CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1923, Page 13

CRICKET.

1 NEW PLYMOUTH PLAY. LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. (By “LjB.W.”) The start of the third series of senior matches on Saturday last, played in fine but windy weather, did not produce any improvement in batting at the expense of bowling tactics. The competitions have now been in progress five weeks, and it must be extremely disappointing to the selectors to find that the batting is still very poor. Players have now had ample time to show improvement in their batting', but when, on analysing last week’s games, we note that of the fifty-one players dismissed only five succeeded in securing twenty or' more runs, it must be admitted that our batting is not up to average ,standard, or that our players are not giving the necessary attention to practice. In view of the representative matches at Christmas it is to be hoped that the selectors will at once nominate players to attend regular practice on at least two occasions each week during the coming three weeks, and that any one failing to attend regularly be excluded from selection. NEW PLYMOUTH V. OLD BOYS. Winning the toss, Old Boys had first use of the wicket on the Sports Ground, which was in good order, with the outfield very fast. Lash ('s>s not out) was at the top of his form and gave a splendid exhibition. He was particularly strong on the off side, and his driving was a treat to watch. Although, apart from Lash’s innings, the batting was not brilliant, it was fairly consistent, six of the remaining players getting double figures, and the total was carried to 154 runs. Clarke and Newbold bore the brunt of the attack, and were rewarded with satisfactory averages. New Plymouth gave a wretched display with the bat and the side, reputedly the strongest batting side in town, was out for 65 runs. Ferry (18) and Clarke (JO) gave a fair start, but with the dismissal of Lambert for a ‘duck” the remainder formed a procession, with the exception of Shepherd (14 not out), who gamely kept his end up. Osborne continued his triumphant career with the bail, securing the great average of seven wickets for 80 runs. Batsmen found it almost impossible to score from his big off break of almost perfect length. The Old Boys skipper made an error of judgment in his second innings in sending n his tail batsmen in an endeavour to hold up the wickets until call of time. Eight men were dismissed befor? 6-80 p.m. for 41 runs, and next Saturday Lash. Palmer and Monteith, three of the strongest players in the side, will form the tail. On paper the advantage appears to be with Old Boys and with a few morp runs added they should be able to hold the opposition. Should Lambert get going New Plymouth may yet win the day. The fielding of both teams in this match was patchy. HIGH SCHOOL AND WESTERN PARK.

The Park team met School on the School ground, and the turf wicket and outfield were in splendid order. Batting first, Western Park made an inglorious •start, Lawrey, Mackay and Cumberworth being dismissed by Alexander with only five runs on the board. Kingston and McDonald stopped the rot, and by steady batting against good bowling and accurate fielding, carried the total to 46 runs before Kingston (27) was brilliantly caught and bowled by Mahraj off a hard drive high up. Kingston, as usual, gave a good exhibition with the willow, and looked set for a big score. McDonald (21) was ably assisted by Grayson (14) and Mahar (10), and the score eventually totalled 112 runs. Park sadly missed Robertson, who was indisposed. 'With the ball Alexander started well, but was bowled a little too long. Brown and Mahraj both trundled well and received good support from the field. School did not shape at all promisingly on going to the wickets, and the boys were far from comfortable in facing Quickfall and MacDonald. Wickets fell fast, and seven were down for 47 runs when Cottier (27) and Mason (29) made a stand. Cottier was very aggressive, and played a splendid innings, being unlucky to be stumped. Whilst his batting hardly reached as high a standard as Cottier’s, Mason played an invaluable innings. Thanks to the bailing of this youthful pair School were within three runs of their opponents when the innings ended. With forty minutes to bat. Western Park started their second innings, and at call of time had lost three wickets for 41 runs. This gamp is now in a very interesting stage, and with the odds a shade in favour of School. The main feature in this match was the splendid catching by the School. The three catches taken by Petty and those by Mahraj and Palmer were gems. Western Park’s ground fielding was very fair and their catching very poor. Quickfall bowled very fell, but suffered at the hands of his colleagues. Who is likely to captain the representative team this year? Judging by the leadership so far this year it looks as though the selectors will need to give this matter considerable thought. POSTPONING MATCHES.

Regarding «the failure of the New Plymouth team to turn up to complete their match against Western Park a fortnight ago, 1 have been asked, in fairness to New Plymouth, to sitate that the real reason for absence was that the match had been postponed by the captains of the teams concerned. The question of postponement was discussed by the association at its meeting last week, and in order to avoid any future misunderstanding it was definitely decided that Rule 32 would be carried out, and that no match would be postponed except by the umpires or members of the committee on the ground at starting time. The junior competitions were ■ advanced another stage, and wins were secured ■ by Western Park, Old Boys and High School A. There was some very creditable scoring in the 'junior match between New Plymouth and High School on the Sports Ground. The improved wicket and fast outifiold was appreciated by the School team. The association has suggested to the South Taranaki Association that the junior representative match be played

at Hawera on December 29, the same day as the North v. South ma'tch. PLAY ELSEWHERE. Tlie principal scores in the main centres last week were as follows: Auckland. —Burton 104, Smith 103, Allcott 79, Woodroffe 70, Scott 73, Dacre 41, Sneddon 39. Wellington.—McGirr 97, Ellerm 64, Hamilton 58, Griffiths 53 not out, Massey 51, Nelson 50. Collins took six wickets for 46 runs. Christchurch.—Boon 50, Crawford 48 not out, Eugg 44, Smith 35, Whitta 33 not out, Norrie 35. Dunedin.—McMuUan 44, Chadwick 41, 'Fraser 40. Dickinson took six wickets for 'l7 runs and Galland five wickets for 33 runs. Palmerston North.—Hodder ‘B6. Wanganui.—'Wins were secured by Old Boys and School; Playing against Wanganui Club, Holland made 94 runs and then secured nine wickets for 66 runs. Tronson, in the same match, took eight wickets for 60 runs. For Collegiate School, Taverner made 89 not out and Lance took four wickets for 29 runs. Orr (42) top scored for United, for whom Wood sect red five wickets for 36 runs. Manawatu have accepted the dates for the Hawke Cup match, and the game will be played at Wanganui next Wedrrtday and Thursday. The Wanganui team was chosen on Thursday and is as follows: —Holland, Orton (captain), Orr, R. London, 'Wood, Treadwell, Williams, Lomas, Lance, Darby and Tron.son. with Young twelfth man. j The Wellington Association has decided to play a town versus country match at Wellington on December 20-21 and the team to play for the Plunkett Shield will be selected immediately after. Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay representatives will compose the country team, with D. C. Collins as captain. Here is an opportunity for Kingston to show his ability as wicket-keeper. Kingston has few equals in the North Island as a custodian of the sticks, and is far superior to Candliffe or Cate of Wellington. As a latsman he is No. 1 in Taranaki. John Sey motive, of Sussex and Northants, has been appointed coach to the Auckland Suburban Association, and will play with Ellerslie. PLAY IN STRATFORD. “Slow but true” was the general impression of the new wicket in Victoria Park after the (first match had been played there between Stratford and Manaia. A strong wind was blowing, but the ground was well sheltered, and howlers experienced little inconvenience. Considering the short time it has been laid down, and the natural softness occasioned by recent rains, the ground played very well and favourably impressed the visitors. Although they finally lost by the narrow margin of eight runs, Manaia had everything in their favour, and only wonted 13 run with three wickets to fall. Clark, who had already compiled 34 runs, was still batting strongly, but Syme took his middle stump with an almost unplayable ball. The tail did rot wag, and the concluding players were only able to make 5 runs out of the 13 required. Syme is a prominent bowler for Strat- ' ford, but, like many fast bowlers, is in- t dined to be erratic. He should improve : as the season continues. McMahon (Manaia), who was a senior, cricketer in Australia before coming to ‘ New Zealand, was shaping well with the | bat until Syme set down a puzzling : “yorker” and he was retired with only ! 5 runs to his credit. Although Sherlock, Manaia’s lefthanded bowler, did not make the highest average for his sale, he maintained an excellent length throughout twelve successive overs. During that time only IS runs were scored off him and three men were dismissed. Two brilliant catches wore made in the Stratford-Manaia match last week. Cole (Stratford’s captain), finding the bowling to his liking, lifted a sizzling hot one to the boundary, but Clark caught it in a very creditable manner. ‘Well held, sir,” was echoed from all sides, when Sherlock, after a great effort, caught a fast hit from Woods (Stratford) just as the ball was passing the boundary rail. Woods retired with 41 runs.

NECESSITY FOR PRACTICE. PLAYERS SHOULD KEEP FIT. The necessity for plenty of practice at ami sound coaching in cricket cannot be stressed too often. “Practice makes perfect,” is a® «true in cricket as of any other game, in fact, practice is more necessary for efficiency in cricket than it is for some other games. Referring to this matter a writer in the New Zealand Herald says:—The real reason the game does not develop in New Zealand to the same extent as other countries, notably Australia, is the lack of good wickets—practice pitches and match wickets scarcely being up ‘to the standard of those in Australia. Another reason for the comparatively moderate standard of the game here is the lack of sound coaching. The Auckland association is fully alive to this fact, and is still making efforts to engage a suitable coach this season. An English university player would probably be most desirable to coach not only club members, but also school boys.” Another point that is perhaps not sufficiently appreciated by cricketers is that physical fitness is essential. It is not suggested by this that it is necessary to train for cricket in the Game manner as for, say. football or running, but cricketers should keep fit. “A clear eye and a steady hand” should be their ideal. Everyone cannot be a first-class cricketer, but everyone can improve his gamp by practice and by helping to get ao physically fit as possible.