Cricket

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 13

Cricket

_ The fifth series of matches of the Canterbury Cricket Association’s senior A competition will be continued tomorrow afternoon. The following was the state of the games at the end of last Saturday’s play:— Old Collegians ISB, St Albans 21 for three wickets. Old Boys 116 and 12 for no wickets, Riccarton 172. East Christchurch 231, Sydenham 23 for one wicket. Linwood 115, West Christqhurch 98 for four wickets. The game between Old Collegians and St Albans is in a fairly even position. St Albans have lost two of their best batsmen, Crawford and Woods. Without them they may find it hard to pass the first innings total of 188 made by Old Collegians. In some matches this season St Albans have not proved# a very impressive batting side. The game between Old Boys and Riccarton is in an interesting position. Old Boys still have a chance, though, with a lead of 56 runs on the first innings, Riccarton are. of course, in the better position. There are possibilities of the match having an interesting finish. It is difficult to say how the East Christchurch v. Sydenham game is going to go. The position of the game was fairly even at the end of the first day of play. West are in a strong position against Linwood, who were dismissed for the small score of 115. With nearly 100 on, and with six wickets in hand. West should be able to pass the first innings score of Linwood. The present position of the teams in the Senior A competition is interesting. St Albans, who are at present leading are not in too safe a position against Old Collegians, who are second to last in the championship list, having secured only one win (a two-pointer) this season. There should be a keen contest between Old Boys and Riccarton, who at the present time stand second equal in the competition. The match between these two sides promises to be the most interesting of those to be played to-morrow. West and Linwood are fairly well down in the list, but West are in such a position that they may, as the result of the present game, go up amongst the leaders of the competition. East have so far not won a match this season. They are at the bottom of the list. They seem to stand their best chance of a win in the present game. SHIELD MATCH. CANTERBURY v. AUCKLAND. The Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Canterbury will be commenced at Lancaster Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Auckland team will make the daylight trip on the ferry from Wellington to Lyttelton next Sunday, and will arrive in Christchurch on Sunday evening. The will be quartered at the Dominion Hotel. Auckland are sending down a strong team this year. It is captained by C. F. Alcott, the well-known New Zealand player, and J. E. Mills, R. W. Rowntree . and E. Horspool are also included. There are also one or two young players, who have not been tested out in big cricket, but generally the side consists of well seasoned cricketers who will probably prove a tough proposition for Canterbury. The Canterbury side has npt yet been definitely selected, but thirteen players have been chosen for practice, from whom the eleven is to be ultimately selected. Generally there is not much to cavil at with the work of the selectors, though it is apparent that in one or two cases they have picked men on previous performances, and not on what they have done this year. I. M. Hamilton and G. R. Gregory are two leading batsmen for Canterbury who have not shown their best form in club cricket this season. Gregory’s best score is 52 against Old Boys the other Saturday, while Hamilton in club cricket this season has not matje a total better than 24. Of course, both these batsmen have proved themselves in previous years. Last season Grewas easily the most prolific .scorer in the Senior A competition in Christchurch, while Hamilton batted so well that he won his way into the New Zealand team. The selectors could hardly be expected to ignore the past performances of these two players, though on their club record this season they hardly seem to be up to r& presentative standard. Crawford, who went to Australia with the last New Zealand team to visit that country, was dropped from the Canterbury eleven last season. This year he is among the thirteen chosen to practise. This is probably due mainly to the fact that the other week Crawford against Sydenham carried his bat for 152. It was by no means a chanceless knock, and he was lucky to reach this total. Crawford’s previous best total in club cricket for the season was against Old Boys, when he made 42. lie is an uncertain type of batsman. He has a fine style, and when he gets going he is one of the prettiest batsmen in the Senior A competition in Christchurch. However, he lacks reliability. A good deal of surprise has been caused by the inclusion of R. C. Burns among the thirteen. He seems bound to be one of the Canterbury eleven, because he is the only wicket-keeper picked. Burns has not played for Canterbury before. Last season he was second wicket-keeper for Old Boys to Syd Carleton, who has not played for the Old Boys Senior A eleven since his return from the South African tour with the All Blacks. Burns has been preferred to W. Hayes and X. Dorreen, though whether this choice is good remains to be seen. Both Dorreen and Hayes are good batsmen and good wicket-keepers, too. Burns is a good wicket-keeper and a good batsman, but Dorreen was chosen as wicket-keeper in the latter stages of last season, and, as he has been showing fairly good form this year, it is difficult to see how he has been superseded. Burns, of course, has been keeping wickets well for Old Boys this season, and this, combined with the fact that he has been showing good batting form, has, no doubt, influenced the selectors in his favour.' It is difficult to see how O. E. Evans was included amongst the thirteen selected. Evans is a fairly good allround player, but he seems hardly to be up to representative standard. He has not done a great deal in batting or bowling this season. Evans will probably be one of the first men dropped from the thirteen selected to practice. Merritt as a slow bowler is sure of his place, and the same remarks apply to Roberts, who has been the most successful batsman in Christchurch this season He is at the top of the Flatting averages for the Senior A competition. E. Brosnahan. who has been showing better form with the bat this season than for several years past should be a useful man for Canterbury. S. Yates, if he is selected, will be a nevvcomer to representative cricket. He is a moderatclv fast bowler, but not much of a batsman, though he often

holds his end up well by adopting stone-wall tactics. J. Newman is sure of a place, and so should \V. Cunningham be, as he has been bowling well lately. Page will probably again be captain of Canterbury. PLUNKET SHIELD FIXTURES. The following are the Plunket Shield fixtures for the season:— Otago v. Wellington, at Wellington, December 24. Auckland v. Canterbury, at Christchurch, December 25. Otago v. Auckland, at Dunedin, December 31. Wellington v. Canterbury, at Christchurch, December 31. Otago v. Canterbury, at Dunedin, February —. Wellington v. Auckland, at Auckland, to be arranged. THE TEST MATCHES. Australia Up Against It. England have won the first two tests, and won them easily, the first by 675 runs and. the second by eight, wickets. Australia have certainly had all the hard luck that was going, but. given this in, it is clear that they have been badly outclassed in each game. As far as Australia is concerned the one redeeming feature of the two tests so far has been the fighting stand in the second innings of the test just concluded at Sydney. This is the first occasion on which the present Australian team has shown anything like good batting ability. Cricket is an uncertain game, but nothing seems more certain than that England are going to retain the “Ashes." Indeed, it will not be surprising if they win every test, England are strong in batting. They proved this conclusively at Sydney, when they made the record score of 636. Every batsman reached double figures. Only once before in tests between England and Australia has this feat been accomplished, and that was when England scored 475 at Melbourne in the 1894-5 season. The English bowlers have proved better than was generally expected. With regard to the Australians, some extracts from a letter written by an exDunedin player and published in the “Otago Daily Times” should be of interest. He writes:— “To date I’ve seen the Englishmen in action in three games, and I think that, with all I’ve seen, I can form a fairly good opinion of the side that’s waging cricket war upon Australia at present. “I saw every ball of the New South Wales game, the Australian XI. farce, and the first test. I’ve seen some remarkably good cricket during the games, and I’ve witnessed the grand old game being ruthlessly murdered by first-class players—in fact, by the cream of to-day’s cricket. At times some of the exhibitions would have disgraced Dunedin third grade cricket being played at the good old bumpy Oval. There's an excuse for bad cricket there. “Don’t believe anything to the contrary—Australia is, from a cricketing standpoint, well up against it. I formed that opinion last year when I had seen every Australian big cricketer in action in Sheffield Shield matches, and the cricket to date in Australia has more than confirmed my contention. “The first test side was undoubtedly the best that could have been selected, and if the selectors are going to persevere with the present combination of crocks and patriarchs the outlook is very black, not only for the immediate future, but for the next one or two test series. The worthy selectors have made no attempt at team building for future clashes, just all the available old gang shot into the team holus bolus. Xhat poor Jack Gregory had badly slipped was only too obvious, his form with the ball last year and this year had been well nigh pathetic considering the Jack of Old, and I firmly hold that the enforced retirement through accident of one of Australia’s most picturesque and brilliant players of all times is no more than a blessing in disguise, for the writing was on the wall that Gregory would not have gained a place in all the tests—it certainly would have been an ignominy for him to have been dropped. “Kelleway comes back but he’s not the Kelleway of yesterday. The veteran Bert Ironmonger found a place in the team, and I think he’ll stay there for a test or two more yet—if not the lot. The cry is now, who is to be Australia’s fast bowler? Jack Scott, the South Australian veteran, is by far the speediest at present, but reports from Adelaide are that he has injured himself bowling against Victoria in a shield match. The only other speed merchant candidate is Everett,* but he has not yet had a first-class game this season. Australia could well obviate any passengers and face the inevitable and not include a fast bowler, .for today there is not a first-class fast bowler in Australia. “Here is one of Australia’s greatest difficulties: There is no skipper of the calibre of Noble, Armstrong, or Collins donning the flannels to-day. With due deference to Jack Ryder, he is no test leader. Woodfull, Kippax, Vic. Richardson, and O’Connor, of Queensland, are not impressive skippers, but who is there? We have to make the best of a bad job.” Remaining Fixtures. The following are the remaining fixtures of the Englishmen’s tour in Australia: December 21 and 22 Newcastle and Hunter River districts, at Newcastle. December 29 to January 4—THIRD TEST, at Melbourne. January 5 to 7—Geelong, at Geelong. January 9 and 10 —Bendigo, at Bendigo. January 12 to 15—Tasmania, at Launceston . January 18 to 21—Tasmania, at Hobart. January 25 to 29 —South Australia, at Adelaide. February 1 to 7 FOURTH TEST, at Adelaide. February 9 to 11 - Ballarat, at Ballarat,. February 15 to 19—New South Wales, at Sydney. February 21 and 22—Western Districts (N.S.W.), at Bathurst. February 25 and 26—Southern districts, at Goulburn. March 1 to s—Victoria, at Melbourne. March 8 to 14—FIFTH TEST, at Melbourne. March 21 and 23—West Australia, at Perth. BOYS’ ASSOCIATION. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. Owing: to the heavy rain* yesterday.’it was found impossible to complete the matches commenced on Wednesday. Both matches were therefore recorded as drawn. After the boys had met at Hagley Park yesterday morning- it was soon decided that there was no chance of commencing play. The local officials suggested that the games should be continued to-day, but it was discovered that H was impossible to make the necessary arrangements, and it was then decided to adjourn to the Y.M.C.A.. where a basket-ball match was played between the two provinces. This proved a keen contest, the final result being a draw, 16-16. The local boys, however, were unlucky win, as at 1 At” the conclusion of the match, - the visitors were entertained to lunch at the Royal Hotel, when the Otago boys Mr J. *A. Newman, the. official coach f**r the Canterbury Cricket Association. In the afternoon, Mr 11. Waters, general manager of the Christchurch Cinemas, very kindly arranged that the two Otago teams should visit, the Crystal Palace free of charge. This favour was much appreciated by the boys.

After attending at Cryslal' Palace, the Otago and Canterbury boys gathered at

the Y.M.C.A., where they were met by Mr W. H. Winsor, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, who. after briefly addressing them, presented the various trophies which were played for in these games. As both of the matches were drawn, the trophies were retained by the holders in each instance, —M’Clusky Challenge .Shield (open to boys’ associations and leagues throughout New Zealand), E. E. Grenfell (captain of the Canterbury senior team): Fiiltoliff Cup (for annual competition between Otago and Canterbury). E. E. Grenfell: Rex Cup (for annual competition between Otago and Canterbury), T. Anderson (captain of the Otago junior During the evening the two Otago teams were entertained at the pictures. The visiting boys are to leave for the south by the first express to-day. FURTHER TRIAL GAMES. Two further trial games, in connection with the selection of the Canterbury Boys’ Cricket Association teams which are to tour the West Coast during January, are to be held at Hospital Corner to-morrow. The teams will be announced to-morrow morning. SCHOOLS MATCH. P#r Press Association NAPIER, December 20. The first, elevens of the Auckland Grammar School and the Napier Boys' High School commenced a cricket match at Napier this morning under ideal conditions. The visitors took first strike and occuptied till 5 p.m. in making* 170. Tire Napier bowling was treated with great respect bv all the visitors except Whi tela w. The Auckland representatives’ first five wickets fell for 94. but the sixth wicket, added 51. When stumps were drawn, Napier had lost two wickets for 39. Whitelaw and Clapham topped the visitors’ score with 43 each, MacCormic.k 26 and Dixon 17 being the only other double-figure scorers. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. ST JOHN'S CLUB. V. Templeton B, at Linwood Park— If. Nutt ridge. W. Reeves, R. Potter. A. Dryden, A. Clark, J. Murray. C. Morion,’ H. Lloyd, "a. Deaby. D.T.C. CLUB. V. Beckenham, at Beckenham—Foote, Oekleshaw, Hampton, Hobson, Harrison, Clarkson. Balfour, Makin, Balfour, Wilkinson, Hampton; emergency, Spencer. SHIRLEY CLUB. Seniors v. Working Men’s Club, at Linwood Park—Taylor, Cummings. Aris, Archer, Colthart, Husband, Marshal, Haworth, Hitchcock, Sweeney, Kington. Juniors v. Green’s, at Richmond Park —-Fraser, Boundy, D. Walker, Drake, Woodward, S. Cowper, Streeter, Rhodes, Griffiths, Davis, Elliott. Third Grade A v. Ha re wood, a*t Harewood—Walker, Bancroft, Algie. Agassiz, Tovev. Foster, Dorroe, M’Callum, Truman,’ F. M Kenzie, H. M’Kenzie, Heuchan, Mulcahy. Third Grade B v. Beckenham B. at. Richmond Park—Wentworth, F. Cowper. X. Cowper, Weekes, Ward, M'Ewen, Croucher, -C. Aris, Worrall, B«. oker, Walsh, L. Anderson. CITY COUNCIL CLUB. Seniors v. Beckenham, at Sydenham Park—R. Chinnery, <Quaid, G. Newton, L. A tli field. M. Wilson. A. Heslip. J. Lee, F. Quinn, W. Hollands, F. Horwell, J. Gordon: reserve: S. Eyre. Second Grade v. Riccarton, at Riccarton—E. Eyre. L. \Sanders. R. Sanders, F. Merren, A. Wilder, C. Price. A. Kinvig, B. Williams. Anderson, C. Cumberpatch, E. Chapi'l*-