N.Z. CRICKETERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 191, 13 August 1931, Page 1

N.Z. CRICKETERS.

Six Games Won, Twenty Drawn, Two Lost. TEST STARTS SATURDAY. To date, the New Zealand cricketers have won six matches, and lost two. Twenty, including the first test, have been drawn. The third test will start next Saturday and will be continued on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A recent cablegram from England suggested that Paynter, one of England’s new men, is likely to be an opening batsman for the test. Paynter has taken the place of Bakewell, and that gives support to the suggestion, but •usually Paynter occupies a place somewhere near the middle of the batting order. Jardine would be well fitted to open with Sutcliffe. A recent note in the “Manchester Guardian” refers to the Lancashire left-hander as follows: “Paynter has come as a God-send into the middle place of Lancashire’j going in. He is the most likely young batsman discovered by Lancashire since the war. He hits the ball as hard as Harold Garnett used to hit it. He possesses cricket sense, and he plays down the line of the really good ball. Sometimes he lets his bat fly across the line of the loose ball, but that is a deviation from the canons which will bring him more runs than mishaps. And as a fieldsman his speed and the accuracy of his pick-up are a stimulation not only to the crowd but to the bowlers.” Prospects Brightened. The defeat of Gloucestershire has made brighter New Zealand’s prospects for the test, and shows that they are returning to form again. Gloucestershire were considerably weakened by the absence of Dacre (the ex-New Zealander), Hammond and Dipper, who are regarded as three of tne county’s best batsmen. New Zealand’s record of wins and losses is as follows: Won (6) —v. Essex, M.C.C., Northamptonshire, Scotland, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire. Lost (2) —v. Middlesex, England. Drawn (20)—V. Maori Club, Leicestershire, Hampshire, Worcestershire, Glamorgan, Oxford University, Cambridge, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, Minor Counties, England, Staffordshire, Vottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham, Combined Services, [-fampshire, Warwickshire. Forthcoming Fixtures. The .following remaining matches of the tour will be:— August 15, 17, 18, 19.—v. England, on the Oval. August 20, 21.—v. Norfolk, at Norwich. August 22, 24, 25.—v. Essex, at South-end-on-Sea. August 26, 27, 28.—v. Kent, at Canterbury. August 29, 31, September I.—v. Sussex, at Brighton. September 2,3, 4.—v. Gentlemen of England, at Eastbourne. September 5,7, 8. —v. an England XT., at Folkstone. September 9, 10, 11.—v. Mr H. D. G. Leveson-Gower’s XI., at Scarborough. September 14, 15.—v. Sir Julien Cahn’s XI., at Nottingham. Six New Zealanders have made centuries to date, as follows: C. S. Dempster.—2l2 v. Essex, 129 v. Glamorgan, 120 v. England, 106 v. Hampshire, 101 v. Cambridge University. M. L. Page.—ll 3 v. Oxford University, 104 v. England, 103 v. Leicestershire. H. G. Vivian—l3s v. Oxford University, 101 v. Yorkshire. G. L. Weir.—loo v. Glamorgan. J. E. Mills.—lso v. Minor Counties, 137 v. Glamorgan. R. C. Blunt.—l2o v. Cambridge University. / T. C. Lowry.—lol not out v. M.C.C. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. Yorkshire Now Hold a Substantial Lead.

1st inn. P. W. L. W. L. D. Pts. Yorkshire .. 23 14 1 4 0 4 246 Sussex 24 10 5 6 1 2 191 Gloucester . . 22 10 4 5 3 0 184 Notts 24 9 3 6 5 1 1S1 Kent 24 9 7 3 3 2 167 Lancashire ..25 6 4 7 5 3 152 Derby 24 5 5 8 3 3 136 Surrev 24 5 4 5 7 3 133 Warwick ... 24 5 4 4 7 4 132 Essex 25 6 11 4 3 1 123 Middlesex ..24 4 7 9 2 2 119 Worcester .. 24 5 9 4 5 1 114 Hampshire ..24 4 7 4 5 4 111 Somerset .... 24 510 2 7 0 10b Glamorgan 23 4 9 1 5 4 90 Leicester ... 23 2 5 5 9 2 90 Northant® .23 2 10 2 9 67