and to report to next meeting. Meanwhile I notice from the annual report of file New Z-oaland Cricket Council that there is more in this challenge business than moots the eve, the suggestion there being that Auckland is to play Canterbury first. If this is so, an explanation from the council is due the Otago Association. It is quite certain that if Otago's challenge is not allowed to stand as to the original dates no Otago team will seek the Plun-k-ofc Shield this year, though Auckland is particularly anxious that Otago should viGit the northern city again. It is rather in the nature of a set-back that one learns from the report of tho New Zealand Cricket Council that it is doubtful if an Australian team will visit New Zealand this season. Every etfnrt should bo mado to secure visits from foreign teams, as only by such exchange of visits can we expect our cricket- to go ahead. It is not neenssarv to raise lug guarantees to secure M.C.C. teams from England with prospective losses, .such as v.'oro sustained over the hint) M.C.C. team through -Ihe Dominion. A good New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, or even Tasmanian team would serve the purpose equally well. It is not too late, I take it, to arrange a Now Zealand tour of one of the State teams during February or March. The Australian players, I feel sure, would be delighted to mako a holiday cricketing tour through Alaoriland during the summer months.

Last season I criticised at. some length the notion of the Auckland Cricket Association in playing lielf, the English professional. in Plunket Shield matches, pointing out 1 bat all the honours thus lay with tho wealthier provmcos. I notice in tho report of the New Zealand Oricket Council tho following item: "The inclusion of Rolf, the English professional, in tho Auckland team was (lofomlo.d 011 the ground that players oE llolf's type must assuredly have a benefit 011 cricket generally throughout the Dominion." Quite so; but I want to point out that Auckland provirico benefits right up to the liandle by the presence of Keif in Plunket Shield matches. Let Auckland come down off it« pedestal _ and _ play the province "off its own Int." Given each province the benefit 0' a professional coach, I do not see vory much harm in it, though 1 would prefer to see the provinces lighting out such contests as tho Plunket Shield 011 their own. Tho present arrangement is altogether too lopsided. Auckland minus lielf is a fair proposition. Meanwhile I am of the opinion that Auckland liokls tho Plunket Shield on' false pretences.

The question of solo soleclor or three selectors weighed somewhat, heavily with members of conimittco at the mooting of the Otago Crickct Association last- week. This is an oft,-debated quest ion, and one hears quite intelligent men discussing the matter from curious viewpoints. Given a. good man—this is essential—the sole selector, ill my humble opinion, is nlwayo better then' the three selectors. 1 have so often discussc-d this matter both in the football and crickct columns that, no useful purpose would be served by rcsnrrecting the arguments in favour of the sole selector as against three. 1 am only sorry that by rescinding its previous motion of sole selector in favour of three selectors the Otago Association has isolated itself from tire, services in that, connection of Mr C. 0. Wilson, a gentleman who is not only a cricket, enthusiast, but who Kicks up hia enthusiasm with long years of experience, and. what is much more, to the point, tangible recognition of the requirements of the game. Ivven if ive do not agree on ccriain points, particularly that one-day cricket, is worth a tr:iil. 1 am of opinion that. Mr Wilson's absence olf the Selection Committee is a distinct loss: Yet it was not for ihe lack of persuasion by the local association, who begged him lo acceptnomination. The three gentlemen appointed—Messrs Hope (f'arisbrook), Baker (Albioi), ami Maekor.sy (Dunodin)—havo ln<l 11 deal of experience, of local cricket, ami should know the requirements of the province when it comcs to the selection of representative teams.

(In paper the Dtmetliu First Grade team is not- particularly strong. Notablo absentees are Ikuricrman, Cramond, Courtiß, Latham, Watkins, Do la Mare, Graham, and Melvin. Grabam and Do la Marc may

play later. Courtis, Lai.li.nii and Melvin are understood to liavo retired from active service.

The. Dunedin Club's high hopes regarding "Hob" Wilkin were shattered whei» the ex-Otago rep.'s arm went "out," at- practise on Saturday week. The arm was originally put out while "Bob" was playing tennis in Sydney and has since given repeated trouble. Unfortunt-c this, both for the club and the province, as the genial led-lmmlcr in form would have been of great assistance in all departments of i.he game. George Leys, who "kept." for the Dunedin premier team two years ago, is back again, and will fill Watkins's place behind the sticks. C. (!. Wilson hopes to bo able to play regularly this season, and will in all probability captain the Dunedin First Eleven.

Apropos of local cricket this season. Practice play should procecd on. the lines of match play, and then cricketers would be ready to meet the conditions of match piny. I'ropc.r positions should l>c taken in t.ho field, a.nd required changes promptly made to meet varied bowling and batting —right, and left handers (batsmen as well as howlers), and to met the bowlers' varied styles. Other things which should be practised a-ro running between the wickets, smart fielding, quick return of the bail— io the right end ai:d at the right height— in short, the gospel of work should bo practised in. the field. Lazy habits in practice induce the ante indulgence in match play. The nearest man should field the ball, not leaving it to the "other fellow" or the small boy. Intelligent alert-nan is what is required chiefly to be cultivated.

Interesting extract from the annual report of the .Southland Cricket Association:

"'One representative match wa> played against Otago at Dttnedin, resulting in a win for Otago bv an innings and 78 runs. Spccial mention in this match must bo made of the splendid score of 95 compiled by .Mr D. Hamilton—the second highest, score ever compiled for Southland—and it is a- pity lie did not reach tin three figures. It was a hard hit innings, containing a six, a fiv-j. and 13 fours. .Southland's totals consisted of 171 ajid 112, but no one else showed form with either hat- or kill, [t if. 12 years now since Southland Iml a victory on iho cricket field, and your committee hopes that the team will practice nra-'iduously; and, if that is done, they consider that .Southland can make a far better fight than 6he has dome in recent years. In regard to interprovincial matches this season, independent of the annual tixturo in Inverca.rgi-11, Otago intend inviting Southland up to Dunc-diu for an extra match on November 9. Again, Canterbury are touring south as far as Dunedin. and it is just ivcssibie, if they arc invited by this association, that tho niueli-delaycd return match will eventuate."

The following office-bearers have been elected to the Southland Association:—President, .Mr T, D. Kingsltuul; vice-presi-dents—Messrs' A. F. Hawkc, (.J. A. Wlie-al-ler, J. Guy, C. Myles, and Dr J. B. Thomson; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr Norman Churton ; com mit-tec—Mcwrs C. B. Tapley, l r . C. Liggins, E. Smith, A. Dcrbie, J. -M'Urat-li, and .I.' A. Mackenzie; lion. auditors—Messrs A. .Vl'Kay and G. Ritchie ; delegate to N.Z.C.C., Mr S. A. Orchard.

H. V. Hordern, the one-time North Sydney bowler, who toured England recently with the Philadclphia.ti team, bowled 333 overs (51 maidens) for 1265 runs and 74 ,wickets. Hi.? average was 17.09. With tho bat ,he scoroxl 33t runs in Vt innings, an average of 16.70.

The Now Zealand Council has written to the N.S.W. Association asking that the visit of a N.S.W. team to the Dominion should be put off until the 1909-10 season.

Who is iiab!o for a window broken by a batsman play'ng on a rcccgniscd crickct ground? Bccenlly a youth put the question to the magistrate at Tottenham, England. Ife was, he said, playing fricVet in Finsbury Park, when he hit the tell over tho railings through the window of a passing tram. Aw lw was playing on tho ground allotted for playing cricket, he questioned his liability for tho damage. He was, however, advised to pay tho damage to avoid a summons.

It. A. Duff has not plaved am- crickct to date this season. Neither has C. 0, Macartney, who is resting after an operation.

H. Carpenter, the Essex cricketer, who has como out from England at; the close of each summer to fill the post of coach to tho Melbourne O.C. for tho past few' seasons, is reported to be incapacitated.

Some of the correspondents who have in the columns of. T.he Sportsmen been airing their views on the constitution of the ideal England Eleven on the past season's form have made weird selections, hut the final choice, iw determined bv the majority cf votes, does not, except in one particular, leave much room for adverse criticism. Tho side, giviaig the names in t.he order of tho votes they received, consists of ITirst, G. 1., Jest'op, Lilley, P. F. Warner, Blythc, Itayward, J. N. Crawford C. B. Fry, Tykleslev, W. Brcaricy, • and Rhodes,