CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 3969, 8 April 1930, Page 27

CRICKET

By

SLIP.

ALBION WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. Though the cricket season was disappointing in most respects its conclusion almost compensated for the lack of interesting play in its early stages. The finish could hardly have provided more excitement or a better example of real cricket. If Albion has shown inconsistency none will' grudge the north-end side its win because, facing a difficult task, it made a great stand to win first by dogged play against fairly accurate bowling and then by one of the brightest displays of aggressive batting seen this season. Albion's win is particularly interesting in view of the fact that the excitement among the spectators and the vigorous attack on the Dunedin bowling was based on what was apparently the incorrect assumption that play must glop at 6 o clock; whereas, according to a member of the Grade Committee, it might have continued • until 6.30 The general impression was that at the conclusion of the period of daylight saving, the pla.ving hours were 2 to 6. but apparently the hours provided for at the, beginning of the season were not changed. It is, perhaps, just as well, however, that the Albion batsmen made their sudden burst, for the light was failing, and the last few runs were made under conditions in which the match, in the ordinary course of events, would not have been continued. The most creditable feature of Albion’s win. however, is the fact that it was not helped by a single dropped gatch, the displays of all the batsmen being chanceless. It is also an interesting fact that seven of the eight batsmen who were defeated were clean bowled. Having made 242 on the previous Saturday, the Dunedin players realised that their chances of a win were rosy, and «?hey made a determined effort to lower Albion’s colours. Their success in disposing of four batsmen for a total of 48 runs gave them justification for expecting their hopes to be fulfilled, but then came Vorrath and, Binney’s fine .stand, which was mainly, responsible for Albion’s win. Vorrath has not shown his true form this season,' and for this many followers of his team blame a tendency towards recklessness, but on Saturday he settled down to play care- . .fully, and to anything dangerous he presented a solid front. It was, however, as a result of attempting a big hit that he was caught out after an innings for 63, which was sound in, every respect. .Perhaps Binney’s best-known quality as a batsman is his ability to keep his end going when runs are needed, and he has never given a better example of his stub- , born defence than he did on Saturday. Content to wait until the runs came to him, and after he had helped Vorrath to put on over 100 for the fifth wicket, he was beaten at 38. It was a fine display for a batsman who, lacking practice, had played only two previous innings this .season. But credit for Albion’s win .must be given to Duncan- equally with Binney and A orrath, from when the latter two batsmen went out a draw .seemed to be Albion’s only hope. It , Duncan who began the attack on the bowling which enabled Albion to pass .Dunedins score. It was a wise move on Aorrath’s part to place him in a low ■ P9 s, tion in the batting ; list, and he came in just at the right moment. Though he ..hit out in great style his scoring shots were all worthy of the polished bats- . man that he is, but to Henderson and . Agnew, too, must be given some credit, particularly the former, who, though only a few runs were needed, showed excellent judgment regarding the ball to be hit. Outstanding among the bowlers were Torrance and Monk, who were responsible for the early fall of wickets, and who tor some time bowled with such accuracy that it seemed that a win for Albion vas an impossibility. Strang, as captain, has probably never been faced with a more difficult task, but with better use of Claridge, who was bowline verv accurately, he might have made Albion’s task more difficult.

NOTES.

The Union Club (Oamaru) will make an Easter tour of Central Otago. Victor Y. Richardson 35, vice-cap-tain of the Australian team, is one of the most remarkable athletes Australia has produced, having shone in cricket, football, tennis, golf, baseball, lacrosse, and other games. . A Melbourne paper says that one pleasing feature of the play of the Australian eleven in Tasmania was P. M. Hornibrooks work m the slips. Since J. M. Gregory retired Australia has had no outstanding fieldsman in this position, but it is hoped now that Hornibrook will fill the bill. Hornibrook has always been noted as a safe fieldsman behind the wicket, but some of his catches in Launceston and Hobart have been described as brilliant. The Queenslander is tall, and has a long reach.

An interesting suggestion has been made by A. F. Wiren, of Wellington, wellknown cricket and Rugby enthusiast, about New Zealand cricket, • He suggests that when there is no Hsit to the Dominion from an overseas team a North Island v. South Island match should be played, the New. Zealand Cricket Council and.the four principal provincial associations to share in the profits, which, he thinks, would total at least £5O each, and would probably be an increasing amount as the popularity of the game grew. Referring to its location each year, he suggests that the match should be played in that centre having only one Plunket Shield match during that particular season.

Commenting on the bowling in the English cricket season of 1929, the new issue of Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack says that perhaps the most notable performance in this branch of the game was “ the achievement of T. W. Goddard, of Gloucestershire, who, originally a fast bowler of. indifferent, quality, turned his attention to spinning the ball at a medium pace, and—helped, it is said, by the advice of Charles Parker- -became such a high-class performer than he took nearly 200 wickets. Another player to show a marked increase of skill was W. Voce, of Notts, who, abandoning the obsession of always trying to swing the ball, put his ability in spinning it to such good pur-

pose that he doubled the number of hie wickets and materially reduced their individual cost/'

The most pressing need in Wellington cricket at present is for better wickets (says the Dominion). Some years back the Wellington Cricket Association, with commendable enterprise, spent several hundred pounds in obtaining soil from Dunedin and Hawke’s Bay with, which to form wickets. . This resulted in Wellington wickets being transformed from the worst to the best in New Zealand. But, unfortunately, wickets, like carpets, do not last for ever, and sign have not been wanting of late that the carpets on the Basin Reserve have become badly worn.

AVERAGES. ALBION FIRST ELEVEN. Batting.

OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE

The meeting of the committee of the Otago Cricket Association was held in the secretary’s board room on Tuesday evening, Mr G. A. Wycherley in the chair.

The hon. secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council wrote stating that the following resolution had been passed by the council: —“That the committee place on record its appreciation of the help it has received from affiliated associations during the tour of the M.C.C. team, and are especially gratified to Wanganui and Taranaki Associations, whose friendly co-operation had made it possible to arrange the fourth test match in Auckland.” —Received.

The chairman congratulated the Albion Club on winning the shield. Looking back upon the season, although it had been a very disappointing one, the contest had been wonderfully interesting, and in view of the fact that up to practically the last hour of play the shield winners were undecided, it might be taken that the interest had been sustained right to the end. He was sure they were all agreed that Albion deserved their win, and he moved —“That the Albion Club be congratulated on winning the championship for the season.”—The motion was carried. The hon. secretary of the Carisbrook Cricket Club wrote stating that his committee wished to report an incident in the Second Grade A Match between Carisbrook A and Dunedin. On the first day Carisbrook made an appeal against the light at 5.55 p.m., which was upheld, the senior match having been abandoned at 5.40. On the second day Carisbrook, with three wickets in hand, at. 6 o’clock required 21 runs to win. At this time the Dunedin captain, stating that stumps should be drawn, led his team off the field, although the senior match was continued till 6.20 p.m. In view of these facts, Carisbrook felt that they should; be credited with a first innings win. In any case, they would like the association’s ruling on the point/— After a discussion it was resolved to ask the Dunedin Club for an official report, the matter to be then referred to the Grade Committee to decide. The Coach Committee submitted a report dealing with the activities of the association’s coach (Mr F. T. Badcoek). Mention was made of the winter coaching to be held in Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co.’s store in Crawford street.—The report was approved. It was reported that so far the receipts from the gymkhana had amounted to £164 4s Id, and the expenditure to £9O 8s sd.

The , Grade Competitions Committee submitted a report showing the winners and places of the teams engaged in the various competitions as follows:—

Senior Grade.—Albion, 12 points; Grange, 11; Carisbrook, 10; Old Boys, 9; Christian Brothers, 8; Dunedin, 8. Second Grade A.—Valley, 19 pointe; Kaikorai, 16; Grange, 15; University, 15;

Christian Brothers, 10; Carisbrook A, 8; Albion, 8; Carisbrook B, 6; Dunedin. 6; Old Boys, 4. Second Grade B.—Carisbrook C, 27 pointe; Port Chalmers, 24; Albion, 20; Dunedin C, 19; University, 19; Valley. 19; Kaikorai. 18; Grange, 17; High School, 17; M’Glashan, 14; Old Bovs, 13: Christian Bros.. 9; Carisbrook D 6. Third Grade.—Knox Church A, 28 points; Grange, 26; Albion. 21; Carisbrook E, 19; Dunedin, 19; Christian Brotheris, 17; '-Valley, 14; Kaikorai, 13; High School, 13; Caversham Presbyterian, 12; Knox Church B, 10; Technical. 8; Old Boys, 0.

Fourth Grade.—Grange. 17 pointe; Christian Brothers, 16; High School A, 12; High School B, 12; Dunedin, 11; M’Glashan, 2. Yielding Cup.—Grange, 45 points; Albion, 40; Carisbrook, 36; Christian Brothers, 35; Old Boys, 33; Dunedin, 32. It was resolved to offer the congratulations of the association to the winners. The chairman remarked that the meeting was the last that would be held for sometime, and thanked members for their assistance to him in conducting the business throughout the season. .

OPINION OF M.C.C. CAPTAIN. LONDON, April 4. The Marylebone team arrived at Southampton from New Zealand to-day. Gilligan, the captain, said that New Zealand cricketers were making great strides, and the Dominion would have a fine side when the team visited England in 1931. The Dominion had a young team of players who had been gaining experience. ‘ The M.C.C. tour had done them much good.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. AUCKLAND, April 6. The Auckland ■ Cricket Association’s Senior Championship was concluded on Saturday in fine weather. Results: — Parnell 242 for . seven (Whitelaw 44 Vivian 41) beat University 236. Grafton 266 for six (declared) drew with Y M.C.A. 205 for six (Miller 63 not out, Lyon 46). Ponsonby 347 for four (declared) and 136 for four (Finlayson 56) beat United Suburbs 125 (Wetherill 45). For Ponsonby Finlayson took six wickets for 27 runs.

Eden 300 for seven (A. F Weir 82, Thakobau 81. G. L. Weir . 61, Postles 45) beat North Shore 235.

Parnell wins the championship, the points being as follows:—Parnell 35, University 27, Eden 26. Ponsonbv 26, Y.M.C.A. 24. Grafton 22, North Shore 18, United Suburbs 13. The suburban championship was won bj’ Greenlane.

PROPOSED VISIT TO ENGLAND.

PROVISIONAL ITINERARY. WELLINGTON, zipril 6. The proposed visit by a New Zealand cricket team to England next year ;s already being anticipated with keen interest. Advice lias been received from England, where Mr H. D. Swan is acting on behalf of the New Zealand Cricket Council, that all the first-class counties have been approached in the matter of matches with, the New Zealand team. The result of these negotiations has been most satisfactory, some of the counties even going so far as to arrange two matches with tlie tourists. There will also be other matches, some of which have yet to be arranged. The feature of the programme which has been drawn up provisionally is that the New Zealand team will appear in a test with England. Mr Swan has been doing excellent work in making arrangements for next year’s tour," and it was no fault of his that New Zealand was not granted three test matches. He reported recently that the New Zealand representatives will be playing the M.C.C., two matches against several of the firstclass counties and one match against he other -first-class counties, both the universities, Wales, probably Scotland, a representative team of the minor counties, and some matches against the stronger of the minor counties. The visitors are also to P a^,, a eleven, probably selected by Mr H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, at Scarborough, and a match against Sir Julien Chans eleven at Nottingham. Mr Swan was also hoping to arrange other special fixtures. The programme is considerably stronger “* a .n Glat when the New Zealand team visited England in 1927, and it has been arranged in such a way as to avoid, to a very great extent, long railway journeys between . matches. The provisional itinerary is •as follows:—

M 1 Reserved for practices. May — v - ® ssex , at Leyton. May 9, 11, and 12. — v. Leicestershire, at Leicester. May 13, 14, and 15. —v. Hampshire, at Southampton. May 16, 18, and 19.—v. M.C.C., at Lords. May 20. 21, and 22. —v. Worcestershire, at Worcester. . May 23, 25, and 26.—v. Glamorgan, probably at Cardiff. May 27, 28, and 29.—v. Oxford University, at Oxford. May 30, June 1 and 2.—v. Middlesex, at Lords. June 3,4, and 5. —v. Cambridge University, at. Cambridge. June 6,8, and 9.—v. Somerset, at Bath. June 10. 11, and 12. —v. Gloucestershire, in Gloucestershire. June 13, 15, and 16. —v. Derbyshire, in Derbyshire. June .17, 18, and 19.—v. Minor Counties; place not arranged yet. June 20. 22, and 23. —-v. Northants, probably at Peterborough. June 24, 25, and 26. —Reserved. June 27. 29, and 30.—v. England, at Lords. July 2,3, and 4.—v. Staffordshire, at Stoke-on-Trent. July 4,6, and 7. —v. Notts, at Nottingham. July 8,9, and 10. —v. Yorkshire, in Yorkshire. July 11, 13, and 14. —v. Lancashire, at Liverpool. July 15, 16, and 17. —v. Scotland, probably at Edinburgh. July 18 and 20. —v. Durham, at Sunderland. July 22, 23, and 24. —v. Combined Services, at Portsmouth.

July 25, 27, and 28.—v. Hampshire, at Bournemouth. July 29, 30, 31. —v. Surrey, at the Oval. August 1,3, and 4.—v. Glamorgan, at Swansea. August 5,6, and "Warwickshire, at Birmingham. August 8, 10, and 11. —v. Gloucestershire. probably at Cheltenham. August 12, 13, and 14. —v. Wales, at Colwyn Bay. August 15, 17, and 18. —v. Lancashire, at Manchester. August 20, 21. —v. Norfolk, at Norwich. August 22, 24, and 25. —v. Essex, at Southend-on-Sea. August 26. 27. and 28. —v. Kent, at Canterbury. August 29, 31, and September 1- —v. Sussex, at Hove. September 2,3, and 4.—v. Universities Past and Present, at Eastbourne. September 6,7, and B.—Nc' filled yet. September 9, 10, and 11.—V. an Eleven at Scarborough. September 12, 14. and 15.— -v. Sir Julien Cahn’s Eleven at Nottingham.

I. N.O R. H.S. A. Binney 4 1 114 38 38 Barron . 13 .— 397 84 36.10 Caskie 4 2 71 46* 35.50 Duncan . . 8 —— 196 97 24.50 Shepherd . 10 —- 238 60 23.80 Vorrath .. . 13 2 261 63 23.72 M'Haffie .. 7 1 90 34 15 Allan . 14 1 194 33 14.92 L. Silver .. . 12 114 35 9.5') Li. Henderson 12 4 75 21 9.37 Hamilton . 11 2 81 26 9 Agnew . ]0 3 60 18 8.56 M'Gavin .. 2 —— 14 9 7 R. Silver.. 2 .—. 12 Y 6 M'Callum 4 2 11 8* 5.50 Wilson . , 7 1 19 * Not out. Bowling. 8 3.11 Caskie 0 M. R. W. A. .. 12 3 34 3 11.33 M'Gavin .. .. 16 4 38 3 12.63 Vorrath .. 24 3 84 6 14 M'Haffie .. .. 68 9 152 10 15.20 Allan .. .. .. 47 9 134 8 16.75 Dunean .. 57 13 151 9 16.76 Shepherd .. 155 35 331 18 18.39 L. Silver .. .. 162 36 443 18 24.61 J. Barron . . 5 — 57 2 28.50 J j. Henderson 94 28 192 6 32 Agnew .. 79 22 172 34.40 SECOND GRADE A Batting. I. N.O. R. H.S. A. N. Henderson.. 3 154 66 30.80 Scott .... 9 ——. 182 69 20.22 Sanders .. . 11 9 39 10 19.50 R. Silver .. . 14 — 264 50 18.85 H. Miller . 15 1 244 55 17.43 E. Barron . 10 — 147 50 14.70 Wallace .. 9 3 84 25 14 Riach • . . . 14 —— 152 32 10.85 Lawson ■ . 4 ■ 41 13 10.25 Strachan .. 2 1 10 , 10* 10 Frood - .. . 14 — 139 23 9.92 Robinson • . 15 1 132 24* 9.43 M'Gavin .. 1 — 8 8 8 Campbell . 11 — 73 22 6.66 Pickard .. 4 1 17 9 5.66 Nolan 3 18 * Not out. Bowling. 7* 4 O. M. R. W. A. M'Gavin ,.. 26 10 61 7 8.71 Frood . . ' . 124 33 316 23 13.74 Miller .. . 79 26 207 15 ’ 13.80 Robinson 54 6 186 13 14.31 R. Silver 97 30 . 218 14 15.57 Wallace .. . 63 8 190 . 11 17.27 E. Barron ■ 25 4 62 3 20.66 Riach .. 61 10 195 8 24.37 Nolan .. . 29 5 93 3 31