CRICKET.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 26, 30 June 1909, Page 9

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN XI. ITT ENGLAND. Programme of Matches. JULY. 'I—THIRD TEST MATCH, at Leeds. s— v. Warwickshire, at Birmingham. 8— v. Worcestershire, at Worcester. 12— v. Gloncestershire, at Bristol. 15— v. Surrey, at the Oval. 19—v. Yorkshire, at Sheffield. 22— v. Derbyshire, at Derby. 26—FOURTH TEST MATCH, at Manchester. 29—v. Yorkshire and Lancashire, at Hull. AUGUST. 2—v. South Wales, at Cardiff. s—v. Lancashire, at Liverpool. 9— FIFTH TEST MATCH, at the Oval. 33— v. West of England (Devon, Cornwall, etc.), at Exeter. 16— v. Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham. 19—v. Kent, at Canterbury. 23— v. Middlesex, at Lord’s. 26—v. Sussex, at Brighton. W—v. M.C.C., at Lorr* WBPTBMBER. S—v. Essex, at Leyton. •—v. An England Eleven (Mr. Bamford’®*, at Uttexeter. •—Scarborough Festival, at fJcartxnougH *&—▼. South of England, at Hastings.

Australia v. Yorkshire. The match between Yorkshire and Australia had to be abandoned owing to the weather. Following are the scores:— YORKSHIRE.—First Innings. E. R. Wilson, st Carter, b Macartney 17 W. Rhodes, e and b Laver 42 "W. H. Wilkinson, b Laver 0 G. H. Hirst, e Armstrong, b Cotter .. 14 J. R. Rothery, b Cotter 2 H. Myers, b Noble S 3 D. Denton, e Macartney, b Laver ~ 106 A. Radcliffe, c Macartney, b Laver .. 5 J. F. Newstead, e Carter, b Laver .. 19 L. Haigh, not out 10 D. Hunter, b Macartney 14 Sundries 17 Total 299 Bowling Analysis:—Laver, five wickets for 75 runs; Macartney, 2 lor 20; Co ter, two for 68; Noble, one for 54; Armstrong, 0 for 65.

AUSTRALIA —First Innings. P. A. McAlister, c Myers, b Hirst . . 0 W. Bardsley, b Rhodes 5 M. A. Noble, c Rothery, b Rhodes .. 27 V. Ransford, not out 32 Armstrong, not out 12 Sundries 1 Total for three wickets 78 Bowling analysis: Rhodes took two wickets for 45; Hirst, one for 19; Haigh, none for 12. A One-Day Game. The match between the Australians and Lancashire and Yorkshire combined, the starting of which was delayed on account of wet weather, took place on June 16, and resulted in a draw. The weather was gloomy and the wicket soft, but not treacherous. About 3000 were present. Following are the scores-. — AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Bardsley, b Hirst I Armstrong, not out 110 Noble, b Hirst 13 Ransford, lbw, b Rhodes 39 Trumper, e Hornby, b Rhodes 10 Hopkins, b Huddlestone > . 1 Macartney, c Hunter, b Rhodes .... 0 Carter, not out 31 Extras 12 Six wickets for a 217 Bowling Analysis: Hirst two wickets for 45, Brearley none for 29, Huddlestone one for 35, Rhodes three for 61, Haigh none for 35. YORKSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE— First Innings. Hartley, c Ransford, b Whitty .... 1 Rhodes, not out -2 Tyldesley, c Carter, b Whitty ....... 9 Denton, not out ... 0 Two wickets for 12

Another Wet Day. Drizzling rain fell all day on June 24, saturating the wicket at Old Trafford, on which the Australians were to have met Lancashire and Yorkshire to-day. There was no sign of the weather clearing at 3 o’clock, and at that hour it was decided to abandon play for the day.

A Mates AbandonedRain, fell continuously all night and continued on June 25, with the result that the match between the Australians and Lancashire and Yorkshire combined had to be finally abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The Cricket Nursery—the De= velopment of a Cricketer. (By J. T. TYLDESLEY.) The increasingly exacting nature of the work demanded from members of a first-class county team has brought about a great change in the average county player. In the early days of the nwk-n development of the game the number of matches played by all county elevens was small, aud not only could most professionals affiliated with local clubs . . . ,»c

the invitation to play when it was extended to them, but most amateurs could find it convenient to devote an occasional three days during the summer for the purpose. Tb-day matters are very dif-

ferent. The leading counties are practically engaged in match-playing during the whole of the season. No sooner has one match finished than all the paraphernalia has to be packed up, and iu many cases a bolt for the next train takes place, with perhaps a hurried visit to pay one’s bill at the hotel. And it does happen occasionally that the team arrive* at their destination in the early hours Of the next morning. And if that team after a night’s rest all too short, should happen to lose the toss on a broiling hot day, they are not feeling too fit at 6.30 p.m. The batsmen of the team may not suffer to any great extent, but it has been palpable to me on many occasions after a long journey and a lost toss that the bowlers have suffered much more than they eare to admit. A big score has- bee.n the result. Many bowlers find it extremely difficult to keep fit for the whole of a season, and in the ease of professionals, who have to look at the financial aspect of the ease, have taken the field with one leg and a “swinger” when a> good week’s rest would only have been their due.

Advantages of a Regular Team. Consequently county committees find that it is becoming increasingly difficult to play their best eleven regularly, and all who have played the game will acknowledge that one of the first conditions of success is that the members of a team shall be thoroughly acquainted with each others play. The captain must know the capabilities of each fieldsman if each is to be placed in his correct position, and in batting one always feels more satisfaction if he knows something of the man at the other end. Many a match has been lost simply because the members of the team have not been sufficiently acquainted with one another’s powers or weaknesses. An example of this is invariably furnished by the Australians when on tour in England. They know their colleagues’ play exactly, and, in the ease of short running only, they add scores of runs to the total that would never have been recorded had not each batsman the confidence that his partner would always run when called upon to do so.

It therefore means 1 this, that if a team is to go through a season with a fair amount of success it must consist almost exclusively of men who ean place their services during the whole summer months at the disposal of the committee. The inevitable result is to reduce the probabilities of a fair proportion of capable amateurs being found who can meet the requirements expected. The demands of a commercial or professional career have claimed many of them just at the time when their services were likely to be most useful. Most counties have not been so fortunately circumstanced in this respect as have Lancashire, for during the past few years we have been lucky enough to possess a good few amateurs whose powers have placed them high amongst their fellows. An Experiment.

County Committees are therefore compelled more and more to rely upon professional assistance. Here again a development of comparatively recent growth has intervened. The league system has got such a hold in some districts, and interest in their games has reached such a high pitch, that high rates of pay are offered to available capable professionals.

Some of these positions are sinecures in comparison, with the Irani and strenuous life the eountv cricketer leads, and have been accepted by many players as being far preferable, and although there are exceptions to every rule, it may be taken for granted almost, so long us a professional is engaged by a League club he can only be a very occasional player in county cricket. Therefore at the very time when committees are compelled to rely more than ever on professionals, another attraction has developed that seriously reduces the numbers of capable available players. It follows therefore that if teams are to be kept up to concert pitch a further development must take place. At first it was thought the running of a second eleven would in itself be sufficient- It was urged, and that correctly, that it would aet as a training ground for the younger players, a sort of stepping atone or link between the ordinary club erieket and first-class, and that with a number of reliable youngsters of known powers at call no difficulty would be experienced in filling up vacancies in the first eleven as they arose, and that the players themselves would benefit by being associated with a number of better players than are met with in the average local chib.

Drawl wks ajuP **** The »f success that has tended the experiment has not bees (o great as anticipated, for which a variety of reasons must be assigned. First ef all they do noi play sufficient games to make them entirely useful, but as most counties have found the ru naing of a second to he rather expensive, increasing the number may prove to bo a formidable obstacle.

Apart from the captain, who should be a man who has gone through the mill, an old player who is a judge of ■ good youngster when he secs one, the remainder of the second team might to consist of very young players. Too much attention is given to the winning of tbeir matches, and with this idea it i» quite apparent thut too many men have been selected wltose powers are known to be so limited that no hope ean be entertained that they would ever be in the front rank. These places ought to be filled by younger players, who may not be quite so good for the time being, but who by reason of their age ami the experience they would gain by the association with more experienced players have a far better chance of becoming serviceable first eleven men. Many youngsters are spoiled for the want of opportunities. When ones it bus beeu decided that a certain youth has the makings of a good cricketer in him, he ought to be given every opportunity of taking part in the second eleven matches. To only receive an invitation intermittently is discouraging and disheartening. It may be thut all lie requires to make him blossom out as n first-class player is experience, and it seems a pity if he ennnot get it. just because he may fail in his first match or two. Several counties have what is known as a ground staff attached to the county ground, whose duties in part consist of bowling to the members in the nets. They do, of course, practice amongst themselves during a quiet interval, but it is questionable in the absence of someone to direct, control, and overlook their practice, whether so much progress is made as is expected. The system has something in its favour, but ranch may be said against it. Here again young players should be in the majority. It is fatal to the success of the system if too many of the stall are “old hands.” some of whom, disappointed at their own failure to secure a phice in their county team, are ever ready to pt son the iitinda of the young players, and to make then* dissatisfied with their lot. Choosing the Players.

Although a marked improvement bus taken place of late years in the manner of engagement of a stall player, a further improvement, I think, could be made. Years ago engagements were given to men recommended, perhaps, by the president or secretary of the local clubs with which they were connected. To-day trials are given to a few as wanted.

But why not go further and try them in batches? Let the last fortnight of a season be set apart for the purpose. Advertise for young players, get them in numbers of so many per day, and let four or five experienced old players weed them out. The latter end of the summer is much better for the trial than in the spring. After a winters rest the men cannot show their true form; the arms and shoulders are stiff. A bowler has not his length, and a batsman has not his eye in. Try them at the end of the season when they ean give ti better account of themselves.

Let it be known amongst all the focal elubs that this trial fortnight is going to be an annual affair, and let any hut who feels eligible apply for the trial. Under this system everybody, recommended by president or no, gets the same chance. The recoin mended youth, in spite of his success with the local elnb, may not be the promising member after all. If this system was carried out year by year, a good and young stall would probably be the result. Success in Kent.

Apart from the second team and the ground staff, it has remained for Kent to make a still further experiment in the training of first-class players, and one which has been attended by the most flattering results.

A few years ago the “Nursery at Tonbridge.” was inaugurated, and the results of its labours were seen in Kent’s record in 19116. There, under the eagle and zealous eyes of Mr. Tom Pawley and Captain McCanlis, the youngsters practise systematically. Each in turn is coached during his limited batting pra*.

tice. He is not allowed to bat too long, and thus tire himself out. The side nets are lowered to encourage the fielding—a Badly neglected branch of the game—and lie is only allowed to bowl for short periods at a time. In every department he is overlooked by a man ,with his /whole heart and soul in the game. Further than that, as much match practice (the best of all) is allowed as possible, and to provide this for everyone —when not wanted at Tonbridge—they are allowed to take part in some of the local club’s engagements round about, a record of their performances being kept for reference.

The fact that such, men as Fielder, Seymour, Humphreys, Blythe, and Fairservice have already passed through the nursery .speaks for itself, whilst Woolley -—also one of their products—had much to do witii Kent’s success in 1906. I believe it is also a fact that K. L. Hutchings, although an amateur, has received much of his tuition in the “Nursery.” Woolley is yet only young, but he Bids fair to prove quite as useful a player as Blythe, whose style he seems to have copied. K. L. Hutchings jumped into the front rank of batsmen all at Once, for in style, power, and all that goes to make a successful batsman, he ranks very high, and it is only reasonable to assume that his training at Tonbridge has had much to do in developing liis powers. Looking at the Kent side of 1906, the names reveal this faet—that the “Nursery” experiment has been most, successful for Kent, and culminated that year in the winning of the championship by the Hop County. Now, in view of those facts, one is driven to conclude that the system so successfully tried by Kent is worth considering by other counties, and if such inducements can be offered to promising young players as will result in their going in. for systematic training under the eye of experienced old hands, a means of recruiting their first and second elevens will be opened.

The difference between the cricket played by the ordinary local club and county cricket is so great that few men —unless they receive a good share of fortune's favour : eap .successfully step from the former into the latter. At the same tinie there; are many who, with careful ■ training,/ would easily develop into capable players and .more than repay the commitleesrfor the jnoney spent upon their training. 1 At any rate Kent’s success has been so pronounced as to justify the following of the experiment in other quarters.