CRICKET CHAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 4

CRICKET CHAT

By

"CLEMILL.")

After a threatening morning on Saturday the weather improved wonderfully and Wanganui cricketers enjoyed good conditions for their sport. Evidently the overnight rain had taken some of the fire out of the ground but the strong cross wind assisted the bowlers to make the ball perform and runs were not available in the same abundance as on the previous Saturday. Three outright wins were recorded in the senior grade matches, Wanganui, United and Collegiate School being the successful teams. At 209 Wanganui, with four wickets in hand, and a lead of 60 runs over Technical College, commenced the day with a heavy advantage. The innings closed for 246, Thomas taking his previous week’s tally of 64 to 84 not out. Technical’s second jnnings produced 123 and was saved from very meagre dimensions only by Thakabou’s 59. This batsman played good cricket for his runs, laying the wood on to anything loose but taking no unnecessary risks. The only others to assist the total materially were Thompson (18), McElwain (20 not out) and Deere (12). Thomas and Kilpatrick knocked off the necessary 19 runs to give Wanganui an outright win by ten wickets. For Wanganui Williams captured seven wickets for 33 runs. The bowler made full use of the breeze to vary the flight and swerve of the ball. The Technical College batsmen were not happy under the conditions and no fewer than three were out l.b.w. through covering up thp wicket and then misjudging the pitch of the ball.

Marist’s chances of reaching United’s big total of 355 were never very bright, and when, after resuming on Saturday with three wickets down for 64, they lost two more wickets immediately their prospects of averting even the follow-on faded. Anderson (28), Bigham (21), and Tuffin (15), were the only batsmen to withstand the assault of the bowlers for long and the innings closed for 141. The second knock opened disastrously. Three wickets were down for only two runs and the fourth fell at 16. Gregory and Tuffin prevented the debacle being made complete and the partnership added 50 runs. Gregory (31) appeared to be well set when he was unfortunately run out. Tuffin went on to score 74 berorc returning a catch to Holland. His innings was invaluable to the side but it was not sufficient to prevent United obtaining an outright win. Moran (16) and Bigham (27) assisted the tally along, the final wicket falling at 173. Holland was United’s best bowler in both innings. He was used sparingly in the second essay. Hornibrook shows promise, bowling a really good ball at times.

There can be no excuse made for the poor showing of Technical Old Boys against Collegiate School. Admittedly the wicket early in the afternoon was inclined to play tricks, T)ut the batsmen themselves lightened the task of the bowlers by “getting themselves out.” Commencing with one wicket down without a run being scored the whole side were back in the pavilion for a meagre 37 runs and not one of the nine wickets which had fallen came from a clean-bowled decision. An unfortunate run-out commenced the procession. a couple of l.b.w. decisions further affected the nerves of the incoming batsmen, and almost all of them pottered about in scratching two or three runs before making the inevitable fatal blunder. The total must be the (dub’s low record but it should have a beneficial effect in th e long run. The follow-on was enforced and the second effort is redeemed only because it was better than the first. Once again th e bowlers took command and the innings closed for 86, leaving the School winners by an innings and 110

The School bowling was steady without being as deadly as the scores

might appear to indicate. Renshaw and Knight claimed the honours in the first innings. Renshaw turned the ball from leg and varried the flight well. Knight was getting an exaggerated swerve with the wind from leg, though had the batsmen been content to leave alone the deliveries going away on the off side catches would have been less numerous. These bowlers were not so successful in the opening of the second innings, and success then came to Meuli and Whitsun. Meuli was not long in finding a length and bowled extremely well. This boy has an easy action and turns the ball sufficiently to keep the batsmen guessing. The School fielding was good, nothing being given away. The senior championship now presents an interesting contest between Wanganui and United. Though Wanganui arc undefeated and United lost to their rivals on the first innings there is an advantage of one point on the championship table in favour of United. The performances of these teams will now be followed with interest. Wanganui are sending a team to Marton to contest with Rangitikei the right to challenge the holders of the Hawke Cup. the match being set down for to-day, to-morrow and Friday. A sharp division of opinion exists among cricket enthusiasts locally as to the advantages derived from holding the Hawke Cup; so much so that sometimes in the past no real sorrow was occasioned when a challenger lifted the trophy from Wanganui. It has been some- years since Wanganui had the distinction of holding the cup, and the desire to attain to the former glory has prompted the association to enter the contest again. Having made this decision it behoves all to strive to uphold the prestige of Wanganui cricket by making no half-hearted effort. The team to do battl c against Rangitikei has suffered through the fact that several of the best players were not available, but it remains a good eleven. The good wishes of all Wanganui cricketers go with it for its success in the country centre. The following comment has been supolied upon the members of the Wanganui representative team: — E. C. Gee. —A batsman who has been scoring runs consistently this season. A left-hander who has a strong drive on either side of the wicket. An attractive hitter when well set. At one time was prone to get out l.b.w. too much. Might serve a turn as a change bowler of the medium-paced off-break variety. A. F. Harding.—The Wanganui Collegiate School from time to time provides a batsman of distinction. Harding has this season been batting extremely well and is expected to perform well in this game. He has a sound defence and makes his runs chiefly in front of the wicket.

L. A. Wood. —Needs no introduction. Has been Wanganui’s captain for some seasons. A sound opening bat and an expert judge of a run. A sound slip field and can take his turn with the ball. Even if Rangitikei are captained by the redoubtable Tom Lowry, the Wanganui side will hardly be outgo.!eralled with “Weka” on the. job. E. H. Thomas. —Has batted well in club games this season. A quick-scor-ing batsman with a penchant for coverdriving. Is not afraid to exploit the back cut. though he has been known to lose his wicket with this stroke applied too soon in his innings. Can bowl a slow-medium-paced ball turning either way. and on a suitable wicket may be troublesome.

L. R. Spurdie.—With Holland not. available, Spurdie will have to carry the brunt of the medium-paced attack. There is no doubt that he has been for many years one of Wanganui’s best bowlers. Can be depended upon to keep the best batsman quiet and may easily rout a side if in form. Has collected. several good scores with the bat. L. R. Wilson.—Will keep wickets. A sound man in this department. His batting has shown marked improvement during the past two seasons. R. Watt.—A batsman of the stonewall type who almost invariably gets runs, though seldom attractively. Will prove a help in a tight corner. R. I. Sowell. —Will probably be Wood’s partner to open the batting. Taken generally Sewell’s performances in representtive cricket have been disappointing as this batsman has a free style and all the strokes of a good bats man. A first-class field anywhere but best at cover point. M. Lyon.—Has cricket experience in Rangitikei,. Auckland, and Marton, but has not shown very impressive form in Wanganui. A useful batsman and an average change bowler. C. Smith.—A fast-medium bowler who can be extremely dangerous if in form. Has not given of his best this season At times has shown ability as a bardhitting batsman.

J. Oliver.—Medium-paced right-hand bowler. Keeps a good length for Jang spells and can keep the scoring rate <lown to a minimum. Lacks that extra fire which might make a really firstclass bowler. A very average batsman. J. Metekingi.—The twelfth man Is a particularly attractive bat and must be considered unfortunate to be the spare member. Has been out of luck in recent games but is far ahead of sonic of the chosen batsmen.

Among those players not available were Holland, Williams, Wild, BullockDouglas, Davidson, Thakabou and Rovell.

The unusual incident which occurred in the senior match between Grafton and Y.M.C.A. at Auckland last Saturday week, when an appeal was made by the opposing captain owing to the incoming batsman taking five minutes to reach the crease, will serve as a good lesson to captains in the future. There is no excuse for any delay and it is the duty of captains to see that the law is strictly observed, says the N.Z. Herald. It would have been very interesting to see what attitude the Auckland Cricket Association would have adopted had Grafton gone on with its appeal and been awarded the match. Although behind on the first innings Grafton must have been awarded the full six points.

Poor returning to the wickets has been a noticeable fault with some teams in Auckland senior matches to date, states the N.Z. Herald. Even some bowlers have stood in front of the wickets when receiving a return from the field, thereby spoiling any good work on the part of the fieldsmen. A return to the times when fielding practice was indulged in by all clubs would be welcomed in many quarters. It should always be borne in mind that good fielding practice is just as essential to a team’s success as batting and bowling practice.

The fact that the Victoria cricketer, H. Ebeling, was chosen to take part in the testimonial match recently held in Melbourne caused some surprise among critics. Ebeling has performed with success in club matches for the last few seasons, but he is held to be past his best, and it is some years since he appeared in big cricket. His selection was all the more puzzling in view of the fact that the testimonial match was as a valuable trial for the prospective English trip next year. Ebeling confounded his critics, however, by registering an exceptionally fine bowling performance in taking five wickets for 72 runs in the first innings of Woodfull’s team. It will be remembered that Ebeling was a member of C. G. Macartney’s Australian eleven which toured New Zealand several years ago. Commenting on Bradman’s score of 200 against Queensland —his 17 th double century —the correspondent of the Melbourne Age stated: —Bradman’s first principle is to keep the ball down, and his strokes were made with such uncanny judgment that only once in his long stay of 184 minutes for 200 runs did he give a chance. This was a possible catch to Leeson, the wicketkeeper, off Gamble, when he was 103; otherwise his display was perfect, both in execution and timing. ' F. Fuller, compiler of centuries in Rugby football, blossomed forth last Saturday week as a cricketer, and indicated very plainly that he knows what to do with bat and ball. In a Mercantile League match he hit up 83 runs in quick time and bagged three wickets. S. G. Smith, who some years ago was one of the best cricketers in the Dominion, has been appointed player-coach by the King’s College Old Boys’ Cricket Club in Auckland. As such he becomes an “attached professional.” South Auckland has decided to drop out of the Hawke Cup cricket competition this season on the score of expense. The elimination match with Taranaki has been forfeited. . A team of Geelong boys is expected in New Zealand shortly, £nd according to the programme mapped out, the visitors are keen cricketers. Some matches have been arranged for them —two during their visit to Rangitikei. In an unbroken spell between lunch and tea on the first day of the Sheffield Shield match, Victoria v. South Australia, at Adelaide recently, C. V. Grimmett took seven wickets for 54 runs. It is reported that Grimmett, who had not bowler impressively in the morning, suddenly assumed almost complete mastery. The last seven Victorian wickets fell for 79 runs —a remarkable tribute to the excellence of Grimmett’s bowling.