CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 12

CRICKET.

■ TOUR OF ENGLAND. NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S PROSPECTS. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND. February 11. If the first class English counties put their strongest elevens in the field the New Zealand team will not have a, ghost of a chance against them, is tha opinion held by Mr A. Mullingar, of Auckland, who has a wide knowledge of English cricket. About .15 years ago Mr Mullinger was a member of the Surrey Club for five years and for three years acted as the leading cricket writer for the Morning Leader, which at that time was recognised as London’s leading sporting paper. “The New Zealanders will find conditions very different at Home,” ho said to-day. ‘‘The nature of the English atmosphere is very different and they will have to adapt themselves to this. They will also find the English wickets much slower on account of so much rain. The. English grounds, however, are well drained, and the New Zealanders will find the wickets much more perfect than they are in the Dominion. ‘T don’t think they will have chance of beating such counties as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey or Sussex, but I consider they have a very good chance against the other first class counties. I , would certainly make Blunt and Mills the opening pair if I were captain. Mills is not a, robust young fellow but he has an ideal temperament and there is no humbug or nonsense about him. I would send Page in first wicket down and make Dacro the next batsman to go in. Dacre has been the victim this season of his zeal for backing up and has lost his wicket more than once in shield games through the fault of the man at the other end. It is a treat to watch Dacre and Montcith, the two North Shore men, running between the wickets. Those two are the best judges of a run in New' Zealand to-day.” He. was very pleased with Lowry’s batting. “Alcott is a very good bowler,” he declared, “but, I consider lie would be much more effective if he bowled round the wicket.” MelbournFteam’s tour. MATCH AGAINST HAWKE’S BAY. (Per United Press Association.) NAPIER, February 11. The Melbourne cricketers opened the third match of their tour against Hawke’s Bay here to-day in beautiful weather. Ransford captained the visiting side, W. W. Armstrong standing down. The local side had first use of the wickets, and made 247. When play ceased for the day the visitors had lost one wicket for 102 runs. The wicket was in perfect order, and favoured the batting side, although it was very much like the visitors’ own Australian wickets. Worker and White opened the Bay’s account, but the latter snicked one into Onyon’s hands off Armstrong when throe had been scored. Elliott, followed and made the pace fast. He collected 35 in short order, his total ineluding seven 4’s. Lowry became associated with Worker, and the two kept things going merrily. The placing of the field was excellent, and few opportunities were allowed the batsmen. When 30 Worker lifted Wood, and the catch was held by Armstrong. Reancy batted will until Lowry’s dismissal. When the latter had 27 on he snicked up one of Rogerson’s deliveries, which Johnson held. The brightest display of the day was seen when M. O’Brien went to the wickets. The batsmen was exceedingly youthful, but played a remarkable innings for his ago. Ease and precision characterised his play, which was marred by only one chance, an exceptionally slender one. His total included 10 4’s. Ho fell a victim to one from Ebling, which he lifted to Rogerson. Both Paterson and Davis gave bright displays for 17 each. The visitors’ fielding was patchy, the most conspicuous man being Wood, who showed exceptional keenness at cover point. Wood also secured the bowling average with three wickets for two runs. Ebling. who had trundled so well in Auckland, came out with one for 54. Sandford and Onyons opened Melbourne s innings with an hour and a-half to play. Both settled down quickly, and runs came steadily. The partnership was severed when Onyons had scored 19, the batsman being dismissed with a brilliant catch by Elliott off Bcnth. The veterafi Jolmsono joined Sandford, and, with him, played out time. Sandford had £6 on as the result of steady though not faultless play, and Johnstone 23. Scores: — HAWKE’S BAY. First Innings. Worker, cT. Armstrong, b Wood .. 30 White, c Onyons, b T. Armstrong .. 3 Elliott, c Eheling, b Wood 35 Lowry, c Johnstone, b Rogerson .. 27 Rcanoy, b Johnstone ]5 C. Beuth, c Jewell, b Rogerson .... 19 M. O’Brien, c Rogerson. b Ebcling . . 68 Paterson, c and b Johnstone .. .. 17 Davis, - c Dakin, b I'. Armstrong, ~ 17 Gifford, e Campbell, b Wood 11/ Mitchell, not out 0 Extras 5 Total 247 Bowling Analysis.—Ebeling, one for 53; T. Armstrong, two for 85; Wood, three for 21; Johnstone, two for 33; Rogerson, two for 33; Onyons, none for 7; Dakin, none for 10. MELBOURNE. First Innings. Onyons, c Elliott, b Beuth 19 Saudford, not out 50 Johnstone, not out '23 Extras 4 Total for one wicket .. .. 102 OTAGO v. MELBOURNE. The following players have been chosen, in view of the Melbourne match, to attend practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week: —Duncan, Blair, Shepherd, Vorrath (Albion), Cherry, Torrance (Dunedin), Blunt, Dickinson, Douglas, Green (C’arisbrook), Knight, Alloo, M‘Mullan, Elmos (Grange), H. G. Alloo (Owaka), C. Zimmerman (Oamarn). and Gonrley,. Giles, Allen, Cherry, Holden, Simmers, Rush, Cavanngh.