ENGLISH CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18673, 30 September 1922, Page 8

ENGLISH CRICKET

“ OUR GREATEST STYLIST. ' A SUCCESSFUL NEW ZEALANDER. (Fhom Odb Own Coreespondent.) :i " LONDON, August 9. Mr P. Randall Johnson, the New Zealander who lias distinguished himself in the cricket world, was .42 last Saturday. The Evening News saw fit to reproduce a photograph of “our greatest stylist” on that day, and beneath the print is the inscription: “P. R. Johnson, of Somerset, who is perhaps the most beautiful bat in current cricket, is 42 to-day.”-• Elsewhwerwe in the same issue the following appreciative paragraphs occur:—“Although nearing the ‘veteran’ stage, Johnson is playing as well as ever, and in the cider county’s dramatic victory over the champions his robust hitting was a feature of the game. A New Zealander by birth, Johnson won his colours at Eton in 1897, and was in the Cambridge team of 1901. While at Eton the old' Cantab was feared- for his fast bowling, but .at Cambridge his batting improved to the deterioration of his bowling. “Johnson, who hits freely all round the wicket, accompanied Bosanquet 1o America in 1901, and in the autumn of 1906 visited his native country with the M.C.C. Hy joined the band of immortals by hitting two centuries (164 and 131). against. Middlesex at Taunton in 1908—-the only Somerset‘.man to perform this feat.” ' CALTHORPE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The same cricket authority writes to-night : “I hear that the Hon. F. Si G. Calthorpe is to be married in the early autumn, and that the honeymoon will include a trip to Hew Zealand with Archie JlaoLaren’a team. But for., this ; the Warwickshire .shipper., might easllj' have f ound ;a, place, in the M'.C.O.. side for. South" Africa. ■ Calthorpe is ,one. of the best all-round amateurs playing,_ and seems destined for test-match cricket in the near future. 'Warwickshire are fortunate to have such a sterling cricketer to lead them and carry on the wonderful work of Frank Foster.” A, KEiIPTON ’ S WICKET-KEEPI NG. ’ . “A. Kempton, the Surrey II wicket-keeper, and partner with Jack Hobbs in business, is in better: form .than ever-behind the-sticks. In addition, he has already scored some 2000 runs in club cricket this season. Kempton is a really first-class stumper, and not a glorified long-stop, as one occasionally sees even in county cricket in these days. He stands right up to every variety of bowling, and there is not , the slightest ’ suspicion of ‘grab’ about his work. He. uses his hands and not his legs.- .If .Archie MacLaren is pushed for a second keeper for New Zealand ho might do worse than invite the Catford amateur.”