CRICKET.

Southern Cross, Volume 22, Issue 45, 13 February 1915, Page 6

CRICKET.

(By “Short-stop.”)

The wet pitch prevented the two representative games—senior and junior—from being played, and the men to be selected thus lost a very useful and necessary practice match. The team to play Otago on Wednesday next and the two succeeding days has been chosen, and the following players have the honour and the respoonsibilaty of fighting for their province of Southland against) J. N. Crawford’s highly trained Otago team. They should give a good account of themselves. If they battle on keenly right through they will satisfy those Southlanders who will witness their struggle for the mastery in the annual game between the provinces. The honoured players ara: Bannerman (1.C.C.), Doig (T.C.C.), Driscoll (1.C.C.), Fogo (Appleby), Jas. Gilbertson (1.C.C.) wicket keeper, Groves (Appleby), Handford (Appleby) captain, Jas. Hamilton (I*: C.C.), Kavanagh (1.C.C.), Kemnitz (1.C.C.), Poole (Appleby). Emergencies : Battersby (Appleby), Cockroft (Appleby).

The following is a criticism of the players in the selected team : Bannerman Fine bat getting into form ; excellent, catch ; bowler medium fast, and deadly in a favourable wind. Doig : Excellent length bowler breaks both ways ; punishing bat. As a howler, made a name last year against Australia here. Driscoll : Excellent fine-slip, with eyes over all territory to be covered; when going, a fast scoring bat with some variety of strokes. Fogo : Fairly fast young bowler, with results ; keen, and fairly good in the field. James Gilbertson : A treasure behind the wickets ; keen —none keener —in the field ; a much improved bat, bowls a fair ball. Groves : The fast bowler of the team ; careful bat, with fair rep. record. Handford —Correct and steady bat ; howls a good length ; the brains of the team ; has been placed captain. James Hamilton : A forceful bat, with some big scores behind him ; keen in the field.

Kavanagh : The best I bat in the team ; googly bowler of deadly periods ; superb field. Kemnitz : A fair bat ; good between wickets ;. fair in field ;* second wicket-keepetr. . Poole : Batsman that seldom fails in a big game ; rapid scorer ; keen and excellent field ; change bowler ,of the tempter type.

As a fielding team, the chosen do not come up Jo the standard of last year’s selection. The Hamiltons, John and Archie, and Irwin, will be missed, and it is a great pity their batting averages did not bring them into greater prominence. Under the guidance of Handford, a player of tried acumen, the team should be handled to produce the best that is in it for the cricket glory of the province.