THE BIG GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 1

THE BIG GAME.

CRAWFORD OPENS" WELL ■ m by sandman : m PATRICK. THAT BALANCE-SHEET. (By SQUARE LEG.) . In Reese's unfortunate absence Pat-rick-was elected skipper of the Canterbury team, Caygill being called upon to fill, the vacancy. The spin of tlio coin favoured Patrick. The Australians were ten minutes late in taking the field, but Crawford soon made up for the delay by skittling Woods, getting Caygill Ibw, and having Hickmott caught at mid-off. Crawford was bowling at a good pace, but .mixing it a bit and getting a. turn on at times, in addition to swinging away in the wind. When Hickmott left Crawford'? figuias were three wickets for 3 raus. His deliveries then became a little erratic, and good fielding alone saved him from punishment by Patrick and Beale. The ball which bowled Woods was fast and kept low, just hitting the leg stump. That which got Caygill'was a swinging ball which lodged on the batsman's foot. Hickmott got on to one solidly, but, unfortunately, it was not on the ground, and Trunuwr brought oif a very good catch. While Crawford was dealing out destruction at one end Armstrong was keeping tho batsmen quiet at tho other. Noble came, on in place of Crawford, who had put down a. few wild ones, and Beale fell to a first-class catch at square-leg by Waddy. Beale made a fine shot to one just outside liis legs. Waddy put out his left hand about waist high and held it. PATRICK AND SANDMAN. These two put on 107 before Sandman left,, and the cricket was very good. Sandman got in some lovely cuts and' drives and- was partial to Laver, who/was obviously trying to trap him on the "swish" stroke. Layer's ruse came off. inasmuch as "Sandy" put one to Armstrong's left hand, which he dropped. Tho batsman had. passed tho fifties , then, and only added, a few more when,. in trying to hook a half volley well outsido tho off stump to leg, he edged the ball into his wicket. Tho stroke was quite a new one even to the versatile St Albans representative. Patrick's innings was not'so free as the one he played m Dunedin, though he succeeded in getting one ball over -the fence, on tho on side. He got in many powerful strokes, but.he let off quite a number of overpitched ones'which should have been punished. He dropped back in this innings to the faulty cover stroke. He was missed ones by Truuiper in the fifties'there, and two or three passed over

the fieldsman's head just out of Ill's reach. . . ' Bishop, Carlton and Monaglian all; played well for their runs, and looked like continuing when they _wero cut short. Bishop, attempted a. six against; the wind, and Waddy gathered it in. Carlton batted really solidly, whence] jumped out to Armstrong and, miss- 1 ing, was stumped' by M'Grcgor. Mona-i ghan liit all over a. slow one from Armstrong and paid the penalty. Bennett and Boxshall played in characteristic fashion for their -few. Bennett was bowled by a trimmer" from Crawford, and the carried his bat. though he should have been cauglit when he had made three. Crawford and Mailey both went for the ball, then at tho last both left it to the other and the bjill fell 011 the ground. The , innings closed, for 258, which is a. fair score for Canterbury against such good bowling.'' AUSTRALIANS' BATTING. Collins and Waddy opened and. played out time, and both batted correctly. Waddy was badly beaten by one of Monaghan's- which • nearly bowled him, hut that was the only mistake made. 'All the batsmen will be seen to-morrow | at the wickets. .That, is, if Canterbury are lucky enough to get the side out. _ Tllli OU'tCRICKPrr. Crawford's bowling is the star turn of the oiit-cricket; Without hiin Canterbury might be . expected to ' make good scores. He strengthens tho at-, i tack immensely. Mailey was freely ] punished. He failed to get a length. Lavor bowled cleverly, but waa obviously handicapped by a bruised'.finger.:! Noble swung-away a. lot in tho wind, i but was not effective. . . ■ - The fielding was good, the picking-up and returning being smart.and true. Trumper did splendid work at mid-off, though he missed Patrick. "Waddy was first-class ; and took two good catches, the one dismissing Beale being particularly brilliant. The other, from Bishop, was well judged and cleverly taken at long off. Sims also was first-class; he did some good stopping and picking up. In fact, all were good ana very few mistakes were. made. M'Gregor behind the wickets put in some, good work. It was'a smart piece of work which sent Carlton tfbaek. , • He .should Have stumped Sandman in'the thirties, but so far as I could see that .was his only mistake. .' . ■ THAT BALANCE-SHEET. • The balance-sheet of the New ;Zealand team's.tour of Australia is coming in for serious criticism, both north' and south.. So far as I .can gather-the trouble seems"to be not so much with the actual items—though some of them are challenged—as with, the faot that the expenses appear to have" largely exceeded the estimates. It will be remembered " that ' it' was publicly announced that tire.expenses had been kept below the estimates. That, however, seems to have been incorrect, as the bulk estimates provided the Associations (no detailed estimates were supplied), and upon which they wore asked to provide guarantees, were considerably less than tiie amount actually expended. The receipts on tho tou'r : wore some £IBO more than estimated, and it was expected that at least this amount would have-been,available for

! * f4 AVfi distribution. That a 'much smaller/'" V amount was divided is disappointing." , ,■ i It is rumoured that tho Council Ipst : J somewhere in- tho region 'of £60" ; over' "■"■■ ■ tho test mafch at' Dtmedin, notwitk-, - ■ * standing good weather and a record at*' tendance. Possibly a larger sum, will •'■ be lost over the second testgatne ill Auckland. Should tho Auckland ciation seek to carry out its threat to move the' headquarters of the Council ' from Christchnrch it'will obtain a'good,-' deal of support from other,centres who' are not at'all satisfied with the present management."' AVe-are prepared*to-lose \ money when-sending a team away, at least till our cricket is firmly ,'estab- , lished. but-surely it .might reasonably'', be expected that with the best- of good ' luck legaiding weather and other local ' J <■ conditions.wo.should come. out Vat-least" ' "'■* without .a loss. i ( , * Tn the meantime the Council' will Tw foiced to exercise strict'economy,over the Auckland match, and it will not he , surprising, seeing -tile isone ' > of the committee, if the,toam is select-' ".V cd with a view to keeping down 1 es.- - .'j penses. ' *ii» v* «