CRICKET SEASON OPENS WITH TWO CENTURIES

Southland Times, Issue 23347, 3 November 1937, Page 14

CRICKET SEASON OPENS WITH TWO CENTURIES

Union And Appleby In Strong Positions

(By

NOT OUT)

Judging by some of the performances in senior grade matches on Saturday, when the first round of the competition was begun, cricket in Invercargill should be particularly bright this year. The outstanding innings was that of T, M. Uttley, playing his first game for Union against Marist, and his total of 170 not out was the result of vigorous batting all over the field. He scored with fine and well-timed shots, his cutting and pulling being particularly effective. Only two chances were given and both were hard shots. Ellis assisted Uttley to put up a record fifthwicket partnership (for the Union Club) of 123. He batted steadily for a valuable 32 before being bowled by the first ball of McGowan’s second over. Poole, who followed, hit hard for 36, including one big hit over the pavilion. He should have been caught twice while at the wicket, but Marist was having an off day in that department. McColl and Swinney were run out through misunderstandings. These should not occur in senior cricket and it is a foolish and pathetic way to lose a wicket. In most cases it is nothing more or less than suicide. Derbie, who took four wickets, was the only bowler, with the exception of Brittenden, who looked likely, and kept length and direction very well. A strong nor’-wester made bowling conditions difficult for Marist. Forde, who bowled successfully for the Colts two seasons ago, did not bowl on Saturday. Marist’s attack lacked variety, and no fewer than four slow and emidum left-arm bowlers were tried.

the Australian Board of Control and Marylebone for matches to be played in all the main centres on the occasion of the next visit. The tour showed a slight loss as the gate receipts were less than anticipated and the extra cost of the diversion to New Zealand payable by the council was much higher than on the occasion of the visit of Jardine’s team. The New Zealand team has not yet returned to New Zealand as three matches are being played in Australia by the courtesy of the Australian Board of Control and the associations in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. . . . The tour was rather disappointing as the batting in a dry season in England was neither as consistent nor as successful as was hoped. The bowling, however, was a good deal better than had been expected, particularly that of Cowie and Dunning whose heavy work in a dry season was praiseworthy in every way. The bowlers were not of the most suitable type for English conditions but did exceedingly well on the whole. The fielding is described as quite good with the exception of the slips, where lapses at vital moments had disastrous results. This weakness his been apparent in New Zealand cricket for many years past. The Plunket Shield was won by Auckland. Four centuries were made for Auckland, two each for Canterbury and Wellington and one for Otago. Only six associations took part in the Hawke Cup elimination matches. Manawatu, the holder, retained the cup after playing five challenge matches, winning three outright and one on the first innings, while one was abandoned owing to rain. The Redpath Cup was awarded to P. E. Whitelaw for the 1936-37 season. The cup has been awarded to players representing: Wellington, 6; Auckland, 6; Canterbury, 3; Otago, 2. Mr W. H. Winsor, the secretary of the council since November 1928, died suddenly at Christmas time. Mr Winsor had been an officer of the council for 25 years and it is impossible to over-state the value of his continuous labours on behalf of New Zealand cricket during the whole of that time. Mr E. C. Beale died in September. For very many years Mr Beale gave great service to ths game in an administrative way and in selecting, arranging and managing travelling teams of young players in different parts of the Dominion. Mr E. E. Luttrell was appointed by the committee to act temporarily as secretary until the annual meeting of the council. The New Zealand tour of England was financed by the guarantees of the following supporters of New Zealand cricket—Dr M. G. Louisson, Messrs G. G. Aitken, E. Boulton, C. R. Clark, A. L. Cropp, A. T. Donnelly, E. Edridge, A. G. Henderson, T. H. Lowry, W. S. Mac Gibbon, A. Sims, C. S. Thomas, W. A. White and D. E. Wanklyn.

With barely 30 minutes to go Brittenden and M. Ryan opened to Marshall, Union’s fast-medium bowler, and McColl. Ryan shaped well and got some pretty shots down to third man off Marshall. Brittenden began confidently, seeing the ball well, but cocked one up at short leg from a defensive stroke, and was out for five. Uttley’s transfer to Union balances the cricketing strength in Invercargill more evenly, and Union, which was a fairly weak side before the season opened, is now a power to be reckoned with. Old Boys on the other hand has lost a player whom it will be hard to replace. It was pleasing to see that N. McGowan, who was injured in a motor accident recently, was able to take the field for Marist in spite of a general belief that he might not be able to play until the end of the month. Spence played a fine solid innings for Appleby against Invercargill and while he provided no fireworks he was a great moral support to his side, and his century was the result of three hours of hard work in which he gave no chances at all. It was not until the last man, Foster, came in that he came within striking distance of his century, and Foster, besides playing a careful and profitable innings himself, gave his partner every chance to face the bowling. Milne played in his customary dashing style and gave a pretty exhibition for his 40 before he lifted one into Sharp’s hands. The tail wagged to good effect also, Clarence Shirley, Johnston and Foster contributing over a half century among them, but the middle batsmen were weak in their footwork and fell cheaply. Haworth, the Invercargill left-hand bowler, kept well on the wicket and his direction was good. Roberts made the best average with three for 21, the Appleby innings closing when he skittled Spence at 102. Two nine-ball overs were bowled against Invercargill in this match and Miller was unlucky in falling to the ninth ball in one of these. Both the wickets were in first-class order, and conditions generally favoured the batsmen, bowlers finding difficulty in facing the wind which blew steadily all the afternoon. VETERANS IN ACTION Governor-Generals have not been famous as cricketers, (says an Australian writer) but one, who did not receive his commission from his Majesty the King, is still the delight of cricket crowds. The reference is, of course, to that great little all-rounder C. G. Macartney, known to all cricketers as “the Governor-General.” What a batsman, bowler, and fieldsman he was! In fact, one may say still is, among the ranks of those who play the game today in picnic spirit. I am drawn to these reflections by a correspondent who tells me of a match at Brookvale, New South Wales, between Charlie Macartney’s team and the Manly Club recently. Just look at some of the names of the Macartney team. Alan Kippax, the graceful batsman; Johnny Taylor, another dasher and brilliant outfield; Tommy Andrews, the great cover point; Roy Minnett, also a dasher and useful bowler; “Hammy” Love, the wicket-keeper; E. S. White, the spin bowler; and last, but by no means least, the wily Arthur Mailey, who claims that in the Sheffield Shield match, Victoria v. New South Wales, on the Melbourne ground in 1926, he bowled more balls and had more runs hit off him in an innings than any other bowler who ever lived. His figures in that match were:—sl2 balls, no maidens, 362 runs, four wickets. The Victorian score was 1107. W. H. Ponsford made 352, J. Ryder 295 (including six sixes), W. M. Woodfull 133, and H. L. Hendry 100. Arthur Mailey must have recalled that experience when B. C. Cook, one of the Manly men, hit a full toss on to the pavilion roof. An idea of the spirit in which the teams played may be gathered from the fact that in three hours 360 runs were scored. Would that there was more of this holiday or picnic spirit in the game.

LOSS ON ENGLISH TOUR

RESULTS CONSIDERED DISAPPOINTING The annual report of the New Zealand Cricket Council states that the tour of the New Zealand team to England will show a substantial but at present unascertained loss. In future the council will have to consider very carefully the financial outcome of any tour, particularly by foreign teams in New Zealand. The Marylebone team after its tour in Australia played three matches in New Zealand in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Unfortunately because of lack of time it was not possible to play a game in Dunedin but it is hoped to make arrangements with

BRADMAN IN FORM

BIG SCORES IN ADELAIDE

It has not taken Don Bradman long to get into scoring mood this season in Adelaide, where on Friday he will lead the powerful' South Australian side against the New Zealand team, (states an Australian writer). Whereas his first knock of the season yielded only two runs, the wonder batsman topped the century mark in his second innings without losing his wicket. Then he followed up with a quickly-compiled half-century in a special mid-week match. Bradman plays for Kensington in club cricket, and in the second innings of the season’s first match (against Adelaide) he had made 116 when stumps were drawn with the side’s score at 183 for nine wickets. He made his runs in just over two hours, and is reported to have played very attractively without flashing out into great brilliance. He was always looking for runs, but did not go in for much in the way of big hitting, his smartness between the wickets being a feature of his display. There were 57 singles in his score and of 4’s there were eight. Bradman reached the 100 mark in 94 minutes.

Kensington lost the match by 33 runs on the first innings. Scaife (formerly of Victoria) did best with the bat for Adelaide. He had made 66 when he was run out. Clarrie Crimmett, in the same team as Bradman, was easily the most successful bowler—six for 105. Before this season Bradman’s aggregate of runs had passed the 36,000 mark, the huge total having been compiled at the remarkably high average of 89.32 a season. In a special match recently in aid of the Richardson-Grimmett Testimonial Fund Bradman made 58 in 70 minutes. In this match the state team met a combined country team and made 335, the match serving as a good preliminary to that which is to be played with New Zealand, on Friday. Richardson was top-scorer with 90 (in 70 minutes) for the state team, and Grimmett made 44 as well as taking two wickets.