CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2687, 13 September 1905, Page 57

CRICKET.

NOTES BY LONG SLIP. Three ex-Dunedin cricket enthusiasts are interested in the recently-formed East Christchurch Cricket Club, formed undeithe district scheme. Mr J. T. Harkness is honorary secretary; R. L. Fisher, the ex-Carisbrookian, is on the committee and is a delegate to v the Canterbury Cricket Association ; while D. H. Thomson, lato of the local association, is also on the East Christchurch committee. The ex-Carisbrook cricketer W. Sparrow, who has recently been transferred to Invercargill, has been elected to a seat on the committee of the Invercargill Cricket Club and made one of the practice captains. The well-known Southland and exMelbourne cricketer, Mr C. S. Wilson, who has been transferred to this city, speaking at a meeting of the Invercargill Club, expressed regret at leaving the district. He hoped now that the game had revived in Southland it would not be allowed to deteriorate. Mr Wilson ,was unanimously elected a honorary life member of the I.C.C. Mr Frank Layer, manager of the Australians, has cabled to West Australia and New South Wales stating that the team will not be able to play either of the Stale teams on its return. One of the most unfortunate members of the Australian Eleven at present in England is Syd. Gregory. In addition to contracting sunstroke, be injured his right leg and severely bruised his batting arm. Hopkins had his right hand cut with broken sdass. !

and had to stand down from several matches in consequence. Apropos .of accidents to the Australian-, fiom a private letter received by a gentleman in Dunedin I lcarii that Frank Lavor had an accident to his left shoulder going Home on the steamer. The letter goes on to explain that the accident no doubt has affected his batting, and to some extent also his bowling. One of tho Royal doctors at Home told him that he must put his arm | ■ in a sling for three months. j Some items of the fourth "te^fc" : — Jack- > son provided the coin, spun it in the air, i and waited nonchalantly for the result. ' Darling looked at the falling coin without moving a muscle, and then Jackson turned to him with a half-quizzical, half-sympathetic expression, which told the onlookers that Joseph had once more fallen foul with fate. Jackson set the onlookers laughing by a bit of by-play with Kelly. The Australian stumper had taken the ball after a vicious ' swipe by England's captain at Armstrong's , leg-break, and was threatening to stump i him, whereupon the old Cantab., with delicious indifference .to the dignity of leadership, putting his bat on the crease, deliberately walked down the pitch as far as he could reacji, and there he stood with extended arms and a provoking air, daring Eelly to do his worst. Before he scored Tyldesley received a terrible blow under the heart from Cotter, and he dropped like a dead man in his crease. The players gathered round him anxiously, and Jackson had to bring Johnnie out a glass of brandy before he' could resume. Reported that despite the trouncing' of the Australians in test matches the colonials are 2jiling- up the- dollars in a manner that threatens to break all records. The alleged Australian "amateurs" anticipate coming back with a swag of four figures each. Speaking to a Christchurch representative cricketer the other day, that worthy informed me that Dunedin gave Christchurch a good man and a true sport in D. H. Thomson, the -ex-secretary of the Otago Cricket Association. Which prompted the reply that fortunately in Mr Thomson's successor (Mr E. Wilson) Otago had found another secretary of like energy and merit to the departed. lVi-i-prs received in Adelaide go to show that there is an excuse for Newland's poor s no tying in England. On the steamer, after leaving- Maoriland, a slashing hit with a cricket-ball took him at close quarters on the cheek-bone, fairly lifting his jaw off its hinges. Dentist Noble and the ship's doctor | were occupied all tfee afternoon getting it ' in place again, and even after reaching London Newland had to see a specialist about it. That sort of experience may well shake a man's nerve — and a wicket-keeper's especially— just enough to make the difference between a first-rate and a moderate. Cricket is continually providing something new, notwithstanding its hoary old age. i Record performances are of daily occurrence, and "unprecedented incidents" &rs almost as common. Captain Wynyard, the Hampshire amateur, had a remarkable experience recently. Batting- against Yorkshire, he was only twice dismissed, fchou<>-h he was thrice caught -and twice bowled. In Hampshire's first innings he was caught off one no-ball and bowled off another before i being legitimately got riS of. Then, in the second innings, lie was again bowled by a ■ no-ball. And yet his team was defeated by an innings and 167 runs ! [ Mr R. J. P. Broughton, the lat- Queen's ; solicitor, has given some interesting imi pressions of the changes at Lord's since first he witnessed the Eton and Harrow match, seventy-five years ago. Mr Broughton played for Harrow in 1832, and the three 'succeeding years. Since those days, says Mr Brougjiton, cricket has changed. "Boundaries were then unknown. When a man made a very fine hit he ran it out, so you can easily understand that a century was harder to make then than it is now. Then, again, we never worked for our averages. I think averages and boundaries will bs the ruin of the game. In the matter of dress, too, ihere has been a marked and welcome change. In the olden days we used to wear tall hats, linen shirts and collars, and flannel trousers. Personally, I did not like playing in a tall hat. Turning to the physique of the youths of to-day, Mr Broughton. did not think, as far as cricket is concerned, at anyrate, that they were as muscular and healthy as formerly. " I think," he said,, " there is too much coddling and luxury. Boys nowadays make far too much of cricket and other sports. They become onthusiastio sportsmen, and neglect thenwork. Too much cricket is worse than too Jittle. I think cricket is now made too much of a business. Lots of people lose the sport of the game by thinking how many runs they are going to make. My advice — and it is the advice of one wlv has had seventy-five years' experience of cricket — is, 'gnore runs and averages, and play for the manly sport." In commenting on the Australians' cricket against Hampshire, the Sportsman says : — " Apart from their huge score of 620 there was another [eature which must have given the visitors some gratification, for Cotter showed that he can bowl steadily as well as erratically, and at one time bowled so tremendously fast that the batsmen could make no effort to time him. The punishment he received late in the afternoon somewhat spoiled his figures, but six wickets for 83 on a perfect wicket was a very good performance. There wa= nothing of sensational interest in the day's cricket. The Australians maintained their consistency for fast scoring, putting on runs at the rate of over 100 in an hour. Cotter came off with bat as well as ball, and really is too dangerous a man to leave out of the side, no matter what the condition of the wicket." M. A. Noble has joined George Giffen in making 1000 runs and securing 100 wickets in test matches (says the Referee). The only two Australians who have done so, they are the two greatest all-round players Australia has produced. Nobles figures both with bat and ball have lost some of their greatness during the present tour in England, yet they are superior to tho=o of the famous South Australian, as wili bo seen below: — BATTING IN TES'i MATCHES. Inn. N.O. H.S. Runs. Aver. M. A. Nob L a .. 4J 6 133 1330 80.06 Gr. Giffen ..53 0 161 1233 23.25 BOWLING IN TEST MATCHES. Wickets. Runs. Average. M. A. Noble .. .. 100 2433 24.33 G. Giften. .. .. 103 2791 29 03 It is not likely that first-class cricket wiil hear much more of M. A. Noble as a bowler. To bowl at his best took too much, out

'cf him. Besides, as bolwor he has passed his prime. •It lie were a born or natural bowler, M. -A. N. might retain his powers at their highest, pilch for many years; bus his success has- always, depended in a material degree on brain work and the manipulation of tho ball for curling or breaking purposes by almost solely finger action, as against the arm, wrist, and hand action, cf less cultivated yet more natural bowlers* ' The following officers elected for j Iho ensuing season : — President, Mr T. S~ i Graham (re-elected at the annual meeting c f i the Dunedin Club ; vice-presidents, Messrs I 'R. B. Courtis, J. Blaney. M. M. Kilroy, G. Pram, and J. Ainge (re-elected) ; club captain, W. H. Skitch (re-elected) ; vicecaptain, W. Mackersy ; committee — Messrs J. Drumm, tG. Wyclierley, F. Blakely, J. Melville. C.' Eyre, and A. Courtis; delegates to Otaga . Cricket Association. Messrs' Melville and Skitch; auditors, Messrs W. 1 A. Hamann and J. Nicolson ; ; Selection | Committce-^-tMessrs Mackersey, Drumm, i and FaulkS'} secretary and treasurer, E. S. Wilson. At the annual meeting of the Albion Club the following office-bearers were elect&'l: Patron, Mr Jas. Allen, M.H.R. ; president, Mr T. Maitland ; vice-presidents — Messrs L. J. Joel.'H. Islip, A. Wright, M. Cohen, A. H. Shelton, J. Gumming, G. Lawrence, and Dr Closs club eaplain, Mr H. H. \v hite ; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. D. Shetlon ; General Committee — Messrs J. J". Clark, W. Piekard, J. Peake, A. Hunter, R. Duthie, and F. Williams ; delegates, ta Hie Ofcago Cricket Association, Messrs J. J. Clark and T. 'Ritchie-, Match Committee, Messrs C. Corbett and F. Williams; practice captains, Messrs R. Duthie and R. Dry; auditors, Messrs A. Marryat and J. Duncan; delegates" to' the' Otago Athletic Protection' Society; "Mr" WV D. Shelton; Ground Committee — Messrs R. Di^, R. Duthie, F. Williams, aiid'J. J. Clark. .The following donated trophies for the forthcoming season : — Messrs J. Cummings. G. Lawlence, L. J. Joel, and A. Wright., During the evening Mr L. J. Joel was presented with a silvei'-framed address in appreciation of his valued services to the club, extending over nearly 20 years. CANTERBURY CRICKET ASSOCIATION". CHRISTCHT7BCH, September 5. At a meeting of the Canterbury Cricket As sociation to-night the Riccarton, West Christchurch, East Christchurch, Linwood, and St.. Albans District Clubs were affiliated, an<s satisfactory reports were received on the enrolment of members. A suggestion was mada that all the interprovincial matches should be played in Christchurch during the Exhibition, the rule ?s to visits being suspended, Some discussion took place regarding the dis>posal of former clubs' materials, but tht matter was finally left to the new committee