CRICKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 15 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

NEWS AND NOTES. (By “Stump.”) J. T. Tyldesley and Harry Makepeace have been appointed to undertake the coaching of Lancashire next season. Unless something unforseen happens, Timaru should secure an easy win over Celtic to-day. Last week Celtic made a very poor showing, the side being all out for 60. When the teams met in the first round, Celtic made 82 and 149, Timaru replying with 147 and six for 94. As a batting side, Celtic are by no means weak, but when they are up against it, somehow or other they fail to produce their best form. As was the case in the first round, Mcßeath again proved the most troublesome bowler, his figures last week being five for 19. On the first occasion the teams met, he took six for 25 and five for 00. Harding was the only Celtic batsman to reach double figures, but even he was not at all comfortable while at the wickets.

In a recent Currie Cup cricket match in South Africa, Western Province made 538 for six wickets, and declared. Natal replied with 177 and 458. D. Morkel played a great innings of 208 not out for Western Province, tA. W. Palm made 100 not out, and Serrurier scored 105.

Kane’s dismissal last week without scoring was the first “duck” he has registered in club games this season. Hi 3 scores to date include:—24, 74, 49 not out, 39, 20, 64 not out, 25, 7 and 0, which gives him an average of 43.1.

The annual report of the Lancashire County Cricket Club stfetes that the loss on last season’s working amounted to £1245, which is attributed to the wet and cold weather experienced in several of the home matches. The benefit match, allotted to M‘Donald, realised £1919 10s Id, including donations.

S. Mason (Celtic) has performed very creditably in club games this season, his average up to last Saturday being 35.2. His scores include:—3B. 31, 1,8, 97, 22, 101, 15 and 6. So far he has not registered a not out.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground recently, R. A. Halcombe, the West Australian fast bowler, who was noballed for “throwing” in the recent game against Victoria, had a bowling test before the veteran umpire, R. Crockett, and slow-motion pictures were taken. The test was made at the request of Halcombe, who is anxiouß to remedy any defect there may be ir> his bowling.

While Timaru succeeded in disposing of Celtic for* a moderate total last week, they made an inanspicuous start, losing two wickets for nine runs. Eaton was smartly stumped by Cuthbertscm before he had scored, and Hudson was run out in attempting what appeared from the start to be an impossible second run. Gregory and Buchanan then became associated, and put on 120 for the third wicket, the partnership saving the situation so far as Timaru were concerned. Both were scratchy at the start, but when they settled down scored freely. Gregory pasted the bowling all over the field, hitting no fewer than fourteen boundaries. He gave two or three chances, but in spite of this, his display was a creditable one.

Members of the Australian Board of Control were greatly perturbed concerning the publication of the names of members of the Australian Test cricket team before the board had received a report from the Australian Selection Committee, consisting of Messrs. J. Ryder, R. L. Jones, and Dr. C. E. Dolling. Some considered that one of the selectors had been guilty of a breach of confidence fn disclosing the names. Press representatives were not admited to the meeting, but when the members adjourned for tea, the secretary (Mr W. J. Jeanes) announced that the board desired publication of the following:—“That this board views with great concern the fact that the names of the players in the team for England were published in the newspapers before the report had been handed to the chairman of the board, and that a letter be addressed to each of the selectors asking whether any information had been given by him respecting the selection directly or indirectly to any person.” The action of the board in asking its selectors to explain the leakage is probably unprecedented in the history of the game in Australia.

Scoring in the Old Boys-High School match which was played on the Rectory, was very slow. School batted first, and took over two and a half

hours to compile 138. Although the display was not an exhilarating one, some of the boys showed good form against Davies and Cunningham, both of whom were bowling well. Wilson, who opened up with Hind, reached 27 , before returning a catch to Ayres off his own bowling. Malcolm (20), Wal- ! lis (20) and McDougall (24) all batted patiently. Davies sent down 12 overs, taking five wickets for 25 runs. He kept a consistent length throughout, and was coming off the wicket at a greater pace than usual. Marriott, who met with a fair amount of success in the previous match, had 29 runs hit off him in four overs. Fourteen came off one over alone. The fielding of Old Boys was much improved, some smart catches being taken. No fewer than eight of the School players were caught, Wells being responsible for the dismissal of four of them. At stumps Old Boys had 45 on without loss.

An unusual position resulting from a mistake in compiling the scores in §n important club cricket match in Poverty Bay is to be referred to the New Zealand Cricket Council for a ruling, i One team, Celtic, made 195 runs in I the first innings, but the total was . written down 198. When their opponents completed their second innings, Celtic only wanted three to win outright, but owing to a mistake it was thought two would suffice. Each of the opening pair made one run, and then stumps were drawn, but when the book was audited by a pressman the error was discovered and reported. On the ground that Celtic was certain of a win the Cricket Association executive awarded that team an eight-point win, but the award is subject to recognition by the New Zealand Council.

3tar made light of the Ztngari bowling last week, being at the wickets for three hours 25 minutes in compiling 210. Burns and Shillito put on 66 for the second wicket, but their batting at the Start was painfully aow. Burns has never displayed aggressh eness, and it took him forty minutes to make four runs. After this he Infused a little more life into his play, and gave quite a fair display. Bell, who took four wickets for 52, was the most successful of the Zingari bowlers. In a failing light, Zingari lost two for IS before stumps.

Two months before he made 136 for New South Wales against South Australia, Allsopp “was playing in the bush and was unknown” (says a Melbourne writer). “His advance has been meteoric. Like Jack Ryder, Allsopp is at his best when attacking, and when at his top he is perhaps even more devastating than the tall Victorian.”

Don Bradman is practically a newcomer in the big cricket of this country. But he has an old head on his sturdy j'oung shoulders, and in his bat is the magic of the century-maker, says a writer in the Sydney Referee. In his brief career, including Test cricket, Bradman has scored 2377 runs in 30 completed innings of firstclass cricket, the average being 79 runs per innings. He has made ten centuries and yet has played in only 20 matches. His exploits include the record innings of 340 not out against Victoria, two centuries in the Tests against England, and two centuries in one Sheffield Shield match against Queensland. Bradman should find English wickets to his liking. In the subjoined epitome of his performances in first-class cricket, it will be oeen that he averages 147 against Victoria and 130 for the State against English

teams, and that he has not yet played against Tasmania, Western Australia, and New Zealand.

Followers of the game in this country are extremely fortunate this season in that they are privileged to watch in Frank Woolley and K. S. Duleepsinhji, two of the world's leading batsmen of the present day, says the “Dominion.” The Indian Prince is giving of his best on the tfew Zealand tour, and is delighting crowds at every centre with his absolute mastery of a wide range of scoring strokes. What a treat the people of Napier must have enjoyed on Saturday when this batting vizard hit up the great score of 242 for the M.C.C. against Hawke’s Bay. He must have scored at a hurricane rate, as he put the runs on in 189 minutes. He found the boundary no fewer than forty-one times with widely-diversified shots. As he is such a slip expert, it seems almost certain that the Cambridge University and Sussex amateur must be given a place in the English eleven in the forthcoming series of Tests against Australia. Duleepsinhji Is carrying the mantle of his illustrous uncle, K. S. Ranjitsinhji, with rare distinction, and it is our good fortune to have him with us this year.

I. N.O. H.S. R. Av. Victoria 7 3 340 589 147.25 S.A. .. .. 8 0 175 443 55.37 Queensland 6 1 133 391 78.20 English XI. . 4 1 157 391 130.33 Tests .. . 8 1 123 468 66.85 Other Matches 4 1 58 95 31.66 Total 37 7 340 2377 79.23