CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20624, 24 January 1929, Page 4

CRICKET.

By Sup. ' THE PLUNKET SHIELD. Wellington’s Somewhat narrow defeat of Auckland - has brought the Plunket Shield competition, to an interesting position, and the -winner cannot be .decided until the. Otago-Canterbury match has been;,played.. The,positions of the teams are inow-ras-follow; W. D. L. Wellington 1 2 Auckland .. .. „ T 1 1 Otago .. .. „ .. .. —2 Canterbury ~ „ .... 1 l .seems- to be some doubt whether the .winner is to be decided on. averages oj performances, but it will be seen that if Otago beats Canterbury, Otago; and Wellington will be equal, and the compe‘titlon will have to be decided on aver-* ages*. If this -is the case, Auckland should win,fairly easily, but if Otago loses Welk?Bton wdl have the best record, and will, probably retain the shield. This again brings up the question whether the limiting of the matches to four days is '°5 y . sys , t f m ’ a “ must be adr nutted tha- Auckland was unlucky in S against Otago. It seems that the points system, which;has been repeatedly advocated, is much more suitable if the period of play is to be limited. OLD BOYS v. ALBION. fulfil 8 obviousl y with the determination to make some amends for its previous th Vm Wlpg ?- tha £ tbe Albion side took the .field against Old.Boys.on Saturday. “°A ar la ®t season s champions have not 1 IwL* m . atcb ; fc ut as the.result of their snowing in the game started last Saturseems more than likely that they have ,a ; >win T . If they do win as Old Boys are at present leading m competition points,'and Albion is at the -bottom of the list. To dismiss the Old Boys side ior the small total of 141 Fa“ifre| o^e 3 bat?m^ nCe,; ,' S _ The side was again given a good start, tale-and Leader being the batsmen. Gale nit-hard for jus runs, and, although he was-lucky on occasions, his was a good knock. Reader was again slow in making nia score, of 10, but his'iimings was. worth more than that-number to hie side. Dickinson was shaping well, . and had 16 : to’ ins credit when he -gave Duncan an easy catch. Moloney again failed to get into xiis stride, but the outlook‘seemed more 'hopeful for Old Boys when Alloo and. Harraway became associated. Harraway was lucky in, not being dismissed when he had scored only a single, but then he settled; down to play good cricket. Alloo was scoring quickly when H made a bad snot, - and was caught after scoring 19. Harraway went on to make a useful 24. But the remaining batsmen went quickly. M Kae, who was not out, was playing the bowling" confidently .when the innings closed. _ He appears to be worthy of a place higher up the list. M'Gavin, who has recently returned to ? , Albion Club, had never -previously bowled so successfully in senior games as he did on Saturday. Bowling into the wind, he kept a good length and made the ball swing. With good assistance from the field he ultimately secured the excellent, figures of five for 31. M'Haffie, al i. “•Palmerston North High School boy, who shows distinct promise in .all departments of the game, was given a turn with the ball. He :is a right-hand mediumpace bowler, whom the Albion side will probably find very useful. His average on’Saturday was two for 15. Allen bowled steadily for two wickets, and Duncan, who caine on towards the end of the innings, was closely watched. ■ • » The Brightest play of the day came When; Shepherd and Vorrath opened the Albion innings. Shepherd- was again at the top of his form, and he treated the spectators tea delightful display of forceful batting. He played Dickinson ■ with complete confidence, occasionally getting him away with well-timed cuts; and he drove all the bowling powerfully. Shepherd has made a complete return to form, artd at’present he'has an average of 77.5. Vorrath was twice missed in,the slips, but, nevertheless, he played a fine innings, especially in .view of the fact that he has ( had very little cricket this season. He stood well out of his crease to play Dickinson. At thc end of the day’s play the partnership was still unbroken, thc score being 108. ' Dickinson; made'plenty of’ pace-on the last wicket, but both batsmen scored freely- off his trundling. As a matter of .fact,, none of thc bowling was found in the least troublesome., CARISBROOK v. COLTS. . Having.first use,of the wicket against the Colts at Cariebrook on Saturday, the Carisbrook -players-proved themselves - a well-balanced side. The outstanding bajsman was Blunt, who, despite the fact that _he was “ favouring ” the finger he had -injured the ; previous Saturday, gave, a finished exhibition for 43, and was finally bowled with a beautiful hall which broke, across from the leg and shifted the off pin. Blunt featured a splendidlyeXecuted forcing ■ .drive, using, his wrists, and his all round play was quite a treat to watch. - D. Cameron did not shape too confidently,; but, nevertheless, the youthful Carisbrook man had 23 on the-board before he hit Eastman over the head of the-howler and was "caught by Henderson, who had been ; fielding at mid-off. Priest added to “he good impression formed of his batting on the previous Saturday. He kept the ball along the ground, -and his driving and square cutting were always well timed. Cameron and Priest, indeed, are going to be very valuable members of the Carisbrook team. Both Spackman (34) and Allan (57) gave exhilarating displays. Spackman entered quite into the spirit of the luck which came his way, and went at anything. Templeton was in not getting Spackman with his. high slow deliveries, and once or twice there could hardly have been the proverbial sheet of tissue paper between the ball and the wicket. Spackman finally ran himself out. -

Allan's baiting met with the keen apP^® c h*-tion of the spectators. He played the balls/that had to be played, but anything loose he hit,, and was. particularly severe on Templetonls deliveries. In his innings, of 57 were 10 fours and a six, so ■that there was not much room' for lesser scoring. hits. Off one of Templeton’s overs Allan scored three successive boitndanca, an off drive, a straight daisy cutter, and then a fine hit to the leg side. 'Allan has often indicated by his batting that he could score runs, and he fulfilled the promise on Saturday. It is to be hoped he goes on from success to success. Groves, who was making his first’appearance in senior pricket, was a little nervous at the start, but he soon settled down, and he played, a serviceable innings for ,23. . M'Leod should learn to keephis legs out of the wicket. He survived an appeal for Ibw off Sinclair, but the very next ball he got his legs in front again, and this time he paid the penalty. Clark, the ex-Wellington wicket-keeper, hit up ,14 runs, but was not very coraJortable when facing Henderson. Henderson, who is medium-pace iegbreak bowler, got the bowling average with four wickets for 63 runs. He kept a good length and always had the batsmen playing him, Eastman found that the Cansbrook men would not fall into his leg trap theory. an<J, then commenced to send them down a little faster and straighter. Cullen, a fast bowler, has a natural .break from leg. He bowled 16 overs and kept up his pace well, ending up with two wickets for 11. The ball which sent. Gourley back to the pavilion landed right .in the block hole—-a yorker—and Gourley was clean bowled.’■ Eastman persevered rather, too Jong with both Templeton and Sinclair, it only remains to be added that Eastmen set his side a fine example in the field. , Colts have lost one wicket (Templeton two) for 16 runs, or 253 runs behind the Carisbrook total.' . GRANGE v. DUNEDIN. Of Dunedin’s score of 172 against Grange, 150 runs were contributed by three batsmen, and it is a peculiar fact that this has been the case with Dunedin in most of its knocks this season. On this occasion Strang was again in form, apd his contribution was 58. Most of bis runs came from cover drives and square cuts, and they were made in good time. Monk, who, in scoring 52. was a little more subdued than usual, gave a chance at extra cover when he was in the twenties, but on the. whole he played a very steady knock. He hit one six at the expense of

M'Kay, lifting the ball over the leg boundary. M'Gregor came to light with another good score, making 40 with on and off-drives. None of. the other batsmen reached double figures, Sinclair playing the rock game for nine not out. The- bowlers had-the advantage of a bumpy' Wicket. Elmes again showing fine form. His “bag" on this occasion was five for 36. His length was consistent, and he relied mainly upon variety, swinging enough to trouble the batsmen. Knight also'bowled well, swinging .in from leg, but the others were not found difficult. Tomkinson and Knight opened the Grange innings, but the former had scored only five when Monk ended his stay with a good catch. Knight, who was missed when he had just passed double figures, went on to make a score of 43 not out. He' played, a. good knock! in view of' the state of the wicket, and he had to “ duck ’’ on more .than one occasion to escape rising balls from-Monk. Boyd, who was not out vvith-,24. .played very solidly.and put power behind his shots, ; • Monk took advantage of the wicket and made the ball bump, and M'Gregor maintained a good length. NOTES. Elhies ’has been easily the most successful bowl or in club cricket this season. So far ho. has taken 26 wickets at an average of 10.5. ’ ' Ruinour has it that Shepherd .will , not be available for the Canterbury match, which will begin on February 22, and it is also stated that M'Mullan has retired from big cricket. These reports cannot be definitely confirmed in the meantime, but it is to be sincerely hoped that they are not true. M'Mullan is-the only Otago batsman who has not played for another province' to make 1000 : runs in Plunket Shield cricket! He is unfortunate in that he" has' never been' selected to- represent New .Zealand. Many players less worthy have had that honour. M'Mullan has always played well against-overseas sides, and-that fact is-proof of his worth. This season he . has showed., fine form, and M'Mullan, in form, is a fine batsman. The Oval wicket is one of the pet aversions of senior cricketers. One cricketer who has very good reason to dislike it is Chadwick, who. was struck, on the mouth with the third hall which was sent down in the'Grange-Dunedin match on Saturday. Fortunately, he was able to resume after, a short delay. Complaint was made by members of the Cricket Association on. Monday that • clubs were becoming lax in the matter of sup* plying the newspapers with the results of junior matches. Tt is to be hoped that there .will be an immediate improvement in this, respect. -■ Arrangements are well in hand for the celebration of the Grange Club’s jubilee. The date has not be°u definitely fixed, but it has been decided to hold a gala day on the North Ground and a smoke concert in the evening. As the celebrations are to take place some time during March, the secretary (Mr W. Rowland) is- anxious to get into touch with former members as soon as possible. “How will yer git on if this match ain’t over when the football season starts?” This remark was fired at Mr F. C. Toone, the English manager, as he walked through the turnstiles on the M.C.C. ground on the fifth morning of the last test match (says a Sydney paper). Mr Toone was in the mood to laugh, as the financial success of the tour is assured. -Expenses ran into about £20,000, and that mark has been passed. A statement has been published that the famous English batsman, J. B. Hobbs, has played in his last test match in Australia. When the statement was brought under his notice, Mr Toone, mafiager of the English team, inereduously asked:. “How can it he?” If Hobbs should be selected for the team to contest the remaining matches in Adelaide ard Melbourne he will play. Another reason why it is unlikely that Hobbs will retire immediately is; that on the Melbourne ground, where the fifth test will be played; he has scored 971 runs in’bests. If he should be in form it is natural that the great English batsman would be ambitious to make his 1000 record at the Melbourne ground. W, E. Merritt, the Canterbury boy bowler, who astonished thc cricketing world .in 19,27. by taking 173 wickets on the New Zealand team’s'tour of Great Britain for 3341 runs, and scoring 080 runs at. an average of 23.18 with the bat, while still in his teens, is maintaining his early promise. So far this season he has captured ()1 wickets at a cost of 763 runs in senior club games in Christchurch. On two occasions he has captured eight wickets in an innings H Larwood secured six wickets for 62 runs in _ thc Brisbane test; four for 182 in that in Sydney, and four for 160 in the Melbourne -test. He takes a lengthy run at _ top pace, like a wing three-quarter going for a try at Rugby, and, naturally, has found the hard grounds rough on his feet (says an Australian writer). He was less impressive in the Melbourne test than in either of the others. The fourth test is to be played in Adelaide on February 1. lii tbe meantime the spell from serious bowling should see him thoroughly fit again. ' • Some of •us find it. difficult to follow the curious logic of W, H. Ponsford (says.an Australian writer). When this great batsman was picking an Australian team to meet England, ho would have none of Bradman. ■ Now, when Bradman has,- by sheer force of cricketing genius, won world-wide fame, Ponsford confesses that “his judgment was woefully astray.” . He explains that he. “did not think Bradman had enough experience in big cricket to qualify him for a place in the test team to'-represent Australia.” Ponsford does not explain where Bradman was to get his “ experience ” of inter-national-cricket while being excluded from test teams So long as a brilliant youngster is kept out of these matches, the same argument ” may be brought up against him every year—until he is past his primp. G. Duckworth, of Lancashire, England’s wicket-keeper in the cricket tests in Australia, says that be does not mind the barracking he has been getting in the Commonwealth. According to him, it is nothing to what happens when Lancashire plays Yorkshire. “That is a real dog fight,” he declared. It is evident thiit Duckworth is not affected much.by the barracking; otherwise he would be careful to give less provocation. The comments of leading -Australian writers on the tests make it clear that Duckworth does some unnecessary appealing, and has some provocative mannerisms behind the wickets. It is . a Iso clear, though, that he is a really fine stumper, who should be polished into brilliance as he gains in experience. He is in 'his twenty-eighth year. His father was also a wicket-keeper. Talking of the ages of the teams in the third test, there is just about a year s difference between * the . average ages of the English and Australian teams, that of the Australians being about 34j years and that of the Englishmen 334 years. Hobbs and Blackie are both 46’ and Bradman is the youngest, man -on cither side, being only 20; On the Australian side Ryder (39). Hendry (38). Gnmmett (36) and Blackie (46) were over the average. The two first-named are third and fourth respectively in the test hatting averages, while the other two did most of'the bowling execution. On f fe, E ?£l iah side Hobbs (46), Hendreu (39), White (37); and Geary. (35) are over the average, Hendren is second to Hammond in the batting averages, while White and Geary have shared the bowline .honours with Tate and Larwood. It will thus be seen that 35 is not too old for an international cricketer. The third test match, in Melbourne last week, lasted a IriHe longer than any other match on record. It went further into the seventh day than any otlmr The aggregate attendance for the seven days. 262,467, is a world’s record for cricket, and the gate of £22.561 18s is second only to that of- thc corresponding match in Melbourne four years ago. The figures are:— - ’

Attendance. Gate. Saturday . .. 63.247 £ s. 6.023 5 d. o Monday .. . .. 62,259 5,927 11 0 Tuesday .. 2,653 18 o Wednesday . .. 28,345 2,279 2 a Thursday . .. 33.662 2,675 19 o Friday .. . .. 25,393 1,907 12 o Saturday . .. 18,106 1,094 11 0 262,467 £22,561 18 0