CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18769, 24 January 1923, Page 6

CRICKET.

By Slip. IST HR PRO VINCI AI. FIXTURES. Otago v. Canterbury.—January' IS, 27, 29, at Cfirisbrook. Otagn v, Wellington.—February 17» 19» Carisbrook. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. At the conclusion of the third round, ■which was concluded on Saturday, the position of the four teams ■ competing in the Otago Cricket Association’s Senior Grade Championship is as follow: % . 3 >, a ■*£ K I >3 S GIUJIgB •< N Albion 3 I - 3 Umiediu 3 1 22 Carisbrook ... o 1 22 Carisbrook threw a point away on Saturday by continuing its nrst innings to a conclusion. Had trio innings been declared and an extra half hour given to dispose

of the Albion there is no doubt a threepoint win would have been registered by the Carisbrook men. Frank Binney was the stumbling block, for he got within six of his half century His display was sound and attractive. Dickinson got Shepherd before the New Zealand representative got into his stride. In tiie North End side father and son are playing—H. yorroth and W. Vorreth, The boy w r aa going nicely when he put his leg in front. His 22 was the result of patient batting. H. C. Alloo did not materially increase his score, Cook getting a leg-befote decision against him. I am informed that the decision was a doubtful one, but like the good sportsman that he is, H. C. did not cavil at the verdict, and straightway made tracks for the pavilion. Cook is a left-hand ronnd-the-wicket bowler, and any leg-before verdict from this class of bowling requires the most careful consideration of umpires, and if a negative answer were given 90 times out of 100 umpires would, 1 am certain, be on the right side.

This class of bowling has received very special attention from most of our umpires, but, notwithstanding this, decisions are far too frequently given in favour of bowlers who do not give the position a moment's consideration. I have encountered bowlers whose one desire is to got the batsman out, no matter by what means, so that they plight claim a wicket. This class of bowler is a distinct menace to the welfare of this great game, and it is the duty of umpires to see to it that he is effectively dealt with. These remarks are not intended for more experienced players, whose judgment and fairness are not questioned, but I certainly intend it to hit very hard those who persist in appealing for leg-before decisions that are absurd.

Little need be said regarding the Dun-edin-Grange match. Grange hold the whip hand throughout, and added three points to its championship total, having now a lead of five over Albion and six over Dunedin and Cadsbrook. On the form displayed, the North End eleven appears to have a mortgage over (he championship. Aow that we can fairly gauge the form of the four contestants in the championship competition, most danger will come from Curisbrook, and the next meeting between the two elevens should be interesting The state of the North Ground’ this season is deplorable, and complaints from players and spectators were loud and uncomplimentary as to the condition of the reserve. A wicket that did not lend itself to confident batting was in evidence, and shooters and breast-high bowling were of frequent occurrence, the result being a display of very colourless and lifeless batting. For this state of affairs I suppose the blame can fairly be laid on the club providing the pitch; but what of the remaining part of the area 7 the outfield was alarmingly rough, and the long grass, as usual, was strongly in evidence, particularly along the boundary, and this caused constant friction and contention between umpires and players as to what was and what was not a boundary hit. Mention of this condition of affairs on the North Ground has been made on more than one occasion already this season, and it seems almost hopeless to hope for favourable consideration being shown by the City Corporation Reserves Committee in regard to this much-discussed matter.

While on this subject it might, be as well to ventilate the urgent necessity for cricketers and other athletic bodies to take up the matter of securing the whole of Lake Logan as an athletic area for North Dunedin, Uhero is a small but energetic body of citizens fighting hard so that this fine area might ho secured for recreation purposes for the residents of the north end of the city, and who would be glad of all the assistance that the various clubs could place at their disposal. Let Lake Logan slip from our grasp, and the chance of the north end being adequately supplied with a suitable area for our athletic activities is gone for ever, for, look where one may, not another strip of land is in sight for this purpose. Will cricket, football, hockey, and contemporary bodies take this mutter up seriously, and assist in securing Lake Logan, and thus for all time do away with the everlasting cry of more recreation space for Dunedin North? The M.C.C. team has concluded its southern programme, and scored another win. Southland being the victims this time. The team is now on its way to Wellington, where a fixture is arranged to commence on Friday, January 26, and continuing over Saturday and Monday. The Wellington province are placing a very strong eleven in the field, and a most interesting struggle should eventuate.

Canterbury will be hero tips week, and the old-time contest between Otago and the sister province will take place on Carisfcrook, commencing on Friday afternoon and continuing until finality is reached. Otago and Canterbury have been fairly matched during the‘past few seasons, and a keen struggle is anticipated. There will be a lot of runs made in this match if favourable weather continues, for Carisbrook is improving every day under the energetic supervision of the groundsman; and will no doubt again win the approbation of all who make a point of attending the match. At the lime of writing the Otago team had not been selected, but I am not anticipating any drastic change, if any, from I hat which engaged (he Englishmen. ‘’Canterbury’s loss and Otago's gain” is the way a telegraph message refers to the transference of Mr R. de R. Worker from, Christchurch to Dunedin. Mr Worker is to take up a position in the Dunedin Boys’ High School, and his presence in the school should be of incalculable service to the boys in (heir athletic activities, nion* particularly in cricket, for Mr Worker has a fine record as a club and provincial batsman. He will play for Canterbury against us in the Plunket Shield match tliio week, and thereafter settle in Dunedin. He is n left-hand batsman, and in club cricket this season has scored 336 runs for an average of 37.33. Ho will lie a distinct acquisition to Otago. At the Umpires’ Association meeting Mr W. Butler (one of the umpires in the English match) complained that a member of the Otago team had made some objectionable remarks regarding one of his decisions. The meeting strongly resented such behaviour, and it was decided to write to the delinquent. To relieve umpires of a responsibility, it was decided that the scorers note the termination of an over by ringing a bell or sounding a gong in future matches played this season. It was tried at Carisbrook on Saturday, and I am given to understand worked quite satisfactorily. 1 do not like the idea myself, believing that it will on occasions lend to misunderstandings, but no harm will bo done by at least giving it a Messrs A. E. Hamel and 11. Wilson will control the Canterbury-Otago match; Messrs E. Williams and W. W. Mackersy the Wellington game. A correspondent forwards itie following: Dear “Slip,”—ln (ho early part of the present cricket season you invited in your column a few linos from enthusiasts of (he game relating to any performance of merit amongst the lower grades of the association. As an old player and devotee of the grand old game I was very pleased last Saturday when watching a Fourth Grade match on (he Oval to note the standard attained by the Grange mid Y.M.C.A. teams. Both reams were keen, and wore very evenly matched in the first innings. Rush for Grange and Churchill for Y.M.C.A. both bowling well. In going in to bat for the second time Y.M.C.A. gave a very tine and interesting exhibition of balling, totalling 185 runs for the innings. I should specially like to mention Gurr, who opened the second innings for the Y.M.C.A., and I think gave a display which is of a. very high order, lie remained at the wickets during the whole time the 185 runs were being'made, and was personally responsible for 85 of those runs. Earlier in the season 1 understand this boy made 74 ■ runs with another very tine display of batting. Paragraphs of local interest are always welcomed in this column.