THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 837, 4 December 1929, Page 15

THE CRICKET CRITIC

... .nzceatrd by The Sun last-week. VjeJTt lub K T. 1- Thakothe young Fijian hitler, on SaturS* and he justiti.-.i his promotion by top scorins tn his lirst * n senior ranks.

Pl.yeri for Practice

With the commencement o£ the r

tentative cricket season in Auckj just three weeks off. the Auck--4 Cricket Association's selectors a -e named ill players for practice In reparation for the season ahead. This 1 -in will be one of the biggest in ?he history of -big" cricket in New Zealand, and to date the Auckland '■ has four engagements—three pT.mket Shield matches and one match against the Surprise Inclusions

It can be said that there are no surnrl,# inclusions in the 21. and with “ ‘ 0 r two possible exceptions there be little to cavil at in the excluThree men who played for tlie tiickland representatives last season ? not figure among the number. Bcwley. ot course. Is no longer with and his place has been taken by J p Wensley. J. A. Dunning, the Rhodes scholar, is now in Dunedin, A S Plaver, veteran Auckland retentative for many seasons past. Ua, go far failed to show any sort of form this season. # . give Msn Each

Parnell and Eden have five representatives each in the 21. Whitelaw, Hay, McCoy. Anthony and Wensley form the maroon band. Whitelaw and Wensley may be counted as certainties for the reps, and Hay and McCoy are a pair of deserving colts who have been knocking at the door for some time tnthony showed on Saturday that although now a veteran in playing years at least, lie has lost little of his batting ,kill with the advance of time. There i, no other member ot tho Parnell team who could, on form, have been included in the 21. Langton Gets Chance

The only one of tho five Edenites who, at the present time, can be regarded as a representative certainty, in J. E. Mills. Langton is having his Brat try-out, and his inclusion in the flrst Auckland Plunket Shield team

would cause little surprise. G. L. Weir has been dogged by ill-luck this season, as also has H. D. Gillespie. Cut both men, and Postles also, may be back into fettle for Christmas. One player who might have been included is Vivian. who, apart from his un-

- cipai i xruni him uu-itou-ited batting ability, Is a brilliant Dele anywhere near the bat.

Three Varsity Bowlers Matheson and Smeeton (University) would be certainties for the reps, if a team were being selected tomorrow. Both have been in rare form with the ball this season, and Garrard has shone with the but also. No other member of the Varsity side can confctder himself unfortunate in being omitted. Grafton has thrive men in the running. C. F. W. Ailcott, R. W. Rowntree and E. Uorspool, till of whom have seen many years of big cricket. With this team also, no other player has as yet merited inclusion. * * * Ponsonby’s Lone Representative L. T. J. Monteith alone of the 11 Ponsonby men has been included. He is lucky to be in the list. Why Fletcher, one of the most successful bats in A.C.A. ranks so far this season has failed to catch the selectors’ eye is the one. real surprise of the day. In four innings to date he has scored 163 runs—an average of 40.75 per innings. He has had more than ordinary success with the ball also. Another player who will need watching is Cleverley, who although at present blushing unseen in senior B ranks, is obviously far below his station there. Ho has been knocking wrckets down likc» ninepins on recent Saturdays, and at the present time is the fastest and most promising fast bowler in Auckland. Last Season's Selection It is interesting to recall that the players selected for practice at this stage last season were: Ailcott, Anthony, Bowley, Cooper, Dunning, Frater, Gillespie, Hendy, Horspool, Lyon, Millfe, Monteith, Player, Postles, Kowr.tree, Roy and G. L. Weir. A Strong Team This list of 21 players, which may be added to from time to time as the selectors think fit, show's that Auckland should be able to place a strong team in the field against Otago. The only difficulty is that only 11 can be included in the team! The selectors will have an unenviable task ahead in narrowing down the 21 to that number. Otago's Rep. Prospects There is every indication that Otago will be able to field a very strong representative side this season, if all the players are available, says the “Otago Daily Times,” but the task of the selectors will not be an easy one. Blunt, Galland, A. W. Alloo, Knight, Elmes, Shepherd, Dickinson, and McMullan should be almost certain of places, but the filling of the other vacancies will occasion some hard thinking. If the selectors decide to make the best use of Galland by playing him in the slips, particularly if Dickinson is bowling, they will have a choice of three wicketkeepers—Clark, Duncan and Hawkesworth. As far as batting is concerned, there will be no cause for worry, and it would not be surprising if the

selectors made an endeavour to develop some bowling talent. =* * * One Country Man Frater is the sole Shore representative, and Lyon of Y.M.C.A. has virtu-

ally bowled himself into the 21. Nelson Martin represents United .Suburbs, although he lias not yet shown the form this season which gained him a trip South with the Shield team last year. S. A. R. Badeley, the pro-

raising Waikato man, .gets another tryout with the prospective reps. * * * Cricket at Papatoetoe Ideal conditions prevailed on Saturday for the Senior B grade match, Parnell v. Paputoetoe. Papatoetoe started badly, Valentine being clean bowled by Bell before the score opened. Until afternoon tea, the rate of scoring was painfully slow, the figures being two for 40 after 100 minutes’ play. Kerr and Winks were playing very carefully, and certainly took the sting out of the bowling for later batsmen. Their partnership added 80 to the score before Kerr went for a hit and was clean bowled. His 29 runs were worth much more to the team. When P. Swaffield joined Winks, the rate of scoring appreciably quickened until Winks mishit one and was caught with his total at 68. Percy Swaffield went merrily on to knock up 57, the only other batsman to reach double figures being his brother Harry, who hit up 21 in about 10 minutes. With the ball, Bell was consistently good and bowled 25 overs for 37 runs, and four wickets. He turns both ways and keeps a good length. Other successful trundlers were Kenny three for 49, Gillies two for 36, and Dow one for 25. Parnell opened its innings with 10 minutes to go, and at stumps had scored four runs without the loss of a wicket.

The Papatoetoe third and fourthgrade teams had bloodless victories with University and Takapuna failing to put in an appearance. The former team was courteous enough to notify the local club, but Takapuna neither rang up nor turned up, and it was hard for the Papatoetoe Club after preparations of the ground and afternoon tea had been made. A little thoughtfulness in similar cases would not be out of place.

The Star Batsman As was generally expected, the breezy Kentish left-hander, Frank Woolley, has been the most successful batsman on Australian wickets. He played two outstanding innings, 146 against South Australia, and 209—the first double century of the tour — against New South Wales. The latter innings made great Australian critics like M. A. Noble and A. A. Mailey wonder how it could have happened that Woolley was passed over last season when the English Test team for Australia was selected. And on Woolley’s present form, New Zealanders will soon be wondering over the same question.

Consistent Duleepsinhji But if Woolley has scored more runs than any other of the Englishmen, K. S. Duleepsinhji has been the most consistent batsman, his series of flashing efforts culminating in a brilliant 68 against Queensland in the first innings of the match which ended on Monday Duleepsinhji, apart from his batting, which pleased the New South Wales critics tremendously, has gained unstinted praise for his no less brilliant work in the field. At times he has bowled also, and taken an odd turn behind the stumps with the wicketkeeper’s gloves. The captain, A. H. H. Gilligan has also been very consistent with the bat, and lived up to his reputation as a brilliant field.

M.C.C. AVERAGES

AUSTRALIAN TOUR NOW OVER SUCCESS OF F. E. WOOLLEY Following are the batting and bowling averages of A. H. H. Gilligan’s men. who have now completed the Australian portion of their itinerary:

Results of the five Australian matches Beat West Australia by seven wickets. Beat South Australia by 239 runs. Lost to Victoria by seven wickets. Drew with New South Wales. Lost to Queensland by five wickets. Centuries made for the team in Australia are:—Woolley, 146, against South Australia; Woolley, 209, and Turnbull, 100. against New South Wales. Centuries against: Woodfull (Victoria), 100: ITradman. 157; Kippax. 108; Allsopp, 177; Jackson, 168 not out (New South Wales); Gougli (Queensland) 104. Best bowling efforts for:—Allom, seven for 82, and Barratt, nine for 93, against South Australia; Barratt, seven for 10i_., against Victoria; Nichols, eight for 65, against Queensland. Against: Grimmett (South Australia), nine for 197; Blackie (Victoria), 12 for 107. Tho M.C.C. team is scheduled to arrive in Wellington on December 10, and three days later will commence the first match of its New Zealand itinerary, against the Wellington Provincial representatives.

PLAYERS FOR PRACTICE

Tho Auckland Cricket Association’s representative selectors, Messrs. N. C. Snedden, E. C. Beale and W. J. Smeeton, yesterday afternoon selected the following players for practice in preparation for the coming representative matches:

Parnell: P. E. Whitelaw, S. C. Hay, A. W. McCoy, A. Anthony, A. F. Wensley. Eden: J. E. Mills, IT. D. Gillespie, G. L. Weir, A. Postles, G. Langton.

University: A. M. Matheson, D. R. Garrard, W. J. Smeeton.

Grafton: C. F. W. Ailcott, E. Horspool, R. W. Rowntree. Ponsonby: L. T. J. Monteith. North Shore: R. E. Frater. Y.M.C.A.: T. Lyon. United Suburbs: N. Martin.,

Hamilton: S. A. R. Badeley. The first practice will be held at Eden Park this evening, and the second on Thursday evening. Thereafter practices will be held at Eden Park on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of each week.

The selectors may from time to time add to the list of players for practice, if they think fit. The first representative match of the season is tho Auckland-Otago Plunket Shield game at Eden Park, which commences on December 24, and players are requested to make leave arrangements accordingly.

SUBURBAN NOTES

“Make Onel” Gaining a three-point win in the first conclusive series of Suburban matches on Saturday, Green Lane assumed the lead on the championship ladder. I»t is a point ahead of Harbour board and Ellerslie, which could only register two-pointers. Albion robbing last season’s champions of a three-point victory by one run, lent an ironical touch to Harbour Board’s fortunes. "Make one” was the injunction given to the last Albion batsman, as he left his team mates in the grandstand. He did—and walked back to the pavilion, as a result of the next ball, with the laughing comment: “You told me to make one.” That one cost Harbour Board a point, the team having declared with six wickets down for 276. and Albion’s two innings produced Playing Skittles Tho principal factor in Green Lane’s innings victory over Wesleyan Young Men’s Institute was the bowling of Seccombe. He was not brought on as a change until late in Institute’s first turn at the crease, when the batsmen were piling up the runs, but his unerring length quickly slowed down the scoring rate, and accounted for four wickets at a cost of 36 runs. Compelled to follow-on, Institute batsmen found his deliveries practically unplayable, and tho tendency was to sky them, three men being caught out of the eight wickets he captured for only 32 runs. It was an exceptional bowling performance. Random Notches “He was tempted, and he fell.” describes the dismissal of Gedy.e, the Albion batsman, on Saturday. The veteran started promisingly with his stolid, straight-bat style, that lias broken the heart of many a bowler, and prospects brightened for Albion being able to hold out until stumps. He exercised the utmost caution in run-getting until he reached 18, and then a slow induced him to attempt to slam it. He did not catch the ball squarely, but the Harbour Board fieldsman, Matthews, did.

One of tho most enthusiastic fieldsmen on the Domain was Hollis, of Ellerslie. He had a hard day’s leather chasing in positions, alternating between mid-off and scouting on the leg boundary, and his fielding in both positions was a delight to watch. He saved innumerable runs by his nippy work at mid-off, and stopped one of the hottest catches of tlie match against Ponsonby there.

How tempting are the deliveries of a slow break bowler, like Baxter, of Ellerslie, to batsmen, who have been flogging fast stuff. An illustration of the confusion and indecision he causes was afforded on Saturday, when Ponsonby batsmen stepped forward and backward, hitting him hard sometimes, generally to the boundary, missing others completely with the slows; the big wicketkeepr, Y'ates, was in his element, and flicked the bails off before two surprised batsmen who had ventured too far up the pitch. Still, Baxter’s leg stuff was expensive.

The W.Y.M.I. team has a promising batsman in H. Chapman, who knocked up a bright half-century against great bowling by Green Lane on Saturday. He has a good range of strokes and infuses plenty of power into his hitting, giving the fieldsmen a busy hour or so. He made a valiant stand in the second term also, and came out with second top score of 20. * # * Ralph Burton does not seem to have struck batting form yet, and in three appearances has knocked up only a few runs. On Saturday he nearly

had a second life when he grot in the road of a catch that Edmonds, the wicketkeeper, held.

Both Wright, of Albion, and Matthews. of Ellerslie, wielded the bat to good advantage 'on Saturday, each compiling 52. Matthews’s was a restrained and careful display, his carpet driving being a pleasing feature. The first century of the season is as yet unmade. The Harbour Board veteran. Breese. went within two runs of it on Saturday, when he brought liis total from 63 not out to 9S. The bowler. Stallworthy, won. however. It was a sparkling innings that was practically chanceless, and there were general regrets that the batsman did not attain his objective. Sallen, of Ponsonby, gave a sparkling display of rapid run-getting against Ellerslie, his 52 being a substantial contribution toward retrieving the game for Ponies in the hour and a-lialf they had to make 176 runs to w in. He drove daisy-cutters with vigorous abandon, his placing judgment being particularly good. especially when It. Burton shifted the fieldsmen to the leg side, to counteract the batsman there. He hit the deliveries to the off then.

EXECUTIVE MEETS

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIELD GAMES TWO BATS PRESENTED The management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening decided to send a wreath, and express i.ts sympathy with the relatives of Arthur Desmond Whitley, of the Reniueru School, who died yesterday morning as a result of a blow lie received from a cricket ball on Monday afternoon. In explanation of a complaint by the Grey Lynn Club, received at last week’s meeting, the Western Springs Club admitted that three unregistered players had been played in its fourth grade team on a recent Saturday. The committee decided to take no action, as Grey Lynn had won the match, beyond pointing out the danger any club incurred in playing unregistered players. The Auckland Cricket Umpires’ Association forwarded the names of six umpires, requesting the management committee to forward four to the Otago Cricket Association from which two will be selected to officiate at the Auckland-Otago game at Eden Park at. Christmas. The following names will be sent on to Otago: W. A. Buff, R. E. Turton, J. H. Harvey and F. M. Andrews. The application of the Western United Cricket Club for the transfer of J. Harding, of the City Club, to its own ranks, was granted, subject to City’s approval. A letter was received from the Auckland town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, stating that the Parks Committee advised that it was under the instructions of representatives of the Auckland Cricket Association, who met the chairman of the Parks Committee on the ground, that no cricket had been allowed on the Domain on a recent Saturday. Mr. N. C. Snedden stated that this was not the case. He would investigate the question further. Mr. Dan Reese wrote expressing appreciation of Auckland’s kindly thought in congratulating him on his election to the presidency of the New Zealand Cricket Council. He stated that he proposed to come to Auckland for the test match with the Englishmen in February. Mr. E. C. Beale’s bat presented for

the second century of the season in the senior grade was awarded to I*. E. Whitelaw.

The committee decided to award Mr. J. 11. Watts's bat for the first century compiled in a junior grade match to Evitt. of the United Suburbs Club. The secondary schools representative on the committee, Mr. W. Harwood. advised that the Christchurch Boys’ High School had challenged the Auckland Grammar School for the Heatlicote-"Williams Shield. Permission was granted for the match to be played at Eden Park on December 16 and 17.

The committee decided to make the ground charge to Eden Park for the test match. M.C.C. v. New Zealand, in February. 2s. After some discussion it was decided to fix gato charges and stand charges at Is 6d and Is respectively tot all the representative matches at Auckland this year. including the Auckland-M.C.C. game, but excluding the New Zealand-M.C.C. test match. MATCHES FOR SATURDAY Following is the draw for lowergrade matches to be played on Saturday:— Third Grade A.—All Saints* v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe; Balmoral v. Kings College, King’s College; Eden v. Grafton. Domain No. 13; North Shore v. Windmill, North Shore; United Suburbs v. Western United, Victoria Park; University v. Education Board, Victoria Park. Third Grade B.—Power Board v. Telegraph. Point Chevalier; Glenmore v. Swanson, Swanson; Mount Albert v. Point Chevalier. Domain No. 9: Northcote v. Dilworth, Domain No. 14; W.Y.M.I. v. Tamaki. Domain No. S. Third Grade C.—Cambria v. Victoria. Puhinui: Henderson v. Parnell, Henderson; Y.M.C.A. v. Turners and Growers, Domain No. 16; Kauri Timber Co. v. Birkdale, Birkdale.

Fourth Grade A.—Mount Albert v. “Herald.’’ Domain No. 10; All Saints’ v. Y.M.C.A., Outer Domain No. 1: North Shore v. Telegraph, North Shore; Excelsior v. Point Chevalier, Point Chevalier.

Fourth Grade B. —Aotearoa v. Western Springs, Grey Lynn Park; Papatoetoe v. Victoria, Papatoetoe; St. Stephen's v. Takapuna. Outer Domain No. 2: Grey Lynn v. Roskill Wesley, Point Chevalier; Olympic, a bye. ■ House Match.—Commercial Travellers v. George Court and Sons, Domain No. 12.

SUBURBAN DRAW

The draw for matches under control of the Auckland Suburban Cricket Association on Saturday is as follow: Senior Grade A.—Harbour Board v. Green Lane, Domain No. 2. Messrs, Johnston and Cardale; Ellerslie v. Albion, Domain No. 1, Messrs. Gaily and Vercoe; Ponsonby v. W.Y.M.T., Domain No. 3, Messrs. Jennyn and Tabener. Senior Grade B.—Ellerslie v. Fawcett, Domain No. 11, Messrs. Abbott and Check; Shell Oil Company v. Harbour Board, Victoria Park, Messrs. Heald and Rountree; Invicta v. Tramways, Victoria Park, Messrs. Ball and Von dor Hyde. Second Grade. —Otahuhu v. Richmond, Otahuhu; Avondale v. Comrades, Victoria Park; Kingsland v. Green Lane, Domain No. 15. „ Third Grade A.—Star of Eden v. Edendale. Domain No. 6: Maungakiekie v. Gas Garage, Victoria Park, Messrs. Molloy and Brown; Avondale v.. Royal Oak, Domain No. 7. Third Grade B.—N. R. Ambulance v. Glen Eden, Grey Lynn Park No. 4; Richmond v. Auckland Meat Company, Grey Lynn Park No. 1; Amburys, Ltd., V. L. D. Nathan’s, Domain No. 6a. Third Grade Intermediate. —Royal Oak v. Maungakiekie, Onehunga; ParkerLamb v. Edendale, Outer Domain; Richmond v. Avondale, Avondale. Lodge Grade.—Good Intent v. Remuera, Victoria Park; Pupuke v. Mount Albert. Victoria Park. Fifth Grade.—Comrades v. Carlton, Domain, 10 a.m.

Mr. E. E. Nalder. chairman of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, has not been enjoying the best of health of late, and has been ordered by his doctor to take a month’s holiday in the South. He will probably leave Auckland on December 19.

TIa Term n BATTING In. X.O II. S. Tl. Bow ley . . . . Woolley Duleepsinhji . . 2 .. 7 . . 10 S 1 70* 79 209 415 68 349 3S.77 Leg-ge . . .. .. 4 1 0 r m mi Nichols . . .. 0 S2 204 irT Turnbull .. . . 9 1 100 216 Dawson. . . .. AUom .. Earle Worthington Barratt . . . . . . 7 . . 7 1 j S3* 234 IS* 61 43 S2 66 111 32 7$ as? il:| Cornford .... 5 1 1^»* Benson 3 0 14 IS •Signifies not-out. BOWLING Bowler. Wkts. Runs. 6.00 Av. Rowley .... Nichols .. . Barratt .. . 7 21 17 55 ni Si A llom . . Woolley .. Worthington Duleepsinhji Dawson 17 7 S 1 0 Wo To 30 IS