CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17840, 12 October 1929, Page 21 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

THE NEW SEASON. CLUBB GETTING READY*. BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR 1929-30. During the last few months there may not have been many thoughts of cricket, but as the winter sports totter to their fall the spirit of cricket will revive, and already we have seen the first fresh outbursts In the form of annual general meetings. Little victories or defeats in football and In hockey are losing their glamour or their sting; all is bright once more for cricket Is at hand. Now we begin to feel those tinglings of anticipation, those desires to be up and doing, more strongly even than later on when matches have begun and cricket Is in. Have we not. the whole season before us? A month to prepare in, and what a lot we can do In a month I Last March we thought we had the hang of It, we knew what the bowlers could do; we were used to the wickets, we could watch the ball right on to the hat. We think it will be all right this year, a little practice to get used to the feel of the bat again, a few turns at the nets to get the flight of the ball, a little polish in timing our strokes and they will never get us out! What a good thing is optimism. Nor Is there any reason why it should fail us. Confidence and determination go a very long way In cricket, to start the season with high hopes and a will to succeed; this, based on a good preparation, Is the right spirit. Reconstruction Benefits. The reconstruction of the South Auckland Cricket Association paves the way for a stronger combination in this district. There has been in the past a lack of cohesion among the neighbouring bodies which hae not tended to the fielding of the strongest eleven available. The closer union, with the consequent greater unity of purpose, should 'Obviate this difficulty. There Is no reason why, with the talent there undoubtedly Is here, a very strong team should not be selected that could make Its mark at least among the Minor Associations. Ono of the greatest factors of success for a representative team is experience, and It is to be hoped that a fair number of outside matches with visiting teams can be arranged before visits from any provincial teams or the M.C.C. team eventuate. English Team For Hamilton. The people of Hamilton will have an opportunity of seeing the Englishmen here in February, but it is as yet undecided whether they will bo opposed by a local eleven or a combined team such as played the Australians last season. The latter scheme has much to commend it, as the added attraction of New Zealand “stars” must increase the interest. The inclusion of some i local players would provide the neeesi sary personal interest besides giving 1 promising talent the opportunity of ; proving itself, and the strengthening | of the team with players from oilier ! centres should make the match a

keener contest. It was unfortunate that the last Australian match here was preceded by several days of rain which made the wicket impossible, so that a hastily prepared pitch had to be used. This year the association has preparations for protecting the wicket, so that given fine days for the match, playing conditions should be of the best. The Game Abroad. There has been no mention o'f the adoption of the new laws, in v-ogue in England last season, in New Zealand. The difficulty seems rather to find batsmen who can get large scores consistently than means to get them out. It trill be interesting to see the considered opinions of their authorities on this subject. A consideration of the season's figures suggest that the alterations have had the effect of making runs harder to get, but whether they have improved the style of play or otherwise be'tte'red the game is not so apparent. In 1928 five players topped 3000 runs, but this year Woolley's 2804 is the highest aggregate. Only two, Hobbs and Hammond, this year averaged over GO, compared with 12 last year. And this in face of the fact that 1929 was the driest season experienced for several years. The critics at Home have been well pleased with the form displayed by a great number of players and are confident of turning out a team that will be more than a match for the Australians next season. There seems to be such a wealth of new talent and such a retention of form by their older players that the selectors will be faced with a tremendous task. But at least their work will he less criticised than that of their confreres in Australia. Already the latter are being begged, asked and even ordered to look out for “young blood.” All the judges O'f crioket, and everybody in Australia Is an authority, are quite convinoed that the material J 0 there and only needs selecting for the Ashes to bo brought back South. But it still seems to bo a generally accepted .fact that It Is harder to get you out of an Australian XI once you are in than it was to get you in in the first place.