CRICKET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 4

CRICKET

TO-MORROW'S MATCHES A GOOD DRAW The draw for' the Poverty Buy championship matches, to be initiated tomorrow, promises? some good gamed at the Oval. The Celtic-City match will probably prove a close one, for although the (.'cits went down unexpectedly last week against Old Boys, they arc not likely to have a recurrence of Ihe collapse, and City can lie expected to-provide some fireworks. The Old Boys are down to meet Gisl.orne Club, and on paper they should have a fairly comfortable time, but early form suggests that Oisbornc is no longer the easy side to beat it proved last year. If Forster can play an innings out of the bag, as he has done previously this season, and if he can get the sort of support that Robertson and Holmes gave each other last week, Old Boys will need all their balling strength, and in tho bowling department Oisbornc is not deficient.

United, are to meet Harbor board, and here again, the result can hardly be foretold. Harbor Board is a new club, but there is latent strength in it that may come to light at any time. Last week, the club put up a rather poor showing against. High School, but it must be remembered that the students have made rapid strides in the competition, and now lead the others in the points table. United, on the other hand, put up a sound score; against, Poverty' Bay, but it had to thank one man for 130 runs, and the others of the side did not contribute many more than Harbor scored in its innings. ,\ lot will, of course, depend on the state of the wicket. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS WOODFULL'S NEW JOB The settling down of the Australian cricketers, after their tour to England, .is making itself felt in their home cricket circles. 0. G. Macartney, the "Governor-Genera]," who had such a phenomenal run Of successes at Home, will probably be given a testimonial match, and it may taka the form of a contest: between Australia and the .Rest, Macartney has announced his retirement from first class cricket, and does well to rest upon his well-earned laurels. [n the series of Test matches between Austialia. and England, he has played 38 complete .innings, and secured an average of 43.15, while his captures of wickets has mounted to 33, for an average of 27.-" 1. A new job has been given to W. M. Woodfull, who 3s a member of tho teaching profession. He is to tour round the Victorian schools, and lecture upon sport and sportsmanship, paying particular attention to cricket. Among WoodfuiKs achievements is his highest batting average for the late English tour, and Victorians honor him particularly because he is only tho third from his State to occupy the proud position at, the top of the list.

One Australian cricketer who made the English tour, but not as a player, was Charles Kelleway, whose criticisms of his countrymen were discounted by the fact 'that he had beer, among those passed over in the selection of the team. lie is now back in the captaincy of the Gordon Club. New South Wales.

DEAD BALL INCIDENT PLAYERS' MISUNDERSTANDING. A curious episode which occurred in club cricket, and which illustrates a lack.of .study of the rules on the part of many cricketers, is related by a Melbourne critic. "I have heard an Australian Eleven player—a good allrounder-r- declare that ho had never studied the rules," he writes. "He claimed that it was the umpire's duty to know tho laws of the game. All cricketers should endeavor to keep abreast of the game, as the laws have been amended from lime to time to meet special cases. In the match between South Melbourne and Prahran an amusing though not an elevating, episode was witnessed. Stan Wootton, .the erstwdrile Hawthorn man, when batting played tho ball into the pad just above the knee. All cricketers should know that in such circumstances the ball is dead. Put Hie batsman was unawaro of tho fact, and commenced pirouetting round tho wicket in an endeavor to dislodge the ball without handling it. And "while ho was doing - the Charleston ho "was chased by members of tho opposition camp in their eagerness to grab the ball, imagining that if they could get their hands on the ball while it was being dislodged the batsman would be out caught. Wootton ultimately forced the ball out with his hand, both batsman and fieldsmen being surprised that all their efforts were in vain. The law reads:—"lf tho ball whether struck with the bat or not lodges in a batsman's clothing, the ball shall become dead." Put an unfortunate incident occurred many years ago before tho present law come into force, and when it was suicidal to handle the ball in any circumstances. Victoria was playing South Australia on the Melbourne ground, when Ernest Jones, the express bowler, played a ball into his shirt. Fearing he might be caught lift hastily pulled it out and threw it on the ground. To our amazement, dismay, and annoyance our wicketkeopor appealed, and "Jonah" was given out. It was unfortunate in every way, for the appeal was made on the spur of the moment.