CRICKET,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16543, 29 September 1921, Page 3

CRICKET,

AUSTRALIANS IM ENGLAND (Special to the “Star”). LONDON, August JL It is a sad thing that tho Australians have given us such a thundering hiding this time. 4 They have never, in two seasons, so almost obliterated us, as they have clone during this year. The fast bowlers have done the trick in an unbelievable season. I met a fellow who played against the in 1902, only the other day. It was a kicking, flercy wicket on the day, and h© asked me if X was glad not to he playing against Ernest Jones on that wicket! I only s£ot 4 myself—on o, slow one—the only time C played him, and that was more than. I was worth—but was glad net to bo against him on the dusty stuff when the ball comes all different heights. And his pace! Gregory is comparatively slow. Of course, the person who met an Ernest Jones—except at meal times-—was in for trouble: He was enormously fast —the fastest bowler—except Cotter, perhaps, and Knox, (.hat I have ever seen. .Kortright I have always missed, thank tho kindness of inefficiency. The story of the man who missed Kortright in tho slips is perhaps worth repeating. Kortright was halting and second slip almost flung him on the ground —him being the hall. “ Why didn't you catch him?” asked tho incensed captain. ci I daren’t, sir.” said the boy. He might have caught me in the ribs next, innings! ” Jones was first, but Kortright was the limit. W. G. Grace said so himself. Retrospect may be, nr may not be, interesting, but tbe present calls for criticism. The team chosen for England i« a strong one. The left-handed batsmen show, to an extent, tbe exclusion of Medley. The googlie bowler is seldom a good one against a lefthander. Armstrong knows this—and much besides. But, being Armstrong, he- has another mode of attack to command. Years ago he could keep down the runs by bowling wide on tho legsid© to our right-band batsmen. He nearly saved two Test matches by these tactics. Now, if we play too many left-handers he has himself to ” bowl comics ” outside the leg stump at them, if the. fost bowlers- do not come off. 1 canno-t think it good tactics, because it spoils the game and, incidentally, spoils the gate. This Is a point that one should notice. Dick Lilley has made it in his book. After the Avar tho Australians came over here with a sol-vice side—not to spy out the nakedness of tbe land, but to enjoy some cricket. It was not considered that they had a very strong side then, though they did extremely well. "When our last AL.C.C. team went out--with everyone in form at the moment—it looked like a. soft thing for ns. Disappointment followed disappointment: some of the side broke down and have never recovered. The result one knows. But even then we—one speaks for all England—would not believe wo could be beaten here. The weather would tell: the temperature would tell: and there was Barnes on a wet wicket! Lots of things might happen. Only one has. Armstrong and his side have gone inexorably on their way. The short hours have accounted for how many draws? How good they are one canuot tell—in comparison with tho giants of old; but good they must be, because they always go on doing it. There is always a man for a pinch, though the pinch has com© very seldom, Perhaps their first match was their worst : they might have been in trouble then. Many visiting sides have come over and given us a. drubbing; the worst of all were the New Zealanders, know n for all time as the “ All Blacks,” who pretended, to come over to learn and showed how Rugby football may be played. They got one beating, however, though that was a most unlucky Tbe Australians can only g©f their beating at the Oval, humanly speaking. And without bad weather we have noone, on present form, to get them out. As always, when one fails, another comes off. It was once said that colonials are born five years older than Englishmen, Jews ten years. On a perfect wicket, as has been said, the Australians will at least draw the match. The selection of tho team is not exactly what one would have made oneself : but if one had done so the amount of money made from different publications would have precluded a further waste of paper and ink. The Surrey v. Kent match was full of interest. After the defeat of Middlesex. Kent were very much on the offensive—as offensive as Kent on the field can ever be. Tbe loss of the toss, however, meant the loss of the game. It did not seem to me that the Kent team wore put in the right order to compel results. Here, however, it is very easy to make mistakes. Mr Trough ton- —and most people keep their ranks these days—showed the spirit of Kent through this match. In Kent the J.Z. has always bad a home. Outsiders could go bo t.h* Free Forresters. Sir Ponsonbv dead. ’Who lives may read: or not. Sandham made liis place certain in the last Test match. His was not — as soiiio might suggest- -a selfish second innings. Tt mad© Ducat, dragged him back to form. That brilliant player has been out of luck just lately. But he has not really seen the ball with a determined, ey© since he met Armstrong. Sandham deliberately sat down to play Ducat in. He got bis chance of a double hundred M.nd let iL .go. Ho has his chance for England, however* and should use it. Ono day he will go away again for England on tour. Tt will not- be tho first time; but this time it will lie iu much TLioro pleasant conditions. Sandham was in France, of course, and was not too lucky there. *T 4DBANS CLUB Tbe 1.921-22 seasop of the Sfc Alban? Cricket Club vull be opened on Saturday at H?elev Park witli a. friendly game between the undermentioned teams. All intendinr members. and ih«*se v-diose names are not. mentioned. nre invited to bo in attendance. At ternooii tea 'will be provided by the president Atr I r . C. Raphael). UraoPee -will start at. the nets on Tuesday, October 4: A Team—Allard (captain). Burns, Professor Condi iffe. Crawford, Edgar, Gordon, Guiney, Hickmott, Lamb, Martin, Mason North. Jfieoße. Simpson, Stringer. F. Warn—Sandman (captain), Brantra, Oostlef 1 . Crumb, Graham, M. Harrison Jacobs, Milne*, Morris, O'Brien. Sandman! TrylVr, Thomas, Wood 1?. C team—Barrett (captain), Dnnstaji, Dufi, Filsam, Graham, R. Green, Howartli. Horr Jenkroen, -Tenkui, Johnston, Llghtbaad.’ Rudd, Sheldon, Walter, Webster, : 1) Team. —Array, Also]., Blythe (2), Bros- j na.h»n, Connor. Cornish, Creo. Dravion, j Francis, Hibbordine. I .auric. Lewis, Shier ' Thompson (captain), Twyneham,. Wilß'anm’ ! J 3. Lewis. o ’ CANTERBURY BOYS’ ASSOCIATION. i A meclLu.; of (in: Crater bury C:n-

Association was hvid leat evening, Aft C. J. Goldstone presiding. lb was decided to chang’d the name ftwvM the Canterbury Boys’ Cricket League to the Canterbury Bovs' Cricket Association. Rules II and I*2 were deleted, and the following substituted: ” Any player wbo has played four matches in one team may not he transferred to another in the same or lower grade without reinstatement by the Management Committee.’’ Mr Goldstone moved that, there should be three grades—fourth (under eighteen years), fifth and sixth (under sixteen years); and that the games in the fourth grpde shoo Id be two days’ matches. He explained that the subject had been discussed at a meeting between representatives of tbe Boys Cricket. Association and the Canterbury Cricket Association, and the discussion had shown that the Canterbury Cricket Association would not favour a limit of eighteen years for fourth grade players, but w»n*«d the competition to be open. Mr J. It. Montgomery seconded the motion pro forma. Mr T. M. Haslett -Boys; Gordon Halt; moved an amendment, that the fourth grade should bo an restricted na regßi-ded and that the fifth and sixth grades should be for players under sixteen years. A further amendment to the effect that the fourth grade should bo under eighteen, fifth grade under sixteen and a hall and sixth grade, under fifteen, was lost, on the chairman’s casting vote. Mr Hasleit’s amendment was adopted. The following were elected to Ihe Management Committee:—Messrs G. Briltenden (St Bede’s), R. Butcher (Boys’ Gordon Hall), G. Todd (St Andrew's College). L. B. Quarte»main (Bovs’ High School) end . Coomber(Marist Brothers). The opening dav was; fixed for Saturday October 15. NORTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. In the North Canterbury Cricket Association's Senior Cup Competition matches on Saturday. Woodend and Cust met si Woodend. Cast marie 153 runs (E. Smith 63: Tv". Sad 29. not out: L. Barrett 21 ; H_ Sail 15; J. Cowins IS) and when time w«q called Woodend had made 15 for (he loss of two wickets. Boiling for Woodend A. Smith took four wickets for 38 runs, F. Smith three for 15. IL Moody one for 18 and . T. Ballinger one for 20. In Ibe .Tun ior competition Woodend defeated Oust, at Oust bv 5 runs. Tbe scores were: Woodend. 92 (J. Moody 27; T). Morris 25: A. Judeon Jl); Oust, 87 (Silvester S 6; Robb 12; Forbes 11). Bowling for Woodend T. Moody took five wickets for 20, F. Borland two for 21, and for Oust, lvobb e.-d,t for 31. EAST CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. The East Christchurch. Cricket Club w,Y, open the sen son at Laucaeter Park on Saturday. at 2.30 p.m. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. September 77 A meeting of the 'Wellington Cricket Association approved the dates submitted for inte-rprovincial matches:—Canterbury December 31. January 2 and 3; Otago. January 6, 7 and 9.