CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 19500, 14 March 1925, Page 14

CRICKET

(By

“Twelfth Man.”

Quite a whiff of the old days was Tapley’s breezy 90 against the Junior Representatives the other day. Unable to don flannels for the greater part of the season, the veteran managed to get in a few games at the tail end of the club season when he decisively demonstrated that his bowling and batting had not gone rusty in the meantime. He played a big part in I.C.C’s. sensational victory against the champion Saturday team, the Appleby Ist XI., he and Goodsir proving a destructive trundling combination. Not generally known that the veteran played against Warner’s English team away back in 1903, an honour also held by Poole, of Appleby. Eastern-Northern opened quite well against an Invercargill XI. at the Showgrounds on Saturday, the first half-dozen, or so all reaching double figures. The visitors, however, were handicapped by a distinct “tail,” which wagged but feebly against Doig’s steady bowling. The veteran was at the top of his form, and completely dominated the situation, his analysis reading: 14.5 overs, 3 maidens, 7 wickets, 39 runs.

That consistent batsman, Jim Lynch, topped the score for his side with a’sound 31. He played beautiful cricket for his runs. True to their word, the Australians have put in a word for Lynch as a prospective New Zealand representative, and it is safe to say that it was no fault of theirs that he did not secure a place in the first test team. A little judicious effort by the Southland Cricket Association might bear fruit when the next New Zealand side is under consideration. Anyhow, its worth trying.

The Invercargill XI rattled up 181 for three wickets in short order. Groves’s half century was the pick of the bunch of useful scores. He did not give a chance and batted in his old style—a sound and well played innings. A good deal of interest attached to the bowling of McKay, who skittled a Town side at Gore recently on the concrete, but it was the Northerner’s day off. He did not get a wicket, and had 60 runs knocked off him. Nevertheless, he bowled better than the figures indicated, and if he concentrated on his off-break and straight delivery, he would be an acquisition to any Town club. The two Lynches could have been used more with advantage. Behind the sticks, Bogue kept wickets in his old form, stumping Groves and allowing only three byes' in a total of 181. It would be a compliment, and a well deserved one, to country cricket, if he were chosen for the next Southland team.

The Junior Representatives made a rather unpromising debut against a not over-strong I senior eleven last week-end and ought to be capable of doing a good deal better this afternoon. Leek and Johnston showed promise with the ball. The latter has yet to cultivate the left-hander’s true swinging action in which the arm comes naturally across the body as distinct from a righthander’s straight over swing. Thanks to a great run of fine weather during the summer, the Southland Cricket Association has been able to give a good deal more attention to outside matches this season than is usually the case, and last Saturday’s series was an excellently arranged one in every respect. A new departure this year was a trip to Balclutha, the headquarters of the South Otago Association, a trip which was a successful one in every way. The visitors were most hospitably treated, a fact which should do a great deal to wipe out the unfavourable impression formed of this district by a northern cricketing team on tour some time back, which is stated to have been far from enthusiastic anent the hospitality of South Otago. However, the Southland team which entrained for Balclutha on Saturday morning speak in glowing terms of the manner in which they were received, and it is hoped that this may be the beginning of regular visits between the two places. Un in Central Otago a strong bond of friendship has been created with Southland, thanks to the pioneering work of J. A. Doig and his Wanderers XI, while “the stranger within our gates,” as the country cricketers in the home province might have been termed up till the past year or so, is increasingly catered for. With a reasonable amount of fine weather in the next week or two, a golden opportunity for interchanges of visits between Town and country clubs will eventuate, and the very much alive Appleby Club is already moving in this direction, if one can judge from a remark dropped by one of its delegates at the latest meeting of the Southland Cricket Association.

The visiting Invercargill XI took the honours of the first innings by a good margin, but the South Otago side put up a very creditable game indeed. Norman, who was unable to reach the scene of activities in the home ride’s first innings owing to a ear breakdown, was, however, able to

bat in the second, and he gave a very nice exhibition of batting, scoring 46 (not out). Edwards also reached the forties in the first innings and then fell a victim to a catch by his southern namesake. The South Otago man, however, evened things up by clean bowling the Invercargill player when the visitors turn came to bat.

• The next week or two will see the final stages of the local season entered upon. The match between Union and Appleby for the club championship of Invercargill is due to commence this afternoon, concluding on March 25. In between, Southland will play a return match with Otago at the Showgrounds. Plum Warner’s selection of “The World Past and Present” v. Mars: —W. G. Grace, •V. Truniper, K. S. Ranjfisinhji, J? B. Hobbs, Clem Hill, M. A. Noble (captain), F. E. Woolley, W. Lockwood, J. M. Blackham, S. F. Barnes, F. R. Spofforth and G. Faulkner (12th man).

Mayne, the Victorian captain, was genuinely impressed with the batting of J. Lynch at Invercargill (says “Wallaby” in Dunedin Star), and reiterates his opinion that the young batsman should be seriously considered for the New Zealand team. Those who saw Lynch perform against Otago early in the season put him down as a sound bat, but no better than a dozen or more Dunedin wielders of the willow. He‘may have improved, of course, and the selectors should keep him in mind in view of next season’s Plunket Shield matches. It is not likely, however, that he will stand any chance of inclusion in this season’s Tests.

With regard to the somewhat patronising tone of the remarks contained in the foregoing, it may be observed that Lynch did not manage to get going to any extent on his one appearance in Dunedin earlier in the season, so how on earth ‘those who saw him perform against Otago” were in a position to pass the above-mentioned judgment on him passes comprehension. Alert, active and almost youthful looking, few who did not know would guess that Vernon Ransford visited New Zealand with an Australian side 25 years ago! And he is by no means an old-timer yet—like Clem Hill, Victor Trumper and others, he was in the fulness of his powers while still a minor in the eyes of the law. He has represented Australia on 15 occasions in Test matches, has an average in the Tests of 38.82, with a highest score of 143 (not out). Southland followers of the game were disappointed that he did not strike form with the bat in the south, but when he does whichever centre that is playing the Victorians at the time should witness a treat, for it has been universally conceded that he is one of the most graceful and polished batsmen of his generation. Since the war, the stress of Test match play has not attracted him, and he has been content to retire from the international stage, but of his ability there can be no doubt. As captain of the 1921 Australian Eleven which visited New Zealand, he was a popular figure, and a host of friends have welcomed his return. JUNIOR NOTES. (By “Point.”) The match Junior Rep’s, v Seniors was played on the Showgrounds on Saturday last, the latter winning by 74 runs off first innings. Batting first, the seniors compiled 158 of which Tapley got 90 not out. He played a good sound innings, going in second wicket and playing right through the side. Cheyne also batted well for 25, when he was bowled by a beauty from Johnston.

The captain, Bradshaw, was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 25, while Woods, also from Bluff, took 3 for 60. It was off this latter bowler that Tapley scored his runs, banging him to the fence repeatedly, and it was a pity that the skipper could not see his way to give men who were picked mainly for their bowling an over or two. With a side picked for bowling and fielding rapid changes should have been the order of the day, and it must have been annoying to the selectors when neither Carson, Hanan, Oughton or J. Lilley were given a chance and Johnston, who is probably the steadiest bowler in Junior cricket, taken off when bowling at his best. The Junior’s total amounted to 82, only two batsmen reaching double figures, Oughton playing a fine, steady game for 22 and Carson getting 12 in his usual rapid fashion before he had the misfortune to play one on to his wicket. A. Wilson secured three wickets for 8 runs in 5 overs and Thomas got 3 for 27. He bowls a very good ball which swings in to the batsmen’s legs.

The combination of turf and senior bowling seemed to be too much for the juniors, very few of whom played with any confidence at all, and going out to bowling which would be knocked all over the field if received at the practice nets. Another match will be played this week I the junior team remaining as before except j that Hanan, who has gone to Dunedin, will | be replaced by Anderson of Union and i Woods by Finnerty of Bluff. The Com- , mittee has made a wise move in recomj mending a captain as it is very seldom a i representative team makes the right choice. Centuries have been fairly prolific this season, especially amongst the Appleby juniors and the following batsmen have gained a position on the list:—R. Kidd (2), W. Carson,. W. Stott, G. Winter, Appleby; !J. Stevens, I.C.C. Two Appleby Wednesday i juniors have very fine averages, viz:—R. ! Kidd batting average 20, bowling 28 | wickets, average 5.3 runs; N. Poole batting I average 15, bowling 21 wickets, average ’ 10.7 runs.

’ Three of the best of our juniors are now lost to us for two seasons, these being R. Kidd, R. Hanan and J. Stevens, who have gone to the Training College in Dunedin. A Leek who bowled against the seniors on Saturday is said to be at least as good as any break-bowler in senior grade. G. Johnston is probably the best bowler in junior cricket, but would probably do even better if he made use of the left- , hander’s natural swing which, by the way, I Carson uses to great advantage. | E. Porteous of Union has not yet struck ' form, he apparently cannot settle down on | concrete wickets and does not get the averages as he did on Dunedin turf wickets. G. Oughton of Southern is a very useful all-rounder, he bowls with a natural break and is a good first wicket batsman.

If the Bluff dub could find a fast medium bowler it would make a great difference to the strength of their attack as their bowling at present it too much of the one type. L. Jordan, perhaps their most successful bowler, played senior grade for Appleby about seven years ago.

It is unfortunate that Titchener of I.C.C. is on the sick list, as he would make a great difference to the strength of the junior reps. If junior skippers would set out their teams on paper and map out a plan of campaign for the opposing batsmen they would find it a great saving of time and worry and also give them something definite to work on.

An interesting single innings game was played on Queen’s Park between Municipal Offices and the Power Board on Saturday last resulting in a win by 40 runs for the former team. Municipal Offices put together the nice total of 145 of which Graham made 55, hitting one six, and McKenzie 28, hitting two sixes. Donnelly secured a good average with 5 for 40. The Power Board’s, innings closed for 104,

35, McMillan 22 and Donnelly 25 not out, being chief scorers. Graham took six wickets for 28 runs. In the evening the losers entertained the winners at a dinner.

At the weekly meeting of the Junior Advisory Committee it was decided that all junior competitions now close with Southerns as winners of the Saturday and Appleby of the Wednesday, and that members endeavour to arrange friendly matches and country games for the remainder of the season.

TEST CRICKET.

AUSTRALIAN’S OPINION.

One member of the Australian team who played right through the Tests, was asked what sort of a time he had and whether the 1 matches were pleasant or otherwise. “Pleasant!” he said. “We’re all sick and tired of them. Not only our team, but the Englishmen are just as stale and tired as a lot of overworked horses. Seven days of fielding, or loafing in the pavilion, with the same men round us all the time, with nothing but cricket to talk about. It got' on our nerves, I can tell you. We got to hate the sight of each other’s faces by the time we had stood the strain of a sevendays’ match. And no sooner is one match over than we must put on our flannels for another. The thing is like a nightmare, and even the English pro’s are trying to think out some way of shortening the matches. “Talk about the clock-watchers’ union— I’ll swear there never was anybody in the world watched the clock like we used to in those long days in Adelaide. And then, when the Englishmen did get a bit of a chance for a spell in Tasmania, they wanted them to go and listen to speeches. Can you beat it? “If the matches are going to keep on at the seven-day endurance test, they will have to get mechanical cricketers, for flesh and blood won’t stand it. And our businesses are going to the devil all the time, and we spend every penny we make while we are away from home. If anyone can tell us how to shorten the games he’ll do the cricketers the best turn that has ever been done since cricket was invented.”

SUMMARY OF THE TOUR. The following is a summary of the English team’s tour to date: — Western Australia.—Drawn. Western Australian Colts. —Drawn. Western Australia. —Won by an innings and 190 runs. Goldfields Association. —Drawn. South Australia. —Won by 9 wickets. Victoria. —Lost by 6 wickets. New South Wales—Won by 3 wickets. Queensland. —Drawn. An Australian Eleven.—Drawn. Toowoomba.—Won by an innings and 126 runs. Combined Juniors of Australia.—Drawn. First Test.—Lost by 193 runs. Second Test.—Lost by 81 runs. Ballarat. —Drawn. Third Test. —Lost by 11 runs. Tasmania. —Won by 119 runs. Tasmania. —Won by an innings and 136 runs.

Victoria.—Won by an innings and 271 runs.

Fourth Test. —Won by an innings and 29 runs. New South Wales.—Drawn. Fifth Test.—Lost by 307 runs. Total: Matches played 21, won 8, drawn 8, lost 5. .CRICKET FORM. BATTING NOW A SCIENCE. There are few better authorities on the game of cricket to-day than E. R. Mayne, captain of the Victorian team which is at present touring the Dominion. He was a member of the Australian team which toured New Zealand in 1910, and in the two Test matches against New Zealand on that tour he scored 1 and 74 (not out), and 13 and 90 (not out). About 42 years of age, the Victorian captain has been playing in first-class cricket for over twenty years, originally with South Australia and later as a member of the Victorian eleven. He was a member of the last Australian team which visited England, and can therefore speak with authority upon the standard of play both in Australia and England. But not only is the Victorian captain a first-class basman and able captain; he is also a close student of the game, and probably no man in the game to-day has a more profound knowledge of cricket lore. “Burwood,” the cricket writer of the Wellington Dominion, had the privilege of a most interesting chat with Mr Mayne, the day the Victorian team arrived in New Zealand for the present tour. “Do you agree with the view that the standard of cricket is not as high at the present time as it was in the good old days?” the Victorian captain was asked. “Cricket to-day,” promptly responded Mr Mayne, “is far in advance of what it ever was. Modern batsmen have had to overcome obstacles which batsmen in the early days of the game never heard of. First of all, they were called upon to master the bail which swings in from leg, and later the googly problem confronted them. Modern batsmen simply had to set themselves to master these difficulties, and they did so. Batting to-day has been reduced to a science by men like Hobbs and Sutcliffe. In Australia, where Test matches are played out, they know to the fraction of an inch which balls are dangerous, and consequently it is extremely difficult to dislodge them from the wickets.”

“Do you agree with the cry that bowling to-day is weak?” was the next question asked.

“I have heard that cry for the last 20 years,” replied the Victorian captain. “A good many writers about the game are constantly crying out: ‘Why can we not produce bowlers like Spofforth and Turner, who could make the ball turn a couple of feet, and batsmen such as Bonnor, Massie and Lyons, who could smite up 100 in 40 minutes?’ These writers have never taken the trouble to study averages. These mighty hitters, though they occasionally smacked up a spectacular score, were really rather sorry failures when the help they gave to their sides is analysed.”

“A few of us,” continued Mr Mayne, “When in Sydney recently, were discussing this very question as to how much the champion bowlers of earlier days could turn the ball. C. T. B. Turner happened to be near us, and we called him over. ‘Now, tell us, Charlie,’ one of us asked the Terror, ‘how much could you really make the ball turn on a plum wicket?’ ‘About the width of a thumb-nail, my boy,’ said Turner. Here you have it,” continued the Victorian captain, “and yet you frequently see modern writers referring to the amazing manner in which Turner and Howell could make the ball turn on perfect pitches. “Is it a fact,” the Pressman asked, “that the cricket in the present series of Test matches was painfully slow?” “Test match play is a serious business,” replied Mr Mayne, “and as all matches are played to a finish, there is no necessity to take risks. The best answer to your question is to reply that cricket is more popular with the public to-day than ever it was.” “What about Vic Richardson? Did he not prove in the second Test at Melbourne that runs could be scored at a rapid rate, even in a Test match?” was the next query put. “Certainly he did,” was Mr Mayne’s reply, “but what has he done since? Vic Richardson has lost his place in the Australian eleven. What is demanded are batemen who will succeed consistently, and not those who run up a big score once in every half-dozen innings. There is no place in the Australian eleven for the man who takes undue risks.” During the course of a most interesting chat upon the game, the Australian captain badly upset one little illusion “Burwood” had fondly cherished all his life. This was the fallacy that England was the country where difficult wickets were to be found. “There is no such thing as a bad wicket in England,” he declared. “They don’t know what sticky wickets are in England. When you strike a bad wicket in Austra- . perfectly justifiable. Provided that both

lia, it is almost impossible to score any runs upon it. They have nothing of the kind in England.” “How do you account for the fact that Victoria, which holds the Sheffield Shield, only had two representatives in the Australian eleven, as agains* eight from New South Wales?” Mr Mayne was asked. “There is nd accounting for it,” was the reply. “It has been a sore point for some seasons past, but we are hopeful that things will be different next season, and that Victoria will take her rightful place in Australian cricket.”