CRICKET.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 178, 31 March 1927, Page 8

CRICKET.

PUTAEUEU V. HAMILTON B. The following team has been selected to represent Putaruru representatives against Plamilton senior B team at Hamilton on Easter Monday : Blair (captain), Grainger, Bryan, Crowley, McDonald (Arapuni), Craig, Macown (Sehvyn), Pearce, Campbell (Waotu), Brown (Putaru'ru), Chaplin (Te Whetu). Reserves : Knap, Patterson, Saies. Manager : Mr. H. A. Jensen. NOTES. (By Cover-point). The Test Match.Theform of Hie team to tour England ip the recent Test matches against the Melbourne side has been most encouraging. The main point established is that the side has the same fighting spirit which characterises the play of the All Blacks. Such a spirit is a particularly valuable one, and more essential in the great summer pastime than in almost any other game. When a rot sets in and wickets are falling cheaply, and the score board tells that the side is hundreds of runs behind, it requires' lion hearts to walk the hundred yards to the wicket, remain cool, and patiently pick the right ball for hitting. The atmosphere at such times is electric, and the psychological effect on the incoming batsman immense. It is players who can thus rise to the occasion that win matches. Over-booming. It is well, however, that recent play should be judged in its right perspective, for without doubt some critics have become almost hysterical in their enthusiasm as a result of the great score put up in the second innings of the first test. To deem the feat worthy of a sub-leader which suggested in extravagant language that the effort was comparable to any accomplished on our playing fields, as an Auckland morning paper did, borders on the ridiculous, and can do the game no good. The fact that the M.C.C. team is looked upon in Australia as being but a good club side must not be forgotten. After all our team is a national one, and they will meet few sides in England, if any, when the tour commences in earnest, which are weaker than Armstrong’s team. The glamour attaching to names like Armstrong, Ransford, Hendry and Trumble (the manager) should not be allowed to warp the judgment when estimating the strength of the teams.

Bowley’s Impressions. ' 1 On the eve of his departure for the jQld Country, Mr. E. 11. Bowley, the Auckland coach, who will be back again next season, has stated that with proper coaching New Zealand has the material to produce cricketers equal to the world’s best. The main defects at the moment are the “ cross hat ” and lack of suitable playing grounds. Both these points have been enlarged on several times in these notes, and it is to be hoped that those in a position to do so will strive to secure more playing areas for young New Zealanders. It is interesting to note that most critics have been struck by Bowley’s powerful hack playing. Such batting is essential on English wickets, and is an attribute possessed by all good cricketers at Home. As yet strong back play is practically unknown amongst our cricketers, chiefly because of the use of matting and poor turf wickets. No doubt Bowley will pay attention to this defect in our play when coaching the side on the trip Home. The close season now being at hand the time is ripe for cricket authorities and local bodies to play their part in doing what they can by providing more cricket grounds and practice wickets in readiness for next season. The Niner. He may have been little, or may have been tall, But his tale is so sad you will weep for it all. And it happened along of a bat and a ball! 800-hoo! Of cricketers, never a finer, From Nottinghamshire to China, But he never could manager a niner! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! He planted his feet and he lifted his bat And his reach you would wonder excessively at; And the field said “ For nine he will surely hit that.” 800-hoo! ( (Continued in Next Column)

But they ran and they scampered and fielded, And such wak the work that their zeal did, That merely an eighter it yielded, 800-hoo! 800-hoo! - 800-hoo! But he finally struck a majestical blow, And didn’t it, didn’t it, didn’t it go, If not for a mile, for a quarter or so! 800-hoo! Oh, run, I believe you, he then did, With speed and celerity splendid, And stopped with ’nine of them ended, 800-hoo! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! And just as the niner was done and' ..entire, He threw himself down to rejoice (and perspire). “ One short,” said the fair and impartial umpire! 800-hoo! So he gave up and went and ate ices, Of various colours and sizes, And died of pulmonary phthisis, 800-hoo! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! Of cricketers never a finer, Prom Nottinghamshire to China, But he never could manage a niner! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! 800-hoo! —Harrow School Song.