CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1920, Page 7

CRICKET.

The following will represent the New Plymouth Cricket Club in a. friendly game with the High School on the latter's wicket at 2 p.m. to-day.-—J. Heskett, E. Gr. Johnson, T. Mackay, E. Lash, W. C. Weston, D. Sutherland, E. Dinniss, 8. L. Palmer, G. H. Saunders, Oliver, L. Smith. Emergencies: Pascoe, F. H. Symons, R. A. Large.

NOTES. (By "Spectator.") The trial game on Saturday afforded an opportunity for some batsmen to have a strike, but apart from that the afternoon was wasted. It would have been more profitable if the championship matches had been revived. Although late in the season Urenui has entered a team for the Thursday competition. The more teams competing the better for cricket. Li these days of the motor-car, distance is only a secondary consideration. The team chosen to represent the North Taranaki Association against South Taranaki is practically the same as that which defeated the Nomads last month. Eggleton goes in the team, and on his batting and bowling is worth his place. There are others in the team, however, who could have been replaced with advantage to the side. McCarthy, who 20 years back secured a place in a New Zealand eleven, is still playing in South Taranaki, and will probably And a place in the team to visit New Plymouth. He is a tine left-handed batsman when in form, and is also a very good medium paced righthanded bowler. I shall be interested in watching him opposing Johnson's bowling. It will be remembered that in the last North and South match MeCarty scored heavily off Southal!, one of the best left-handed bowlers North Taranaki ever had. Can he do it next week against Johnson? Percy Pratt is another veteran who has proved a most capable batsman. He is one of the fastest scorers at the wickets I have seen, and if he gets a start play should be interesting. Reg. Penny, of Okaiawa, is another player of possibilities. He swings a straight bat, and is a hard wicket to get. Although only a onedav match, the early start in the morning should permit of each side having an innings each.

The rain on Thursday further delayed the Thursday competition. Owing to the racing meeting in February a postponement will again probably be necessary, so that the second round completion is some distance off.

I notice in the New Plymouth Thursday team some of the players who have figured, in Thursday and Saturday games have not been selected for present games. Evidently this is in deference to the wishes of other clubs. It is a pity that these players, who have the time, are debarred from playing. Next year the rules may be amended to permit players participating in both competitioiiK. In tlie meantime, if New Plymonth has more Thursday players than the club can accommodate, they , might get over the difficulty by permitting them to assist the younger clubs, Waireka or Albion, who would gladly welcome the assistance of Heskett, Stainton and others.

The Nomads scored an easy win over the Wesley (Wellington) team, having over one hundred runs to spare in a one-day match. The game against North Taranaki was the only fixture lost.

It is only on rare occasions that Hnwke's Kay sends a team on tour, and, from memory, has only one win to their credit against Canterbury. That was secured many years ago when Albert Trott, the great Australian cricketer, assisted the Bayites, who had also the services of Tommy Dent, a slow bowler from Sydney. This pair had a lot to do with the defeat of Canterbury on that occasion.

Blunt, the Canterbury batsman, who carried his bat through the second innings against Wellington, has had six innings in Plunket Shield matches this Season. His aggregate total of runs is 402. giving an average of 82 per innings. Blunt, who is 1!) years of age, is one of the most promising batsmen in the Dominion,