CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15972, 15 January 1914, Page 10

CRICKET.

Notes by Long Slip,

NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN AUSTRALIA. January 16, 17, 19—v. South Australia, at

Adelaide. January 21, 22.—v. Melbourne CO., at Mel-

bourne. OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. February.—Against Southland, at Dunedin. February 13, 14, and lb.—Against Canterbury, at Dunedin.

The Otago-Wellington match is now history. The game left no momentous questions to answer, and there is little that has not been told and nothing not understood. The result —a victory for Wellington— might as aptly have been a win for Otago. On actual form there was practically nothing between the sides, and the merits of the teams were of an equality. The standard throughout was not high, and there was nothing outstanding in style and less of brilliancy. The batting for the most part was patient and solid, the bowling mediocre, and the fielding fair. It was a good scoring game (as scoring games have gone in Otago of recent years) until the third day, when rain slowed down the outfield, and tbe wicket became tricky towards the end.

Otago did not have the best of any .iielc that was going.Thougli one does not offer that fact as excuse for defeat, it had nevertheless a good deal to do with it. One of the greatest cricketers of his time said that unless a team carried a reasonable amount of hick in it? bag, that team was always more or less subject to defeat, no matter what its calibre. This has particular .application tn Otago in the latest match. As examples of the luck element and the important part it played, three of Otago's best batsmen were denied the opportunity of making runs—not by reason of bad batting, but by lack of luck, which John Tunnlcliff and Albeit Knight used to say sTiould be found in every batsman's kit.

In the first innings Watson had his career cut short with a "leg before - ' decision.

Always more or less unsatisfactory, particularly to a bowler like Saunders, Howling left-hand round the wicket, but frump away. There its no intent ion lure of doubting Hie umpire's verdict. The fact is merely stated tliat. such a decision wiil always be unsatisfactory. Ji: tin' second innings Watson played oik; from Saunders hard enough almost to reach tin boundary; but the ball struck file batsman's loot and rebounded on to his wicket. The Carisbrook groundsman wa.s, on his recent Christchurch form, more likely to make runs than any other batsman on the Otago side, but the pleasure was denied him.

M'l l '.irlaui , 's case. too. is an example of

"the little more and how much it js. the. little. Icy and what worlds away!" The Albion batsman was giving of his best, playing tiie bowling with the utmost confidence ,-:ud freedom, and exhibiting commendable restraint ; when stepping back to play Saundi-rs he 'happened to touch his wicket and dislodge the off bai'. M'Karlauo never promised better, and his short innings of 2G was one of the best exhibitions of the match, if, indeed, it was not the best exhibition of perfect liming, placing, and crisp baiting. It has always been admitted that M"Far-lalie has all, or nearly all, the essentials of a great batsman; but even a Trnmper has to have his moments of luck. The Albion man's failing is lack of restraint; but he can exercise this when called upon, and against Wellington he was prepared to prove this up to the hilt. In the second innings M'Farlane succumbed to one of those brilliant catches which border on the phenomenal, and which arc brought off once in a life-time. To be dismissed off so brilliant a catch is almost an honour. M'l ( 'arlano probablv dkl not think so. The batting of Alloo in Otago's licet innings was the feature of the mutch. As an exhibition of virtuous patience and watchfulness it was complete, and as a display of solid cricket was one of the best seen on the ground. The basis of Alloo's success was his careful watching of the ball and selecting the right one to hit. The stroke' with which he got out was not a stroke at all. He had just reached his century, and the excitement of the reception possibly unnerved him for the moment. When the Carisbrook colt went to make his stroke the bat appeared to get tangled up in some mysterious fashion, and before he had time to recover his correct position bat and ball met with the result—an easy catch to the bowler. Alloo did not get started in the second' innings, but is deserving of all praise for his exhibition in Otago's lirst strike.

Siodoberg wp.6 by the way of getting a start in the first innings when Hiddlestono found his wickot; but in the second the exNew Zealand batsman was run out early, [jack of forni was, however, evident in the old duisbrook cricketer, who is • not now able to execute the stroke* which he was master of a few seasons ago. That usually" reliable batsman. Eckhold, did not shape' like getting inns or stopping any length of time at the crease for the runs to come. In the first innings ho was out through losing sight of a ball from Hiddlestono. Instead of attempting to defend his wicket, the only course left when a batsman has lost sight of the ball, Eck-» hold drew away and made a blind swipe—a pure case of hari-kari. In the second innings the. Duncdin representative telegraphed his end before it came by "feeling" for fast-rising balls on the off. For a time ho had the good luck to miss these; but ho played with : Fate too; long, and paid the penalty. For "the third time in succession Bruges was run out. Following up his two run-outs against Canterbury the ex-Christehureh cricketer w-as a victim in similar fashion in the first innings against Wellington. Alloo called him for a run, which would have been possible had Bruges answered the call promptly; but lie hesitated, causing Alloo to hesitate, and when he did run it was *o go right through and lose his wicket. In the second innings Bruges olayed for the break from Grimmctt; but it "was a straight ball, and he was out leg before. Higg!ns, whose previous experience in representative cricket has not been encouraging to the Opoho batsman, shaped badly in"the first innings, but showed greatly improved form in-the second. Though never thoroughly convincing, lliggins made one or two good strokes. He is a better batsman than his representative performance would have us believe. Some men are good club cricketers, but make poor representatives. One has only to cite Austin, one of the best batsmen in Otago, who has rarely done justice to himself in big cricket. Condliffe did not inspire with his batting, though he is by no means a bad bat. Ho certainly kept wickets more convincingly than he made runs.

Itamsden batted splendidly in both innings, and scored freely when opportunity offered. He watched the bowling closely, and after selecting the right ball to hit put all his power and energy behind the blade. His batting throughout was marked by good timing and clean hitting. His on strokes were particularly fine. It might here be said that Otago had a chance of pulling the match out of the fire when was batting in the second innings, but with his dismissal the prospects faded and finally died altogether. In proportion to the allowance are the runs thereof. This applies in some degree to Torrance, who will get runs if he is allowed. The Dunedin left-hander ran to 13 in characteristic style in Otago's first innings. In the second innings Torrance was badly let off early, and next ball to mark his appreciation, stepped out to drive Grace, ar.d was easily stumped. It was quite an unneccssarv sacrifice.

There was a time when, to put Alex. Downes in at the fall of the ninth wicket was to confess ignorance of this player's capabilities as a batsman, but the Grange man has gradually worked down to the position. A few years ago there were few who could make runs so attractively. His footwork in those days was wonderfully free, while his wrist-play made the bat liko a whip in his hand*, which he cracked to a merry tune, and the crisp contact ho made with the ball rattled like rifle shots from a musketry corps. All this has changed; but Downes is still pre-eminently our best bowler.

The Otago attack was not strong, but. with better judgment in its working, would have been more effective. Downes and. Torrance bowied well on a wicket that gave them no assistance, while the fielding, too, did not tend to improve the bowlers' averages. "Wellington was not a great batting side, and I doubt whether, man for man, it, was as good as Otago. Three batsmen_ stood out in an eleven of mediocrity—Hiddlcstone, Hay. and Joplin. Not only did theeo men carry the burden of the scoring, but they showed through it that theirs was of tho established order, and not flashy. Hiddlestone ha.> improved since he left Otago. A promising bat then, he has developed a. good repertoire of strokes which he knows how to use. The ex-Otago man _hits alean and hard, some of his shots during the recent match being real clinkers. It is unnecessary to refer again to his lucky first inning.- after displaying his ability as a batsman.

Joplin has the most awkward stand at the wickets of any representative plajvr I know; but, despite this handicap—and it is a handicap,—he is.such a good shot on the Jog side that be is worth his place in the team tor that stroke alone. It is almost liifi only stroke, but, then, it is a good one. Add to this the cricketing temperament, the selection of the right ball, and sound defence, and you have the basis of the Wellington coifs success. Hay is a batsman of the solid, watchful, careful type, who rarely makes a bad shot and knows, how to make a good one. He is free from fireworks,', but his style marks him out ii« a batsman of character.

We were not privileged to see Baker and Midliine. The former is a youngster who has been doing well in club cricket this season, while Midlanc is tho .Freddy Midline, the ov-Xew Zealand representative, who hits had considerable experience both here and in Australia.

.1. P Blacklock, once famous as a bateman in Wellington, did not get going; but h> has lost none of his agility in the field. Ken Tuckpr, another old-time Wolliiu'tori player, made one or two good shots: but hn is far removed from the oid ex-New Zealand representative.

C. G. Wilson, who is a cosmopolitan' cricketer, having played for Melbourne. Southland. Otagp. and Wellington, is still imbued with wonderful enthusiasm, and for a veteran "crocked" with a bad leg showed surprising agility in the field. The bowling of Wellington was simple enough, though it had probably more variety than that of Otago. Saunders bowled well throughout, and Grimmett proved to be a thorough trier, while Hiddlestone was puzzling at times. Grace, who came on at the tail end of the Otago innings, bumped them down on a wicket which had become tricky, and picked off the batsmen like a sharpshooter.

After an interval dating from December 13 grade cricket will be resumed on Saturday.

ft is pleasing to find that Wednesday cricketers have lost none of their great enthusiasm,for the game,, in spite of the many setbacks they have had to face, m the shape of postponements caused by the wet weather and the Christmas and New Year holidays. Thoy are as keen as ever, and their matches are in full swing acrain. Tho Caledonian Ground on Wednesday afternoons presents quite an animated appearance, three matches being played there every week. They draw a large following of spectators too.' I am informed that the

association its in a found financial condition, >rought about by several of the members who are real workers. For this stale of affairs they are to lie congratulated. The competition, which is for the liing-1 fan-is Hhield, is at an interesting at age. through all the contests being so keenly fought, out. there is a chance for some counliy icani to play a representative match.

"The visits of Australian teams to New /(.'aland," savs a Sydney writer, commenting o:i the New Zealand-New South Wales match, ''are benelicial; but. the visits of New Zealand teams to Australia are at least quite a« essential, if the cricket of the Dominion is to make aiiytliius like a. satisfactory advance vear after year. The money taken a! the Sviinev match show* that, while such liberal terms are offered bv the State associations, there is little risk >n sending a teem across, provided it be renri *<:-ntative. of the Dominion. The men will learn more on such a tour than they might learn at home in 10 vears. And. education of this nature is what New /"aland or ck'-trrs need. The gross lakmrrs at the New /'alunders match in Sydney was 5)218. As the visitors are given the gross ret returns—thai '■«. all left after match expenses are paid—they receive about £200 from the match. Tins is hig'nlv Fatisfactoi-v, for what proved to bo a two-days' match. The Queensland Association, I understand, lost on their guarantee of-£75 to the New /calanders."

CIUCKKT OOSSIP. The attendance at the Otago-Wcllington match was poor, less than £60 being taken for' the three day 6. This amount would have been taken "on one good day a few seasons ago. Cottfiter attractions and lack of interest' were .he cause of the falling-off. Now that the Plunket Shield no longer looms in the eyes of Otago cricket legislators as the only thing worth paying 'or, a sound fichemo for securing the services of a first-claw coach should be considered. Previous experiments in this direction failed by reason of the police of getting two men for the salary of one tirsr-ebws man. A coach of the Lawton type is what Otago requires again. Mr Watson, the Carisbrook groundsman, has prepared many good wickets in his time, but'it is -doubtful if he has furnished anything better than the wicket for the OtagoWellington match. The ground fielding of. Otago left, room for improvement in the latest match. The best of men will'drop a catch, but there is little excuse for slovenly ground fielding, and none at all for the non-trier. More than once on Saturday, when a fieldsman miescd the ball, he let it go to the boundary instead of chasing it tip. with the chance of stopping it. The Otago captain did not use his bowling very judiciously in the Wellington match, more particularly during the Joplin-llay partnership on the first day and the last hour on Saturday. Ramsden. however, was a thorough trier, and set his men an excellent example at the batting crease. In view of the other representative matches ahead, the Otago selector might consider the advisability of selecting a probable eleven early, and keeping them af constant practice before it becomes necessary to make a final selection. Any player so selected who fails to turn up to practice without a satisfactory reason for his absence should unhesitatingly be dropped.