CRICKET

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17177, 22 October 1923, Page 3

CRICKET

I THE GAME AND THE PLAYERS. *

FIRST ROUND

NOTES ON SENIOR, GAMES. The first round of the Canterbury Cricket Asociation’s senior coin-peti-tion was concluded on Saturday in fine weather. Riccarton secured a twopoint win over St Albans. On the first day .Riccarton made 415 for the hxss of seven wickets. They declared their innings closed, and put St Albans in on Saturday. In their first innings St. Albans made 95. St Albans followed on, commencing their second innings at 4-..15 p.m. Riccarton set. out to get St Albans all out again before 6 p.m., but in this they just failed. St Albans having lost nine wickets for lE6, -when stumps were drawn. To this total D. M’K. Sandman contributed 59 Sydenham and West Christchurch drew. On the first day Sydenham made 251 for th© loss of two wickets. On Saturday Sydenham carried their total to 300 for the loss of five wickets. at* declared the innings closed. \\est Christchurch replied with 250 for three wickets. R. C. Blunt carried his I>at for 143. Linwood secured a three pomt win over East Christchurch. In their first innings East made 78, and l.inwood responded with C>o. ’ East were all out for the small total of 38 m their second innings. For Linwood R. Read took six- wickets for 8 runs. Linwood thus required o 7 to win. They started their innings badly, three wickets being down for three runs. However. G. AY Russell. C. Orchard and M. Boon helped to make the iieeesary runs for the loss of five wickets. The following table shows the position oUthe teams at the end of the. first

RIC CARTON v. ST ALBANS. In reply to Riccarton’s big total of 410 lor serai wickets St Albans made a very poor showing i„ then- first innings being all out for fit. They had to follow on, and as their second innings began at 4.10 p.m. Riocarton nad a reasonable chance of getting them all out before h p.m. and thus secure a three-point win. However Kicearton just missed tho major points, nine wickets being down when stumps were orawn for a total of 106.

NO BIG SCORES. None of the St Albans batsmen a big score in the first innings. i>. baudman with U was top scorer. S. A\ . Hickmott carried his bat for 13, F. Woods made 12, the Rev W. A. Hay 11 and W. Eadj’ and J* N'orrie 1U each. These were all the double figure men. The wickets fell as follows:—One for 7, two for 16, throe tor 26, four for 27, five for 27, six for 42, seven for So, eight for 59, nine for •9, ten lor 94. It will thus bo seen that it was more or less of a procession all the way through. Eady, who was the last of the St Albans men to go in, shaped as well

as any one, and ho appears to have the makings of a very fair bat. He has quite a number of good strokes. SANDMAN BATS WELL. St Albans did better in their second innings, thanks in a large measure 'to a very useful 59 contributed by Sandman, who played a fine innings throughout. Although he did not bit any of the sixes with which he used to delight followers of the game in his younger days, lie brought off some very neat boundary shots. In one over he scored fifteen oft' Langbein, and in all lie hit nine fours. He did not give any chances.

A. W. Thomas made 27 in vigorous style and bis partnership with .Sandman, which raised the total from 97 to M 3 was the liveliest period in the whole afternoon's play. In. the first innings Thomas just managed to break his “duck” before he was dismissed. In this innings be did not bat in his usual confident style. Ho was nearer his real form in the seoonu innings. This was true, also of several of the St Albans batsmen. Perhaps the first innings gave them a chance to get their eye in. They certainly could not have had much opportunity lor practice during the week on account of the wet weather. A PROMISING BAT. R. Nome, who made 20 in quite good style, is a promising cricketer, lie played for St Albans in the last match or two of la-st season and with the help of “not outs ” and one or two good scores ho headed the batting averages of the senior competftfon. The other double figure men in the second innings were L. A. Brunton (21) and S. AY. Hickmott (12). These two opened the innings in vigorous style and had twenty on The noard after about ten minutes’ play. THE RICCARTON BOWLERS. In St Alban’s first-inn i hgs W. T. Langbein secured the biggest bag of wickets He took five at a cost of 24 runs. Langbein, who is- a promot-

ed junior, should prove useful as a oowler to the Riccarton seniors this season, though be is the type of bowler who depends mostly oil catches for his wickets. On Saturday four of his victims were dismissed in this manner, and th-© other was given out lbw. In the second innings he failed to get a wicket, and in five overs ho had 44 runs knocked oil him. Jn th© first innings C. T. Rix took throe wickets for 27 runs and in the second four for 62. Rix is again one of the mainstays of the Riccarton attack. Rigoth rough lie was the best bowler they had last season. Ji. B. Bain was also given a turn with the ball. H© ts an erratic sort of bowler, but he did not get knocked about much oil Saturday. In the first innings ho bowled/ seven overs, three of which were maidens, and he took one wicket at a cost of l oruns. In the second innings he bowled five ovegs, had 12 runs knocked off him and took two wickets. R. F. Powell took one wicket for 19 runs in the first innings. C. E. Evans did not bpwl in the first Innings, but in the sqcond he was given five overs. He took one wicket at a cost of 21 runs. Last season Evans did not seem to be able to strike form with the ball. It is to be hoped he will do better this season. On the. whole the .fielding of the Ricearton players was good and few runs were given away or chances missed. Fuller kept wickets well. During the afternoon he caught out three men and stumped one. ESTIMATE OF THE TEAMS. Judging by the first match of the season, which of course, does not usually giro an entirely accurate indication of th© strength of a team, Riccarto-n have a good batting side. Of course the bowling of St Albans was rather weak and the wicket favoured the batsmen when Riccarton made the big total of 41.5 for the Joss of seven wickets a week ago. Still in the Powell Brothers and G. Haines, Riccarton have three young 'batsmen who promise to he very useful in making runs this season. Then C. E. Guineyj ( . K. Evans, E. R. Caygill and H. B. Whitta are good bats though perhaps all of them are not consistent rungetters. As far as bowling is concerned Riccarton do not appear to be as strong in this department of the game as they are in batting. Rix is the only bowler they have who proved himself really good throughout last season. Of course if Evans can strike form Riccartou’s attack will be greatly assisted. St Albans do not appear to bo strong either in batting or bowling, though lack of practice and to the conditions under which the match against Riccarton was played. St Albans have not the good young players that Riccarton have, though both Norrie and Eady

show promise as batsmen. t So far St Albans do not appear to have found a bowler to take the place of H. T. Stringer, who is now playing for East Christchurch. It was noticeable in the match against Riccarton that it was the older players of the St Albans team who put up the best performances. The seven Riccarton wickets that fell were captured by A. AY. Thomas and J*. Martin, the former taking lour for 4'J and the latter, three for 54. Sandman was top scorer in both of the St \lban s innings and Thomas was second top scorer in the second innings. SYDENHAM v. AYEST CHRISTCHURCH. The Sydenham-West Christchurch gam© was resumed at Hagley Park on a good wicket. On the * first day Sydenham had scored 251 for the loss of two wickets. Gasson was taking no risks and decided to continue the innings. Oliver and Young, the not out men, with 12 and 52 to their credit respectively, batted steadily for nine overs and then Oliver, who was just commencing to open out, stepped in front to Findlay and was out 1-b.w. Watt went for a hit—the right game for his side at this stage—but just as he had reached doubles he played back to a ball from Findlay and was bowled. M’Ewin also was bent upon hitting, but when he had scored a single he lifted a ball into the outfield and was caught by Trent- The score stood at 300 for five wickets and the innings was declared closed. Young liad 72 on the score sheet and was batting so confidently that he looked good for a century had time permitted a continuance of the innings. AYE ST’S OPENING. Hayes and Blunt opened for AVest. Blunt commenced rather scratchily. but Hayes was batting with much freedom till he touched one from M’Beth and was taken behind the wickets. He had previously given a chance in the outfield to Brunton w ho was fielding substitute for Patrick. Brunton had to run a fair distance. He got to the ball but failed to hold it.

A GOOD. PARTNERSHIP. Blunt and Trent then put up a. good partnership which took the total to 79 when Trent player] too late at on© from Gasson and was bowled. He bad mad© 18, including a fine hit for six off Al'Beth. Trent shaped fairly well, though he plays back too much and also

plays too late for a lot of balls, this fault eventually bringing about iiis downfall. ANOTHER FINE PARTNERSHIPThe ensuing partnership between Blunt and Talbot raised the score from 79 to 161, at which total Gasson bowled Talbot, who had batted soundly, scoring mostly by singles. He found the boundary four times- His stay at tlvs wickets with Blunt did a great deal to take the sting out of the attack. BLUNT REACHES CENTURY. Blunt was nine short of his century ■when partnered by Foster. He reached his three figures amidst- applause. Foster scored freely from the start and assisted Blunt in a third good partnership. The pair were still together at the drawing of stumps, Blunt being 143 and Foster 33. After the first halfhour Blunt played a fine innings and he executed some lovely strokes all round the wicket. Tn reaching las century in the first match of the season he repeated his performance of last season, when he mad© over a hundred against East Christchurch at Lancaster Park. His innings was not chanceless as he gave a couple of difficult catches behind the wicket and a hard one at point, which fl-ould have been a brilliant effort if Oockroft had held it. These were all in the earlier part of his innings, and once he settled down he mad© his strokes correctly. Blunt lilt two sixes and fifteen fours. Foster displayed much freedom in his batting and -went well from the start. The bowling was tired but by no means slack when lie went in. and by waiting for the right ones the AA ©stern skipper scored very steadilyAN EVEN GAME. AVest bad scored 250 for three wickets j when time was called, thus an even and most interesting game- Gasson’s judgment- in not declaring proved correct and the extra 50 runs scored on Saturday just proved enough to save Sydenham from defeat. Cunningham and M’TAefch bore the brunt of the attack for Sydenham. Cuningharn was inclined to be a- bit erratic. but M’Beth bowled very steadily and. deserved a. better average. Gasson proved a very useful change, breaking up two partnerships. M.’Lwin was a little too expensive.

UN WOOD v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. There was an interesting finish in the Linwood v. East Christchurch match in which the former got_a threepoint win. Linwood were 57 behind when their second innings started, and there was an hour and twenty minutes in which to make the runs. It looked easy enough, but when they had lost five wickets lor 30 runs their supporters were not quite sure of the position. However, G. AV. Russel and AT. Boon got sufficiently set to knock up the runs by 5.45.' A BOAVLERS’ AYICKET. It was a bowlers’ day. Bowling against East in their second innings Read secured six wickets for eight runs, and Russell three for 13. Both were hard to play and there were eighteen overs in which no ruus wer.e scored. Bngg was top scorer with 17. There was a regular procession in Linwood’s first innings, Bugg taking four wickets' for five runs in 2.7 overs. Read (19) was the top scorer. Jn the second innings the batsmen opened against the Coupland-Stringer combination. Coupland was getting a bit of work on the ball and bad the batsmen busy in trying to keep up their wickets. He took two wickets for 22 runs in six overs. The length kept by Stringer forbade batsmen taking any liberties. His success may be judged from the fact that only twenty-three runs were scored off him, during -Tyhcili two wickets were taken. AYith Orchard at. the wicket Lin wood’s position improved. He tackled the bowling confidently and bit a six and a four in bis total of 18 before ho was caught out. Russell (not out 14) and M. Boon (not out 8) withstood a couple of changes in the bowling and Linwood reached the required number of runs for the loss of five wickets. SENIOR B GRADE. 3he following are the results of the first round of matches in the Senior B Grade:7S k°m! °l7 for “ d ' lefeat " i linwood chu t rch , r ß ’,Yof 6 8 cireW With ChristOhristehuroh \ol **"*''*

ST ALBANS v. WEST. Iligli scoring marked the St Albans-\V©gt match, which was played on No. 5 wicket. Hagley Park. The pitch was in good order, but. the outfield somewhat slow. With seven wickets down Tor 376 runs St. Albans continued their innings, which terminated for 416 runs. Th_e outstanding feature of this week's pla.v was Uraliam'sunbeaten innings of 74. Though hatting stubbornly, the ex-High School player executed several sweet carpet drives coupled with crisp cover shots. Maxwell bowled a capital length and secured four wickets for 70 runs, throe of which were taken last Saturday for 9 runs. With the impossible task of securing 403 runs inside three hours. West, fought stubbornly lor a draw, and just succeeded, having compiled 381 runs at the rail of time for eight wickets. Apart from Dwyer’s 45. the batting was not. particularly enterprising. but the glaring light, the slow outfield and. above all, the excellent. fielding of the St Albans team. kept, runs down. Dwyer batted stylishly for bis runs and hit freely. Donnelly a ko executed several crisp chives, but- played for safety. S. R. Carleton showed some -of his best, in making 20. Tt. was a. good knock. Graham, who bowled late i D th-j innings, kept, the batsmen puzzled. His analysis was: 6 overs, 4 maidens. 2 runs, 3 wicket. Moffatt. also bowled consistently, with a big leg-break which came, in very awkwardly at times. Scores:— ST ALBANS. First Innings. H- C. Burns, b Cocks • • - . 3 B. D. North, lbw b Dwyer .* * ’ wf M. Graham, not out . . . I 7t L. Richards, c Sim b Maxwell . . 12 C. Harrison, c .Sumpter b Donnelly . •:> J. T. Burrows, lbw b Cocks . * 17 W. Moffatt, lbw b Hudson . . * o II- Williams, b .Maxwell . . * 0 , I. H. Skipworth, c Brown b Maxwell ! 0 A. Sandman, c Carleton 1> Maxwell I 13 Total .“716 Bowling analysis.—l>. Maxwell, J 8 overs, 4 maidens. 70 rune, 4 wickets; C. Cocks, 13 overs, 2 maidens, 54 runs. 2 wickets; P. Dwyer, 5 overs, no maidens. 35 runs •->- wickets; Donnelly, 16 overs, 3 maidens." 37 runs, 1 wicket. WEST CHI?ISTC H UKCH. First Innings. Sumpter, b Moffatt .... oq Sim. c Burrows b Richards . . [ fy Carleton, b Richards . . 20 Maxwell, c Carleton b Moffatt . 11l Donnelly, not out . 07 ItolUnsou, r Harrison b North 1 * 20 Hudson, c Skipworth b Graham . ! ~5 Cocks, c Burns b Sandman . * * j Total for eight wirkets . Bowling analysis.—Richards. 10 overs l maiden 33 runs, 2 wickets; W. Moffatt.’ ifi overs. 4 maidens. 55 runs. 3 wicket*; North. 8 overs, *2 maidens, 5 runs, 1 wicket; Graham, 6 overfl, 4 maidens, 2 runs, 1 wicket.

R ICC A R TON v. LIN WOOD. On No. 3 wicket, Hadley Park, Ricc&rton secured a comfortable win against. Linwood. Both, tea.mii' looked particularly formidable on paper, but the neores prove conclusively there is room for improvement. Riccarton established a lead of >5 runs on the first innings and oti Ranrday placed the issue practically beyond doubt, by totalling 143. leaving Lin wood with 200 runs to get in less than two honre. For Riccarton Killick once again came ! to light with a polished innings. His shots j lacked the crispness and assuredness of his j previous week's innings, but his off drives were punched a wav like lightning. Milliken hatted vigorously towards the end of his innings, which was marked by several powerful back drives. Gurnaey again displayed care and patience aud carried Ifis Condliff© howled extre.melv well for Linwood. His analysis read: 11 overs. 1 maiden. 33 runs. 5 wickets. Jones also sent down several deceptive balls and secured three wickets for 29 runs. Lin wood shaped better in their second effort than in the first innings. C. 11 Baker drove with freedom for his 31 and might, possibly have got more. Jack exhibited -natience for his 21. .Tones also batted well. The Riccarton howling wa-s not, sever!y tested. Sinclair howled well, but it was Gurnsev who secured the wickets, keeping a steady length. Hay secured a couple of wickets cheaoly. He. has a good at,vie anJ should develop into a first-rate howler. Scores : RICCARTON. Second Innings.

O. T. Gorrie. © Baker h Jones . .3 C. W. Beattie, c . Jones b Perrin , , 14 T. Millikon, c Corbett b Condliffe . . 28 D. Hay. b CondlifFe 4 j E. K. LuUrell. b Condliffe . . . •) 1 L. J. Killick. b Perrin . . . 35 R. S. Taylor, b Jones . . . 1 F. Gumsey, not out . . _ og S. Johns, c Condliffe b Jones . . .pi G. Jamieson, c, Perrin b Condliffe , . 1 M. Q. Sinclair, lbw b Condliffe . (j Byes 13 Total m Bowling analysis.—T. Condliffe, 11 over?. 1 maiden. 33 runs, 5 wickets: A. Jones, r, overs. I maiden, 29 runs. 3 wickets; E. G. Perrin, 10 overs, 3 maidens. 40 runs, 2 wickets. LTNWOOD. Second Innings. E. G. Perrin, c Hay b Gurusey So 9 J. Jack, c sub b Jamieson . « .21 J. Umb. b Sinclair .... 7 C. L. King, run out Hi G. TL Baker, b Gurnsey , . . .31 T. Condliffe. b Gurnsev . . . .Li A. Jones, not out in' J. Corbett, b Hav . . . „ n C. Bowden, b Luttrell .... 1 H. b Hay u Byes 12 Total for nine wickets . . 121 Bowling analysis.—Gurnsev. 9 overs. 1 maiden. 30 runs. 3 wickets; Hay. 2.4 overs, no maidens, 5 runs, 2 wickets; Jamieson. H overs, no maidens, 20 runs, .1 wicket; Luttrell. 2 overs, no maidens, 11 runs, I SYDENHAM v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. After an exciting finish Sydenham just secured a three-point win against East Christchurch at Sydenham Park. Thu match was keenly contested, but the batsmen, without exception, failed to strike was not up to expectations. Martin once again demonstrated his all-round qualities. An excellent 40. and a total of eleven For East. Weston bowled in great style. His analysis reads: 12.1 overs, 2 maidens. 29 runs. 7 wickets. East Christchurch, made every endeavour three-point win. and though failing are. to be complimented upon their excellent fight. Harry went for the bowling in great style, and his 39 included two sixes, five four? ' arid seven singles. Hardingba.ut hit hard j also for his 23. which included a. six. As | these three sixes were off Martin, it can be realised the batsmen did not bother about the risks they took. Martin finished j 44 runs. 5 wickets, and was chiefly <nst.ru- ! mental in the failure of the East batsmen to secure the required runs. F. AST CHR ISTCH UR< If. Second Innings. B. Watson, b Martin . . . ;; ! S. French, c Grav b Martin . . .11 S. Watson, b M'Clellaml „ . . u j —i Fuller, lbw b M’Gleiland . . 0 j A. Harry, run out 39 ! Weston, b Grav . o j HardingJiam. c Woods b Marlin . 23 j R. Watts, b McClelland . . . . 1 j Hutchings, c Coomber. T> Martin . „ s j Fitzgerald, not out u I Ward, stpd Bellamy 1> Marlin . . n To< a 1 ss Bowling analvsis.—Martin. 12 overs. :« maidens, it runs. 5 wickets; M'Clellaud. t overs, 1 maiden. .16 runs, 3 wickets. SYDENHAM. First innings 141 Second 1h ni J. Martin. .• Watte b Weston „ . . 40 ,). Woods. I) Weston .... 9 H. Barron, c and b Weston . S M. O'Malley, c French b B atson . . .8 J. Murchison, h Weston 1 i

J. Murchison, b Weston .... 1 Hay. b Watson l J. Gray, b Weston n T. Coornher. b Weston -j H. A-rling. e Fuller l» Watson . . 3 H. M'Clelland. not out .... 7 BedlamV. c Harry b Weston . .10 Byes f. Total S 3 Bowling analvsis. -Harry. 6 over*. I maiden. 19 runs, no wickets; Weston. 1-2 overs, 2 maidens. 29 runs. 7 wickets; Watson. 7 overs, no maidens, 33 runs, 3 wickets. OTHER GRADES. Following were the results of the first round in. tb© Junior Grade: B.H.S. 201. Sydenham 42 and 55. New Brighton 212 and 14 for one. Riccarton 99 and 136. College and 34 for one. wicket. West " Technical 185 and 115 for eight wickets, Linwood 129 and 137 for three wickets. St Albans 128 and 136, Kaiapoi 121 and 102 for two wickets. B Section. Riccarton 79 and 68, St Alban a -IS and East 86 and 97 for seven wickets, West 69 aud 92. St, Andrew’s 217. College 364. Both School and College floored comfortable wins. The- appear to be strong enough for the Senior B Grade. E. Weston, of Linwood. batted exceptionally well against Technical, getting 31 Dnustan. of College Third Grade, batted attractively for 74. He ia diatiuctly pro-

Picklee. High School first eleven, gatherei j two wickets* for none. New Brighton signalised their entry to I the C.O'.A. competition hv securing a. com- ! fortable win against Riccarton. There, is \ some good material ’n the. Brighton team, j Wilson, College first eleven, secured a fine average in “bagging" six West. Christchurch wickets for 20 runs. Stuart, who bowled well for Technical last year. Ims again struck ~ooil form. ! Against Linwood his analysis read: IS overs, 4 maidens 12 runs. 6 wickets. i It- was quite Hoar on the form shown ! in the first round that there is ample j tioularly in the Senior B Grade, in which ! with tb© exception of the St. Albans-West. I match the scoring was poor. The fielding | in this srrade was not very bright. One j would like to see more attention paid to I the. fielding, pa rtirularlv as ipanv claim « that the game fails to draw crowds on nc •thing could be more disheartening than t-> j -ee the slovenl -v wa- ’n wh-ph several | fieldsmen a.mbl© to the hall and then, when j the batsmen prenare to sneak an extra single, shy the ball right nt the bottom I of the wicket-. M’Nulty, of High School Fourth Grade, took four wickets for 7 runs, including the I l.at trick -th© first of the season. E. Gasson. Sydenham Third tirade, scored I a verr rdeasin"' 54. This hov. who was at | the Waltham School last year, ha? sonic i delightful shots to the off. He ip one of j Shacklod!i% colts, and it. mar not bo verr i long before he can join his father in the Sydenham Seniors.

HONOURS BOARD. SENIOR B. Btting. Jf. Graham (St Albons) 74*. T*. Dwj-cr i Wept. Christchurch) 43. J. Martin (Sydenham) 40. Bowlin?. Weston lEait Christchurch) 7 wickets for 29 rune. J. Martin (Sydenham) 6 wickets for 51 runs and 5 wickets for 44 runs. T. Condliffe (Linwood) 5 wickets for 83 IT. M'C'lelland (Sydenham) 3 wickets for 3 6 runs. A. .Tones (Linwood) 3 wickets for 20 F. Gurnsey (Biccarton) 3 wickets for 30 LOWER GRADES. Batting. Punster (College 3rd A) 74. F,. Weston (Lindoow (2nd A) 70'. Macartney (St Andrew's 2nd Bl 66. F.. Caw-son (Svdenham 3rd A) 54. Kitson (Kaiapoi 2nd A) 52. i* Bowling. Wilson (College Srd A) G wickets for 23 Ktuart 'Technical 2nd A) 6 wickets for 12 runs. ll’lenity (B.n.S. Srd B) 4 wickets for 1 Watson (B.U.S. Srd B) 4 wickets for 14 Nicholson (Siocarton 2nd E) 4 wickets for 1C runs. Mtnnjnerv (East 2nd B) 4 wickets for 72 rune. fromb i B.U.S. 2nd A) 4 wickets for 33 Bremford (F.M.C.A. 4tb) 3 wickets for 33

STRAY NOTES. The annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Cricket Council is to he held in Christchurch on Friday. Thirty-three teams have entered for the Otago Cricket Association’s competitions. The following are the entries in the various grades:—Senior 4. Second A 4, Second B 7, third 10. fourth S. The ex-Queenslander, Hanlon, is named as a probable member of the North Shore (Auckland) tram this seaeon. Two officers of tne Philomel may also be seen in Auckland senior cricket this season. AY. Smeeton, au Auckland representative in 1918, lias returned from England. and will play for Auckland University this season. Eden will have the services of W. Harvie. who also represented Auckland before going to the Islands. F. S. Taylor, who has in Wellington, has joined up with Ponsonby again. Advice has been received that Mr John Seymour, the English cricketer, who visited New Zealand with G. J. Thompson some years ago, is arriving by the Remuera, due from England in about a week’s time. He intends to reside in New Zealand, and hopes to secure a position as coach to a club or a school. Seymour played for Surrey and Northamptonshire. During the course of the Riecarton ▼ . St Albans senior game on Saturday, a ball hit by one of the St Albans batsmen was unintentionally stopped bv a fieldsman in another game. Had the ball not been stopped it was sure to have crossed the boundary. However, the umpire did not signal a boundary, and the scorer registered the number of runs tlio batsmen ran. namely, one. Some of the spectators seemed to con cider that the scorer should have credited the batsman with a four, but he rightly pointed out that it was the umpire's and not his place to award )>oundary shots. No doubt the umpire failed to notice that the ball had been .-topped by a player in another game or else he would probably have given four for the shot. As it happened, even if the four had been awarded, it would have made no difference to the game. Jf the game had been more closely contested, an appeal to the umpire would mo t likely have resulted in a boundary being given.

Bishop Richards, at the official opening of the Grange Club, predicted au improvement in local cricket this year (says the “ Otago Daily Times”). Indications point to a fulfilment of the prediction, as a good deal of enthusiasm has already been displayed by more than the usual number of followers of the game. Ample evidence of this Was presented on the North Ground on Saturday, when over 100 members of the two clubs -Grange and Albion—-took part in an afternoon’s practice. Interest i n the south end is confined mainly to tho Carisbrook t lub. which shows great promise for a successful season. The Dunedin Club, on the-other- hand, is in n somewhat nil satisfactory position. Five or six of last year's first eleven have left tho club, and the membership total is i theilowest of those for the four senior ' clubs in the city. One thing, at least, is almost a certainty that there will bo a more even contest for the championship this year. Carisbrook’s prospects have rafely been brighter. Albion harp Wn strengthened, nrnl Grange, who had matters all their own wav last- season. have been weakened by the loss of M’Benth and Keast. More even contests should arouse increased public interest, and this, barked up bv greater enthusiasm on the port of the players themselves, should leave Dunedin cricket in a sounder position at the end of the 1923-24 season. Iho Otago Umpires Association believes that drastic action should bo taken against teams not ready to take tho field at the stated time. At the annual meeting of the association, the opinion was expressed that the Cricket Association should support the umpires in this matter and instruct them* to award a match against a team that was not ready to start at tho correct time. When tho matter was brought before it at its meeting last week, the executive oi tne Otago Cricket Association decided to ask the umpires to report any breach of Rule 19, which reads: “ A latches shall bo timed to start at 2.1 b p.m., and stumps drawn at (3.30 p.m. Aliy team not prepared to take the field at the time stated may in so the match by default.” No doubt the Canterbury association has a similar rule, but it is more honoured in the breach than the observance. Tn any case, it wcultl be a, bit too drastic of course, n team was very late in taking the field. Further, it is a common experience, at least as far as Christchurch is concerned, that neither side lias by any means a full muster of players at the stated time, though, of coutse. tho side that is batting might t*e ready and able to commence and trust to its other men turning up in time to go in and bat. But in these circumstances would it be fair to give the match against the fielding side b.\ default' - It appears that any rigid application of the rule might cause trouble and discontent, though, on the other hand, if an example was made of a team that offended in a particularly glaring fashion, the effect might l>e statutory. If the rule is applied rigidly it* Dunedin, it will be interesting to aee what happens.

Tho Rev B. O. DJam ires, who made three centuries for Hamilton last season, is now a resident of Dunedin. He has joined the Albion Club. Besides being a good lint,- he is also a useful bowler. Mr Blamires played for Otago about 1912.

The AVellington Association’s Management Committee is alive to the fact that cricket is an expensive game, and it has made a move which will he of some benefit to clubs, says the “Evening Past.” To all clubs which pay their ground fees within ten days after the demand for payment- is made, a rebate of 10 per cent is t<v be granted. Ft will bo neoesary, of course, for clubs desiring to benefit by this concession to have no arrears in other fees payable to the Association. Tho rebate was proposed by the treasurer, Mr F. Martin. Local cricket is uot rich in umpires, those enthusiasts who make up the somewhat small membership of the AVellington Umpires’ Association, says the “ Evening Post.” One of the reasons is probably that tho duty of umpiring, as with refereeing in football, has no bouquets attached to it. and rather many h* ick-bats-. The job is aji unenviable one; but there are sportsmen whose love lor the game is too great to be affected bv adverse criticism and sometimes abuse, and they carry on with a very . important part of cricket. More of such sportsmen are wanted. There arc to be

found plenty- of players and supporters who will fill the bill for an afternoon or a period of play ; but how many of them know the rules and rulings well enough to feci confident in decisions which they are called upon to give? Tt is now practically certain that the Plunket -Shield rules will be amended this season along the lines suggested by the Otago Asociation. says tho Wellington “ Evening Post ” of Saturday The proposal, to the effect that each major association shall have at least one Plunket Shield match at home in each season, lias been considered by the associations concerned, and when it comes before the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Council next week, it is bound to meet with general approval. Both tho Canter bury and AVellington Associations, which will bo more affected by the change than the other two major associations. in that it may be necessary for either of them to make two trips every alternate year, have decided to support Otago, so that the adoption of the proposal seems a certainty. AVellington, by making two comparatively short trips for Shield matches in the season in which only one match is played at home, will probably find the arrangement more suitable than at present in existence, as the shorter trips should be more convenient for the players, and mav not be attended with the same difficulties that arise m the arangomer.t of longer tours. R. de R. Worker, the ex-West Christchurch and ex-Canterbury player will bo playing for the Carisbrook Club. Dunedin, this year. It is expected that Carisbrook will put a strong senior team into the field. The “Otago Daily Times” says:—Most of Carisbrook’s first eleven of last year will again take part in senior cricket this season. Harraway, who hurt his leg at football, will be unable to play, but he is probably the only member cf last year’s team who will not be available. The two school teachers— Worker (Otago Boys’ High School) and Dunning (M’Glashan College)— will be included among the representatives of Carisbrook Club. Tho latter, it will be remembered, is the Auckland nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship. There is a strong probability of G. G. Austin, the well-known Carisbrook and Otago plaj-er, again turning out for his club this season. With Austin (who made a century for the Otago veterans last year), the two Alloos, Worker, and Dunning, Carisbrook should be a strong batting side, and in addition there is a fine variety of bowling. Tlie team will probably be selected from the following twelve:— A. AV. Alloo, Aitclieson, Austin, Brindsley. Cantwell, Dickinson. Douglas, H. Duncan, Dunning, Fraser and Worker.

“ HOW’S THAT.”

LBW ROUND THE WICKET. How many players, supporters, and temporary umpires, or even “official” umpires, know exactly what points must bo considered before an answer—a correct decision.—is given in response to the appeal “How’s that,” (says a writer in the AA'ellington “Evening Post ”). vSo many instances of lbw occur in cricket, and there is so much criticism or the decisions, that there is need of instruction on the matter. Mr D. M’Kenzie. who lias had a long connection with the game, and who is well versed in its many points, dealt with “LBW Round the Wicket” at last week’s meeting of the AVellingt-on Umpire’s Association, and his remarks on the -subject are worthy of more than passing attention. “It seems to me,” Air M’Kenzie stated, “that an umpire, no matter who he is or what his standing, who feels compelled to answer the query, ‘How’s that*’ in the affirmative in the rase of leg-before-wicket to a bowler

bowling round the wicket lias an uncomfortable feeling. I don’t mean that be has any doubts in his own mind, but the umpire in general always has tho desire that his decisions may be acceptable to both tho batsman and the fielding side. In the case of ‘lbw round the wicket,’ ho rarely has his desire gratified, for the batsman, if ordered out, always complains—-if not audibly, then by his actions—and the bowler invariably has another look at the position of the batsman before summing up in bis own mind that the umpire should ‘get his head read,’ or something to that intent. Over a long experience of umpiring. T cannot recall ono single instance where, in a case of this sort, my decision has been ac cepted cheerfully by both batsman and bowler. “Umpires, f know, are bound to err —that is one of tho privileges of our constitution by Nature. But the rule on this point is so clear that the umpire imw4 have a weak vision if he cannot adjudicate within the four corners of the rule, provided lie has a good readable knowledge of its meaning. and all it stands for. Here is tho rule : “ ‘lf, with port of his person be (the batsman) stops the ball, which, in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s wicket, shall have been pitched in a straight line from it to the striker's wicket, and would have hit it.’—‘Leg-before-wicket.’ “The notes to the rule read—‘A batsman may be out lbw, although the bowler is bowling round the wicket, if the case comes within this law. There are three considerations which an umpire must boar in mind: (1) Would the ball have hit tho wicket? (2) Did it pitch in a straight line between wicket and wicket? (3) Was it part of the batsman’s person, other than the hand, which intercepted tho ball ? .1 r these questions are answered in the affirmative. the batsman would be out.’ Tt is immaterial whether the ball breaks or not. It is sometimes only possible for ■ u bonder bowling round the wicket to ' obtain an lbw with a breaking ball.' ’ | “Glancing superficiaiy at the above rule, there would be not much trouble

in interpreting it,” said Mr M’Kcnv.ie. “But with, the bowler bownng round the wicket it bristles with diffi culty. AVhen one takes into consideration the number of balls that just miss the stumps and those that just go over them—more particuariy on a sticky wicket—before arriving at a decision, it is surely unnecessary to add that an umpire needs to exercise the greatest care.” Mr M’Kenzie then showed horn AA'. T. Ahern, a tone-time member of the Victorian Cricket Association, had tackled the subject mathematically, proving liis arguments by diagrams. After quoting from Mr Ahern’s work, Mr M’Kenzie continued : “ Tliat is the story told according to tho mathematician, viz., that a good length fast ball must break back 10 inches, a ball 11 inches, and a slow ball 7 inches, if pitched on the off wicket before it* can hit the leg oi}.e. Ilie latter would be an abnormal break to tho ordinary bowler, and therefore* it appears that there is one chance, in a million of a batsman, being legiti mately out lbw to a round-the-wicket delivery. .Air Ahern is very positive on the matter, as he says : * Personally J am almost inclined to think if all appeals round the wicket were, in future, invariably answered iri the batsman’s favour, it would barely counter-balance the number of atrocious decisions that have been given in the past under the guise of Law No. 24.* “ But my experience does not agree with the mathematician.” said Mr M’Kenzie. “ One case will do by way of illustration. I was umpiring in the AVellington-Canterbury match on one occasion, Jack Mahony being the batsman and Dan Reese the bowler. The Canterbury man was one of our best left-handers, and he let the ball go from a distance of 2 o yards. It pitched on the off-stump and went straight for the middle. Maliony crouched to defend his wicket, but missed the ball. Luckily for him the ball shaved the top of the middle stump without touching him. I was quite prepared to give him ‘ out ’ although the ball was bowled round the wicket. The fact of the ball not touching him saved him. It impressed on me tho fact that an umpire has to he certain that the hall would have hit the wicket before giving his decision, and has always weighed with me when an lbw appeal has been made to me.

“Dan Reese, at the top of his form, could always keep the ball within the limit of the width of the wicket—eight inches—and unless the batsman stopped the ball with His bat he would be out. There are others I could refer to in this connection, but they would all go to prove that the mathematician is not always a safe guide when you are talking about a bowler and his deliveries. “ I often think that umpires in general are inclined to determine adversely to the batsman on an lbw appeal, and I am inclined to agree with Mr Ahern that more batsmen have been edven out than should have been in the way that does not appear in the rules—to wit, ‘umpired out,’” said Mr M’Kenzie. “It is better, in my opinion, to err in the batsman’s favour, for the rules distinctly say that when an umpire is in doubt he should give the batsman the benefit of the doubt, and I feel certain that there have been many instances, even in AVellington cricket, where the umpire could not have been absolutely certain that the ball would have hit the wicket, and yet he lias raised his hand signifying his agreement with the bowler’s appeal. AVithout a. doubt the lbw rule is a hard one to administer, but an umpire can only determine wliat comes within his viewpoint, and he is the only person, with probably the exception of the batsman, who can truly say that the batsman’s leg or person prevented the ball from hitting the wicket. As I have said before, this leg-before-wicket matter is the hardest one an umpire is called upon to decide, and it is one on which ho has to exercisaS the utmost care. But he has done his duty when lie conscientiously gives his decision on the matter as he sees it ,and players should accept the decision whichever way it goes as part of the game.”

NORTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION.

Tho cup matches were continued on Saturday. lu tho first grad© on the Western side View Hill defeated Gust by 00 runs. Scores: —View Hill 147 (South gate 63 retired, Pavelka 2S not out, H. Peary 11, Glen 30;; Gust 48 (Cowens 36, iM/Kenzie ii not out, Smith 10). Mackrell four, fl. Feary three and Southgate two wickets, bowled best for View Hill, and Eaglesosno, two for 11, bowled best for Gust. Horrelville defeated Eyreton by 54 runs. Scores: —Horrelville 147 (Wright 76, Bailey 21 not out, G. M* Gregor 13. D. M'Gregor 12, Beer 11); Eyreton 93 (P. Beal 32. 11. Bennett 29, (J. Saunders 18). Bowling for Horrelville, Wright six for 2*3, Bailev two for 21, ilorrell one for 10, Beer one for 20. were the best; and bowling for Eyre-

ton, It. Bennett, four for 29, Howard four for 32, Patterson two for 38, were tho most successful. Ohoka defeated Swannanoa by 14 runs Scores: Ohoka 50 (Ramsay 14, F. Steel 10:; Swannanoa 42 (A. Burt 12). Bowling for Ohoka, W. Steel took nine wickets for 19 runs, F. Steel one for 3. Lynskey one for 6; and bowling for Swannanoa. Winter took four for 27 and M'Hugh two 01 11. In the first grade on the Eastern Bide, Amber Icy defeated Loburn by 362 runs and four wickets. Scores:—Loburn 36; Araberlcy, 208 for six wickets (Bain 100 not out, Johnstone 41, Macfarlane 19. Bonnington 33 not out). Loburn had lost, six wickets for 108 when time was up (J. Bennett 61 not out, Golds bury 14, F. Hill 101. Bain. il’Farlaue and Forsyth bowled best for Ambcrley, and Bennett, Metherall and Pulley for Loburn. Ranglora defeated Woodend on the scores of the first innings by 120 runs. On the previous Saturday Rangiora is ado 203 in their first innings. Continuing the match laat Saturday, Woodend made 83 (H. Little 27, D. Nixon 1(5, A. Judsou 3 5,, and following on had scored 205 for nine wickets when the game ended, J. Ballinger making 58 retired, A. Judson 42, and 1). Nixon 84. Bowling for Rangiora, Lockhart took two wickets for 26 runs, Barwick seven for 53 and three tor 63. Haughey two for 44. and H. flchluter two for 5. In tho second grade. Horrelville defeated Eyreton by 54 runs. Scores:—Horreiville 122 (C. Bennett 58, Dennis 25, Graham 30, Hurley 31 not out); Eyreton 68 (Guldens 20, Bennett 14, A. Cherry 12, N. Cherry ll not out). Bowling for Horrelville, Dickie took six wickets for 22 runs, and Dennis three for 22; and bowling for Eyreton, B. Bennett took three for 10, A. Cherry four for 18, and P. P.ennett one for 38. Oxford defeated Cast by 101 runs. Scores: —Oxford 140 (Judson 32. Robinson 23. Del> enham 38. Ryde 13. Gillespie 38, Gainsford 15. Palvelka 11); Cust 39 (C. Ryde 3 notout). Bowling for Oxford, Judson took five wickets- for G runs, Gillespie two for 15, and Debenham one for G; and bowling for Oust, A. Gartery took four for 17 and Allan Gartery two for 48. Rangiora had a throe-point win against Loburn. Batting first. Rangiora made 63 (il’Kiuley 20, P. Roberts 15). Loburn made a poor stand for 26. and following on scored 46 (C. Pulley 11 not out). This left Rangiora with 10 to win, and L. Chappell and 11. Kiriley quickly knocked up 12. Bowling for the winners, Chappell took five wickets for 8 runs and two for 19, Roberts four for 11 and seven for 34, and Payne, one for 3. For Loburn, G. Croft, jun., took four for 21, and G. Ailoway four for 22. BOWLERS IN FORM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, October 20. Sydney, a fast bowler, Scott, secured fiv* wickets for 33 runs. Playing 1 . tern Suburbs against Gordon, M’Credie took eight for 25.

a \ Pt - 2-pi. Total JYinwood . . . Wl 1 UB * W ‘ ns - Dr «_ ws - Pt^ Sydenham * ~T " West Christchurch _ _ _ f St Albans __ _ _ J East Christchurch . — 0