CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 17547, 10 January 1914, Page 10

CRICKET

(By “Covor Point.”) VWW ZEALAND TEAM IX AUSTRALIA. FIXTURES. January S. 9. 10, 3 2—v. Victoria, at Melbourne. January 30. IT. 3 9 —v. South Australia, at Adelaide. January 21. 22—v. Melbourne C.C., at Melbourne. RESULTS.

v. Northern Districts, won by 30"-runs Scores : N.Z.. 22S and i for 255. Northern Districts. 120 and 90. v. Northern Districts, won by an innings and 46 runs. Scores : N.Z., 232; Northern Districts, 86 and 100 runs. v. Queensland. won by 12 runs. Scores ; N.Z., S9 and 161. Queensland, 124 and 114. . _ v. New South Wales. Lost by :in innings and 247 runs. Scores ; N.Z., 161 and 100; N.S.W.. 513.

v. Southern Districts, Mon by S wickets. Scores : N.Z.. 220 and 2 for S2; Southern. 142 and 169. v. Albury and Border. Won by an innings and 127 runs. Scores: N.Z.. 275; Albury and Border. 75 and 3 76.

•The first representative eleven of the season has been picked and has played, and from its deeds on the cricket field we are left to judge for ourselves. In many respects Southland’s efforts against Wellington were not up to the true level of thc-ir capabilities, but perhaps one would be asking too much for everything to be in apple pic order at the early stage of a new season, and a season too. for various reasons, but mainly on account of the weather, which has retarded the crickytor's progress. But after allowing tor all drawbacks blemishes were very apparent, particularly -in the hatting efforts of the Southland eleven, and it will not come as a surprise to see that the soloclors have marie at least two alterations in the side for the Canterbury fixture.

Caretaker Battcrsby turned out a wicket on Rugby Park for Tuesday and Wednesday's play on which the batsmen should have made lots of runs, but when one looks at totals of 27 and 6* i for 6 wickets there is a question to «.• answered. What were the batsmen doing? There were a few exceptions where the bnwjing was met courageously, but the majority seemed to have a dread of what the lefthander Saunders, of Victorian and Australian Elevens record, was going to do. The result was that ''scratching" in the early part of their efforts brought about their undoing before they bad become set. Of course there were instances, ndtabiy that of Kavanngh in both innings, where the batsman went for the bowling with confidence from the start, but a misjudgmr-nt in making a stroke ended his career early in both innings. Even the totals put up hy the Wellington eleven of 125 runs and 155 runs were not by any means as large as was expected of them, and it was only in isolated cases that their batting was of outstanding merit. Joplin's display was perhaps worthy of earning major praise in the first innings.* and the Victoria College player showed himself alwav s eager to go for the bowling and at the •same time avoid taking too great risks. A youth of small stature, Joplin-has a surprisingly long reach and uses it to work the pull shot as often as he thinks the howling is suited to this method. Ho lias; pm up some big scores iji club and other games this season, and is looked upon as a batsman with a future. In the first innings lie was going well in the twenties when he , turned Kavanagb to leg and Poole look a brilliant catch. The bail came up a bit and the batsman lost much of the intended power of the stroke by getting it a little too high on the wood. in his second strike Joplin Had again passed the twenties when lie lifted Ids leg to a, ball from Kavanagb. It heat him and the bails were off by the wicketkeeper before the batsman could recover.

Grace, of Maori football connection, played very correct cricket for thirteen runs in Wellington’s first innings! Most of his scoring strokes were on the leg side, anything coming on the off being carefully watched. In the second innings there was no opportunity to see Grace in action, as he got his leg in front to Doig at one and was out for keeps. Blacklock. an' old hand in Wellington representative cricket, is a noted hitter, and the public got a brief, glimpse of what he was capabletof during his short stay Jn the second, irfelings.. Hs-ran up • hie* total to 17 in -three overs, when, in attempting a big square leg hit, Poole, ended his career near the boundary. He should never have got that far. however, jus. He'was badly - missed on no ’fewer than 'three-“occasions.

“Ken” Tucker, although he has done little cricket for the past year or two was easily the veteran of the side, which visited us from the Empire City. He did not get far in either innings, the first visit going for a hlot> and succumbing to Poole for 15 in the second. H. McGirr. the fast bowler of Wellington’s side, is a son of W. McGirr. well known in North Island cricket as a bowler over thirty years, ago. He did not meet with a great deal of success, his single wicket in each innings costing K? runs. With the bat he notched 16 and 4 runs, and played cricket as good almost as anyone on his side. Wagstaff (17 and 60) made his runs more rapidly than any of his associates, and in both innings the score mounted rapidly when ho was at the crease. Without Wagstaff's big score on Wednesday Wellington's total would not have exceeded the hundred mark. He went for the howling with groat vim. and boundaries made up a big proportion of his total. He was lucky in escaping a runout just as he had passed double figures, but a faulty throw-in gave him a life. Again after the halfcentnry Kavanagi: dropped a ball which was returned. The innings came as a refresher after the somewhat monotonous efforts of the preceding batsmen. “Gillie” Wilson is now rapidly getting past his best, judging by his two displays here. The elasticity in footwork is not present as in the Wilson of a few short years back, and his early movements at the crease looked laboured. Of course once his eye was in one lias no reason to doubt but that he would spank the bowlers good and hard. Kavanagh, however, saw that such a happening did not occur this week.

Suffering as bo was from an injury to his ankle Don Hamilton should never have attempted to face the Wellington bowling. And certainly no one knew that better than Don himself after he had faced the first two or three balls from McGlrr. The leg was giving him trouble all the time he was at the crease, and he found it impossible to move into line to meet the ball. It was consequently little wonder that he did not last long. The loss to Southland through Hamilton’s injury was very marked. Fit and well he would have put life into the batting and imparted the necessary' confidence to some of the y-ounger generation. Bannerman’s opening work of the Southland innings on the first day’s play showed what that player was capable of. Once lie got the measure of Saunders’ first three balls he went to the next with plenty of action and power, and turned it beautifully round to the square leg boundary. Crocket, his partner, patiently played out McGirr’s first over his way. Bannerman had Saunders once again, and he showed his appreciation byknocking ten off the over. A hard low shot past mid-off and the introduction of his well known “Chinajnan” pull stroke saw the ball reach the boundary on each occasion. He went on merrily- till he reached 2S, Saunders suffering mainly. Then in attempting to lift Saunders the ball came high and the stroke being made it skied back for an easy- catch. Bannerman gave only- one other chance during the latter part of his innings, bur Wagstaff. failed to bold a hot one at the wickets. In the second innings the Bluflite opened promisingly, but Saunders clean beat him and the leg pin came out.

In Southland's first innings’ display Poole was the only batsman to get to double figures, in addition to Bannerman. The Applebyite was going merrily at 19 when he snicked a ball from Saunders and the wicketkeeper held the catch. When firmly set there is no nicer bat to watch than Poole. He was, like Bannerman, quite at home to Saunders, and anything swinging out to leg he timed beautifully, and runs always resulted. It was unfortunate for the batsman that his first, mistake should end his career, but Wagstaff's effort was a brilliant one and nine times out of ten it would not have been accepted. Again Poole's bad luck dogged him on going for his second strike, Ht; yent in first wicket down and when the runs were required. At 3 he stepped out to paste Saunders, but the break beat him and it was a case of goodbye, Wagstaff bad once again made the most of the opportunity. Kavanagh never seems to have the luck of the game that his qualifications as a, cricketer warrant. His first visit to the'wickets realised eight runs, correctly scored, and twelve came his way the second innings. On each occasion lie turned the ball back near the bowler, where the catches were held. With Irwin lie set a determined face to the bowling when mailers were looking, very bad for the home side, and the score was taken from 1 1 to 3a before Kavanagh succumbed. The scoring was slow, but it was a critical time in the innings as neither batsman could afford to take undue risks. Archie Hamilton, from an indifferent beginning gained confidence and helped the total along to *: 1 before be lost Irwin. The latter was at the crease over an hour for IS runs. He too. like Hamilton. was ill ft ease for bis opening overs, but later shaped well. The men bad the hard task set them of banging to their wickets, but there were many occasions on which, they could have made runs that they let pass. On occasions like that there is wisdom in meeting on-the-wicket balls with the full face of the bat. but surely the loose stuff can he taken full advantage of without unduly endangering your side. When time intervened Hamilton was undefeated with II runs.

[ Driscoll did not shape at all well in the second innings and seemed uneasy to Grimmett. He certainly had all the worst of the hick in cutting Grace on to his wicket when he had just opened his scoring account. Although he only ran into the half dozen on his first strike the I.C.C. man showed some nice shots, an occasional glance to fine leg being very neatly executed. It was thought that .Tack Hamilton and Gilbertson would make a stand for the last wicket, in the first innings, bur a foolish run by Gilbertson upset the earlier hopes. The V.M.C.A. player was right into his stride at the time and was getting the bowlers nicely to leg on occasions, only keen fielding keeping down his total. If Gilbertson had watched his partner the second run would never have been attempted. As it was when the ball readied the wicketkeeper both batsmen wore at the. bowler's end. Doig had two heavy days' work to gel tli rough with the ball, but the veteran got through h-is task with great success, considering that the wicket was not altogether playing to his liking. Six wickets for MI runs in the first innings was a splendid performance, and lie followed Ibis up with i Tor 49. He bowled unchanged in the first innings, but Baitnerman relieved him at the railway end in the closing part of Wednesday's play. Kavanagh met with success on Tuesday, and pul up some real puzzlers to the batsmen, his average reading at 4 for 4S and 2 for 39 for the second innings. He came on late on Wednesday, but the wicket did not give him the same assistance. Bannerman bowled well at times, although he failed to secure a wicket. Poole clean bowled one man and got his second wicket on an l.b.w. decision. Skipper Crocket bowled really well and frequently had, the batsmen guessing. Three wickets for 14 runs was a very,good average, including the downfall of Wags taIT after a big innings. Caretaker Battersby can pride himself upon the excellent wicket which he provided for the first big cricket match of the season. The playing area was the subject of high encomiums from all the visiting players. The groundsman looked to its preparation with the expert knowledge that he possesses, and despite the heavy rain showers it stood the test excellently. Success in this direction'

means much for the future of the gamf in Southland, and northern appreciation will assist materially where other big matches have to be considered. Owing to the injury to his knee as th« result, of a fall in one of the Christchurch swimming baths Sid. Hiddlestone was unable to come south with the Wellington team. He had been playing consistently well of late and local cricketers were looking forward to his re-appear-ance here. Midlanc. one of the crack northern batsmen, had to return home to attend to business after the Plunket Shield match with Canterbury. Hiddlestoije will play against Otago. The New Zealanders are drawing towards the close of their Australian tour, having only three matches to play. At presen they are engaged with Victoria. After the severe drubbing they received from the Welshmen the result of the Melbourne game will be awaited with interest.

Macartney, the irrepressible, is getting like a serial story—"continued in our next." But it is a brilliant serial; something that keeps you in a state of expectancy as to what the next instalment will be like. Five times since hj« returned from America has he batted, and four times he lias scored a century. On the fifth bccasion he would hav« undoubtedly done it but for a “shooter” from Crawford. That was in the match with South Australia. Macartney has scored 162, 155, 117. 52 and 142. The last performance was against New Zealand on Saturday, and it is safe to say that none of his previous efforts this year surpassed it in point of freedom and brilliance of execution. Scott, Petersham’s fast howler, who got a century against Queensland, very nearly got another in association with Macartney, being cleverly run out by Hickmott. who was bowling, at S4. These two and Trumper were responsible for the addition of the phenomenally large total of 205 runs In the hour and a half before lunch —“working up appetite” was what one New Zealander called it. Macartney hit brilliantly all round the wicket. H« gave the New Zealanders a treat —though they probably did not appreciate it at the time. It was very hot running round in the sun on Saturday. Every stroke in his catalogue was exhibited. including some of his rarer ones achieved by unexampled daring. OTAGO v. WELLINGTON'. DUNEDIN, January 9. The annual cricket match between Wellington and Otago commenced to-day. The weather was fine, and the wicket in capital order. The visitors in their first innings made 276. the principal contributors being Joplin 80, Hiddlestono 64. Hay 40. Torrance secured five wickets for So. and Downes 5 for 77. Otago have made 14 for no wickets. SOUTHLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATIONFIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEK. Last night's meeiing of the Southland Cricket Association was attended by Messrs McGrath (chair), .McKenzie. Tapley, Hayman, Poole, Martin, and Xisbet (secretary). The following fixtures were arranged for Wednesday next ; —Seniors.— Bluff v. Y.M.C.A.. Bluff; Appleby v. 1.C.C., Rugby Park No. 1. —Juniors.— Wairongoa v. Bluff. Teviot street. Southern v. Appleby. Rugby Park No. XA Y.M.C.A. v. Waikiwi, Waikiwi. High School a bye ' —Third Grade. — Y.M.C.A. v. Appleby. Rugby Park No. 3.