YOUNG CANTERBURY PLAYERS HAVE COME INTO THEIR OWN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19270, 6 January 1931, Page 9

YOUNG CANTERBURY PLAYERS HAVE COME INTO THEIR OWN.

Province Will Be On Top For Year Or Two Now, Says Old Skipper.

66 y—tRICKET in Canterbury has been a bit V-4 behind for a while, but we are going to be on top now for a year or two,” said Mr W. Patrick, an ex-provincial captain and selector, yesterday when asked for his opinion on the Plunket Shield games and cricket generally in the province. “We have no need to worry, and I do not think the standard will slip back. The Plunket Shield games have been a triumph for the young Canterbury players.”

I “We have a wonderful lot of young | cricketers in Canterbury,” said Mr I Patrick. “ I predicted a year or two ago | that we would have a great combina- ' tion as there were so many young j players coming on and improving every time they went on the field. They ! have now come into their own. Bowling Weak. I “The bowling certainly is a little ! weak but the fielding is exceptionally good. It has never been better. For that matter too there is a great variety of change bowling. Although the other side may make runs Canterbtiry can do the same. We have been a bit behind for a while but we are going to be on top now for a year or two. I “The two Shield games were a tri- | umph for the young players. The selec- ; tor had a great choice of all-rounders. ; When Crawford and Oliver could not get in a Canterbury eleven the team must be an exceptionally good one, and <o it is. We have no need to worry for a year or two, and I do not think the standard will slip back now. The fact of these men being so good will make the others keener to improve their game to get up alongside the other fellow In previous years many of those in senior grade were not fit for it, but the case is different now. If we only had a good stock bowler we would be in clover. Cromb, Lester and Talbot would develop wonderfully on an English tour. They would have to pick up a few points from the English professionals, and, paring cricket practically every day, they would have to think hard to get the Englishmen out. They have the natural delivery and they need only to bring it down to a finer point. Men of their type would return improved out of all knowledge. Lester is a good swing bowler but a little erratic and he will have to learn, perhaps after some expensive innings, to keep the same length. The same would apply to Talbot and Cromb. “The batting cannot be improved much more—only the bowling, and that is a matter of experience. It may wake someone up to the fact that he will get into a provincial side if he puts in the practice and brings himself up to standard. We have seen some wonderful cricket over the holidays. I have honestly never known it as good. The big scores have been made possible by the poor bowling in every side—neither Auckland nor Wellington is particularly strong in this department, and apart from Cleverley there was nothing much in it. Cleverley, I think, has every chance of getting away with the New Zealand team. English Tour. “The men most likely to figure in the selection are:— Cleverle}-, Mills, Weir, Vivian, Allcott (Auckland). Lowry, James, Dempster, M’Girr, Gallichan (Wellington). Hamilton, Kerr, Page, Merritt, Lester, Talbot, Cromb (Canterbury). Blunt (Otago). Fielding Wonderful. “How do I account for the improvement that has been evident? That is a hard question to put,” said Mr T. W. Reese when asked for his. opinion, ‘ln the first place,” he said, “there was -he incentive of a New Zealand team going Home, but even that would not account for the all-round improvement in the game. We are getting the benefit of the old boys’ clubs who bring ‘he school enthusiasm to the game. It meant a lot for cricket in Canterbury, especially when members from the Old Boys’ Club have gone to other clubs. There has been a tremendous enthusiasm evident all through the season. A great deal of credit is due to the selector, Mr H. B. Whitta. The fielding in the two Shield matches this season is what fielding was in Canterbury twenty years ago. They have played Auckland and Wellington at their own games—playing certain strokes and the safe game. That was net the Canterbury game in the past, :md they have paid the penalty. I do not think the bowling anywhere in New Zealand has improved very much. It was the Canterbury fielding that made the bowling look good. The backbone cf the success of Canterbury in attack in these two matches has been the fielding.” CANTERBURY GET ANOTHER VICTORY.

WELLINGTON DEFEATED BY A LARGE MARGIN.

Canterbury beat Wellington by 139 runs in the second Plunlcet Shield game of the series, which was concluded at Lancaster Park yesterday. After losing three wickets for 51 runs on Saturday night it did not look as though Wellington could accomplish the task of getting the 383 runs required for a second innings win. M’Girr (91 ) and James (33) made a splendid stand, adding 124 together and bringing the total to 175, but when they went the whole side collapsed against the accurate bowling of Cromb and Merritt, and at 2.30 o’clock the game was won and lost. The match presents a signal triumph for the young Canterbury team. Their position was not promising when Wellington had established a lead of 137 on the first innings, and when the valuable wicket of Kerr fell with only one run on the board in the second strike things looked black indeed. They looked blacker when Hamilton, who was going well, was run out in an unnecessary manner for 24. It was then that the all-round solidity of the team was shown. Roberts came to light with a splendid 116. Talbot played the right game, modifying his usual bright style to suit the circumstances, and contributing an invaluable 61. Page, his side up against ft; rose to the occasion with a perfect 116, patiently compiled. Lester was there with 49, Cromb with a beautifully j made 35. Merritt with 38, and Dorreen, the tenth man on the list, with 28 of the best. Wellington had a hard task on the fourth wicket, and that task was made more difficult when Lowry went to a brilliant catch by Talbot, and M’Leod and Dempster fell to the wiliness of Page. That great veteran, M’Girr, after making a century in the first innings, put up a splendid effort to save his side from defeat. He and James dug

themselves in yesterday, and for a while the pendulum swung back towards the Wellington end. M’Girr was splendid. lie handled the bowling with ease, and scored with finished, forceful shots He made the great mistake of going out to play Merritt when that bowler was right on form. He was bound to miss one sooner or later, and he did. James never looked comfortable against C'romb, and was content to partner the brilliant M’Girr, He fell to one of Merritt’s best. That was virtually the end, for the match showed that with Lowry, M’Girr, James, Dempster, and perhaps M’Leod, Wellington’s batting strength ends. Lamason made 26, showing some good strokes, but he did not look safe for a minute. With four wickets down the pitch was just beginning to wear, and Cromb and Merritt hit top form and gave the remaining batsmen no chance. They were backed by really fine fielding, and the issue was in no doubt. A. Newman, Crook, Massey, J. Newman and Blundell w r ere easy, in strong contrast to the determined wagging of the Canterbury tail. Cromb carried off the bowling honours with five wickets for 62 runs, having bowled 32 overs. Cromb has been very steady in the representative fixtures, and with a crumbling wicket he is always deadly. Merritt bowled with accuracy all through the innings, and, getting both James and M’Girr, captured three wickets for 69 runs, having bowled 27.2 overs, an excellent performance. Page had only a few more overs, and took two good wickets for 21 runs. Lester and Talbot failed to get wickets, but bowled well all the time. The Canterbury fielding was excellent. The groundwork was fast and for the most part clean, and Talbot, Jacobs. Merritt and Hamilton took fine catches. Jacobs was not as fast and sure behind the wickets as Dorreen, but considering the fact that he has not been keeping wickets this season in club games, his scratch performance was excellent, and Canterbury was lucky to have him to step into the gap. The game more than upheld the confidence in the batting strength of the Canterbury side, which includes at least nine good runmakers. Also, it was gratifying to see the increased accuracy of the bowlers, and the fine fielding. On the present series of matches,. it seems that the local side produces its best when in a tight place, and that is an excellent thing. Canterbury now has sixteen points in the Plunket Shield matches, and Wellington and Auckland have eight points each for their wins over Otago. That means that Otago are definitely out of the hunt, and that if Canterbury can get any points at all in the Otago match, the Plunket Shield 'Will find rest in Christchurch for a year at least. Wellington plays Auckland at Auckland on January 21, and on February 20 Canterbury and Otago join issue in the deciding game at Dunedin. The New Zealand team to tour England will be selected after the Wellington-Auck-land match. CRICKET GATE TAKINGS HIGHLY SATISFACTORY. The gate takings at the Plunket Shield match against Wellington for the four days were £69 10s behind the receipts for the Auckland match, the figures being £593 17s 9d and £663 7s 9d respectively. The daily receipts for the Wellington match were £154 2s 9d, £135 15s, £lB9 10s, and £ll4 10,s; and for the Auckland match, £229 9s, £194 5s 6d, £ll3 13s 3d and £126, The early finish of the match yesterday afternoon was responsible for the smaller gate on the last day. The secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association (Mr E. S. Luttrell) stated that receipts for both matches had been most satisfactory. AUSTRALIA DEFEATS WEST INDIES IN TEST.

VISITORS OUTCLASSED IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. (United Press Assn.—Ey Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, January 5. Facing a, hopeless task, West Indies continued their second innings in the second test this morning, in fine weather and in the presence of a few hundred spectators. Ironmonger was given the ball for the first time in the innings and dismissed Barrow and Francis in his first over, which was a maiden. The total then was 67 for seven wickets. Grimmett’s first over was also a maiden. Then Bradman dropped Scott in Ironmonger’s second over, and Jackson dropped Grant off Grimmett. Scott had a hit and added twenty-three with Grant for the eighth wicket before he was caught in the outfield. Grimmett got Griffith, and Australia recorded an overwhelming victory. The visitors were outclassed in all departments of the game. Australia won by an innings and 172 runs. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First innings 369 WEST INDIES. First innings 107 Second Innings. Birkett, c M’Cabe b Hurwood .... 8 Roach, c Kippax b M’Cabe 25 Headley, c Jackson b Hurwood .. 2 Martin, c M’Cabe b Hurwood .?* •. 0 Grant, not out 15 Constantine, b Hurwood ..........1., 8 Barrow, c M’Cabe b Ironmonger .. 10 Francis, c Oldfield b Ironmonger .. <) Scott, c Woodfull b Ironmonger .. 17 Griffith, lbw b Grimmett 0 Baretlett, absent 0 Extras * 5 Total 90 Bowling analysis.—Fairfax, 5 overs. 1 maiden, 21 runs: Hurwood, 11 overs, 2 maidens. 22 runs, 4 wickets; M’Cabe. 7 overs, 20 runs, 1 wicket; Ironmonger, | 4 overs, 1 maiden, 13 runs, 3 wickets; 'Grimmett, 3 over.?, 1 maiden. 9 runs, I wicket. v