CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 11

CRICKET.

COACHES FRO* EIWLAND* FIVE DUE THIS MONTH. £ The English professional cricketers who are to take up engagements in New Zealand this season are due to arrive in Wellington by the Connttnc on October 24. They are: —E. H. Bowley (Sussex), returning., as coach to the Auckland Cricket Association; J. Newman (Hampshire), appointed coach to the Canterbury Cricket Association; B. B. Wilson (ex-Yorkshire), coach to the Taranaki Cricket Association (Northern Division); J. Langridge (Sussex), accompanying Bowley to Auckland; and L. C. Eastman (Essex), coach to the Otago Cricket Association. It was reported some little time ago that A. S. Kennedy (Hampshire) would also be coming to the Dominion, but there is no news of his departure.

Bowley was in Auckland last season, and on his return to England for the season just ended he performed witn distinction, playing in the match England v. The Rest, and also gaining a very high place in the first-class batting averages for the season. Langridge, who will be under Bowley's care, and should be a most useful man at the schools and elsewhere in Auckland, is 21 years of age, andhas just completed his second season- n county cricket. He is a left-handed bat, a good bowler, and is likely to make a first-class cricketer when he fills out. At present he is very slim and youthful. Those who know him have great hopes of his future as a representative cricketer. -'.' '-. /

B. B. Wilson Was"for many years the opening batsman for Yorkshire, with Wilfred Rhodes. He is a good cricketer and has proved himself a good coach. For some years he has been coach at the Whitgift Middle School, Croydon. The sports master there speaks very highly of him, and regrets that he is about to leave the school. He has-not played in county matches since the war, but for the five years before the war his season's scores were well over the thousand mark. In 1913 he played in 28 matches and in 49 innings he scored 1359 runs, making an average for the season of 28.31. His highest score in one match was 108. In 1914 in 47 innings he'made 1578 runs, with an average of 34.30. In one innings he scored 208 runs. Wilson occasionally bowled, but he was not among the regular bowlers of his club.

An All-rounder. J. Newman, the Hampshire allround cricketer, is a man aged 40. who is still a strong support to his side in county cricket. For the past three or four years he has gone out to South Africa on various engagements as : professional coach. Last season in 46 innings he made 1156 runs, hia average being 28.90. His highest score in one innings was 134. His bowling analysis was as follows: —50 innings 1134 overs, 237 maidens, 3454 runs, 145 wickets, and an average of 23.82. "Nothing in Hampshire cricket," says "Wisden's Almanack," referring to last season, "was more refreshing than the all-round work of Newman, who, in addition to rendering the county really excellent service as a batsman, bowled with a skill worthy of his best days. So completely did he regain his old ability that the number of his wickets increased from 62 to 145, and the average declined from 33 to 23. Perhaps his most notable achievement was that of taking 11 wiokets at'Northampton for 31 runs, but on three occasions—against Leicestershirer Sussex, and Northamptonshire—he secured ten wickets, and against Gloucestershire at Bournemouth 'he obtained no fewer than 14 wickets. He enjoys the distinction of being the first player last summer to achieve the feat of scoring 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets." H-3 repeated the feat this season. ■. ' Eastman, who is naturally a fine cricketer, has been of splendid assistance to Essex. Last year he ; was not fit for a good part of the season, and hardly did himself justice. His performances with the bat have been greatly improved upon this season, one of note being 176. not out against Sussex last month. As a bowler he makes the ball swing both ways, but rather lacks pace off the pitch.' However,- he was credited with some fine bowling efforts in the season "just closed. Against Notts he took six wickets for bz runs and two for 11. \;