CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 5

CRICKET.

THE EVILS OF BATTING. In a. critical article on the evils of halting a correspondent of The Times nuts T. C. Lowry among the except inns of the prominent cricketers who are responsible for the present unhappy slate of affairs. ‘‘Of the younger generation of batsmen who play regularly,” he writes, ‘'hardly any are capable of attacking good length howling in the correct manner, with the exception of G. R. Jackson, T. Ashton, and T. C Lowry.” Mr P. F. Warner, writing in the Morning Post, refers to W. TV. Hill-Wood's play. ‘‘Ever since his Eton days,” he says, “HillWood lias been an excellent cricketer, with a sound knowledge of the game, am! his (rip to Australia and New Zealand last winter has improved his batting immensely. In spite of an ugly position at the wicket, he is a very sound bat who has lately gained in punishing power. I shall expect to see him in the Gentlemen',-, XI at Lords next season, for, in addition to his batting, lie bowls a guileless-looking but sometimes effective slow ball, and his fielding ha i: improved very much.” CRICKET’? BRIGHT YEAR. Cricket, put on ils mettle as our supremo national game, has distanced every rival this year and made absolutely good (says a London paper). Popular interest, greater than for years past, showed itself- in crowded attendances which reached the peak in mid-August, when the championship was sett led -rather earlier than usual - • by Yorkshire’s long lead giving her the victory no matter how the county's closing matches might go. ft is a feather in Yorkshire’s cap that she has won more championship matches during this season than any county ever won before. Although, the weather has favoured allround pricket, bowling has held its own in the ascendancy of Tate and Rhodes—Tate playing in his first great season, Rhodes the grand veteran. It is on her bowling that

Yorkshire heads (he list. Of our first five howlers four are Vork-hireinen, ami every member of her team is Yorkshire-born. Popular interest none the less has centred (hiring’ this season in Tate and that fascinating howling of his, with its deceptive air of slowness until the ball strikes the ground and springs vividly into puzzling speed. 'Fate's record is very promising. He lias taken more wickets than any other Sussex howler has ever taken in any season. For England against the Rost on Monday he dismh sed live hatsmen for no runs, taking four of their wickets in one over. Such brilliant and confident work is delightful to watch. Our howlers are certainly doing their best for bright cricket.