CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16811, 14 August 1922, Page 9

CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

M.C.C. REPRIMAND VARSITY CRICKETERS. BOWLING AND BATTING HONOURS. (Special lo tho “ Star.”) LONDON, July 6. University cricket has been brought into prominence in unfortunate circumstances. Both Oxford arid Cambridge have been reprimanded, by the M.C.C. for what were undoubtedly infringements of the laws of the game. In the Oxford and Somerset match a player was given out leg before the wicket* As ho passed tho bowler on the way to the pavilion he remarked. ” I hit it." Tho howler and his captain thereupon asked the batsman to continue his innings and the bowler apologised to the umpire for having appealed. The player went on batting. At Cambridge two players who had batted in the match between the University and the Free Foresters were substituted for two others in the second innings. These two incidents have aroused great discussion, and though no one has attempted to defend the actions of the captains concerned, the M.C.C. have been bitterly criticised for their method of dealing with the matter. " Why were the announcements made public?” it is asked. But the authorities had to guard against tho danger of the principle spreading and ir these circumstances it was necessary that they should take public action. It is permissible for an umpire to alter hie decision if b” the slip of the tongue he has given a wrong one, but in this case the question was taken out of his hands. With regard to the other matter, would either University captain allow a substitute to bat in the Oxford and Cambridge match at Lords? The idea that he should wo ild not occur to anyone. Nor in this same match would a player be allowed to continue his innings after he had been criven out I.b.w. Cecil Parkin lias been the first bowler to capture a hundred wickets. Kennedy, of Hampshire, reached ninety-nine but did not bowl another ball for two da ye. In the meantime Lancashire were playing Northamptonshire and Parkin grasped his opportunity to win by a short head. Immediately after Kennedy had passed three figures came Richmond, of Notts, so that ii has been a fine race for the bowling honours. It. is, however. significant that the veteran, Rhodes, is at the top of the averages. The Yorkshireman has taken forty-eight wickets for slightly over eleven runs each. Kennedy’s average is fourteen and Parkin’s fifteen. With regard to the batsmen. Russell is now well on the way to his second thousand. Tlis total is 1659 and he has left Makepeace nearly four hundred behind. Russell's record is indeed a superb one. He lias batted twenty-three times, and going in first has only’ been twice not out, whilst hie average works out at 79 runs for each innings. Needless to say, he is at the top of the list. ENGLISH AVERAGES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 11, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON. August 13. The following are the batting averages of the English eleven :- BATTING AVERAGES.

Hendron 05 Mead ..... 05 Tlussell 63 Hobbs 02 JIardirge . .... 58 IT. Ashton . . . 56 Woolley . ... 53 Oldroyd . . - . 50 Sandham . . . . 4S BOWLING. Wickets. Average. Rhodes . . .82 11.63 Mac a uley . .116 12.90 Browne . . . 55 13.1 Richmond . .152 13.75 White . . . 123 15.80 Allen . . .00 14. 0 Parker . . .138 15.50 Tt. Kilner . . 85 15.14 Parkin . . . 16! 15.85 Waddington . . 105 15.97