CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18763, 17 January 1923, Page 9

CRICKET.

By Slip. INTERPROTIXCIAL FIXTURES. Otago v. Canterbury.—January 2G, 27, and 22, at C'arisbrock. Otago v. Wellington.—February 17, 10, and 20, at Carisbrook. THE THIRD TEST. February 2,3, and 5, at Wellington. The English team’s visit, which we have been looking forward to with a keen relish of seeing something bright and sparkling in the way of punishing and enterprising batsmen, has at last been realised, and one need have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that these expectations have not been fulfilled, and that there is a keen sense of disappointment loft in the minds of those who witnessed the match against Otago. Whatever form was shown in the north—according to telegraphic communication it was of a satisfying order—the verdict hero is distinctly uncomplimentary so for as the majority of the members of the team are concerned. A. P. F. Chapman on the second day gave the only bright exposition of the Englishmen’s innings on a wicket that did not lend itself to finished batting, and retrieved a somewhat otherwise colourless innings. So far as he is concerned there is no doubt that ho is a most aggressive batsman, and while he was at the wickets the Otago field was kept on the move, several of his off strokes going to the boundary like a flash. He made the dreaded “blob” in his second strike. Titchmarsh's exhibition does not merit favourable comment, although he was top scorer in both innings of the visitors—73 and 57 (not out). It must have been weary work to any but the keenest of keen enthusiasts watching his slow, plodding, pluy-ing-for-keops exhibition. We see this in local games every Saturday from batsmen like Kenny, Bond, Knight, and others, and the performance by the visitor was not appreciated.

Of the bowlers Freeman is easily the best, and his variation of pitch and pace troubled our batsmen a good deal On Saturday afternoon, after the heavy rain and on a very tricky wicket, he was seen at his best, and it was at this stage of the game that he and Cnlthorpe caused the damage among the Otago batsmen. In one of the reports on the match mention is made of the fact that our batsmen got themselves out through over-eagerness to score from bowling made difficult bv the state of the wicket. This. I think, is not according to fact, for our batsmen made valiant efforts to combat the difficult bowling, on the whole displaying remarkable patience. As showing the soundness of this contention it has only to bo mentioned that of the seven wickets that fell on Saturday afternoon five were caught, one was leg before, and one bowled, or, rather, played on. The same position applies to the tail-end of the Englishmen’s first innings, when the last five wickets fell for under 40 runs—a testimony to the way in which the wicket had been affected bv the rain that fell for several hours on Saturday. Comparing the attractiveness of the batting, the honours go to Otago, the rungetting batsmen—J. Shepherd. A. Galland. t Tirnr a< it’ 'W’ Dickinson, and J. M Multan—all displaying more freedom and playing better shots than any of the

Englishmen, Chapman excepted. Knight was the_ one fly in the ointment, and”nt f’ mcs lus persistent stonewalling of balls that should have been despatched to the boundary was ludicrous. He overdid the stonewalling “stunt,” and he and Titohrnarsh together gave the public an exhibition of tedious defence that wzs not necessary, and certainly not relished by a majority of those present. If Knight is selected in the next Otago team ho might make an endeavour now and again to use his undoubted punishing powers. , The fielding on both sides was caphal, there being little or nothing between the two sides. Dickinson dropped a very soft one m the slips, but beyond this Otago’s ground and lofty work was of a high standard. The visitors, too, gave an exhibition of sound work in this department, the catching and ground fielding leaving little to be desired. If I . wore asked to point out the disappointment on the English side m this department I should say Chapman Wo have been “fed up” with reports of his brilliancy in the field, and perhaps looked for too much. Undoubtedly his work was very sound, and bo has an accurate underhand return fo the wickets that quite fascinated the crowd but beyond this fine asset ho was very ordinary, and the work of several of the Other fieldsmen on either side was quite as good as, and in some instances better than. that of Chapman’s. Cast week I considered it my duty in ' ntO A° S A, ‘he game to criticise adersely Arthur Galland’s captaincy of the Ctago eleven against -Auckland. Whatever caused) the transformation. the Otago skipper displayed marked ability in handling his team against the Englishmen. It is

always much more pleasing to compliment than to condemn, and I believe I am voic jng lh© almost unanimous opinion that tho Ittago team was admirably controlled The bowling, of which ho had' much better sup. Pjy than in the Auckland match, was judiciously handled, and the field canahly remcdellcd as circumstances required. Add to this that GnJland had to fill the position of wicketkeeper in the absence of C. Chadwick and it will be conceded that he carried a heavy responsibility b.sf ver - v noticeable in the match just concluded was the tim e consumed over tbe tea adjournment. Sharp to time Messrs A' Hamel and W. Butler took their places at the wickets, but it was a con-sidera-blo time before the batsmen appeared. a in i? white coats wore very noticeable with the paddock to themselves. Perhaps some may be inclined to excuse visiors, but this is mistaken generosity, and they should bo expected to conform to the custom prevailing locally. .Such a delay would be strongly resented by the spectators in any of our provincial fixtures, but 1 am pleased to say that these happenmFf not occur in such contests. ■ °n F rl . d ay afternoon, prior to rain fallmg. Carisbrook again was a picture, and it is a thousand pities that the weeks of T°, rk should have been somewhat nullified by weather conditions Mr Alex Koss was again warmly complimented on the appearance of this lovely little spot, in which the Englishmen joined wholeneartedly, and openly pronounced it to be the best ground they had come across in

the dominion. Had the conditions been favourable there is no doubt at all but that the wicket would have stood a severe teat and won additional encomiums for the groundsman. An examination of the pitch at the termination of the Englishmen’s first innings was not reassuring, and it was quite evident that Otago would be up against it in a second strike. On Monday however, it rolled out satisfactorily. Country Week may again bo recorded as a failure except in one particular the match against past representatives of the province, in which such players as - Mex Downes. G. G. Austin. F. "Williams, H G. Siedeberg, A. H. Fisher, and others took part. In a fixture of this description there is no room for doubt but that the country players would learn more in a day’s play than they would in a month from the other matches arranged for them. The five players mentioned displayed capital form, and the visitors expressed delight at the interest taken in them and the display given by the old representatives. A. H. Fisher gave them a few kindly hints as to placing a field for various varieties of bowling, and G. G. Austin was unkind enough in registering a good century against them, thus entailing a lot of healthgiving exercise in leather-hunting. 11, G, Siedeberg also contributed a solid score against them, while Alex. Downes and A. H. Fisher delighted a host of old and young enthusiasts by the manner in which they trundled. Tnis match was a most successful one, but of the others little need be said, and perhaps Jho kindest criticism I can offer is to say little concerning them, and with this remark I will ring down the curtain.

SOLDIERS’ LAND VALUATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Could you inform the public whether Mr Thomas Carruthers still adheres to the position to which he was appointed on the Soldiers Land Valuation Committee, or whether he has had the grace to retire?— I am, etc., Elector. Middlemarch, January 15. fXhoro has been no intimation that Mr Carruthers has resigned.—Ed. O.D.T.]