CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18757, 10 January 1923, Page 6

CRICKET.

Bt Sup. COVXTHV WEEK. January 10 and 11. at Caledonian (rronnd. THE KK6MSH TEAM. January 12, Kl, and I"', at Lav Ist,rook. 1N TEK IMIoV IX <_■ IA L IT XT L'i! KB. Otago v. Ciuiteibmy.—Jarman 2S, 27, and 29, at Carisbrook, Otago v, Wellington.—Tcbiuaiy 17, 19, and 90, at Cai ibbuxik. THE THIRD TEST. February 2, .'i, and a, at. Wellington. Glorious ugather prevailed throughout for lire Auckiand-Utugo contest, which was brought to a conclusion on Monday at 30 minutes to six, I lie game thus taking up the full time allotted lo it. From first to lust it was fouisht out with keen rivalry, the cleanest of clean tport-smanship being in evidence throughout by both sides. In the earlier stages of the game Otago hold a winning hand, but the dogged persistency with which the Auckland batsmen defied our bowling in the second strike turned the game to their favour. Auckland, although minus several leading players, was a stiff proposition for Otago from a batting viewpoint, for seme very promising colts were included in the eleven, and they did so well that it is questionable if this side could have done very much better even hid the moie experienced player been available. Irving's work in the outfield was a feature of the match, and time and again won the plaudits of the spectators. Comparing the work of the two teams in the field-the verdict must unhesitatingly go to our visitors, whoso catching, picking up, and returning were very much cleaner than that of Otago. The practice of taking a shot at the wickets while the batsmen were running was persistently indulged in by the Auckland men, and time and again the sticks wore knocked down and batsmen narrowly escaped being run out. True, on one or two occasions the hacking up was not always satisfactory, and a couple of boundaries were registered in consequence, but generally their work in this respect was effective. The Auckland skipper (\V. Brook-Smith) inspired his men by his own brilliant work, and his handling of the men was very much better curried out than was that of Otago. While the Otago men put in solid work from beginning to end of the contest, it lacked the brilliancy and finish displayed by the Aucklanders, and as a consequence suffered by comparison. Exceptions, however, must be made, and A. W. Alloo. IT. C. Alloo, and If. Duncan can bo singled out as excelling in nil that went their way. (J. Chadwick must also be congratulated for fine work with the gloves, more particularly on the first tw G days. His injured linger was such that Gnlland had to take his place for part of the game, but ho returned on the third day. and, handicapped as ho was, he put up n particularly fine performance. An outstanding failure on the Otago side was A. Gnlland ns a captain. The handling of his bowling left a lot to be desired, and the placing of the field at times came in for severe censure from onlookers. On the first day he bowled M'Beath for nearly four hours, with only the tea adjournment and one over which the captain took himself. M'Beath. as everyone knows, is as game as possible, and bowled really well throughout, but it was overdoing the thing, and a 10 minutes’ spell now and again should have been given to him. The order throughout the match was M'Beath, A. W. Alloo (who should have been made more use of on the first day, as he was bowling well), Casey, and Dickinson, and to this attack the Otago captain adhered rigidly. H. C. Alloo. A. Knight, and Keast (who was not given a turn during the match) should have been tried, even though they are merely mediocre trundlers. for very often it is this kind of stuff that will break up a partnership. The visitors’ batting, although not always exhilarating, and at times painfully slow, was of a match-winning order, and in the second innings they fairly tired out the Otago attack, when R. Whelan, A. Irving, and W. Garrard made runs more quickly than at any other time during the compilation of their total. These three Auckland colts fully justified their selection. A. Anthony (the finest all-rounder in the team) also contributed 67 in the second innings by a very fine exhibition of batting, and his inclusion in the third test was freely advocated by the spectators present. G. Cummings, now a veteran, led the way with the largest individual score in the contest, and he was somewhat unfortunate in not reaching his century, for he was batting very confidently, and the left-hand catch by M'Beath that brought about bis downfall was a difficult one. A. W. Alloo once again demonstrated that he is one of the domimon’s soundest batsmen by contributing a couple of half-cen-turies. His runs were obtained somewhat slowly at certain periods of his two fine efforts, but nevertheless were the outcome of a most intelligent exhibition of correct batting. His brother (IT. C.) gave n sparkling display in the first innings, and also passed the half-century, the majority of his juns coming from hooking the short stun to the boundarv. In the second innings he was brilliantly snapped up by Brook-Smith oil a bard and low shot on the off. G. 11. Dickinson, for whom his admirers stoutly acclaim a future, gave evidence that this is likely to be fulfilled by a particularly dashing exhibition in the first innings for 51 (not out) and a strongly defensive contribution of 26 (not out) in the second. It was extremely satisfying that this promising young athlete should display such fine form, and is a vindication of those who have all along maintained that he is not only an express bowler of more than ordinary merit, but also a batsman of the first flight. The Otago skipper showed extremely bad judgment in putting his men in in the same order as in the first innings, for after Dickinson’s display in the first strike the order of going in .should have been revised and Dickinson placed much higher up the list. In the course of a conversation at the ter ruination of the match the Aucklanders made pointed reference to this, and expressed the opinion that an error of judgment had been made. M'Beath displayed batting qualities for which the spectators, I think, were not prepared. lie was shaping well in the first innings when Garrard stumped him, and bis second innings exhibition was of a sound order, bis defence and hitting powers clearly disproving any idea that he Is not a. rungetlcr. He. too. might be encourage by being nlaced a little higher in the list in (lie order of ingoing. Mr Alex. Ross must have been highly pleased at the complimentary references passed on his ability as a groundsman from all who visited Carisbrook during the currency ot the match. The ground was handed over to him after a very heavy football season and in a shocking condition so far as cricket was concerned, for from this viewpoint it had been shamefully neglected for years. However. 1 have not the space to tell fully the story of its rehabilitation, so it must, suffice to say that tha expert opinion of Messrs A, H. Fisher, Alex. Downes, and 11. G. Miedeberg. all of whom have done years of yeoman service for Otago on this historic area, is that no better playing conditions have at any previous time been available. Add to this the expressed admiration of Mr .1, H. Watts, tlie manager of the Auckland team, ‘that the wicket and outfield is quite the bestmet with on tour.” and it will be readily seen that Carisbrook. under (he supervision of Mr Ross, has ‘‘come back.” Mr Watts and Mr Brook-Smith also made pointed reference to the umpires, and were quite sincere in asking that special reference lie made to the work if Messrs F. Williams and Harry Wilson, whom they declare to bo the most competent mot on tour. This is a very nice compliment, and no doubt the empires’ Association will make a note of it. Before any more matches are played, (ho Otago Cricket Association should consider (tie 'advisability of supplying passes to its representatives. It is hardly a fair thing that a phiver should b° kept ,i( the gate while he is cross-examined by (lie gatekeeper. Not only does it waste bis time, but it is also very annoying to him that he should bo obliged (o undergo the risk of being mistaken for an imposter. A 'onesnnmlent asks that (He remaining matches of the Englishmen's itinerary he published. Tliev are us follows; January 12. 13. and 15, v. Otago, at Dunedin, January 20 and 22, v. Southland, at Invercargill. January 26. 27, and 29, v. Wellington, at. Wellington. January 30 and 31. v. Thirteen from West Coast, .VeDon. and Marlborough Association. nt Nelson. February 2. 3. and 5. v. Now Zealand ((bird test), at Wellington. February 6 and 7. v. Thirteen from Rn-'-ot-ikei. M»nawaiu. and Wiirarapa Asaiienitjons. at Palmerston North. F"brnn r v 9 and 10, v. Thirteen Rom Wuiro- Povertv Bav. and Hawke's Bay A--eeianens. nt Nonier. February 16, 17. and 19. v. Auckland, at Auckland.