CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18468, 1 February 1922, Page 6

CRICKET

Br Slip, Two mild surprises were experienced in connection with Saturday’s matches when Carisbrook-University defeated Dunedin and Grange had to bo content with a two-pomt win, against Carisbrook. This alters the position of the three leading clubs a little. Albion, by reason of a ridiculously easy win over Mornington by an innings, have increased their lead of one point over the other north end club to two. By losing their match against Carisbrook-University Dunedin have fallen to three points behind Grange and level with Carisbrook-Univer-sifcy. liven allowing Dunedin a three-point win over Mornington in their unfinished match, they are only level with Grange and two points behind Albion, last year’s flag winners. The position as regards these three teams is interesting, and it will require a couple of matches to be played before a forecast can be made with any degree of certainty. Albion’s chance of retaining the premier position is strongly favoured, as they are to be reinforced by. the inclusion in their eleven of a prominent batsman who, however, [hae played little cricket so far this season. The “tail” of this side is beginning to wag, and is showing .promise of doing much better than at the beginning of the competition. The following' table shows the positions of the clubs competing in the competition: — Flag Played. Won. Lost. Points. Albion ~,5 4 1 10 Grange 5 3 2 .8 Dunedin 4 22 t Carisbrook-University 5 2 3 5 Carisbrook _. B 2 3 4 Mornington 4 1 3 2 The outstanding feature in the DunedinUniversity match was the attractive batting of the Alloo brothers. A. W. was somewhat o2 colour for a week or two owing to neck trouble. He has completely recovered now, and is showing capital form with the bat. ‘ H.' G., one of the most attractive batsmen we have in Dunedin, is also doing well, and his century was within sight on Saturday when he was caught at 94 after a patient display. The last wicket added. 51 runs, O’Shea managing to stay with H. C. Alloc until-’ the match was won. Casey wap bowled to a standstill, far too much having been expected from him at his express speed. Had he been given a rest and an inferior bowler tried the result might have been reversed. He put up a very fine performance, however, securing seven wickets for 112 runs. Edwards bowled 200 balls for 50 runs and no> wickets.

Albion accounted for Momington very easily, the hill team, as usual, displaying poor form with the bat. Carlton’s bowling was good, and, with the assistance he got from a “spot,” was unplayable, his analysis reading: 112 balls, 17 runs, one no-ball, eight wickets. Albion were not called upon to bat a second time, as their first innings total was sufficient to give them an innings win. .

Playing on the Carisbrook Ground Grange gave a brilliant exhibition of • fielding, the turf suiting their dashing stylo of gettng to the ball. For Carisbrook Brinsley displayed some of his old time form, ms off strokes being very crisp. Dickinson, had a wioket to his liking, and bowled in fine form. His performance ' should have been better, but the Carisbrook fielding was only fair, and. the , slips let several fast snicks past them which went to the boundary. His was a capital performance, however, and ho had most pi the Grange batsmen in trouble all the time. Galland’a score was welcome to his side, but was rather streakily obtained. G. Sansom, the promising Grange oolt, was Uncomfortable to Dickinson. Carisbrook offered a stubborn defence and held on until time was called 1 .

“Old Cricketer” writes asking for the republioation of particulars of a match .played between Canterbury and Otago on January 23 and 24, 1891, when Otago sensationally defeated the sister province. I have a brief summary of the match in question by me, and it makes interesting reading, but as just at the present time a minimum of space is available I am unable to comply with the request. Later on, however, I shall bo glad to oblige ‘‘Old Oidketer.” Southland will play in Dunedin during Carnival Week. The Otago team will include three or four young, players who have not previously appeared in big cricket, the Otago Cricket Association having notified its selectors that it would like to sec fresh blood -introduced. This it a laudable attitude the governing body has taken up, and it is to be hoped that success will attend the. innovation. There" are three or four promising colts playing in senior cricket, and it will be interesting to note the success or otherwise of their debut. A dull red glare from the fires of English conservation gleams all through the presidential address which was delivered by Lord Hawke at the annual meeting of the Yorkshire Cricket dub. How long, one is tempted to ask, is this spirit going to be discernible in those -who control the destinies of cricket at Home. In the words of the cablegram his Lordship “welcomed the Advisory Committee’s rejection of the ‘absurd proposal’ to play test matches to a finish. The tests must never be allowed unduly to interfere with county cricket. In Australia, apart from the test and | intar-State matches there was no important ; cricket.” All of which is equivalent to i saying that English county oncket is the | most important cricket in the world. On this line of reasoning Lord Hawke might as will have “gone the whole hog” and contended that no more Australian, teams should be invited to England-; and, more important still, that the English counties should not be robbed of their best players for the visionary ideal of seeking to recover the “ashes.” On the other* hand, His Lordship tacitly accepts the principle of continuing test cricket, but the suggestion that they should be played /to a finish is anathema to him. It is difficult to understand why there shouUf be so much objection to this apparently reasonable proposal. If an Australian team travels 14,000 miles for the purpose of playing decisive matches in England there is surely every reason why these games should be played out. Otherwise there is a possibility that the whole result of the tour may be indecisive, thus subverting the whole aim and object of these contests which is to decide whether the Old Land or the New is best entitled to the possession of the coveted and histone “ashes. ’ Apart from this it is difficult to see how; the taking of one man, and in some cases two men, from nine or 10 of the counties can interfere seriously with predominant interests of county cricket. Lord Hawke’s references to the rumour that Mailey was returning to England for the purpose of “qualifying” for Middlesex are equally conservative. He has apparently overlooked the fact that many of the counties in England have their professional coaches, and in times gone past not a few Australians have “qualified’’ for English county teams, among whom may bo mentioned Albert Trott, Alan Marshall, and W. Roche. Yorkshire, however, in splendid isolation, is . determined rigorously to eschew this policy both now and forevermore. Cricket lovers will be interested and pleased to learn that the Fitzroy fast bowler, E. A. M‘Donald, who was so successful during the recent tour through Great Britain by the Australian eleven, has definitely decided not to accept tbs engagement offered to him by the Nelson Club, Lancashire (England). McDonald’s decision means a great" deal for Victorian cricket during the next few years. The Fitzroy bowler, who so favourably impressed the critics in England last year, should have many seasons of first class cricket ahead of him, and with such a high class bowler on their’ side the Victorians should be able to give a good account of themselves for some time to come. It is understood that the offer M‘Donald -received from the Nelson Club was a particularly tempting one, so that his decision to remain in Australia will be all the more appreciated by followers of the game. Bowling for Victoria against New South . Wales in Sydney on Monday, when. Victoria, ■wrested the Sheffield Shield from New South Wales, M‘Donald added to his fame by securing eight wickets for 84 runs. This will intensify the satisfaction felt in Australia and New Zealand that M/Donald has turned the Lancashire Club’s lucrative offer down, and is remaining in Victoria. A batting record was put up by the Railway cricket team at Wellington. ’ Playing against Trentham on a recent Saturday, Railway made 319 for the loss of two wickets, and then considerately “ declared.” Of this total Hoaro contributed no fewer than 190 and Edlin SO. Hoare and Edlin put. on 240 before the first wicket fell.

The Plunket Shield has been won by Auckland on six occasions, Christchurch six, Wellington two, and Otago none. Our turn may possibly come next season, when Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland will play matches here. During the war no Plunket Shield matches were played. Snedden beads the Plunket Shield batting averages for matches played in Auckland with 51.2. Smith comes next with 48.5. M‘Leod 45.5, Carrard 38. Dacre 31.5, Cummings 31, Alloott 23.3, Anthony 27.3. Player 22. Rountree 19, Henrms 17.4, and x.orspool 15.4. The leading bowling averages are;—Garrard. 23 wickets, 238 runs, average 10.3; Snedden, 12 wickets, 155 runs, 12.9: Smith. 14 wickets, 273 runs.- 19.5; Alloott, 8 wickets. 176 runs. 22: Dacre, 1 wicket, 22 runs, 22; and Horspol, 1 wicket, 4 runs, 4. Sneddon wpoJMr £. J&Xderla-bat for tha