CRICKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3058, 23 October 1912, Page 60

CRICKET.

NOTES Bi LONG SLIP. Looking forward to a good practice on tire iSortn Ground on Saturday, tire members ol the Albion and Grange Limbs turned out in force; but they had not long started before ram fell and drove them to shelter. The shower had been so heavy that tire effect on the ground was to render a continuance of play impossible. The early set-back is disneartening, but one trusts tor the future of the game that the fates will be more propitious. With a spoil of warm, sunny days the various grounds under preparation will be in splendid condition for the opening of tiic season. During the past few weeks members ot the Grange Club have been active in the preparation of a concrete wicket. The result is perhaps not as perfect as it might have been, and it probably would have pa’d the Grange Club bettor to have had the work done by an expert; but the wickets will serve for practice this season. The Albion Club, which is pleasurably anticipating the celebration of its jubilee, will be found when the season begins in earnest to have undergone few changes from last year. Practically the whole ol the senior cloven of 1911-12 will be available, including such well-known players as Williams Baker, and MT’arlano. One is always pleased to note a distinct mark of loyalty in cricket in Dunedin, and while this is evident the game cannot go far’ astray. It may have its periods ol adversity, consequent mainly on the uncertainty of climate; and the standard ot play may vary, but despite hand’caps the spirit remains. While cricket is played for the pure love of the recreation it gives and the sporting spirit is maintained, the essentials are full to repletion. To exploit the game by raising the standard is a natural evolution, and further increases its pleasures. Like most of our pastimes, cricket is very provincial in Dunedin. By this I do not moan of the village green variety, but rather that few changes take place in the personnel. From season to season with slight variations the same players take part, and it is rather in the nature of an agreeable surprise when one from the other end of the world sets foot upon a local field. Of the “foreign” players chronicled in previous notes there is to be added that of Reid, from Glasgow, who is claimed to have played senior cricket in the Scotch city. What the, standard in Glasgow really is I make no pretence of knowing. The Australians played a drawn match there against Scotland in July of this year, but this throws no light on Glasgow cricket. The fact that Reid played senior cricket anywhere is in itself sufficient to show that he* knows something about the game. i understand ho is a fair batsman, but how fair must bo left to the coming season to prove. The Umpires’ Association, which recently sent a deputation to the Otago Cricket Association. has tho sympathy of the local governing body, and also the promise of assistance. Tho real difficulty with the Umpires’ Association is that of active membership, and unless a sufficient number of members are forthcoming to carry on the duties tho association must fall through. It would bo to our regret if such an event did happen, and to the distress of the control of the game in Dunedin. Wo do not wish, and the cricketers of Dunedin do not wish, a return to the old methods of umpiring when followers of clubs went round and acted in the capacity of controllers of the me. One does not need to recall the abuses of tho old system to fortify our legislators in tho necessity of keeping the Umpires’ Association together. Tho good work done in tho past by the members of th : s body is fully recognised, and the matter of keeping it alive will assuredly have the assistance of the Otago Cricket Associa It was stated at the annual meeting of tho Albion Club that tho old members had made arrangements to present the club w.tl. at least £1 for every year it had been- in existence. The generous attitude of the old members of tho Albion Cricket Club is cause for every congratulation. The club’s finances are not. so healthy that a donation of £SO on the night of tho juhileo will come amiss. One can even now hoar the song of thanksgiving. In connection with the proposed visit of the South Melbourne team to play a aeries of matches in New Zealand in January certain country associations have l>een making inquiries for the possibility of a match against the visitors. One association in the Otago district fine lied for information from the Otago Cricket Association suggesting that, if terms could he arranged that the "match b-> played either in Dunedin or at Kelso. The secretary of the local association communicated with the Wellington Wednesday Cricket Association asking what terms the latter body would accept. for a match to he played by a team under the ansnices of the country district association a-nd the South TVfelloourne team. A reply b.a« been received that the same terms ns asked for in the case of metropolitan associations would apply. T do not know what financial obligation the Wellington Wednesday Cricket Association is tinder in eonnection with the visit of the South Melbourne team, hut would suggest, with a view to the encouragement of country cricketers and the advance of the game in country districts, that the Wellington Association .accent terms covering hare expenses. It is altogether too much to ask a country association to guarantee the same terms as a metropolitan bodv. and as : t is in the interests of the game to encourage country cricket. the Wellington Wednesday Assoeiatoin might concede the point.

When O. fr. Macartney wm in Dunedin playing for Car'sbrook and for Otago, in all. save the matdh against the Australians we saw a cricketer whose form was so far below the real worth of Mie man ►bat the™ was expressed on a H sides a feelinrr of disnnnolntment. CVmld we have seen three seasons later the same plover in England, we could better have realised what a wonderful player we had entertained. Macart-

ney. when in Dunedin, may have treated local cricket in a cavalier fashion. At tins :s it struck one such was the case; but, again, in his marvellous fielding, he showed such form that only an artisc might display. If Macartney did not accomplish two “ hat tricks ’’ in an afternoon or score a double century and turn a double somersault as he fi.ddcd a clipping drive, there were those self-opinionati d critics on the terraces and in the grand stand who said lie was an extremely over-rated man. I hasten to add that I never hoard one of our local cricketers express such an opinion. Now we come to the critic who sees “in this dapper, almost perky, little cricketer a future captain of Australia.” This critic further states that Macartney's hook is a model for all students of the stroke. Nobody since this stroke came into fashion has made it so forcibly or so accurately as he. Some may suggest Hirst; but Hirst’s pul! and not his half-arm hook was his great stroke, and the two strokes, though as widely separate as the square cut and the drive, which sends the ball square, arc more often confused than, not by the chroniclers of cur cricket life and times. One cannot pay Macartney a higher compliment than to say that the grief and lamentation dhould the next Australian team oorno over without him will be no less than it was when we know that present team would lack the attractive personalities of Trumpor and Hill. Apropos of the resolution of the Otago Cricket Association to amend the system of scoring for grade contests, it is interesting to note that at a meeting of the South Australian Cricket Association it was resolved that the method of scoring for the A Grade matches be: —Fora win outright (losing side having had two innings), 4 points; for a win, 3 points, for a loss, 1 point to bo deducted; for a tie, each club to score 1 point; in the event of two or more clubs scoring an equal number of points tlio premiership to be decided in favour of the ono having the greatest number of runs per wicket between its aggregate batting and bowling averages. A remarkable incident in connection with tho selection of Australian Elevens is recalled by the visit to Melbourne of Kenny Burn, for many years tho champion batsman of Tasmania (says the Herald. In 1890 Burn was in his prime as a batsman. Tho Australian Eleven for England had been chos.cn with tho exception of the second wicketkeeper. Tho Victorians wanted “Jack” Harry and the Sydney folk Sid Dean. Tho selectors of the team could not agree. “Jack” Blackham had met Kenny Burn, and, believing him to be a wicketkeeper as well as a good bat and field, proposed a way out of the diffiiculty by taking the Tasmanian. Just as tho team was leaving for England an invitation was sent so Burn, and at Adelaide ho stopped on the boat with merely a small bag in his hand. “I’me here,” announced Burn to the members of the team, “but I’ve never kept wickets.” Naturally the players received a shock, for a second keeper is very necessary on such a tour. It was decided to endeavour to break Harry Trott in, and with that end in view ho was transformed into a veritable “Aunt Sally ” for the remainder of the voyage. Trot did not take too kindly to the “ job,” and when Blackham was laid out later in the tour several members of the team, including Hugh Trumblo, were placed behind the sticks. There' was another incident in that tour connected with Kenny Burn. Before opening his innings he was always very careful about “block,” and among his peculiarities was a pull at tho cap, and a hard pressure on tho handle of the bat as ho settled down to face the bowler. Ho did this at Lord’s once, with tho result that tho bat handle snapped in two. Requisitioning another bat, ho went through the same preliminaries, and when he ultimately did receive a ball it scattered his wickets. Thus without hitting a ball’ he used two bats, and incidentally engaged the full attention of onlookers for qirto five minutes. . It might be mentioned that Kenny Burn, in his prime, would have been one of tho foremost batsmen in Australia had he lived on the mainland. He is the best Tasmania has produced. PAVILION GOSSIP. N. Greener, late of England and India, will probably be playing for Parnell (Auckland) this aesaon. . , , , J. H. Crawford, tho English cricketer, who has settled in South Australia, ia to act as ooach to that association. I have to acknowledge a cordial invitation to bo present at the social to bo hold by tho A’bion Club, in connection with the jubilee on Monday next.. The Wellington Umpires' Association, like Otago, is having a hard struggle for existence. At the annual meeting there was not a solitary new tnemhor proposed. J. J. Mahony, the ex-Svdnev cricketer, who has played in Wellington with success for a number of seasons, has returned to Sydney, to tho distress of Wellington cricketers. The East Melbourne Selection Committee have inc’uded Frank Laver in their team, and have invited him to play. It is believed. however, that if ho plays at all it will be with Carlton. Casey, who ‘helped tho Catholic Club last season, and before that was an Otago representative. will probably play for North this year, and another Otago representative in Hiddleston is in the North ranks. With Wilson this makes three ox-Dmiedinites lip north (says Wellington Freelance!. 5. G. Wilson—the well-known “Gillie” of New Zealand and representative cricket—reached Wellington last season, and. although he is now well along the road (o the veteran stage, tho one innings he played for tho North Club (says “ Touchlino ”) last season proved that there is plenty of batting in him yet. Tho proposed itinerary of the New South Wales school teachers’ team to xifiit New Zealand is as follows: —December 18, arrive in Wellington: 19. nlav Wellington teachers; 20 and 21, play Wellington representative team. Tho tour will include games at Palmerston North, Napier, Wanganui, Rotorua, and Auckland. The team will return from Auckland to Sydney on January 13. Mr Thomas Richardson, of the Prince’s Head, Richmond Green, Surrey, described as a licensed victualler, but better remembered as the famous Surrey cricketer, who played for England in 14 test matches against Australia, and who died at St. Jean d’Arcy, Prance,-on July 1 last, aged 41, left estate of the gross value of £629 I7s, of which the net personality has been sworn at £l3B la Id. He left to his son, Tom Richardson, to devolve as heirlooms, the cricket balls presented to him during his cricket career, and all his cricketing mementoes, his watch and chain, end personal jewellery. Loudon, the Christ’s College batsman, made a sensational opening of tho season by

notching 298 against East Christchurch Juniors. Like Hick’nott, ho had the eye of the selector on him in view of his good form last season, but failed to bo picked. The only nppioach to such a big score on opening day is H. B. Lusk’s 200 "Trot out against St. Albans in his first Senior game in Christchurch during Exhibition year. So far there are only two scores on record in New Zealand that beat Loudon’s 238 namely, Warwick Armstrong. 335 against Southland, in 1906; W. F. Raphael, 300 against Midhind Third about 20 years ago. The inter-State carnival opens on November 1, when the Victorians will commence a match with a strong team from West Australia. The programme, as far as Victoria, is concerned, is as follows: —November 1,2, and 4, v. West Australia, at MeUxmrne; December 20, 21, 22, v. West Australia. at Melbourne; December 26, 27, 28. v. New South Wales, at Melbourne; January 1,2, 3, etc., v. South Australia, at Melbourne; January 24, 25 , 27, etc., v. New South Wales, at Sydney; January 30, 31, February 1. etc., v. Queensland, at Brisbane; February 28. March 1,2, etc., v. South Australia, at Adelaide. “Glebe" propounds the following: A batsman leaves his crease to play a ball, and misses it. The ball rebounds off the wicket-keeper’s pads, and removes the bails. Is the batsman out, “stumped" or “run out”? This is a question that often gvea rise to disputes, but there can be no doubt about it—the batsman is “stumped.” In the M.C.C.’s commentary on the rules of the game it is stated in a note to rule 23 that ’ If the ball rebounds off the-pads or the person of the wicket-keeper, without having first touched the bat or the hand of the striker, and the striker is out of his ground, the decision should bo 1 stumped,’ not ‘ run out.' ” The running-out of Warren Bardsley in the final test match has been discussed a good deal. It is thus described by the Field; "Bardsley was run out at 47. It is not & wise thing to attempt to break a duck 3 egg by running to Hobbs, but Bardsley played a ball not quite straight to him at very deep point and called. Theer-seemed plenty of time for a run, and, moreover, Bardsley seemed to have easily made good his ground, although Hobbs threw the wicket down by one of his swift shots, made without the loss of a moment. Bardsley, apparently being under the impression that this evidence was not required, probably lost his case because lie did not put his bat down. This was the crowning disaster to the Australians, who made no further resistance. Sir Edwin Smith, president of the South Australian Association, is reported to have said at the 'annual meeting of that body that they nil remember the lamentable trouble that arose between C. Hill and P. A. M’Alister in connection with the test match in Adelaide. The captain desired to include Macartney in the Australian team, but M'Alister was against it. and replied that it Hil! wanted the New South Welshman in he had better leave himself out. The performances of the team in England enabled them to compare notes and see who was the better judge of Macartney’s worth. In the first half of the English tour Macartney topped the averages in batting and bowling. At the end the brilliant Bardsley beat him in batting but Macartney still had the best bowlaverage. That proved the excellent judgment of Clem Hill of a cricketer." The delivery called technically in the game of cricket a “no-ball" becomes, as batsmen have discovered to their sorrow, a very real and live ball under certain circumstances. Exactly when it is a no-ball and when it is not has now been decided ex cathedra. Owing to an umpire dismissing .a batsman in English county cricket last year as run out off a no-ball, because he left his crease to n!ay it, and the wicket-keeper removed the bails before he could get back, a discussion took place as to whether the rule should not he mad© more explicit. This has been done by the M.C.C. Law 28 is as follows:—“If in running or at any other time, when the ball is in play lie (either batsman) be out of bis ground, and his wicket be struck down by the ball after touching any fieldsman, or by the hand or arm with ball in band of any fieldsman—' Run Out.’ ” The additonal words are: “But the striker may not lie given out thus unless the ball has touched the bat or hand when, in playing at a no-ball, be is out of his ground, and the wicket be put down by the wicket-keeper with the ball, or with hand or arm with ball in hand.” In effect this means that a batsman cannot be stumped off a no-balt. MATCHES ELSEWHERE. AUCKLAND, October 19. The district cricket competitions were opened .to-day, on wickets that were slightly damp but generally good. In three out of four games the batting was superior to the bowling. North Shore met Pon son by, and made 248* runs (Sale 83, Prime 40, Cossey not out 31). Playing against University, Parnell compiled 141 runs (Wright 44) and University made 81 for four wickets (Fraser 35). Fenwick took four Parnell wickets for 28- Eden made 280. for nine wickets against Grafton (Cummings 81, Brooke-Smith 48, and Hay not out WELLINGTON, October 20. The Senior Cricket Championship matches were commenced yesterday, in fine weather. East A put up 166 against'South (Gibbes 28, Baker 33, Cullen 34, and S. Hickson 18). South lost three wickets for 5 runs. Central, playing against Hutfc, we’re disposed of for 99 (BLamires 28). Rodgers took seven wickets for 33. Hutt lost sis wickets for 70 runs (Yfeates 20). CHRISTCHURCH, October 19. The weather was fine for the oontinua tion of the grade matches to-day, though a cold westerly wind made it unpleasant for the onlookers. The wickets favoured the bowlers somewhat, and the scoring was low. Sydenham inflicted a heavy defeat on last year’s champions (Riccarton), scoring 296 in the first innings to Riccarton’s 239 for two innings. For Sydenham, bonnet made 103 runs. Linwood got a 2point win against St. Albans, scoring 409 (one innings and six wiokets) to 178. West Christchurch just squeezed home against East with a 2-point win. ‘ Loudon, the Christ’s College bov, made 298 and then, thinking that he had beaten Raphael’s record, he threw his wiokot away. It has been discovered, however, that his total only equals the previoua best.