CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 4

CRICKET

By Slip FIXTURES: February 3,4, 6, 7.—Wellington v. Auckland, at Auckland. February 3,4, 6'. 7.—Canterbury v. Otago. at Dunedin. CORRESPONDENCE Dear " Slip'"— I wish to congratulate you on your very pointed remarks regarding wicket-keeping and the necessity of choosing the best man available for the position, which, in the opinion of players and spectators alike, has been perfectly obvious over the last two years. It does not seem to be realised by the seltctors, of course, who, in the writer's opinion, have put up the silliest excuses imaginable for the non-inclusion in the team of the best 'keeper in Dunedin. Now, Sir, I do not wish to be misunderstood. In my opinion Mills should be one of the first batsmen chosen, but as a 'keeper he is far too expensive. True, he scored 121 runs for Otago, but he also scored roughly 200. runs for Auckland—truly a remarkable performance for one man to do, and one that players and spectators alike do not wish to see repeated. It is a common axiom in cricket that a run saved is a run gained. Hoping the selectors will do the right thing for the' next shield game.—l am., etc.. Spectator. THE PLUNKET SHIELD Although Otago is quite out of the running as far as winning any honours in this season's Plunket Shield series is concerned, the competition is at present in a most interesting position and promises to produce a very close finish. The fate of the shield depends on the outcome of the last two matches, between Auckland and Wellington, al Auckland, and Canterbury and Otago, at Dunedin. Both matches begin on February 3. Otago's collapse and Auckland's sensational win on Carisbrook last week comprises news that would

not be welcomed in Christchurch, since the.result was a great difference to Canterbury's prospects of regaining the shield. The issue is still between Auckland and Canterbury, with Wellington still in the running and Otago merely an " also ran." An eight-point win against Auckland' would put Wellington at the head of the list, provided Otago could beat Canterbury, or hold it to a first innings win. With a first innings win against Canterbury and an outright win against Otago, Auckland leads the field with 12 points. It might be interesting to set out the system of -scoring points in the Plunket Shield series:—Outright win, 8 points; outright loss, 0; win on first innings, 4'; loss on first innings, 2; tie on match, 4 each; no result after six hours' play, 4 each. In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the shield is awarded on averages. Each province, has played two matches this season; and the results have been as follows: Auckland, 259 and 166 for three wickets, beat Canterbury, 254 and 292, by 5 runs on the first innings. Auckland, 373 and 203 for three wickets, beat Otago. 427 and 148. bv seven wickets. Wellington, 409, beat Otago, 118 and 161. by an innings and 130 runs. Canterbury. 349 and 308. beat Wellington, 209 and 212, by 236 runs. These results make the positions of the teams as follows: Outright Wins Losses Outright Wins Ist ins. Ist ins. Losses Pts. Auckland .1 I - - 12 Canterbury 1 1 Wellington 1 - -* 8 Otego .. 1 — r ILL BAD CONDITIONS Dunedin players are- still experiencing a season that is providing very little opportunity for practice. After high hopes last Saturday morning of a pleasant afternoon's 'cricket to start off the new year, players were once again faced with the problem of getting home from their various grounds

reasonably dry. There was by no means a full afternoon's play in any game, and probably the Kaikorai batsmen had more practice than those of any other side. They scored 202 for two wickets against Carisbrook B at Bishopscourt. Both teams were below strength, the Carisbrook side having been weakened by demands of the A team. Talbot and Mathias were the batsmen mainly responsible for such a useful total, and, although Mathias was very lucky early in his innings, both played good, steady cricket.' Talbot is not hitting indiscriminately nowadays, and although his 82 not out were got together in good time, he was not lashing at accurate bowling. He is batting so well just now that he should unquestionably go into the Otago side for the Canterbury match. He would be a power of strength to it. There was little of note in any of the other games, except that Albion started against Carisbrook A by losing its two opening batsmen for a " duck " apiece. Thirty-nine for three wickets was something of a recovery. Old Boys lost four wickets for 120 r ; nst University, and Grange ,sc for 91 against Dunedin. It was surDrising that scoring in thwe games was so low. Conditions could scarcely have been more favourable to batsmen. Some fine weather, fast wickets, anci opportunities for practice would be very welsome.

TINDILL'S TOTAL The Wellington captain and New Zealand's No. 1 wicket-keeper, E. W. Tindill, has to score 25 runs in the Wellington-Auckland match to reach a total of 1000 runs in Plunket Shield cricket. Tindill began playing for Wellington in the 1932-33 season, scoring a century in his first match against Auckland, thus becoming one of the few players who have compiled a century in their first Plunket Shield game. Up to the end of last season his Plunket Shield figures were: Twenty-four innings. 2 not. outs, 858 runs, average 39. This season he scored 46 against Otago. and 60 and 11 against Canterbury. , „ , , Tindill toured with the New Zealand team in 1936-37 as wicket-keeper-batsman. In this connection it is interesting to note that Wellington has supplied the wicket-keepers to all New Zealand teams which have left the Dominion since the Great War. T. C. Lowry, the present New Zealand selector, captain of the 1926 and 1931 teams to tour England, and manager of the 1936 team, was the 'keeper in the side which toured Australia in 1925-26, captained by W. R. Patrick. K. James and Lowry were the 'keepers in the 1926 and the 1931 teams, and Tindill and Lowry in 1937. FRANK WOOLLEY From time to time there is the evidence that Frank Woolley, England's famous left-hander, still has a warm spot in his heart for New Zealand. In a recent letter to Mr A. Varney, honorary secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association, he sends regards to friends whom he made in New Zealand, and also hints that another visit by him to New Zealand is not beyond the bounds of possibility. He is keen to have his son placed on a farm, and would, no doubt, be pleased if that farm happened to be in New Zealand, land. O'REILLY'S SPELL W. J. O'Reilly, Australian slow bowler, when asked recently whether he was likely to change his mind and play for New South Wales in the next Sheffield Shield match, said: "I have had enough. I have packed my togs and have put a couple of mothballs in the bag, and i shall not play cricket again until next season." It is understood that Chipperfield and Fingleton also intended to adhere to their intention not to play in further big matches this season.