CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 19223, 19 April 1924, Page 12

CRICKET

(By “Twelfth Man.”) Cricketers generally will regret to learn that the New South Wales and international player, Warren Bardsley, who, with his brother Raymond stayed behind after the departure of the New South Wales team to enjoy a holiday at Rotorua, sustained an accident there which necessitated an operation to one of his legs, which had to be opened below the knee. The latest report according to the Auckland Star, states that Bardsley is making a good recovery, and will probably be back in Auckland this week-end. Walter Humphreys, the old English lob bowler, whose death took place recently, was the only slow, underhand bowler seen in first-class cricket in Australia in the last 30 years and more, says Sydney Referee. In early days lob bowling was not uncommon, but in the last 40 years it has been extinct in this country. When Walter Humphreys appeared on the Sydney Cricket Ground for Stoddart’s team against New South Wales in 1894 he was a veteran, very slow of movement, and his bowling looked, from beyond the pickets, to be the “merest tripe.’ But, old as he was, perfect as the match wickets, and great as the Australian bastmen of that period were, it could be seen that Humphreys in his days of youth must have I been an extremely useful bowler on a side 1 possessing a first-class wicketkeeper and fast, clever outfields. I He was too old when he visited Australia, and then out of place in Test cricket, but in England, prior to that, he had had his days of triumph against the Australians. Twice he did the hat-trick against them, once dismissed George Bonnor, Jack jßlack ham and T. U. Groube in three balls. I:, another match he got rid of Percy McDonnell, George Giffen and Dr H. J. H. Scott. Besides, he was able to point to other great things against the Australians. For Sussex, Humphreys was also a successful batsman for some years; in fact, he was first played in the eleven as a batsman. Once asked how he accounted for his success against the Australian teams, Humphreys said: “It is probable that when I first met them they thought the lobs were hardly worth troubling about, and were only meant to increase averages. When I was about to go on against Bonnor for the first time, he went into the pavilion to change his cap for a wide hat, apparently because he thought be would have a lot of running about and would get warm. He had a i tremendous swipe at the very first ball, and goodness knows where it would have gone to if he had hit it. As it happened he I missed, and the ball hit the wicket. | “I was amused in 1893, when I was

bowling against George Giffen. I had given him a ball which pitched on the wicket and broke away to leg, and a bye was scored. When he reached my end he said, Tf I had only known which way that ball was going to break I’d have given him Johnny-up-the-orchard, I can tell you.’” Walter Humphreys had the saving grace of humour, and it helped to tone the acid effect of the crowd’s irony at times, for a man bowling lobs in first-class cricket was i something of an oddity.

The annual “mastadonic conflict” between the Times and News was resuscitated on a couple of evenings last week at the Showgrounds, cricket furnishing the bone of contention. The first night’s play was fairly even, small scoring prevailing against the “demon” bowlers of both sides. However, on the second evening, the "rimes” romped home to the tune of a win by nine wickets and some odd runs. Duthie, Richards and Lynch figured prominently in the Times’ victory, while Nisbet, Lenihan and Fenton showed good form for the “News.” PROPOSED VLSIT FROM WEST INDIES. An interesting review of the New ZeaI land cricket season with the intercolonial I fixtures, shield and cup contests and a statement of the finances of the recent New • South Wales tour were given to the Weli lington correspondent of the Southland I T unes on Thursday by the chairman of the ■ Management Committee (Mr J. S. Barrett) l while passing through Wellington on his j way north. I ‘The balance-sheet for the New South • Wales tour is not quite completed,” said |Mr Barrett, “but we can confidently look Ito a profit of between £BOO and £9OO. In j addition to this nearly all the Associations j made a slight profit. The tour was coni ducted so economically that the estimate !of expenditure was not reached. There ! should be a small rebate to all the Associa1 tions on their guarantes. “The tour was an unqualified success,” I continued Mr Barrett, “and I am sure the public were delighted at seeing the very best of cricket from the visitors. That wasevidenced by the attendances. It is very disappointing that New Zealand failed so badly in the tests. The form was too bad to be true. I am quite confident that with more practice against a first-class team, New Zealand will do very much better. It is with that idea that the Council is pursuing the policy of trying to get a visit from an outside team every year. “We are at present negotiating with the West Indies and we hope that the team that did so well in England last year will ‘make the journey. I think this would be aa extremely popular tour. Mr Arthur Sims, who saw the West Indies team in England, believes they are capable of beating New Zealand. They have an exceptionally good fast bowler in Francis. “We are also trying to arrange with Marylebone that the English team that will visit Australia next season will return from Australia via Panama, staying two or three weeks in New Zealand. We do not think it will be possible to get a good team from Australia next season as all eyes will be on the test matches.

“The Plunket Shield matches were keenly contested and caused considerable local interest and enthusiasm in each centre. This was most marked in Dunedin where a regular cricket revival has commenced. The Shield rests in Wellington, which well deserved its win. It is quite possible -hat the Redpath Cup, awarded for the most meritorious batting performances, may also come to Wellington. “The most difficult problem for the Management Committee is the Hawke Cup contest. This is the cup donated by Lord Hawke for competition among the minor Associations which has always been contested by challengers against the holder. This was quite satisfactory when there were only a few aspirants, but it now means that if the holder wins its matches all club and local cricket is upset by the Association being required to fight for the Hawke Cup. A conference of minor Associations was convened by the Management Committee and was held in Wellington during the second test match. At that meeting, Mr Arkwright, representing Rangitikei brought forward a scheme based on the Minor Counties’ Association of England. This scheme was defeated by a narrow majority, the members of the Council not voting. It is now being circularised to the minor Associations by the Management Committee. They will have an opportunity of discussing it through their delegates at the next quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council. Personally, Mr Arkwright converted me and I believe the scheme is quite feasible.

“The Heathcote Williams Shield, which is presented for competition among secondary schools, has not received the competition which it merits but the difficulty arises from the fact that most of the boys are preparing for examinations and find it difficult to get leave to travel. I would suggest to game masters of secondary’ schools that they consider playing for this trophy in the first term of the year. “The Management Committee has been paying some attention to cricket records and the indefatigable secretary (Mr J. Peak) is devoting much of his spare time to bringing them up to date. We hope that during the winter a booklet will be published giving the roll of honour of all who have represented New Zealand since the inauguration of the Council in 1881. Statistics regarding the Plunket Shield, Hawke Cup and Heathcote Williams Shield will also be included.”