CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1925, Page 5

CRICKET.

IN SOUTH TARANAKI. EVENTS OF INTEREST. In common with the whole province ♦South Taranaki is looking forward with great interest to the meeting of the Taranaki and Wanganui representative cricket teams to-morrow and Saturday. The match will be the biggest event in cricket in Taranaki for many years, as it will be the first trial of Taranaki’s united strength since the war. A surprising feature of the South Taranaki senior matches on Saturday last wa<s that although the best players were engaged in the trial match the batting scores more particularly did not appear to suffer. The reason probably was that the most damaging bowlers were away and batsmen made .scores where they may not have -done so under the usual conditions. The highest batting score in South Taranaki this season was secured by Maloney, who reached 96 when batting for the Hawera juniors against the Hawera Technical School B team. Admittedly the bowling was not of a very high order, but in any case to survive the exigencies of an innings to the extent of 96 runs is no mean performance. Some cricketers think that Maloney would strengthen the ■senior teams if given the chance. The newest recruit to the Hawera Club, AlcAuliffe, late of Taihape and Wanganui, who played for Excelsior on Saturday, and incidentally topped the batting list on that day with a wellplayed 45 not out, gives promise of being a most welcome addition to Taranaki cricket. The Elth'am Club is heroically sticking to its guns in the face of very great difficulty, and has so far filled all its engagements. The spirit the club displays is fully appreciated by the other clubs in the competitions, who unanimously hope that Eltham will be able to remain in the fixtures throughout the seasons and thus obviate the necessity of a bye each week. They also see no reason why Eltham should not pull round, with constant application to the game, to’ its former prominent place in the competitions. It certainly must be disheartening when every week there is difficulty in scratching a team together and then with little hope of a victory, but at the same time Eltham is enjoying a lot of fun and will probably win out in the end. South Taranaki said “Hear! Hear! in one voice when the great stand made by the veteran ‘P. Al. Pratt in the trial match on Saturday (became known. Pratt has been one of the 'bctst-known figures in Taranaki cricket for years, and his work on »Saturday recalled many a merry innings when Percy has collared the bowling and smacked it hip and thigh. One of the most notable absentees from the trial match was B. McCarthy, who had asked to be excluded from the South team because he wanted the younger players to take their turn at upholding the honour of the division. For years McCarthy-has been the loadiii<»■ spirit in South iaraiiaki ciicket, and has fully deserved the honour of being the first president of the united Taranaki Association. Although not so vouno- as he used to 'be, McCarthy would undoubtedly still take his place with the best in the province. In 'his innings a fortnight ago he knocked up 50 runs and retired. In every season for a long time he ha-s been an outstanding batsman and bowler and a “sport” of the first order.

NORTH TARANAKI PL AV. DIVISION EXECUTIVE MEETS. The executive of the Northern Division of the Taranaki Cricket Association met last night. Present: Messrs. T. H. Bates (chairman), V. Kerr, H. J. Grajson, M. Edie, F. H. Robertson, and W. L. Hughes (secretary). . Mr. C. S. Dempster wrote stating that several players in Wellington had joined together and formed the Wellington Nomads Cricket Club, with the idea of arranging matches with outside associations during Christmas and Easter holidays. He wished, if possible, to arrange a match against a strong Taranaki team at New Plymouth at Christmas. If this were suitable to the association he suggested that the playing days be Christmas Dav and Boxing Day. Mr. Dempster mentioned that the Nomads could field a strong learn, including several Wellington and New Zealand representatives, and the remaining places would be filled by senior players. It was decided to refer the letter to the Taranaki Association. The chairman and secretary were appointed to wait on the committee of the Tukapa Sportsground Committee with regard to certain matters connected with the ground. Mr. M. Edie was appointed secretary in place of Mr. Hughes, who has resigned. Following are the fixtures in North Taranaki next Saturday:— SENIOR A. GRADE. i Town A v. Country A, at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. Town B v. Country B. at Tikorangi. SENIOR B. GRADE. Waitara v. Old Boys, at Tukapa, New Plymouth. Urenui v. Western Park, at Tukapa, New Plymouth. JUNIOR GRADE. Old Boys v. New Plymouth, at Tukapa. High School A v. High School B. at High School. Borough Council, a bye. TOWN V COUNTRV. NEXT SATURDAY'* MATCHES. The following teams have been selected for the Town v. Country matches which are to be played on Saturday: A TEAMS. ( The A. teams will play at Pukekura Pa rk.) Town. —Nicoll, Quickfall. .Earl, AL D. Clarke. Grayson, Sheppard, Palmer, Aitehison, Stronibom, Grant and Norgate. Twelfth man. N. Kinsella. Country.—-'C. Foreman, K. Lye, P. Sarten, Les. Giddy. G. Giddy. Stan. Giddy, A. O. Powell. N. P. Gibson. K. Simmons, J. Gilmour. A. Foreman. Twelfth man, T. Hall. B TEAAIS, (The B teams will play at Tikorangi.) Town. —Eggtedon, Ha tight on, Papps,

Kerr. K. Fobkcs, AlcLean. Fletcher, Ewart, Saxton, Hart and Edie. Twelfth man. Alont-ieth. Country.—L. Jupp, T. Potter, G. Marsh, C. Corbett, L. Bishop, R. Crush, J. Sampson, B. Foreman, E. Foreman, F. Andrews. P. Serimgeour, Twelfth man, A. Soffe. Both matches will begin at 10.30 a.m. NEW ZEALAND TEAM LEAVES. PREMIER SENTJS GOOD WISHES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Nov. 25. Air. Peake, the manager of the cricket team which left last night for Australia, says he intends to urge New South Wales to send another side over as soon as possible. The Prime Minister sent a telegram ol farewell extending his best wishes to the team. Da ere was elected by the team to act with the manager and captain as a selection committee. BOWLING AIETHODS. DISCUSSION IN ENGLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. London. Nov. 24. It is stated that the Alarylebone Club discussed the question of seam picking, following a condemnatory letter from Lord Harris, and decided to instruct captains of county clubs to desist. Douglas declares that a mountain is being made out of a molehill. He does not mind what the bowler does so long as he does not damage the ball. A bowler needs a thoroughly clean ball. Why should he not use resin or sawdust if it is helpful? Umpires should decide the fairness or otherwise of the methods. Gilligan declares that Tie is not altogether in favour of resin, but admits there is a lot to be said on both sides. Mai ley always bowled fairly. He was unaware that seam picking occurred during the Australian tour, and anyway it did not help Mailcy in the slightest degree. The Daily Telegraph. discussing Alailey’s advocacy of the use of resin for raising the seams on the ball in , bowling, says: “We are grateful to Mailcy° for expounding his theory re- , garding howlers* rights before the season begins. Our players. captains, umpires and legislators now know the. claims they must expect. The practice of using resin and raising the seams has been condemned by English cricketers of the first authority, but Alailey is able to show that there is a precedent or analogy for everything he wants to do. Nevertheless, no game can be pleasantly conducted by formal legality. Alany things may be lawful which are not expedient. Au argument from sawdust to resin is liable to abuse in a game which is better without the danger of such devices. It is most important that before the Australians begin the tour a clear and friendly agreement should be made regarding bowlers* rights over the ball.”