CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND JOACHES FOR THE PROVINCES An evidence of the distinct forward step the Dominion is making in cricket is afforded by the number of coaches who are being imported into the country this season, writes “Burwood” in the Dominion. In addition to the English coaches, F. T. Badcock (Wellington) and E. 11. Bowley (Auckland), we will have ihe Englishmen Newman, Eastman, and Langridge in New Zealand this season; In addition to this, the Nelson Cricket Association has engaged J. S. Taylor, of Sydney, to coach their players. Never again will A. C. MacLaren be able to say that Nelson players do not know one end of the bat from the other.\ The Nelson Association has always shown enterprise, and that the province can produce capable players has been demonstrated on the two occasions that they have carried off the Lord Hawke Cup. THE CONQUERING HEROES. Another factor -\vhich will make the present season outstanding will be the return of "the New Zealand team from their highly-successful first tour of Great Britain. Everyone will be extremely anxious to see just how much our boys have learnt on the grand tour. It goes without saying that good English sportsmen like Jack Hobbs, Patsy Hendren, F. E. Woolley, Wilfred'Rhodes, J. W. H. T. Douglas and 11. P. F. Chapman would give our fellows.* many useful hints which would improve of the game.

Every cricketer and . supporter of the game in the Dominion will be keenly anxious to see the New Zealand team in action on their return, and they will have this pleasure at Wellington on November 11, 12, 14, and 15, when the New Zealand team will meet an eleven representing the Rest of New Zealand at the Basin Reserve. The., N.Z. team will then go on to Christchurch, and play another match against the Rest of New Zealand at Lancaster Park on November 18, 19, 21, and 22. These games should do much to improve the standard of play, and will be some recompense for the expense the New Zealand Cricket Council went to in sending the team on the initial tour of England. The match in Sydney and the two games in New Zealand have been arranged with a view to helping to wipe off the heavy financial loss incurred by the tour.

./Regarding this, however, the New Zealand Council need have no concern, as every sportsman in the Dominion was behind the decision to send the team home. If an appeal were made to-morrow for funds to wipe out and financial loss incurred by the tour, the money would be forthcoming inside 24 hours. Every sportsman in the country would readily throw a shilling into the hat. The tour was well worth the few thousands it entailed, as it has done more good for New Zealand cricket than anything that has been attempted in the past.

THE WONDERFUL S. F. BARNES.

Has any bowler kept his form for a longer period than S. F. Barnes, ' the old England cricketer? On December 13, 1901, Barnes made his first . appearance in international cricket, against Australia at Sydney scoring 20 not out, and taking five wickets for 05 runs in Australia’s first innings. A few W'eeks ago Barnes represented Wales against the New Zealanders at Llandudno and took several wickets. Few players after an interval of 26 ■ years would be considered worthy of inclusion even in a minor international fixture, but Barnes has not worn himself out with continuous bowling in county cricket, and at the age of 51 is still a “class” bowler capable of taking wickets in any company. This season for Staffordshire alone, he has captured 81,wickets at a cost of 493 runs or an-average of 6.08. In • the 15 seasons since 1904, again for Staffordshire only lie has taken 1131 wickets for 8382 runs, which represents an average of 7.84. This record is so amazing that, notwithstanding the acknowledged gulf between major and minor cricket one wonders how many first-class batsmen \vould have shaped really well against the world’s best bowler.