CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 4

CRICKET

By Slip

, FIXTURES November 19 lo 23—New Zealand v New South Wales. November 25 to 27. —Country week. December 25 to 29. —Olago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. December 27 and 28. —Otago v. North Otago, at Dunedin. January 1 to s.—Otago v. Auckland. at Auckland. February 4 to B.—Olago v. Wellington, at Dunedin. BOWLERS ON TOP Though the conditions again offered opportunities to the batsmen in the senior competition on Saturday, they generally failed to produce early lorm and the bowlers were, in most games, on top, obtaining figures that were more encouraging than in the previous matches. The wickets were, if anything, a little more lively than on the preceding Saturdays., and a northerly breeze gave some assistance to those bowlers who can normally make the ball swing. The game between Old Boys and Grange attracted the usual amount ol interest. These teams year after /car have had close games, with the honours, perhaps, a little in Old Boys favour. The 'result has been the development of a keen rivalry which brings out the fighting qualities in the teams. At one stage on Saturday the indications were all in favour of a win for Old Boys, for six of the strong Grange team were out for less than. 100 runs. Once again a dropped catch altered the trend of the play. Dickinson had shaken the confidence of the Grange men by disposing of Knight and Knowles with successive balls, and after the sixth wicket had fallen, he came on again. Dey, who had barely started his innings snicked one of the fast bowler's deliveries into the slips, but an easy chance was lost. This gave the Grange men the opportunity to stage a fine recovery, and Dey went on to make an attractive half-century that may vet prove to be a match-winning effort. Generally speaking, in this game the bowlers with the most pace were the most successful. Dickinson, who has

Tl.a left-arm bowler, who will play for New South Wales against New Zealand to-morsow.

considerably shortened his run, would, with luck, have obtained better figures, but the most notable performance for Old Boys was that of Colvin, the young fast bowler, In the previous match when Talbot made his hurricane attack on the Old Boys’ bowling 35 runs were hit off only three overs from Colvin, but he started on the right foot against Grange, and obtained th fine average of five for 39, taking elm wickets of such good men as Toomey, Elmes, Chettleburgh, and Galiand. Later, Lemin bowled at the top of his form for Grange to nullify the effects of a good start by Old Boys. He took three for 15, and should have had a fourth wicket, an easv chance by Mills being missed. , For the first time this season Silvei returned to his normal effectiveness by taking six Carisbrook A wickets for 69. As the side was out for 147. Albion had a good chance of obtaining a first-innings lead, but again its batting was weak, and the whole side was out for 64, only Mitchell making anything like a brave showing. Albion has not recovered from the loss of such players as Shepherd, Smith, Martin, Brookes, and Everson. The team was still further weakened on Saturday by the absence of Duncan. The University-Kaikorai game was productive of little better scoring, the only notable efforts being those of Howden, who, in making 64, enjoyed some of the luck that often comes to batsmen in form, and Talbot, who mad-> an extremely valuable 50. An unexpected success was that ol Cherry, who look five University wickets for 58. A shrewd knowledge of the game enabled him to tempt the batsmen into errors with his slow de liveries. Begg was given a heavier task than any other University bowler, and his efforts were rewarded with the fine average of five for 47. Begg more than any other young bowler in the cornpetition puts thought into his work, and ho obtained more than one wicket by a clever variation of pace. 'The best score ot the day was McMullan's 69 for Carisbrook B, but no effort was more impressive than that of Elmos, who made 47 at a critical stage for Grange.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM The defeat of the New Zealanders by Victoria cannot be regarded as surprising. despite the fact that the touring side established a useful first innings lead. In recent years Victoria has been the most consistently successful State in the Commonwealth, ft has a great cricket tradition behind it. and has a huge field on which it can draw. Its batsmen have always been of a type ‘favouring solid rather than spectacular ■batting, and the side which met the New Zealanders was well qualified to *• imake the uphill fight that was required 'of it. , Nevertheless, there were features of The game which were greatly to the 'credit of our men. who must have done a a great deal to create a favourable Impression of our cricket. New Zealand Chas nothing to lose by adhering to a 'sporting type of gamp. and. since H is ’impossible under conditions in Inis 'country to develop the degree ‘fi .-.kill ‘that can be acquired in Australian or 'English county cricket, the alternant ive is to make the game as enjoyable 'as possible. The batting of Vivian .Wallace, and Hadlee in the Victorian ‘game must have delighted the spectators who last season saw so much dour splay in the test matches. More •mex"pcctcd. however, was the success of Parsloc. whose five foi*47 was mainly •responsible for the dismissal "I >he ‘Victorians in their first innings mi ,141. A fine opening bowler who responds well to early success, he fully •justified the selectors’ action in sending •him to Australia. His fine perform- '■ ’ance for Wellington against Otago at 'Carisbrook two seasons ago when he •took four for 37 and seven for bb vill 'he remembered. He took 21 wickets m Tfiunket Shield matches that season at •an average cost of only 13.19 runs. 1 The most surprising feature of the >game, however, was the manner in ■Which the batsmen dealt with Fleet-'wood-Smith/ who caused the Enghsh■msn so much trouble last season. His ''figures—two for 90 and. none for open up the question whether ho is ‘bowling at his best. The manner m ’which the New Zealanders attacked •.’him supports the recent Australian ’''criticism that tic is inaccurate this Reason. The fault is said to be that *he is trying to bowl too fast. 1 Hassetfs century was the effort that ended all chances of a win for New Zealand. He is one of Australia s out-

standing batsmen at the moment, and is certainly the greatest stylist among the younger men. If the matches against the New Zealanders are to be regarded as a trial for these young players, Hassett should be almost assured of a trip to England. The Now Zealanders will begin a match against New South Wales tomorrow. NOTES An interlude in the match between Grange and Uid Boys, which involved the recall of a batsman who had been given out. raised some interesting points. Kush, a Grange batsman, hit a bail which probably would have reached the boundary had it been allowed to follow its course. But it was fielded by a girl playing in a neighbouring match, and she assisted « fieldsman by throwing the ball to him. He returned it smartly, the wicket was broken as Rush was attempting a third run. and, in response to an ap peal. Rush was given out. The unfairness of a dismissal brought about in Ihese circumstances was pointed out to the umpire, and he allowed Rush to be recalled after tie had returned to the pavilion. Whereas two runs had .previously been allowed, three were then recorded on the score sheet. Dev, Rush's partner, now had to face the bowling, and the climax of the incident came when he was caught off the very next ball. The rules of the game provide that an obstruction placed in front of a boundary is not itself a boundary unless there has been a prior agreement to this effect, but the rules do not appear to have contemplated any such incident as inter fercnce by a person outside the game This was’ a case in which an outside person actually assisted in the return of the ball to the wicket. Had she not done so the probabilities are that the ball would have gone to the boundary, and Dey would not have been facing the ball that brought about his dismissal.

In andther case an appeal to an umpire to allow a batsman to return was not uphold. While Albion was batting, an umpire in the Albion-Carisbrook A match lost count of the number of balls in an over and called to the scorers, who advised him that six had been bowled. Just as the bowler was about to bowl the next ball a scorer, finding that a mistake had been made, called “ seven balls.” The ball struck the batsman’s pads, and an appeal for Ibw was upheld. Dunning, the Carisbrook captain, considering that the batsman had been unsettled by the scorer’s call, asked that the Albion man should be allowed to remain. The umpire, however, did not agree that there was any reason for the batsman to be upset, and declined to alter his decision. H. S. Cutler, one of the best batsmen in the strong Manawatu team last season, is now playing in the Western Districts competition in Southland. On his first appearance he made 118 in 58 minutes. With three dismissals on Saturday. Mills, the Otago wicket-keeper, has brought his total of victims for the season up to 10. Another former Otago representative who is showing outstanding form this season is Zimmermann, who in North Otago cricket on Saturday scored 212. There appears to be only one candidate in Australia at the present time who could effectively carry out the duties of left-arm spin bowler in the team for England (writes O. Wendell Bill). He is the young New South Wales left-hander E. S. White. Tall and wiry, White brings the ball down from a good height, and has sufficient pace and control of length to do very well in England. He never has been, and probably never will be, a great bowler on our “ shirt-front ” wickets: nevertheless, he impresses me greatly with his possibilities as a most useful all-rounder overseas. Many times last season I saw him bowl for very long periods at a stretch, and at all times he maintained his accuracy and control. He did not turn the ball very much—that was not to be expected—but I could visualise what a menace he would have been to his opponents had rain been allowed to,, penetrate the “covers” and turn the “flintlike surfaces into sodden wickets. Until recently White’s bowling suffered from too much “ similarity of character,” but now he has cultivated variety, and his deliveries are judiciously mixed, to keep the batsmen at all times on the qui vive. His slow ball is splendidly disguised, and his flighting Al. Possessing a nice, easy, effortless run to the wicket. White is full of vitality and enthusiasm —the type we need for an exacting English tour. He is also a fine forcing batsman. H. R. Pollock, who is something of a bird fancier, and, of course, can play more than a fair game of Rugby, is a decidedly better-than -average cricketer. Pollock plays in the Hutt Valley Association's A Grade competition, and is generally regarded as being the association’s best all-rounder. Last Saturday he knocked up 106 retired for Gear United against Meadows. This was his fifth century. No other player has scored more than two in A Grade games during the history of the association (says the Sports Post). Pollock may not be a polished bat, but he gets the runs, He does most of his work in front of the wicket. For the first time for many years the Auckland representative team this season will bo chosen by a sole selector. and the Management Committee has appointed Mr H. Duncan to the position. Mr Duncan should be admirably suited to the seleclorship. as he has had a wide experience as a player, and acted as a co-selector for some seasons. Better known at present as a Parnell player and former captain, Mr Duncan represented Olago in Plunket Shield cricket in 1921, He also represented Olago at hockey. He has been a most enthusiastic worker on the administrative side of the game, and is al present a member of the Management Committee. He was also a prime mover in the formation of the Umpires’ Association. BOYS’ ASSOCIATION The following are the positions of the teams in the Boys’ Association competitions;—

FOURTH GRADE P. W. L. D. Pis. Kings A . . . . 2 2 — — G C.B.H.S , , 2 1 1 — 3 Kaikorai . . 2' 1 1 — 3 O.B.H.S. HI 2 — 2 — FIFTH O.B.H.S, VI GRADE A . , 2 2 _ 5 Carisbrook . . 2 1 — 1 4 C.B.H.S . . 1 1 — 3 Kings B O.B.H.S. VII . . . 2 — — 1 1 . . 1 — 1 — — Morningtnn , . 2 — 2 FIFTH O.B.H.S. IV GRADE B , . 1 1 — 3 McGlashan .. 1 1 — — 3 South End .. 1 1 — — 3 Kings C .. 1 — 1 — Kings D .. .. 1 — 1 — N.E.V. 1 — 1 — SIXTH Kings E GRADE A . . 2 2 — 4 Dunedin .. . . *2 1 1 * 3 OB.H.S X . . 1 1 — — 2 Grange . . 2 I 1 — 2 C.B.H.S . . • • 1 — 1 — O.B.H S XI . . 2 — 2 SIXTH O.B.H.S XHI GRADE B o 2 — 5 MeGlashan .. 2 2 — — 4 O.B.H.S. XII .. I 1 — — 2 O.B.H.S. V .. 2 1 i — 2 Kings F . . 2 I 1 Kings G . . 1 — C.B.H.S 2 — 2 — Kaikorai • ■ . . 2 — 2 —