CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 4

CRICKET

By Slip

THE SENIOR GAMES The results of the first round of senior cricket matches indicated that last season's form may not be a reliable guide in a consideration of trie chances of the teams in this season's contest. The defeat of Carisbrook A, last season's champions, by Dunedin provided an example of the reversals in form that take place from year to year. That Carisbrook had to follow on was an indication of Dunedin's imE roved form in bowling as well as in atting. '

Carisbrook's batting, on the other hand, was not up to expectations, but Fraser, with 70 and 34. achieved an excellent double. It was clear from his play last season that Carisbrook had in him an accomplished batsman in the making. He has nil the shots, and can execute thenr with power, and there is no reason why he should not forge ahead, rapidly from this stage. Of all the .'younger batsmen. Fraser looks the most likely to make a representative player'. As his fielding is first rate,, there should be nothing to prevent his early entry into big cricket. .'■.": Cox was another Carisbrook man who quickly. struck form. The lefthander was remarkably consistent as a member of the Carisbrook B team last season, and, if he can retain his form in ths A side, his presence will be some compensation for the loss of such good batsmen as Kerf and Cavanagh Cox is a Southlahder who was slow to adapt himself to local conditions, but another Southlander, A. T. Anderson, has immediately shown his worth. Playing his first knock for Kaikorai on Saturday; against Grange, he scored 62 in workmanlike style, While he was not hurried in his methods, two-thirds of his runs came from boundary shots. On Saturday's form he should score a lot of runs. Cherry and M'Gregor were other Kaikorai men who showed that they have retained last season's form, and their efforts in the second innings were largely responsible for staving off the innings defeat, which was avoided by only two wickets.

Old Bbj/'g- started the season well by inflicting an outright defeat on Albion, whose batting was again disappointing. Ditchfield, whose return to his best form would be worth a great deal to Albion, and Beckingham, the former North Otago left-hander, both gave useful displays to get into the thirties, but Old Boys had little difficulty in winning by nine wickets. Old Boys' bowling resources are of a >very useful type, and it will be a good side that makes a large score against them. "With practice and due attention to fielding, the side may be. hard to beat. The scoring in the University-Caris-brook B game was much higher than on the first day,, buf the bad state of the wicket'.again shook the confidence of the . players. University had a chance of forcing an innings win, but this result; was avoided largely by reason of a fighting display by McMullan, who also distinguished himself by taking a brilliant catch at point to dispose of Uttley; ANOTHER CHAMPION Australia ■ seems to have discovered another cricket genius in the New South Wales man VVE. Jackson, who is not yet 21. His performances are considered to';be the more gratifying •because he is an all-rounder—a type of "player which is in short supply at present. "I shall be very disappointed." writes O. Wendell Bill, "if he does not develop into the greatest allrounder we have produced since Stan McCabe. "Here is a young-player who possesses the high skill and natural genius found only in champions. His displays in this season's grade matches one might expect from such masters as Bradman. McCabe, and O'Reilly at Ihe peak of. their form. To secure 10 wickets in a single innings in any sort of cricket and under any conditions is a rare performance, but Jackson accomplished this feat against a first class batting side on a wicket entirely in its favour. Other bowlers of some repute could make no impression, but Jackson, with clever variations of pace, flight, apd spin, forced the batsmen into errors, taking the 10 wickets - for 78 runs. "Great,, however, as was this performance, 1 1, [would place his effort in the following match on a still higher plane, as by securing 165 runs in 133 minutes he hot only rescued his tea'lm from a precarious position (four wickets having fallen for 45 runs), but gave a batting exhibition of a class rarely seen in years. "The ball'flowed from his hot to the boundary as if controlled by some unseen force so elegant and graceful were his wristwork and timing. while his poise and execution of stroke reminded one greatly of his namesake, the late Archie Jackson. It was a rare gem of an inning, and convinced me that here, indeed, was a ereat player, who, after several years of uncertainty, had definitely arrived. "Properly nursed, as he would be under Don Bradman. Jackson will prove to be one of our greatest allrounders and one whom Australia will . feel well proud to have represent her on the cricket field, both at home and abroad." A NEW CRICKET BAT In recent years there have Deen many innovations introduced in the making of a cricket bat. This season (states a writer in the Sydney Mail) the Australian cricketer will have ah opportunity of trying a new rubber processed bat which has been satisfactorily tested by leading players. :'; In the ordinary making of a cricket blade, the willow logs are split first into billets and then stacked to season. During this process the sap evaporates, leaving myriads of small empty cel|s. Usually, considerable attention in the way of oiling has to be given to the willow to fill the cells and prevent them from crushing. In the new rubber processing method, the liquid rubber is forced into the willow, fining the cells and providing a cushion to absorb the shock of the impact of the cricket ball. The appearance ol the new bat is in no way different from other makes, as the rubber is entirely invisible but it is claimed that the life of the bat i is lengthened three or four times, for I the reason that the cells of the wood do not crush on contact with the ball, which goes off very smoothly, the batsman making his strokes free from jar.* No oiling or facing is necessary, so that the bat may be taken straight from the factory to the cricket field.

A GREAT ENTHUSIAST It is reported that, although Sir Julien Cahn’s team will not come to New Zealand this season, as was expected, he is likely to bring a side over next season. There seems to be no prospect of an early visit from an Australian team, but Sir Julien Cahn’s men would prove a strong attraction. A great deal may depend upon the financial arrangements for the tour, but if these can be put On a satisfactory basis, the visit will be well worth while. Sir Julien Cahn is one of England’s .greatest cricket enthusiasts. A man of Iwide business interests, he has probably put more money into the game than any other person who has ever been connected with it. He possesses ■at Nottingham a private ground which iFred Root describes as the best he has seen. He says that in every respect it is as good as it could be. and in the pavilion is a “museum” containing hundreds of bats, each with a history. Sir Julien runs ja team which contains famous internationals from all .parts of the world. Root, in his book, “A Cricket Pro.’s Lot,” says that the team plays seven days a week throughout the season, and in the English winter months makes tours abroad, Sir Julien’s whole mission in life seems to be to gather cricketers around him and give them a good time. John Gunn is his umpire and coach, and he has Burrows, an old Worcestershire fast bowler, as scorer. He has given the Nottinghamshire Club a winter practice shed as well as other ground improvements, and is also a handsome subscriber to the funds of the Leices tershire Club. C. S. Dempster, now captain of Leicestershire, and R. C. Blunt play for his team, and would be extremely welcome on a tour of New Zealand. “ Sir Julien’s mascot, a beautifullymade fox with a movable tail, travels always with the team,’’ Root says. “When the game goes against his eleven its tail drops, but seldom is it at any other angle than vertical,” NOTES The points gained by the teams in the first round of senior games were as follows: —Old Boys 8, Grange 5, University 5, Dunedin 5. Carisbrook A 1, Kaikorai 1, Carisbrook B 1, Albion 0. The next round of senior matches will be as follows: —Grange v. Dunedin, University v. Albion. Carisbrook A v.’ Carisbrook B, Old Boys y. Kaikorai. " •’ ' Though some of Australia’s best began the season badly, they' were quick to recover form. Don Bradman, in making 116 not out. scored the first century for the season in Adelaide, and A. Ward, in addition to doing the “ hat trick.” took seven wickets for 39 runs. Darling backed him up with three for 43. Scaife made 66 for Adelaide against Don Bradman’s team, and Grimmett took six for 105. Another interstate man in M. G. Waite made 52 for Glenelg. In Sydney W. A. Oldfield, as an opening batsmah, made 72 like an artist for Gordon. O’Reilly madem duck, but took six' wickets, for 29. In Brisbane Brown made 78 not'out.

1 ,It says a great deal for Dunning's •enthusiasm for the'game that he will :take the field on Saturday for Caris!brook A, less than a week after his Iretarn from the English tour. His gresencev/ill give solidity to the team, ut he will be welcomed particularly ; because of the admiration with which his performances for New Zealand ;were generally regarded. Although an X-ray examination of S J. McCabe's hand, which was injured during the First Grade match at Sydney, revealed a fracture of a top joint of his bowling hand, the international cricketer is confident that he will be able to play in the first Sheffield Shield game in Brisbane early next month In McCabe's opinion, it will be only a week or two before he will be playing competitive cricket again. McCabe received the injury when trying to eaten the Cumberland left-hander R. Rowe. off his own bowling. It was a powerful drive which, although stopped to a great degree by McCabe, continued on to the boundary. McCabe continued the over, but then left the field, ".nd did not return. Fielding points awarded for the matches concluded on Saturday were as follows:—Grange 6, Kaikorai 4; Uni- • versity 5, Carisbrook B 3; Old Boys 5, Albion 3; Dunedin 3, Carisbrook A 3.