CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1925, Page 5

CRICKET.

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING. Calling a spade a spade! Cricket, we have often been told, stands for everything that is best in the traditions of British sportsmanship. And yet England has a county -championship that is the negation of .sportsmanship. It has 17 counties computing in it, who are a law unto themselves, and people, are asked to believe that it is their intention to fight against anything and everything that would damage their chances of perpetual membership. Let other counties now outside the firstclass. fold always stop there. “Cricket to-day, with its vaunted claims to be the most representative of British sports, sets an example of unadulterated selfishness that cannot be found in any other sport,” says an English writer. "This is plain speaking, and I daresay it will be resented by those who cannot see any demerits* in the present scheme, but plain speaking is best, and it is time that somebody told the first-class counties exactly how their attitude towards reform strikes some earnest folk who are intensely enthusiastic followers of the game, and who hold that the most valuable lessons it teaches should not be left outside the door of its council chamber.” ROYAL TRIBUTE TO HOBBS. A ery nice! The King’s .sccfretarv to Jack Hobbs: Balmoral Castle, August 20, 1925. Dear Mr. Hob'bs, — j The King has heard with much pleasure aaid interest of your unique cricket achievement in scoring 127 centuries, thus exceeding the number made by the late Dr. W. G. Grace, and also attaining a further record of 14 centuries in the course -of one -season. His Majesty warmly congratulates you upon this remarkable success, whereby you have established a new and greater record in the history of our National Game.—’Yours very truly. STAMFORDHAM. Jack Hobbs to the King’s secretary: Kennington Oval. London, S.E. August 21. 1925. The Right Hon. Lord Stamfor-dham, P. 0., G.C.8., G.C.1.E., G.C.V.0., Balmoral Castle. Aly Lord, —I have the honour to acknowledge your communication dated the 20th of August, conveying His Majesty’s congratulations. Would you, my lord, kindly express to His Majesty my intense pleasure and gratification at His Alajesty’s gracious recognition of my efforts in the cricket 'field? I beg you, my lord, to assure His Majesty that his recognition of my success in setting up a new cricket record adds greatly to the satisfaction over its achievement. I have the honour to be. my lord, Your lordship’s' o'bedieut -and humble servant. (Signed) J. B. HOBBS. Here is a cricketing story concerning the classical “Ranji.” The great batsman was at the nets one day while four or 'five bowlers hurled down ball after ball at him. At the end of an hour or bo the perspiring bowler.s were relieved of their task and trooped away. An interested /watcher ran across to tlje trundlers and asked how many occasions they had taken ‘’Ranji’s’’ wicket. "AAicket!” echoed one of the players. "Why. good heavens, wc never even struck tlie back net!” LIMITING TEST AIATUIE6. An English writer urges that five dates .should ‘be reserved every cricket season for Test match trials? He”says: ••Unless there is a complete change, of programme, we shall place 11 units in the field against the Australians for the first Test match next season that have never previously played together as a team. We shall once more have to depend upon past reputations or current form a-s revealed in the early championship games, overlooking once more the important point that there is a vast difference in Test match atmosphere from that of inter-county cricket. There should be opportunities for trying out our men under conditions as nearly approximating. as possible to the conditions that obtain in Test matches. The present haphazard method© of selection have brought only disappointment and disillusion.”

A NEW BOWLER

Il was no mean feat on the part of Frank Sibbles, a youngster of ‘2l. to head the bowling figures of such a side as Lancashire in his first season of county cricket, says an English exchange. His right-hand medium-paced deliveries accounted for 43 wickets for 13.46 runs each, and enabled him to rank above Richard Tyldesley, Macdonald and Parkin. He was born on March 15. 1904. and, until he became a member of the ground-staff at Old Trafford three years ago, all his cricket had been played for Werneth, a Central Lancashire League club, which he had joined at the age of 16. His height is 6ti. and he turns the scale at a trifle under 12 stone.