THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 7

THE CRICKET CRITIC

A contemporary say & that Australian cricketers are a good-tempered set. But some are soon put out.

B. B- Wilson, the veteran Yorkshire oatsman, who is now coach to the Taranaki Cricket Association, gave a taste of his quality by hitting up a century in each innings for Taranaki against Wanganui in the recent Hawke Cup match at Wanganui. Ryder’s versatility is astonishing. He is at his best when going for runs, according to Test match cablegrams. At that stage lie was like the famous Walker—"still going strong.” Woodfull, on the other hand, revealed that his weakness is going for walks —down the pitch—whereupon Duckworth got the habit and did a bit of “stumping.” ** « * Selecting Wellington’s Team Reports from Wellington indicate that the sole selector in the Capital City has had some difficulty in getting together a strong team to defend the Plunket Shield this season. First of all. Hiddleston. Massey, Hollings, and Cousins were unavailable, and then two men in the eleven chosen, Mackenzie and Worker, f announced their inability to turn out. * * * Stan Lay as a Cricketer Stan Lav, champion javelin thrower at Stamford Bridge, but not quite so successful at the Olympic Games, is now launched as a cricketer, and has several excellent scores to his credit of recent weeks. Playing for Taranaki, he put up a century against W anganui in the recent Hawke Cup match, and with Wilson put on more than JOO for the second wicket in Taranaki s second innings. After they had the bowling well collared, rain came on and spoiled the partnership. * * * Positions of Wellington Club# The following is a table showing the positions of the teams playing in tne

senior grade of the Wellington Cricket Association’s competition: Ist. Out-

Another B'owling Star While the Australians would naturally have their eyes focussed on Laxwood and Tate, it was neither of these

stars who routed the pride of Australia at Sydney on Friday last. The man who did all the damage was the Leicestershire mediumpaced trundler of great accuracy, G. Geary, who covered himself with glory by securing five wickets for 30

runs. This was a phenomenal performance against an Australian eleven in a test match on a perfect wicket, and stamps the Leicestershire professional as a great bowler. Geary played for England in 1926, and in the fifth test match at the Oval—in which England took the “Ashes” from Australia —and in that historic game took no wickets for 43, and one for 15. Geary for years pasr has been the bowling mainstay of his county, and last season took 71 wickets for 1,287 runs, at the good average of 18.12. What Is Wrong? This led a Southern exchange to comment on the position as follows: “It has revealed a position which appears to be in line with that which has given rise to comment in Australia —the appeal to youth of attractions other than those of the field of sport. In trying to fill the two vacancies in the Wellington team. Mr. Tucker found that quite a number of players were

not prepared to accept. There was a time when the chance of representing Wellington at cricket would be rushed, and one would think that ■ players would make the most of the chance to-day of playing in Plunket Shield cricket, especially as it is the real stepping-stone to international honours —and next season a New Zealand team will be required for tests with the English cricketers coming to the Dominion.”

Who Will Win the Shield? Who will win the Plunket Shield is the question in dispute in the Plunket Shield matches at present in progress. Otago’s chances, seeing that several of her best players are not able to tour, have previously been dismissed with little consideration, but the fine showing of her men against Wellington has altered the position. Nevertheless the big test will come when Auckland meets Wellington at Auckland in midJanuary. With the team from the Capital City appearing to be somewhat weaker than in the immediate past, and Auckland if anything stronger than last year, the final issue will probably be very close.

Auckland’s Chance With 264 on for live wickets, Auckland has a good chance of putting up a big score against Canterbury. They will need to get well on in the. 300 s to be safe against a side % which includes such tine batsmen as Newman. Page, and Merritt. Last year Canterury visited Auckland, and got h«>•• by 11 runs after the local men had put up a stubborn tight, in which C. C. Dacre went out in a blaze of glory. Should Otago beat Wellington, and Auckland defeat Canterbury, the clash of Auckland and Otago at New Year will be awaited with interest. * * * Otago Springs Surprise The tine first innings’ effort of Otago—what was thought would be a weak team minus Shepherd. Dickinson, and Co. —must have surprised Wellington yesterday. As a result of the visiting team’s 398, the shield holders are fighting for runs, and with only four wickets to go. are still over 100 behind. McGirr, Badcock, and Henderson are generally looked upon as a strong trio of bowlers, but EastAlloo. and Cavanagh made '• look very ordinary. Even without New Zealand’s only fast bowler of repute Dickinson, the men from Dunedin have so far kept Wellington’s batsmen well within bounds. Gillespie in Form A pleasing feature of Auckland’s innings yesterday was Hector Gillespie’s 65 not out. A colt who narrowly missed selection for the New Zealand team’s tour of England, Gillespie has been dogged by ill-luck for the past two seasons, and last year lost his

place in the Auckland team. He began well this season with 91, and followed it up with sever.al other good scores.

Papatoetoe Defeats University This game was completed on King’s College ground last Thursday, and Papatoetoe effected a surprise by getting University out twice in the afternoon. The fielding of the Papatoetoe team was brilliant, the catches taken by Bay, a substitute fieldsman, and Kerr being especially good. University’s first innings closed for 168, the chief contributor being Stewart, with 84 not out. Wilson contributed 28. With the ball, the honours went to Valentine, four for 43, and Kerr, three for 51. With 170 to get in 1| hours to avert an innings defeat, University went in again. Bright proved a thorn in their flesh, and with seven wickets down for 36, Papatoetoe’s chances looked rosy. However, Hudson and Stewart stopped the rot. until Hudson poked one from Burnside to the wicket-keeper, and Stewart was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Kerr. This ended the match, ten minutes before time, leaving Papatoetoe victorious by an innings and 80 runs. The Papatoetoe third-grade team suffeerd its first defeat, going down to North Shore by five runs. Aucklander Plays for Otago P. G. Monk, who knocked up 25 in Otago’s first innings against Wellington on Monday and who captured one wicket for 23 yesterday, is an exAucklander who played for the North Shore colts team last season and turned out once or twice for the Shore seniors. He learnt his cricket at the Mount Albert Grammar School, and is a batsman of the dashing type. He was at school with G. L. Weir, who is at present playing for Auckland against Canterbury.

Inn. right Ch. Win. Win. L. D. Pts. Wellington . . .. 3 0 0 0 9 Midland .. - . .. 2 0 6 University Old Boys .. .. .. o 1 5 Institute . . . . ■*. .. 1 Hutt . . 0 2 Petone .. 0 * * *