THE CRICKET FINAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 376, 18 March 1932, Page 11

THE CRICKET FINAL.

Sydenham Meet Old Boys To-morrow. A great cricket afternoon should be provided at Hagley Park to-morrow, when play in the final matches in the first five grades of the Canterbury Cricket Association’s competitions will begin. It is anticipated that there will be a big attendance; a collection is to be taken up for the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund. The most important game will be that between Old Boys and Sydenham in the final of the senior grade, and indications point to a close and interesting contest. The Sydenham men ha\ r e shown a steady improvement over the last two seasons, and their place in the finals is well deserved. Old Boys have been among the leaders for some seasons now, and again this year have fielded a first-class side. The teams in the senior final will be: Sydenham. Old. Boys. E. Gasson AA r . H. Vincent C. Shaokel A. C. Harris C. J. Oliver R. C. Burns F. Bellamv AV. C. Dailey R. AVallburton J. Moffatt L. E. Riley C. M. Harris J. Young J. B. Hobbs AV. J. V. Hamilton I. M’Donald I. Patrick G. Colville AV. AVatts H. R. Escott M. Harper J. T. Burrows Old Boys have lost their star bowler, the wily Merritt, and he will he missed in such a critical game; but for all that their attack is sound, and there are men in the side capable of taking good wickets. Burrows is bowling at hi» best, and M’Donald, a recent addition to the senior side, sends down some fast ones that take a lot of stopping. The Old Boys’ batting has not been so consistent over the last few games, but the ability is there beyond all doubt, and the team is notable for the ability to rise to a big occasion. The Sydenham batting has been steady throughout the season, and several of the batsmen have consistently good records. The bowling is good and has variety. The impression is that Old Bo3’h are slightly the stronger side, but if they have the slightest lapse from form Sydenham will win.

On the No. 2 ground at Hagley the final of the second grade will be fought out between Rlccarton and Old Boys. On the third wieket Boys’ High School and Old Boys will meet in the third grade final. The fourth grade final is between Sydenham and Papanui, the fifth between Technical and Spreydon, and the sixth between AVest Christchurch High School and Y.M.C.A.

Bowling Champion. (Special to the “ Star.") AUCKLAND. March 18. A. E. Matthews (Ponsonby) was the winner of the champion of champions singles bowling contest. He defeated W. H. Keatley, of Rocky Nook, 23-6, in the final. He has had a fine career in sport in Auckland. He is a former Auckland and New Zealand League football representati\ r e. and in 1923 was skipper of the yacht Rona, which won the Sanders Cup for this province at Auckland. Since then he has sailed other Jellicoe boats in the same competition. Mr Matthews said that his yachting experience and the kicks he had received at football had given him the temperament, and consequently he had played through the tournament without being nervous. His winning margin must be nearly a record. 33 33 3.3 Duleep’s Claim. An English cricket writer says Duleepsinhji told him at a little informal farewell dinner given in London by the New Zealand Cricket Council, that he is still learning. He

thinks it will take him five years more to perfect his batting, and then he will fear no bowler. As it is, Duleepsin hj i generally throws his wicket away. He says, and he makes the claim with perfect modesty, that he is the one batsman in England for whom Grimmett has no terrors. He would

back himself, I think, to bat against Grimmett all day, and I hope he will have many opportunities of doing so in Australia. 3 That Aloof Manner . The suggested appointment of Jardine as captain of the next English eleven is simply asking for trouble (says a writer in the Sydney “ Bulletin”). He is a fine cricketer, of course, and also a cultured individual, with charming manners to his social equals. But Jie has the so-called “ Oxford manner ” of aloofness to the crowd that is just the thing Australia does not \fcant. On his last \’isit weird yarns were circulated about his attitude to the professionals on his own side. It is a matter of history that, after he left, a friend thought it necessary to cable to him for a straight denial of one of the weirdest. Even if they were all untrue, the fact that all Australia circulated and believed them shows what opinion it formed of him, and what hope he has of being taken to its heart as a visiting captain should be.