CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

A BHORT DAY.

(By “Cover Point."}

Crloketers are usually not averse to a good grumble, and under ordinary circumstances the cessation of play at a quarter past four would be the cause of a good deal of lamentation, but it was quite a happy crowd that gathered in the pavilion when the storm broke on Saturday, and watched the ground rapidly assume the appearance of a lake. Like every other place, Seddon Park has been showing the effects of the dry spell, and Saturday's downpour was exceedingly welcome, even though It effectively stopped play and put three or four motor-cars out of action.

Even Batting.

When play was abandoned for the day Hamilton East had scored 196 for six wickets against Old Hoys, each of the six having reached double figures. In the early part of tho Innings Gassidy hatted exceedingly well for 39, showing a sound defence and a good range of strokes. It is a marvel to me how well he times the ball—one would have thought that that ungraceful flourish which precedes every stroke would throw his timing right out, but he has evidently learned to make allowances for it. It seems to me, however, that it would be better to discard it altogether. Badeley gave a brief display of fireworks before he succumbed to a yorker, and Skeet and Mick Johnston batted soundly and well.

A Model of Consistency

Bill Timms ran true to form, and was once more run out —for the fifth time in his last six innings. That he was not run out earlier in his innings was no fault of Skeet’s, for Timms in attempting to hit a leg ball swung right round and when he recovered himself found his partner, who had come rushing down the pitch apparently without regard to Timms’ position, only two or three years from him. However, disaster was averted on this occasion, but the inevitable happened later on and Timms, after making a steady 17, was run out. It appeared to me that Going was to blame this time. Sid Craig rattled up 18 by means of three 4’s and two 3’s and departed, and then Going took charge of the situation. The Old Boys’ bowlers tossed them well up to him, and he accepted their favours with avidity, hitting four 6's and three 4’s and being not out with 46 at the drawing of stumps. Harold Johnston and he had put on 37, the former’s share being a modest two.

The Old Boys’ attack was not very formidable, and the absence of Senior from behind the sticks led to an extremely large number of byes being recorded. 1 am sorry to learn that he has had to give up wicket-keeping for the time being—we can ill-afford such a loss at the present juncture. 1 have always regarded Lenihan as a slip specialist, and it was rather surprising to find him fielding out in the country.

1 Some Good Bowling. j Frankton accomplished a good per- ! formance in dismissing the redoubtable Hamilton team for 99. A bit of luck came their way at the start, Hemus going out to Cobbe and just touching j the ball, which rebounded on to the (wickets from the wicket-keeper’s pads 1 before he could get back, but after that Wilson and Everest bowled exceptionI ally well, especially the former, who kept everybody quiet, and had Eggleston in particular in serious difficulties. Steel was very erratic in length and direction. He appears to he developing a round-arm delivery which is reducing his efficiency, and he should concentrate at practice on getting his arm higher up. It would give him greater accuracy and put more sting into his deliveries.

Christian and Millon got i 4 and 13 respectively, but it was Winger who saved the side from utter collapse. He opened the innings and was fifth out, having scored 46 out of 87. The fourth wicket had fallen at the same number, and with it came one of those collapses for which Hamilton used to be noted, the remaining six wickets putting on 12 runs only. The absence of Kavanagh and Rabone left places for Lee and Faulkner, and the two Senior B men fielded keenly, Lee making a fine left-handed attempt to catch Pomeroy off a hard square cut. Ewan disposed of Christian with a fine catch low down in the slips.

Hamilton and Hamilton East.

Hamilton and Hamilton East completed their unfinished game on Monday evening. It was a very forlorn hope for Hamilton, who, with five wickets in hand, required 150 runs to avert an innings defeat, but they fought on stubbornly for an hour and a-half, and at no stage showed signs of giving in easily. Millar and Winger, the two not-out men, defended stubbornly for a long time against some accurate bowling, and put on 30 runs before Winger got his leg in front to Mick Johnston. During this partnership Miliar had acted strictly on the defensive, evidently being content to leave the attacking to his more experienced partner. This was of course quite a sound policy to pursue, but its carrying out would hot have been interfered with by dealing forcibly with anything that called for such treatment. Several overpitched balls were played defensively that might very well have been driven hard to the boundary without any risk. Some poet says: “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” and the injunction is a sound one which, translator into cricket parlance, might read: “A hittable ball is hittable whatever the situation—make the most of it.”

After Winger’s departure Millar began to open out, and he had 33 to his credit when Cassidy bowled him. Howell, in no way discomposed by the way the field crowded round him, got a round dozen, and Armstrong, batting under difficulties owing to a stiff neck, carried his bat. The last wicket fell with the total 158, Hamilton East winning by an Innings and 71 runs.

Good Fielding.

There never is an excuse for slack fielding, but if there were possibly Hamilton East, being in such a comfortable position, might have felt justified in taking things easy. Despite the situation, however, they were on their toes throughout, and gave absolutely nothing away. In this connection the brothers Craig, who fielded like tigers, set them a fine example. Les in particular was very keen, and on one occasion he chased a ball to the boundary which most other men would have let go, arriving Just in time to stop it from going over, and saving a run. It is no wonder the Hamilton East bowlers do so well when they have support like that.

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM.

ON THEIR WAY ACROSS. The news that all of the Australian players selected for the New Zealand tour have decided to make the trip is pleasant reading indeed. It was reported that Oldfield was a likely nonstarter, a slight illness having overtaken him a few weeks ago, but apparently all is well now. J. McC. Blackham won for himself the designation, “the prince of wicket-keepers." Oldfield is the present day “ace," and it would indeed have been a disappointment to many to miss the opportunity of seeing him in action. The team left for Wellington on Thursday, and is as follows: —W. H. Ponsford, W. M. Woodfull, Blackie, Morton (Victoria) ; A. P. Kippax, W. A. Oldfield, Jackson, McNamee (New South Wales); V. Richardson, C. Grimmett, Schneider, Alexander (South Australia); Oxenham (Queensland). The itinerary is:— V. Nelson, at Nelson, February 15 and 16. V. Wellington, at Wellington, February 17, 18 and 20. V. North Otago, at Oamaru, February 22 and 23. V. Otago, at Dunedin. February 24, 25 and 27. V. Southland, at Invercargill, February 28 and 29. V. Canterbury, at Christchurch, March 2, 3 and 5. V. Waikato, at Hamilton, March 7 and 8.

V. Auckland, at Auckland, March 9, 10 and 12.

V. Taranaki, at New Plymouth, March 14 and 15.

V. Wanganui, at W'anganui, March 16 and 17.

V. Poverty Bay, at Gisborne, March 20 and 21.

First Test at Auckland, March 24, 26 and 27.

Second Test at Dunedin, March 31, April 2 and 3.

ONE OF A SELECT BAND. According to. the Sidney Bulletin, C. J. Eady has joined the ranks of the select few, who have had a memorial erected in their honour while this side of the Styx. At Hobart recently a bronze memorial commemorating his services to Tasmanian cricket was unveiled in the Tasmanian C.A.’s pavilion. One recalls him. as a powerful, punishing batsman, and a fast bowler, who would be nearly in the championship class to-day. He scored a pair of centuries in the match against Victoria in 1895, and his 566 in a club match at Hobart still stands as Australia’s record for any class of cricket. With Harry Trott’s 1896 side in England Eady averaged 13.18 with the hat and took sixteen wickets at a cost of 25.50 each. It is sad to think that in the evening of his days ho is a member of the Legislative Council.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD. By decisively beating Auckland Wellington secured the Plunket Shield for the season 1927-28. During the match two records were broken. Wellington’s first innings score of 595 was a record for Plunket Shield games, and the partnership of 204 between Lowry and Badcock established a new record, beating that of 180 by N. C. Snedden and C. C. Dacre for Auckland against Wellington in the 1922-23 season. Auckland also registered a fine performance in scoring 458 with the fourth use of the wicket when requiring over 700 to win. Scoring all through the Plunket Shield matches has been high, and shows that the bat is supreme in New Zealand. The Dominion apparently has no really great bowler, and though it is claimed that the Wellington team this season is the best that has ever represented the province, it caunot be said that it is outstanding as a bowling side. Wellington previously held the shield on four occasions. In the 191819 season they shared it with Canterbury, ana it rested in the capital city in 1920-21, 1923-24, and 1925-26. The following table shows the holders of the Plunket Shield since it was presented:—

1906- —Canterbury. 1907- —Auckland. 1908- —Auckland. 1909- —Auckland. 1910- I—Canterbury. 1911- —Auckland. 1912- 3—Canterbury. 1913- —Canterbury. 1914- s—Canterbury. 1916-18 —No matches played. 1918- —Wellington and Canterbury. 1919- —Auckland. 1920- —Wellington. 1921- —Auckland. 1922- —Canterbury. 1923- —Wellington. 1924- Otago. 1925- —Wellington. 19261927- —Wellington.

Eleven Centuries Scored, Eleven centuries have been scored in shield matches this season. They are:— J. Newman, 112 not out, Canterbury v Otago. J. M’Mullan, 131, Otago v Auckland. H. M. M’Girr, 122, Wellington v Canterbury. H. Foley, 136, Wellington v Otago. K . C. James, 108, Wellington v Otago. G. Dickinson, 104, Otago v Wellington. W. Vorrath, 103 not out, Otago v Wellington. T. C. Lowry, 181, Wellington v Auckland. K. C. James, 108, Wellington v Auckland. E. H. Bowley, 120, Auckland v Wellington. C. C. Dacre, 145, Auckland v Wellington. Record partnership in Plunket Shield matches are as follows: First wicket—2ol by E. Horspool and A. Anthony, for Auckland against Wellington, 1924-25. Second wicket —227, by W. A. Baker and B. J. Kortlang, for Wellington against Otago, 1923-24. Third wicket—-222, by S. G. Smith and N. G. Sneddon, for Auckland against Hawke’s Bay, 1920-21. Fourth wicket—2o4, by T. C. Lowry and F. T. Badcock. for Wellington against Auckland, 1927-28. Fifth wicket—l 97, by C. C. Dacre and C. AllcoLt, for Auckland against Otago, 1926-27. against Otago, 15-26-27. Sixth wicket—lß4, by D. C. Collins and H. M. McGirr, for Wellington

against Otago, 1923-24. Seventh wickets—l 74, by C. A. Snedden and A. Anthony, for Auckland against Canterbury, 1920-21.

Eighth wicket—ls 4, by K. C. James and F. T. Badcock, for Wellington aaginst Canterbury, 1926-27.

Ninth wicket —115, by E. H. L. Bernau and K. C. James, for Wellington aaginst Canterbury, 1923-24. Tenth wicket—l3B, by K. C. James

IMPORTANCE OF TOSS. I . “MAY WIN NEXT TESTS,” SAYS MAJOR HILL. ENGLAND’S LIKELY TEAM. I Major V. T. Hill, an English cricketer of the old school, arrived in Melbourne early last month on furlough. Mammoth cricket scores, and endurance records of batsmen, excite no enthusiasm in him, but of the days gone by, when batsmen went for the runs, and bowlers bowled at the wicket, he is enthralled. Major Ilill, who was born in 1871, played for Oxford, Somerset, and Glamorganshire. His first match against the Australians was in 1893. He retired in 1912 after twenty years’ active cricket. "It is impossible,” he said, “to say whether England will hold the ashes during the next series of tests. Whatever team wins the loss will be well on the way for a win. Importance of Toss. "In these days of Marathon cricket, when a team makes 600 and 800, the toss plays almost the most important part in the game. “The English team will be selected on next season’s form, but it is safe to say that there will he many new faces, although some of the older players will have to be included. !f a team were selected on actual form, all its members, or nearly all, would be over forty years of age. Such a team would, I consider, be superior to a team of the younger stars of the English cricket world. Chance for Young Men. “In these days of long innings, especially in Australia, it is hard on the older men to lie Id for long periods. There will be young men in the next English team, not because they are better than older men, but because the younger ones must be given a chance. The future must be considered. "Australia and England both have batsmen who can stay at the wickets for unlimited periods, batting slowly. Neither side has the howlers to get them out. The tests thereupon become Marathon contests, and I will be surprised if they finish in one week. Even if there is rain during a test, there are no bowlers to take advantage of the wicket.”

Of the English bowlers, Major Hill said it was questionable if Larwood’s knee would stand a match which lasted five or six days. Tate must lose his effectiveness as time went on. Major Hill said that his son, who toured India with the M.C.C. team last year as wicket-keeper, had a high opinion of Geary.

ASCENDANCY OF BATSMEN. NEED FOR GOOD LENGTH BOWLERS “1 think the best plan would be to put a couple of inches on the top of the wickets and make them an inch wider. There. are no good bowlers in Australia now. The batsmen plod along into centuries, and the matches send me to sleep. Ponsford is rightly called a run-getting ‘machine,’ and the only two batsmen who have something of the old-time freshness and enterprise arc Macartney and Kippax." Mr S. R. Walford, one of the oldest of Australian cricketers, who toured New Zealand in 1894 and 1890 with the New South Wales team, has no very high opinion of the modern game. Mr Walford, who has been visiting Christchurch, impresses the necessity for bowlers with a good length, and not too much spin. “They don’t need to break,” he said. “Three feet six inches is quite enough if only they keep a good length. Mailey has taken a lot of wickets, and is held in very high esteem, but, in my opinion, he is hardly a first-class bowler. A spin bowler may dispose of the tail end of a team, but when he gets up against the best of batsmen he can never be sure of wickets.' I think the best bowler in Australia at the present time is Blackie, a Victorian, .who must be quite 45 years of age. He is the only consistent length bowler in the land. Unless some new bowlers come to light Austrlia will never get the English team out. The Test matches promise to be the most tiring and long-drawn-out in the history of the game." Mr Walford played for New South Wales for many years, both at Home against English teams and in New Zealand. He agreed that the New Zealand cricket team .which toured England last year was a fine combination, and put up a very creditable display. He saw the match at Sydney played on the New Zealanders’ return, and was greatly struck by their poor fielding. “If they had taken all the chances they got from the best batsmen New South Wales would only have made half its score. You can’t afford to let off some of our batsmen two or three times.” Mr Walford thinks very highly of Merritt’s bowling, but agrees .with Mailey that the Canterbury boy should put on a bit of extra pace. The great need of cricket at the present day was for good length bowlers like Turner or Fisher, of New Zealand, and batsmen such as Victor Trumper, who were not frightened to hit. “Too much value is put on the ashes and too little on the quality of the cricket,” he said. Mr Walford does not advise New Zealand to send any more cricket teams to England for four or five years. “Go for a steady improvement,” he advises, “by sending a team annually to Australia. The cost is not so great, and the experience is better. At the end of five years go to England and meet the best of them.”