CRICKET

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 3

CRICKET

THE GAME AND THE PLAYERS.

(By COVER POINT.) The sympathy of all cricketers will be extended to R. Read, the Linwood and Canterbury representative, on the death of his father early this week. St Albans play East Christchurch at Lancaster Park to-morrow, and should win. They appear to be a much improved team this past fortnight or so. The attendances at representative practice have improved a little, but are still not w'hat is desired by the selector. Sydenham*;* 8 points, and Riccarton, 7 points, meet at Sydenham Park to morrow. Being a better all-round team and certainly stronger in bowling, I would pick Svdenl ara to win. In a match in England some time ago a cricketer named Dowscn was struck in the mouth by a ball, which knocked him back on to the wicket. The umpire gave him out (i uit wicket.” There is keen competition for the Duncan Rutherford Memorial Shield in the W aiau district. At present NVaiau Bush are leading for the trophy. Roth erham and Culverdeu being equal in second place. Tbe match between Linwood and West Christchurch commencing at Hagley Park to-morrow afternoon should be very interesting. It is difficult to say who will win this match. It looks an even bet. If I must choose, I should say Linwood. The Canterbury Cricket Association have appointed Messrs D. Red path and B. R. Patrick as their representatives on the Lancaster Park Board of Control. The interests of cricket could not be looked after better than by these two gentlemen of wide experience. The predicting of tbe results of crio ket matches is not an easy matter, up to date 1 have not landed the treble, a double bein.ig the nearest I have been able to get. Tbe glorious uncertainty makes the choice of winners very difficult on occasions. There is much speculation a 6 to the personnel of the representative team to play against Otago at Christmas time. About seven certainties can be picked, but it is hard to say who will gam the other places. Canterbury’ss side does not. at present look as though it will be strong in batting. During a match at Dover an amusing incident happened The wickets were pitched on part of a field upon which rattle were grazing. A bull suddenly rushed amongst the players, scattered them in all directions, and afterwards charged the stumps. The first match of the season for the Heathcote Williams Challenge Shield will take place at Hagley *Park on Tuesday and the following days of next week, between Boys’ High School (holders) and Auckland Grammar School (challengers). These two schools hate had some gieat battles for the trophy in past years. The decision of the Canteibury Cricket Association to issue members' tickets at two guineas a year, such ticket to admit tbe holder and a lady, is likelv in meet with much favour, especially Yn a season when there are one or two Plunkot Shield matches and a game against an overseas team at Lancaster Park. When England met Australia at Lords in 1890, the latter team made 53 On the same day Durham made 53 against Yorkshire The English Eleven made 286, and Yorkshire exactly flie same score. The initial letters of tbe teams spelt Eady, who made the third highest score lor Australia The Otago representative team n* published vesterdav contains the names of many players well known here. All of them have played in Christchurch previously. Otago look a fair side ;»n paper. Shepherd, the New Zealand. representative, is captain- and Worker, late of Canterbury, is a wellknown member of the team.

The Auckland team to play Wellington is a strong side. All the players with the exception of H. Wilson have played in Christchurch and are wellknown cricketers with good performances to their credit. Sneddon, who captained the New Zealand team against MacLaren’s cieven last season, is likely to lead the side. Anthony,, the ex-Canterbury man. is one of the team. They should keep Wellington busy.

Captain Johnstone, playing for the Royal Artillery against Fowler's XI., in England, was given out. “ hit wicket,” when the string of his bat became loose and knocked off the bails.

Thomas Rawlin, playing for Middlesex- v. Surrey at the Oval in 1894, bowled to Jephson. who had his bat splintered by tbe ball. The splinter hit a bail and knocked it off, and uy.cn appeal the batsman was given cut—hit wicket.

Sometimes bowlers growl at the length of the eight-hall over. How would thev like to send down an over of ten balls, which was the one adopted by the associated clubs of Philadelphia in 1911 9 The “American Cricketer.” commenting on this, remarks: “The rule will undoubtedly succeed in its mission, as much time is wasted in crossing over between the overs, and it should not work any great hardship on the bowler, for, though he bowls more balls, he gets a loug rest between overs.”

The committee of management of the Waverley Club in 1907 passed the following resolution :—“That this meeting of the committee of management of the Waverley C.C. desires, in view of S. E. Gregory’s retention of batting and fielding form, to enter its emphatic protest against his exclusion from State teams.” The N.S.W.G.A. refused to receive tho letter, but that the opinion of the committee was correct was proved by Gregory’s batting in tbe January match of the same season, when “ Tich ” made 201 against Victoria.

PROMINENT CRICKETERS.

GREAT BATSMAN. T 5. C. Blunt is known all over New Zealand as a great batsman—one of the best Canterbury and the Dominion

have produced. Whilst at Christ's College ISlunt’s line all-round perlorm-

anecs, but more especially with the bat, attracted much attention. His performances for Canterbury and New Zealand include Bom« sterling exhibitions with the bat, and overseas critics, including such a critic as A. C. MaoLa ren, have declared him to be one of the best batsmen they have seen in the Dominion. Blunt struck form early this season, ns in his first innings lie compiled 143 not out. His other innings have been : 75, 68 12, 41. making a total of 339 runs, or an average of 64.75 per innings. He will be one of tbe mainstays for Canterbury this year and wil; be one of tbe first men picked to represent New Zealand against the New South Wales teem.

SOUTH AFRICAN PITCHES.

USE OF TURF SUGGESTED. It may not be generally known that there is not a turf wicket in the whole of South Africa, the nearest approach to such being a pitch where matting is pegged down over the turf. The cricket authorities of Durban have taken up seriously the matter of turf wickets, though the idea is byno means new. Australians who have visited South Africa declared, in 1902, when Jo© Darling was there, and in 1921, when Warwick Armstrong was there, that South Africa would never be a cricket country till they had turf wickets. To get turf wickets, there must be the necessary soil, and it may be taken as an indisputable fact that- the country does not possess that soil, or at least it has never yet been discovered. It may be stated that the outfielding areas at the various Australian grounds are no better than to be found at Capetown, Port. Elizabeth and Durban. The. special poils-—■ Bulli (New South Wales), Merri Creek (Victoria), and Athelston (South Australia) —used for the pitch in Australia make turf wickets possible. Any change in South Africa will have to be general, for the expense of importing soil would be very high. Herbert Taylor, the South African captain, realises that it is necessary for the South Africans to get a good deal of practice on turf wickets before they meet the English counties next May. and they , can obtain that practice only by having turf wickets in their own country.

The South African captain has decided that the first qualification for a member of a South African side should be the ability to use his feet.