TO-DAY’S MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20342, 27 June 1934, Page 8

TO-DAY’S MATCH.

Australians Meet Somerset: at Taunton. RESULTS OF PREVIOUS GAMES. (Written for the " Star ” by K. G. GARBUTT.) It will be surprising if the Australians are greatly extended in their match with Somerset, w’hich commences today at Taunton, for last season the county occupied eleventh place in the championship, and so far this season have met with little success. Fortunately, perhaps, for the finances of the side, Somerset have generally relied more on amateur talent than havu other of the first-class counties, und last season, of the twenty-two players who represented the side, only six were professionals. The most prominent member of the side is J. C. White, who is a farmer of means, and whose lefthand slow bowling has been such a tower of strength to his county since the war. However, last season White failed to retain his form, and the reason could probably be traced to his fevyer appearances than usual, together w.th the fact that in a dry summer he rarely found a pitch to suit him. Last season the leading bowlers of the ?ide were A. W. Wellard, a tall fast-medium bowler, and A. Young, who is a slow spin bowler. Both of these trundlers are more than useful batsmen, Wellard in particular being a powerful hitter he hit fifty-one sixes in first-class cricket during the course of the season, a feat quite unapproached. Another Lis*.* medium bowler who makes occasional appearances is R. C. Robertson-Glas-gow: he is, incidentally, a cricket writer of distinction. When he is available. E. F. Longrigg is unquestionably the best batsman on the side, while 11. D. Burrough—the English hockey international—and the brothers J. W. 2Jid F. S. Lee are other useful batsmen. 1 he captain of the side is R. A. Ingle, who is a batsman of the aggressive type. Somerset in the Nineties. Somerset first attained first-class rank in 1891, and in their first season defeated the all-conquering Surrey eleven on the stroke of time. There were few more attractive county sides than Somerset in the nineties, and in 11. T. Hewett and Lionel Palairet they possessed a magnificent pair of opening batsmen, while mention must be made of Sammy Woods and Len Braund, two early stalwarts of the county. Matches between Australian sides and Somerset date back over fifty years, and the county have still to register their first success in the series, for of the twelve games so far contested visiting teams have won eight, and the other four have been drawn. In ISS2 that famous Australian bowler, F. R. Spofforth, took nine wickets in an innings for 51, while E. Robson, who rendered such excellent service to his county for an extended period, twice had noteworthy analyses against the Australians, taking six for 22 in 1596 and eight in an innings for 35 in 1909. In the latter match the Australians came desperately near to defeat, for, left 66 to win, they lost eight wickets and scrambled home in a most exciting finish. Frank Laver, R. A. Duff, M. A. Noble and IT. L. Collins have all scored centuries at the county’s expense, but the best remembered innings of all was that by Warwick Armstrong, who scored 303 not out in 1905. The Australians scored 609 for the loss of four wickets, and Armstrong and Noble put on 320 together for the thi*-d wicket. Len Braund scored 117 and IT. Martyn 130 not out for Somerset in this match, and the only other century registered for the county in these games was recorded in 1926 by M. D. Lyon, who scored 136. Other bowling feats were R. B. Mi sinett’s capttire of six for 29 when Somerset were dismissed for 59 in 1912, and 11. L. Collins’s analysis of eight for 31 in 1919. The latter was remembered chiefly as a batsman, so it may come as a surprise to many to know that he captured 112 wickets during the tour! of the A.I.F. team. In addition to the above performances, E. A. Macdonald and Warwick Armstrong both took seven wickets cheaply m 1921. Four years ago Woodfufl’s team defeated Somerset in two days by an innings and 158 runs. Don Bradman scored 117 and the late Archie Jackson 118 out of a total of 360, while C. V. Grimmett disposed of ten batsmen for 71 runs during the county innings of 121 and 81. (Other cricket comment, including a statement by Larwood, appears on Page 1.)