CRICKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17897, 3 March 1928, Page 16

CRICKET.

By “Stump."

NOTES AND NEWS

The six ba’l over was brought into operation in South Canterbury on Saturday last. Bowlers found it awkward to adapt themselves to the altered conditions at first, but at the ond of the day .they felt the benefit ot the change. According to the “.Southland Times” ! the standard of cricket in Southland is I poor at present, and systematic cradling is needed. | L Eaton, the veteran of the Tim- ' aril team, lias made a name lor himself since he has turned .ii.it lor Ids • old club. Evidently bis 415 against Zingari a few weeks ago was i o fh-kc, for fie followed flits up with a ciitury I against the same club last week. The i Zingari attack was weak, the neatest lit lias been for many .easons, but ioV 1 all that, Eaton played a t olid n nings land practically throw his wicket away jafter reaching three figures. j The first test match ~-.; c w.jen Now Zealand and Australia is to i.e played 'at Auckland on the ikith., ‘.fill and 27th. of this month. 'The se.-ond test will bo staged at Dunedin on March 31 and April 2 and 3. |' Batsmen in South Canterbury have ! a.bad habit of running on the wicket. ! At best they are not ever good, and 1 players should realise that Heir spiskes | do a tremendous amount ot harm, and ! make conditions hard fur those who have to follow them. One of the features of the match, Australia v. Wellington, was the fine sustained bowling performance put up by F. T. Badcock, the .vellington professional, who-sent down II overs for 82 runs and four wickets. 'lbis was a sterling performance ops.ii.st an Australian eleven on an easy wicket. Badcock maintained perfect control of this bail and varied Ill.ght, j-i.ee and spin cleverly. Woodful], fecbi-emor, Alexander and O’dlickl all led to the Englishman, who in.this inn ngs plrc-ed the seal upon his reputation as a firstclass bowler.

The Australian Cricket Beard oT Control decided that the hours of plav in the forthcoming tour of ihe E-udu-b team be from noon to <3 h.loj.'r. Joso matches are to be played to a finish.

What Austin (Ce’tic) l acks if confidence and science he mimts up for in hitting power. In liis innings against Old Boys last week he was missed about six times before he had reached double figures, but thereafter he gSve as fiery a display as has been seen in Koutli 'Canterbury this season. Austin came to light when most needed, tor thilies were looking pretty black foi Celtic, but his total of 90 for the innings took the score c ose to the -UU mark.

The brightest display of the Australian side in the match against Wellington was that given by the youthful South Australian, lv. J. Schneider. This little fellow, who is not much bigger tlnin the bat, delighted the crowd with his enterprise. He is a lefthander, and, Jike most left-handers, is very strong on the on-side. He came over with the reputation oF being a stonewaller, but he was in most aggressive mood on Friday, opening with a three and four fourers in succession. He ran to 73 in 114 minutes.

Not a few considered that Old .Bovs would fully extend Celtic last week, but at the conclusion of the day’s play, the championship loaders had a comfortnblo lead on the first innings. Old Boys did not make a very good showing against the bowling of Kano nnd Harding, and but for a good 36 by Marriott would have been out for a very small total. Celtio have one down for 22 in their second effort, but it is understood that Old Boys will be, without the services of Davies to-dRy, so that their attack will be considerably wonkened. Should they be ablo to confine Coltie's lead to tho first innings, Timaru will have a chance of making the competition a draw.

The display given by Zingnri against Titnaru last week was a moat «livappointing one. but the side wns without tho services of two of its best bowlers, Tf, Smith and Tl. Seaton. The greater part of the bowling fe'l to tho- lot of VTo.vdmnn, who wns suffering from a bad leg, and the r.ido wan fortune to tn sepurimv seven of Timnru's wlokots for 949, Timaru should have no difficulty in scouring a threo-poitifc win.

Let there be no mistake. The Australian Board of Control has sent its best team across the Tasman to thoroughly try out the strength oi New Zealand cricket. There is to be no tempering the wind to the shorn lamb. The Board of Control is anxious to know just where New Zealand cricket stands, and this powerful combination will apply the acid test. When the batsmen get used to New Zealand wickets they will be terribly hard to dig out, and some big scores can be looked for before the tour is over. The bowlers, too, are at present very much at sea on our wickets. “I don’t know where I am,” BJackie plaintively remarked to “Burwood” of the “Dominion.” “On Australian, wickets I consider I am lucky if I succeed in turning the ball an inch. Here I can break a yard, and every time I beat the batsmen I also beat the wicket by a foot. I don’t know where to land the ball. I-will simply have to learn how to bowl on your wickets.” Blackie is learning all right.

Timaru were recently strengthened by the addition of Monaghan, and on Saturday last- they were further strengthened by the inclusion of Buchanan, a recent arrival in Timaru. Buchanan made over 30 against Zingari on Saturday and played some.nico shots. At present they are the equal of Celtic in batting strength, and the have a better all-round attack, so that when the teams met next week, some interesting cricket should he witnessed. Mcßcath is in fine form at present, and the side has useful bowlers in Hudson, Edmiston and Berry. Monaghan is also capable of sending down a good ball.

Tt was a great compliment which the Australian Cricket Board of Control paid the game in this country when it decided to send practicaly the full strength of Australia across for , M-c New Zealand tour, says a Wellington paper. Barring Gregory and Hendry, the Australian team now with us consider that their side represents the full strength of the game in the Commonwealth. The Board of Control showed sound wisdom in sending their best players over to the- Dominion, as New Zealand wickets closely resemble those of England, and the experience- gained on the tour will stand the younger members, of the side in good stead when next they visit the Old Land. Thong l ' cricket in the Dominion has very much improved within recent years, we cannot claim as yet to be able to seriously challenge the full strength of Australia.

It is understood that the draw for next week is:—Celtic v. Timaru; Zin r gari v. Old Bovs. -In the event of Celtic securing a three-point win over Old Boys to-dav, they will retain their four point lead, which - Will assure them of the premer position for the season. This should not. rob their match against Timaru .of all interest, however, for Celtic will no doubt make a big bid to go through the season unbeaten. Timaru, on the other hand, will he all out to bring about the downfall of the champion team.

The Canterbury Cricket Association is to be congratulated upon its idea of getting J. A. Newman, its prosessional coach, to give a lecture to the cricketers of Christchurch, says a Christchurch paper. Recently, to a large and appreciative audience, Newman gave a fine lecture on the game from all points of view, and answered various questions that were put to him. He said that it was his first venture as a lecturer, and apologised for reading his Bpeech. He had no need to apologise. His treatment of the subject was excellent, and he showed that ho was not only a fine player, but also a deep student of the game. Canterbury is fortunate in having a coach who knows his job in ev.ery respect.

The New Zealand Cricket Council were decidedly inconsiderate to the visitors when they compelled them to go on to Nelson the very day they arrived from Sydney, and play there the next day, states the “Dominion.” Similarly the Australians crossed Cook Strnit on Thursday nicrht, and took the field against Wellington a few hours after coming off the boat. All rUilctp", 1 nor that, it takes a, few days to get their land legs again after coming of' a sea vnyaga. Owing x o the rain on Tuesday night, the wicket t*, 1 . *hn TVisi i Reset’Tt» was much slower then usual, and Ponsford and Woodfull had difficulty in timing their

strokes after coming off the fast Australian wickets., on which the bail comes to the bat. Nevertheless tins famous Victorian pair, who are claimed to be as solid opening batsmen as Australia has ever possessed, not forgetting Trumpet- and Duff, defied Ilia Wellington bowling for 97 minutes on Friday morning, while they put on 122 for the first wicket.

A. M. Matheson, Auckland mediumpaced bowler, is now :n Dunedin, attending the Teachers’ Training College there. He expects to be in Dunedin lor a year, so that he will be playing both cricket and llugby in the south. Auckland will sadly miss his bowling, but Auckland’s loss is Otago’s gain, for Matheson is one of the best of New Zealand’s young all-rounders.

As was expected, the proposal that the V.C.A. should increase the allowance to Victorian members of the Australian team touring New Zealand came to nothing, states a Victorian critic. The Board of Control had written to the Association intimating that it, had decided that the allowance should be los a day, and that the associations were bound to adhere to the decisions of the-board. The matter is entire’y one for the board, and had the association been in a position to give an increased amount to. the players it would have been merely as an act of grace. The view I take, however, is that the board should have done something for the men. who would iosS money by undertaking Hie trip. There are rumours that some of the players have received assistance from outside sources in order that they might undertake the trip. This, if true, is juj undesirable state of affairs, and could have been obviated had the board been prepared to consider the special circumstances of these men. Only a few of the players aro affected, and if the board desired them to represent Austraha it should certainly see that' they aro not out of pocket by doing so.

“Dempster is a class batsman,” said Itichardson. captain of. tfie Australian team, at the conclusion of the Av Tellington match. “He would easily get into any Australian State side, and would be a candidate for Test honours. James showed exceptionally good form as wicketkeeper, and he suffered very little in comparison with Oldfield, who admittedly, is the best ’keeper in the world. His very sound batting makes him a useful man to his side. We liked him very much as a wicketkeeper. A tour of England would make a great improvement in any cricketer. Young Massey called forth our admiration, for he gave a display of good and plucky batrnansnip. He did not elianoe his arm, but chose the right ball to hit. Bndcock is an attractive batsman. His bowling was steady during the whole match. He bowled well in both innings, but ho showed what a good bowler lie was by taking full advantage of the crumbling wicket in our second inmngs. He is a fine all-round cricketer.”

The veteran Auckland cricket can. tain, N. G. Snedden, once more will lead Auckland. Since C. G. Dacre has left Auckland, another captain has had to be found, and. at the request of lus co-selectors, E. C. Beale, and G. B. Cummings, Snedden has consented to play and to captain the Auckland side. Snedden has not occupied that position for a couple of seasons now, but he is a fine skipper, and Auckland will have the use of his long experience. The following Auckland players have been selected for practice : —A. Anthonv, S. A. R. Badeley ('Waikato), E. H. Bowley, J. W. Cooper, H. D. Gillespie, AY. Hendr, E. Horspocl. J. Langridge, A. M. Matheson, A. S. Player, A. J. Postles, P. AY. Ro entree, N. G. Snedden and G. L. AVeir.

Tlie particulars of Ponsford’s won-, dcifu! batting this season are wellki own. Had he not failed in each innings of the match against New South Wales at Sydney, his average would no doubt have been over 200. Ponsford made the following scores this season :—133, 437, 202, 38, 338, 6. 2 and 63. AVoodfull has also had a remnrknblv successful season and he and Ponsford, Hendry and Ryder have been largely responsible for Victoria winning the Shield. AVoodfull made scores of 43, 31, 99. 191 rot out, 106. 94 and 81 not out. AATi-ls average® cr.nnot be accepted as. an nbsnlutelv reliable guide, it is significant that Pon®fnrd. AVoodfull and Kipnny should V*«the three lendira- batsmen in the Sheffield averages this season.