CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18787, 14 February 1923, Page 4

CRICKET.

By Slip. Tho fourth round of tho Senior Grade matches was concluded on Saturday under conditions far from favourable, for the wickets Were soft from recent rains _und a strong wind prevailed. However, 'finality was reached, in the Grange-Albion and Caris-brook-Dunedin fixtures, in which Grange scored a two-point and Carisbrook a threepoint ''victory, the latter displacing Albion in second place and getting one point nearer to that of Grange. Tho north-ondtvra now have a lead of five points over Carisbrook. A glance at flic accompanying table will enable readers to see the position: Pluvial. Won. Lost. Tbi. (i range '-i * ~~ W Carisbrook ... 4 - ‘ [’ Albion 4 1 ~ lliuieilin ‘1 1 •* - Little or no interest was evinced in either contest, it being only a matter as to whether tho winners would secure a two threepoint 'win, for the previous Saturclas'3 ploy Jiud placed Grange and Carisbrook in tintissailiible positions. Thanks to H. G. Siedeberg and F. Binnoy,

Albion wore given a great start in a second strike, but the tail tailed to wag, and tho side was dismissed by Galland for a total that fell far short of what it should have been—being sufficient, however, to defeat Orange .in .its . effort to obtain a three-point victory. . . , Siedcbcrg’s re-entry into the game lias strengthened' Albion’s side considerably, end bis display on Saturday put to shame some of the younger seniors and many of those who arc at present representing Otago in [provincial fixtures. The was welcomed bv tho onlookers, in that it was tho work'of a batsman with e variety of strokes,

and who, in addition, knows when and hew to execute them. F. Binney also gave one of his periodical displays-crisp and entirely satisfying to those looking, on. Shepherd failed. .Galland getting through his defence. As usual, on a rough pilch, the Grange howler did most of the damage—all, in fact, for ho secured eight of tho nine wickets that_ fell, one being run out. Among his victims were Siedeberg, Shepherd, Bell, H. Vorrcth (all bowled), ami Binney (caught and bowled). . Dubedin made a sorry display against tiro

bowling arrav that Carisbrook brought into action," and with nine batsmen only f on the side, sustained a severe defeat. Two of Dunedin's colts—Cherry and Baker—did ■well, and both would do much better if a seasoned coach were at hand to encourage them with much-needed instruction. A feature of tho attack by Carisbrook was the success of young bowlers like Douglas, Harlaway, Dickinson. Arthur Alloo was also in tiie picture, and sent down a lot of good stuff that hiid the Dunedin batsmen in trouble all the time he was taking part an the attack.

The Dunedin captain (M'Kay) is away on holiday, and did not. take part in the Cans-brook-Duncdin match. 1 understand he will not be available for a week or two. ■ Hast, season the Dunedin man was quite a useful batsman, and frequently made respectable Bcorca.' This season ho boa boon a complete frost, and apparently unable to get going. Is the worry, as is so often the case with many, of directing lire side, too much for

him? . No further matches will bo played on the Caledonian Ground this year. There will be a sports meeting end a fire brigades’ demonstration held there- during the next week or two, and the ground will be considerably cut up. As my informant puts it, it will be in sorry plight after the brigades have galloped over it and deluged it with tons of water.

Alex. Downes had a unique experience on the North Ground on Saturday week. As everybody knows, the old Otago bowler has retired. ■ On the day in question, however, the Grangfe second eleven was hard pushed for men -to .complete its quota of eleven, and Grant (captain) requested Alex, to join up with them. This lie good-naturedly agreed to do, and, of course, took a hand in the attack. He had not been trundling long ■when ho forced one of the batsmen to play hack to a delivery, the result being that in making his stroke he knocked over the wicket? An appeal was made to the umpire at the bowler's cud, and Die response was “Not out.” Not being satisfied that the verdict was a just one, Downes appealed to the square-leg man, and again the verdict was "sot out.’ With this tlie- bowler was satisfied, and was about to resume bowling when the' square-leg umpire approached ins confrere and said: "Look here, you had better watcii Downes's delivery, and no-ball. him. If you do not do so, I will.” This was too much for the old veteran, and he immediately handed the ball to his captain and left the field. The Olago-Wcllington match will commence at Carisbrook on Saturday next. I have not scon a notification so far as to whop the game will commence, but I presume that it will be 11 o'clock, so that substantial progress can be made on the holiday and ill view of the fqct that Saturday wilt be the big attendance day. At the time of writing the weather prospects are not at all encouraging, and I do not think we can hope for anything belter than a slow and somewhat easy wicket and a rather slow outfield, ..even though weather conditions should imorove. , Tlie Otago Eleven is a very similar combination to that which met-Auckland, tlie M.C.C.' team/ and Canterbury, in all three of which v.-c were defeated. R. C. Torrance will replace' D M'Deth (who has again settled in Christchurch), and K. Cherry will take the place of Casey. Cherry, 1 am told, has a reputation as a wicketkeeper, and perhaps he is chosen for this position to release Gotland, -so that the latter can strengthen the fielding and take a hand! as it change howler. If this is not the case, then Cherry, on this, year’s batting performances, is certainly not entitled to", his’place in an Otago eleven - The Grange lad who is first emergency batsman, is, on recent performances, iar in advance of Cherry, and (unless Cherrv has been chosen as wicketkeeper) should have been selected in preference to the Dunedin man Otherwise, the selection is the best available . . The M.C.C. team concludes its dominion programme at Auckland against a provincial eleven of that province, commencing on Saturday next, and continuing over Monday and Tuesday. The-first match against Auckland had to be abandoned owing to weather conditions, on which occasion the M.C.C. were in a, Somewhat stronger position than the Aucklanders. The northern province can, however, place a strong side in the field, and an interesting contest should take place. The M.C.C. will be right out to win so as to retain its unbeaten record. Those elusive centuries appear difficult of attainment by local batsmen, but I am pleased to observe that one was captured by a Dunedin Second Grade player on Saturday. His name is Brown (formerly a member of the Dunedin senior team), and the total reached was 105 (not out). I am keeping a list of these century-makers, and up to the present it is a very select one. I would like to add many more before the aeiu son ends. Perhaps three or four of the Otago reps, will oblige in the forthcoming contest against Wellington. They would, indeed, be welcomed. Mr J. M'Phee, who is well and favourably known for the interest he takes in connection with school cricket, ami who was the means of bringing tho Waltham School boys from Christchurch to- try conclusions with -the George Street School boys (in which institution Mr M'Phee is a master), writes interestingly as follows :

Someone should got to work uiul endeavour to kill tlie Infliffcfeonoe, and, il it lie deemed advisable, go i'll far new malingers lock, stock, and barrel, so that the consummation desired might be attained.

Tour note on t-he crieket match Waltham v. George Street, offers ground for further comment. The defeat of the. latter team to heavily by the* visitors was not, a much mom dilatations cue than the defeat of Otago by the (.'antexhury team, mid the, Otago team has less excuse for its defeat than the Otago schoolboys. The annual match 'Canterbury v. Otago is always expected and can bo prepared for but ttie Otago boys did not know there whs a mutch to be played until 10 days beforeOn my return from Christchurch I had to get together what t*>ys I could to make a team. Some! of the boy’s came in from the country two flay* before, the match and non- of them had had any crieket practice as a -earn for over seven week's. More-over, during the first half of the present season they had played only three matches, a circumstance duo to wretched weather and tho defaults of opponents. The. win by the Christ,church team was none the leas creditable in spite of tho above facts. The 00-orlination of the field placing with the different phase* of the howling hy a series of good bowlers put to shame any bundling of adult teams by Dunedin captains. hath efficiency in field tactics argues rightly, as you said, good coaching, hut it also argues the other advantages oi good grounds and plenty of field practice In matches. In Christehurch the schoolboys play two matches a week, one a school's match ami the other on RaturdavV ' under the control of tho Christchurch Schools’ Dengue Council. That means that the Chri.-lchureh schools individually played ot, least IB to 20 matches in tho early part of the season and possibly more. Tn all these matches the Christchurch hoys have the benefit of the advice and control of seasoned cricketers. That is something for Dunedin to live up to, and I venture to prophesy that in less than three years crieket in Christchurch will he “miles ahead”, of cricket in Dunedin, when Christchurch will swarm with youngsters like Blimt. To improve cricket in Xhmedin and to get better gates at our big matches the cricket sense and spirit must, he better cultivated, and to that end tor our schoolboys we must havcrfl) Better grounds. (2) a professional coach, who knows the value of schoolboy cricket, and (3) more sympathy and active interest, hy older playets "and those interested in our hoys and the good ofrt 'game. Mr .7. j. Clark and Mr J. Dope do a lot for the hoys in a quiet way, but what is wanted is an organised body of men who have at heart tho interest* -t>f the boys and the future of the came in Dunedin and even throughout Otago. * la firiff plaoa what the boys require ia

good playing grounds. Most of the grounds outside of Carishrook and the Caledonian are positively dangerous to [day upon. On those two grounds they are not at liberty to practise.