CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14439, 4 February 1909, Page 10

CRICKET.

B? IiONfiBI.IP. FIXTURES. Olttgo v. Canterbury.—Friday, Saturday and Monday, February 12, 13, 13. Southland v. Otago.—March I!, 4 and 5. Ihwkc's Bay v. Auckland (l'hinket Shic'.d) — February. Tho following table shows the position of the First Grade, teams, with (probably) three matches yet lo be played: —

The* players to rcj>rcsiM>it Ihagu agaium, Cwiterbiuy in tlio uitcrproviiicial niatcii hum »wk will bo sel«;te<i alw Satui'ilay's liiatcli«n. ll is anticipated tint: the turn will Ik the same, wuli tlio f.\Cf|.iicii „f llowdi-u, wliiUi roocnilr drew ivitli Auckland in iho historic irwtoh for tlio i'luiiket Shield.

Apropos of the ease of Alex. Dowius and tho Owgo Cricket Association, the incident, is one wliioli will not he altogether 1o.n(. sight of when it conies 10 rejecting future repritsontativi's for the province on northern or any olhor tours. After hoaf. ing Downes's explanation lor not joining the Diago to-am, the uscociaifiou, witU some show ol wixloin, decided not to take further action in the matter. The fact of Dowue.ss ht'i'vitvs lo the province iu the juist weighed hoavily \uih the commitue, who, while not altogether satisfied, were prewired to take a libera! view 01 One must deeply regret the incident, as '"Hell for the sake of the (1 range bowler in for that of the Selection (.'oniiniUtfe of the Otago Cricket Asscciirt.iou, wlk> acteil in all gotvl faith concerning Oownos's i;iolusion in ili» leam. In future it will he iicctvfcaty to i-ivc a . c !rai^ht-out yc<i or imv whou a playor is approaelKHl to go on tour. Now thai Ihe Outgo Association has— true enough, half-he<u'tedlv — aeoentnd Downes's explanation for his "action over the recent lour, is ii tfie intention of the Meet ion ('ommittee lo choose Downe- for practice iu view of the (.\tnterburv maif.li next week'/ The gonera.l imprevsion appears to he that the Grange bowier will not !x> played. I don't hold any briei lor this tiatement, but lnorcly give it forth as popular belief. An the associate n has dccid'.\l lo lake 110 further a 'lion i.i the mailer, ilk- responsibility now rote with the Selection Committee." On form, of course, there can bo 110 question of the Grange Ixjwier's fitness, and 1 l,.ke :t the selectors will choose the best :non available. If for any reowm olher than liis cricket, abilities a player should to "dropped," the matter must he referred to the association, and as iho association has alivady considered Downes's case, the Selniion L'ointnittee have no altonialive hoi to include him in the Otago Elev-u against Caniorburv.

IJuwng had one forion* kwon in rospoct to the playing out or otherwise of representative ma."eh.*, the Olago .Wociaticm is now sh-nvinir its wisdom in an effort to I'flliir Caiitcrblirv into lino f or i.he playng to a finish of the iikuoJi next week. 'Xo reply has yet been received from the Cant<?rlnirj Association, but it. is ipiitc ou rive cards that tho sister province will l;e only too pleased to carry out the wiah<M of this province.

Tlie representative game bol-wecn Otago and Canterbury is much discussed, and Canterbury's chances with iht> team Uiat brought Auckland to its knocs are licins; keenly canvassed (writes my Ohristehurch correspondent). The Canterbury team ie expected to prove a good one, bill yet it colli,l bo improved. It is a piiy thait old (not in years) warhorfc "Jimmy'' J,awron;e did ntJ, emerge from the seclusion of

"teaching the young idea how to shoot' a few weeks earlier, because it is practically certain he would have «hown form which would have displaced a much weaker inenibcr of th'O team. Harry EH is is cxpectod to fully justify his inohiaion. He is aai excellent, tiroleii (ktantin, a good change bowler (ho easily heads Canterbury bowling averages—2s wickets for an average of about 6), a very styiieh lxitOTiun, and a really good second-string 'keeper to Bonsnail. Bruges, tho emergency, was the hero of each watch Sydenham played West Christe.buroh this season—lo3 ami 96. lie is a batsman with a free, pleasing style, and a very fair lield. The otjicre, excepting Humphreys, a,re well known ro Otago enthusiasts, and Canterbury hopes io introduce its popular nrofetsional ro tlieni with him baiting at lfis prime, when there is no doubt but that the erowd will be delighted. Aa Canterbury did not win Uio Plunlcet Shield this t&adon, slio ie determined to put lieu- best foot forward to beat ibc team Unit did, and it is to bo hoped that fMTangcinients—brnding ouco, this lime—will l>e coinc to to play ih.j garoo to a finish, May tiio weather Ik; goodj tho hick equally divided, find t-ho best, team win is the wisli of every Cftii-ior-bury ent.lwtsiaiit.

Our old friend of the Albion Club, but now of Auckland, Uvorge Cumminye, is said to be one of the finest hats in Auckland this reason. He ha.s been verj' consistent. and shows no signs of going off. The old north-emler compiled 48 the other day on a "tricky wicliel" when the other wickots were falling like the proverbial autumn leaves.

In connection with tho letter written to tho New Ze.iland Council apropos of tJio recent trouble in Auckland, tlus recommendation that tho rules be amended to avoid a repetition of the incident, a.nd tlie council's reply (hereto, tile Otago Association has got here and now to make itself clear. The council practically as-serts that tho OUigo let-tor is a charge of unsportsmanlike conduct, against, the northern association, and ask that the letter cither be withdrawn or n definite charge made, lhis is putting it to Otaijo pretty straight, and I take it they woukl rather have it thus. If It were Otago's wish that only the amendment lo the rules was to bo'oug. gestod, the reference to Auckland's sportsmanship was beside the question, and could nave only been drawn in to prove the. necessity for amending the rules. This is no doubt, what was done, and the council Inks construed il into a reflection on Auclcland s sportsmanship. If the council desires a s'trnighloiit charge, no doubt Otugo could proffer it, but at this stage the whole matter over Auckland's attitude in connection with the Plunkct Shield should ho allowed lo drop and tho recommendation only made to the council. Xo good can SWftiihly come of harping on what, is now nisrorv.

Jt'hi (I 'Yn, M,lreil 3 I *• #nd 5 lor houtnlainl-Olago match. to Ik plaved at Jnvcrcargill this season, should ho convenient for the majority of the Otago playors who have to travel, but I fear mo at this writing it will not bo altogether 'Jtagos strongest ( oJlm , hat wiM vi ifc couthhind.

It may interest tho.so who are o?itatin» lor Jho "paid umpire" to know that afl uwpiioo in the Sydney grade matches wcro to be paid 20s per Saturday up f 0 Deeern-m-i t) 01 ' 1, , 0 ' '®' 0 association's funds, the Board of Control is arranging for a hiia.ico committee for the Australian Ak-ven, to consist of the manager, the treasurer, and another member to be appointed.

Comoro nig- the New Zealand Council's application far u visit to New Zealand of the Australian I'.leven, and the board's suUcii-tiiMit decision to wml tin; next host, •Not Out. says-.— I The Ixjard will consult the l)jst interests of Australian cricket bv .Kllrermg to its intention of wilding Iho -Next Best team to New Zealand, whether it I:« this or next season. The New Zealand Council is, no doubt, right according' to its lights m desiring a visit from the Australian bleven. Jim o no may well question the wisdom of having frequent Ksits from tourists who tower over tho A little of that is god; a lot is likely to Ikj lxinoful. Australian cricket is now under constitutional control, and those at the licnd of affairs have to reiogiii-o that foreign tours are not for 011 c K't of playcis. The lour in Now Zeala.no ina\ he inadc ao useful 10 Australian as it ia to cricket in tho Dominion by widening the experience of future international players.

Colter, the terror, was much in evidence m a recent match in Sydnev. Bowling at top pace, he scattered tile wickets of four opponents, including the two Wadtlys, for u runs, B.y tho way, I noticc Cottor lias been selected for the Australian Kleven for England.

On the Caledonian Ground on Saturday the unfortunate bowlers were simply "not )» It. It appeared ns though' they were there merely for the convenience of the butsinojj, to enable the latter to score centuries or thereabouts. The wicket was >low and easy und the recurring showers converted tho ball into a grcasy'mass, which slipped from the hand at unexpected angles ■ i , 7 a » al * en ,<» of spin that secured Hie batsmen from all anxiety. During a broken afternoon's ulay over 3CO runs were scored in the Dunedin v. Grange mulch, and that for the loss of but live f °on , Dlmeilill Allied their wore from 80 or one to 218 for three, and then wased down with tho faint hope of iiianwuvniig tt foui-point win. But their bowlers proved its helpless as' the Grange lundlers, ami were knocked about merrily by Heal ami Henderson, who were chiefly responstbc for the North-enders' total of llOfor three wickets. Wilson's century was characteristic of the Otago skipper-lusty and confident. When lit- had jMsserl the hundred "0. G." had a go nl everything, and obviously threw his wicket awav. This, with the idea of acting i "lib quickly and closing tho innings. On the other hand Eckhold, his partner, played his ti-ual solid game from start to ', 10 ris,;s - This " putting oil |l'o fad as Tarrant has it) is often •1 good thing for one's side, but it struck me that I'.ckhold carried it a hil far on Saturday when half-volloy after half-vollev was gently patted hack to the howler', simply because it was on the wicket. Carl Heal s 109 not out was a good display of driving ami leg-hifcting. All howlers were easy to him, und the youii" t 'range player showed that he possesses hatting ability which should place him atnongil Otago's best willow-wielders. 4. lopohuon of this form will carry him into the team against Canterbury, tiic picking of which, by the way, will not be an easy task. Willi all (except, perhaps, Howden) tho victorious touring team available, and men like Kc.khold, Ileal, Corbott. Kilgour showing good form, the selectors will have an embarrassment of riches.

Torr;inea was jitiablu to piay for Dunetiin on fNilurdity, boiniy cngagml on some urgent work at I'nrr Chalmers; but. I doubt if, in .the conditions obtaining, the left-hander would liave Ixjon able to land the foul'pointer for t.lio borne tram. The veteran Wilson, fre.sh from his "century run," h,i<J a turn with tho ball, and, moreover, howled well, obtaining: two of the three Orange wickets that fell.

There was some, prelt;.» straight talking a: Ihe mooiing of tho X.S.W.C.A. when tho question of the teams dccided upon by the Hoard of Control relating to the tiexi visit of the Australian Klsven to Knghind cropped up. One tnombor. replying lo Mr Noble, said: "Mr Noble, because of his profession, might bo out of pix'ker on a tour, bui that would refer to very few first-class players. Cricket, afier all, was not a profession, but a game; and if a man could not alford to play it then he would have to slay out of if. and if Mr Xoble could not go ihen he would be sorry, but he hoped his successor would attain the same eminence. lie would like to see a team of colts go, because he*!vlicvod thai ill any ease the Australian Eleven would he beaten."

Xoble appears fo have been having a bad time at the inceling. One member said it was all nonsense to say thai a player lost ori the trip. If a. player had any brains these trips laid the foundation for a small fortune. Mr Xoble had not been asked to make any great sacrifice in playing tho game, and his bank balance, with about thrco exceptions, was greater than those of all the rest of them ptlttogether. lie was of opinion that tho game had been very kind to Mr Noble.

Mr N'oble thought he ought to say a few words on this motion. Mr Lloyd has eaid that the board was treating the plavera liberally. In regard to expenses I say we have to keep up the dignity of Australian He all rot to say we came back with £500. I find it costs a great dial over ordinary expenses. If I po on 111 is next trip, if 1 don't give up anything 1 (lon t know who will. I have tho right to tay whether f think the lornw fair. I say again, aiwl you have not believed me I* 'hat I am uot in favour of the Melbourne Club controlling crioket. I am W favour pf » Bjxud.cf CkmUol. .Wo are

not against the board, but we arc against the taxing of expenses amounting to £6000 l>y 5 per cent, I t.hink it most unreasonable. It costs £150 to £200 over and above lhe ordinary expenses to go to England. Among those cricketers who art 1 accompanying "I'angi" out to India is the English bowler liargreave, who was out m New Zealand with Pelham Warner's team a year or two back.

A unique performance is reported from Stnii.hlield, Australia. In a lnatch there a player named G. Parr is reported to ha.vc eaptunxl the wlioJe ten wiekcts at a cost of 8 runs, and then compiled lUu. A Wednesday cricket niatuli al Napier the other week was responsible for remarkable

"hatting" and howling. Hie Napier team were alt dismissed for the magnificent, total of 16 runs! A. I'onton, the groundsman, made 10, another batsman named Laws contributed 2, the remainder byes, 3anc batsmen made "blobs."

The experienoo of the South Australian quartet—C. Hill, N. Claxtou, D. R, A. Uehrs, and A. Jenkins—in the motor car accident, at Sydnoy must have had its exciting and anxious moments. Father Fleming, who wan tb?ir host, on a trip to National Park, is well known to South Australian cricketcrs who huvo made the eastern trip. He is passionately fond of cricket, and always makes u point of assisting the. Adelaideans to enjoy their holiday. The accident- wus brought about through Mis "wobbling" of a enitiil hoy on u bicycle, and it was in an endeavour to escape the youth thai the chauffeur ran I,he motor into the side of the road and ca|)sized. Claxtoji, Giibrs, and Jenkins escaped with a few scratches, but Hill had the lit-110 finger of his right hand broken, as well as much "gravel rash," and Father Fleming was badly cut and bruised. The driver was pinned underneath the- ear, but, fortunately, he was released unharmed.

•1-pt. 2-pf. Wins. W'int. Losses. Ptp. Cnrisbreok A. .. .. '2 2 1 H JJuurdiii — 4 1 g Orange 1 1 3 G Opoh'i 1 1 3 6 Curisbrook B .... — 2 3 ,j Albion 1 - .1 j