CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 4

CRICKET

WANGANUI CONTESTS V SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP OPENS TO-DAY. THE DRAW. United v. Marists, on Cook’s Gardens. Old Boys v. Collegiate School, on Collegiate ground. In each game the “kick-off” is timed for 2 p.m., but for the first of the season the opening is sure to be a bit behind time. Excepting last year, when the start of the competitions was delayed through grounds being unavailable, today’s opening is one of the latest experienced in aWnganui for many years. T here appeared to be no reason why an earlier start was not made. The prospects for the new season are of the brightest, and present indications point to some excellent cricket being witnessed. For the senior contests two pitches are required for the two matches each Saturday. Five teams have entered for the championship, as follows: Old Boys. Wanganui. United. Collegiate School. Marists.

The first four teams are written down in the order in which they finished in the competition last season. Marists are newcomers to senior rank, and their advent will be welcomed. They have been strengthened by a couple of our leading bowlers, and if they fail at all it might possibly be in the batting, but they should show considerable improvement before the season closes. In any case, the appearance of Marists in the senior championship contests will be followed with interest, for their decision to go up has been well received by kindred clubs. Last year’s champions, Old Boys, will appear with a much weakened eleven, and the redoubtable attack which they had at their command last season has been materially affected. So also, but to a lesser extent, has their hatting, and it now remains to be seen of what their new players are capable. Wanganui’s team has not greatly ehanged, and they might quite easily go one better this year. At present their bowling seems weak, but it is in their favour that the younger players will no doubt be on the up grade. United will probably be a good deal stronger, and if their fielding is in keeping with their batting and bowling strength, then it is quite within the bounds of possibility that they will carry off the senior honours. Through various reasons the Collegiate School eleven has not, in recent years, played such an effective part in local cricket as in the past. This season, however, should see the boys in good trim, and even though some of the older students have departed there was enough promising material to weld into a team quite strong enough to extend the city clubs. On paper the L T nited team read the strongest, and if they reproduce the form of which they are capable, then they will be the hardest team in the competition for the others to beat.

With five teams in the senior grade there will be a bye, but when Collegiate School is on vacation a bye will not be necessary, so that is almost as broad as it is long. It was a wise move on the part of the Cricket Association to decide upon playing one match only on Cook’s Gardens, and it is to be hoped that the decision will be strictly adhered to so far as senior championships and representative fixtures are concerned.

The association has been singularly fortunate in obtaining the use of Peat Park, for it is anticipated that four of five matches can be played there, and this will tend to relieve the congestion. Victoria Park wickets are unsuitable for good cricket, and if this ground can be dispensed with and better pitches prepared on the new ground, then the junior and third grade matches will start next Saturday.

CHAMPIONS SHINE MACARTNEY AND BARDSLEY. NO NEW BOWLERS The decided improvement in allround form was the feature of firstgrade cricket on Saturday wrote J. M. Taylor in a Sydney paper of a fortnight ago. It is, indeed, pleasing to see batsmen jump into their stride so quickly and, no doubt, the wickets have also helped them to a large extent in the majority of cases. The outstanding performance from a public point of view was undoubtedly that of Charlie Macartney. His return to form will be hailed with delight, and I am informed that he imparted all his old-time vim into his shots. As a matter of fact it is largely due to his efforts with the bat and ball that Gordon are in such an excellent position opposed to St. George. Another batting performance of great consequence was that of Warren Bardsley. This famous international is one of the finest opening batsmen the game has known, and w-ith the big things ahead in the immediate future it will be a source of comfort to every Australian if he reaches his top form. Apparently his was a very good “knock” on Saturday. Left-handed batsmen of Warren’s type are few and far between, particularly as one of the opening pair in big cricket. There is no younger player of the same style as Bardsley anywhere near his ability. His quality and t experience will still leave him as the outstanding figure in this respect in interstate cricket. A Rare Feat. It is rather a rare feat to score centuries in the first two competition matches of the season. This honour belongs to Scanes, of Petersham. Usually a batsman of the dashing type he has previously shown an overanxiety to get runs quickly. In the

match against University, the previous week, Scanes displayed a lot of re* straint, but, apparently, on Saturday, he got his runs in good time. He was ably assisted by Campbell, a lefthander, who has given promise for a number of years, but, who, unfortunately, has never quite lived up to expectations. With regard to the bowling department, there were several good performances. The Gregory-Aeher combination was disastrous to Balmain at Birchgrove. In getting rid of the home side for 78 runs in 20 overs the Paddington men performed wonderfully. The thought came to me that the wictek must have helped them, but Arthur Mailey informs me that there were no complaints in that direction, although the ball occasionally kept low. Incidentally Arthur, who was bowled by Gregory for a "duck," is seriously thinking of writing an article on batting. Jokes aside, the bowling of Gregory and Asher was something worth recording. Where Are The Young Ones? The side of the question which gives rise for serious consideration is that the bowling seems to still be in the hands of the old brigade. There does not appear to be any young talent developing, and as the "veterans’’ cannot be expected to shoulder the burden all the time there is cause f(j>r alarm. A possible exception is Campbell, a youngster from Gordon. Ho is a googly bowler, and took three wickets on Saturday. Campbell is fortunate in belonging to a club which includes in its players so many capable men of experience. They can be depended upon to instruct him along the right lines. This advice, I know, will be freely given, and if Campbell has the latent ability it will be brought out.