CRICKET

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 8

CRICKET

(By “Square-Leg-”) Last week I made mention of the fact that C- E. L. Trumper, a younger brother of the famous Victor, had scored bis tlrst century in first grade cricket in Sydney. From the latest Sydney Referee to hand I learn that Trumper is not likely to play any more cricket this season, as he has been ordered to take a spell from exercise. The same issue of the Referee refers to tiie retirement of F- E. Allan from the position of chief inspector of tho vermin destruction branch of the Lands Department. Allan, who was known as “tnc bowler of a century.” was a member of the Australian team which made history in England in 1878. Jack Crawford, the Otago Association’s coach, through no fault of bis own—nor, for that matter, the fault of th© association—is enjoying a rather unenviable position in cricket this season (comments a Dunedin senbe). Last season the international had a special incentive in coaching and leading the colts to unbeaten honours. This year, owing to the dropping out of the colts’ team, Crawford nas no such incentive, ns by arrangement he is playing for a different team each Saturday, The side he is helping to victory to-day ho is assisting to destroy to-morrow. It may be interesting and it may in the present circumstances bo the best way of utilising Crawford’s services, but there cannot be the same incentive, though Crawford’s actions might dispute this. He knocked up 59 in his best style on Saturday and took six wickets for 31 runs.

Thomas William Southall has enlisted (reports a Wellington writer). Uic North Club’s lengmy left-hand bowler has thrown in his lot with those who are going forth to help pat the Huns down.and put! If Tom could only get the “Indian sign”’ on to them, as no did, say, to the Petonc feaows on Saturday week, what a havoc ho would make among those German enemies of ours. - Southall has had military experience, as he went through the South African war as a commissioned ollKcr in an English regiment. Good luck to him! , When the Rev. Bryan-Brown bowled Willbtccd at Christchurch on Sauird.i Inst, ono of the bans was carried near.y to the picket fence. Oi being acppco out, the distance was found to be yards (approximately), which recal.s to a Christchurch writer the occasion when Jones, the Australian Eleven oxpres howler, bowled L. A. Cuff on Lancaster Park in 1896, when one of tho bails was carried back 57 yards. The exhibition match at Eden Park on Saturday between Ponsonby and Eden teams served to introduce to Auckland an English cricketer of note, namely, S. 0. Smith, captain ot the Noitnamptonsliiro County eleven in 1013-14, Ho has taken up' his residence in Auckland, and will play for Ponsonby in the Auckland Association’s competition. In last week’s match he made 62 runs and captured six wickets for 85 run;. According to Wisdcn s Almanack, Smith was born in the West Indies on January 15, 1881. He was first seen on English cricket grounds in 1906, as a member of the A\ est Indian team. Ho made a good impression both as batsman and bowler, and it was arranged that he shoiud stay in England and qualify for Northamptonshire. In 1900 ho took his place in the county eleven, and in his first season ho was top of Ihe batting averages, and took 94 wickets at a cost of 18 runs each. In 1910 ho made two county records—ho was the first Northampton batsmanto scoro 1000 runs in'tho season, and played a record innings of 204. He had another good batting season in 1911, and in 1912 not only batted well, hut also regained his skill with tho ball. In the 1913 season ho scored nearly 1300 runs and took 100 wickets. He was elected captain of the county eleven in 1913, a position which he retained last season. . S. G. Smith is left-handed both as batsman and bowler, and is an individual cricketer. Quick to seize every chance of scoring, he is a dangerous bat on slow wickets. Even under verv had conditions he is quite likely to get 50 runs. A purely slow bowler, ho combines with his spin remarkable accuracy of length. His howling offer.' endless temptations to batsmen, but thanks to the certainty of his pitch, ho is by no means easy to hit.