CRICKET.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 831, 8 February 1906, Page 12

CRICKET.

(By

“ Yorker.”)

Owing to the rain which fell up to about half-past three on Saturday, there was some little delay in starting the matches. Fortunately the showers, which came at intervals during the afternoon, were not heavy enough to stop play once a start had been made, nor did they do much damage to the wickets.

In the Domain Parnell met City, and Grafton Ponsonby, while the Edenites crossed the water to play the North Shore eleven.

The result of the afternoon’s play leaves Eden and Parnell, the two leading teams, each wth a fair prospect of defeat. Should they both be beaten and Grafton manage to win their game with Ponsonby, Eden, Parnell, City, and Grafton will all be on even terms for the championship. In any case the games on Saturday week should be both interesting and exciting.

Winning the toss for City, Hemus went in first hims ?lf, with George Schmoll. Owing to the rain the ball was wet and difficult to handle, and the City pair lost no time in getting to work. Hemus appeared to be batting nicely, having put 16 runs against his name out of 21 scored, when Strickland got one into his wickets. *** . « Strickland is a new arrival from Queensland, and brings with him the reputation of being one of their best bowlers. He took three of City’s wickets on Saturday for 64„ but did not appear to be in any way difficult. It would, however, be unfair to judge him on his first performance, as the conditions were so much against good bowling.

Evan MacCormick took Hemus’ place, and with Schmoll at the other end the score was taken to 131 before another wicket fell. Schmoll was the first victim, caught behind the wickets off Strickland. Schmoll’s 61 were the result of good, sound cricket of a fairly aggressive order for this batsman. He scored all round the wicket, and lost few opportunities. MacCormick, too, played a very sound innings with a bat set to the plumb line all the time. He did not long survive Schmoll, being likewise caught behind the wicket. His 50 was an extremely useful contribution.

Caro, who was in during the latter part of MacCormick’s innings, and at times laid the wood on pretty hard, made 34. Caro is one of last year’s juniors. He has on several occasions this season been very useful to his side, and promises to be a good bat. He is fairly free, and has a nice, straight forward drive.

After Caro’s retirement R. Neill and Fryer were associated for a short time —quite long enough, however, to add some 40 odd runs, chiefly from the merry blade of the left-hander. Fully alive to the amount of trouble caused to the field, this player appears to aim at scoring an even num ber every time —boundaries over the field’s heads preferred. Whether his innings be a long or a short one ,rely upon it it will be a merry one; and more power to him, say I. From a point of view of pleasure it is certainly an error on the right side.

City’s last three wickets fell quickly one after the other, and when the end came Neill was still there with 34 to his credit, made by good, safe cricket.

The side scored 256, a total which will have to be made, as tne saying is, and with Neill in anything like form I expect to see Parnell finish up this side of it.

Philson and Cromwell batted out the few minutes that were left, and have 9 runs to their credit.

Of the Parnell bowlers Olliff came out with the best average, taking four wickets for 45 runs. Fairburn came out with three for 62, and Strickland three for 64. The former is developing into a very fair bowler, and' has proved a useful, all-round man to his side.

At the Shore Eden won the toss and sent Elliott and Dazeley in to face the bowling of Wallace and F. McNeill. Previous to commencement of play a change was made in the captaincy of the team, E. C. Beale, who has done well in the position for the last few Saturdays, being elected permanently for the remainder of the season. The election of a suitable captain is a matter of vital importance to every team, and it is a matter for regret that the choice is so often made in a hapnazard, don’twant to hurt the other fellow’s feelings sort of way. The captaining is so bad in some of our senior teams that it would pay to put a man in for his captaincy alone.

The Eden batsmen made a very poor start, three wickets —Eliott, Dazeley, and Robinson —being down for 19 runs. Fewster then came in, and though he only made a single himself, waited there long enough to see Dusk carry the total to 35. With Fewster out to McNeill’s bowling, W. B. Smith joined Lusk, and something like a decent stand was maae, tne pair adding 40 by attractive cricket before Lusk had the misfortune to see the ball run into his wickets off a hit on to his pads. The retiringbatsman had made 45 our, of the 75 on the boar-i, and, as usual, played very confidently, driving and hooking well.

Smith continued to the end of Eden’s innings, being last man out for a well made 53. He has developed a very powerful off drive, and is altogether an improving player.

Eden totalled 161, the only other double-figure men being W. Stemson (24) and Rhoddis (13).

Frank McNeill, five for 53, was the most successful bowler —a very good analysis with a wet ball.

Shore opened their innings with Hussey and Prime. The latter was, however, early in trouble to Eden’s slow bowler, and with only one to his credit and five on the board, retired clean bowled.

Hussey was then joined by Alf. Haddon, the crack batsman of the side, and runs at once began to come quickly, although neithei- batsmen was altogether at home to Fewster's “ googlers,” and with a little luck he should have had both their wickets.

Haddon scored well all round the wicket, and made several beautiful off drives. His end came just before close of play for the day, when, with 66 against his name, he was sent to the right-about, caught and bowled by Elliott..

Shore finished with 105 for two wickets, Hussey being not out with 34.

Though Shore are certainly not possessed of a very brilliant tail, they have made an excellent start, and should have no difficulty in getting the few runs required to win.

The Grafton-Ponsonby match Is a very open game. Winning the toss Grafton batted first and made the fair total of 237. D. Hay was their top scorer with 58, while Clayton,

with 45 not out. showed out next best. The latter batsman is in very fine form just now, and it is a pity he did not go in earlier. He played a very solid innings, and some or his off drives were hard to beat. If Clayton were a little smarter in the field I shov’d certainly like to see him on our rep. side. There is no one at present—Haddon and Sale included — showing such sound batting form.

Kallender was also responsible for a characteristic 45. Off one over of Walker’s he hit six fours. The spectators got quite excited, and began reminding one another of the occasion against City last season, when he hit 14 fours from 18 balls, and no less than nine off successive balls.

Grafton’s last wicket added close upon 50 runs to the total, thanks to Clayton and Lynch. The latter played a very correct and useful innings for 19.

Walker, four for 83, kept a good length throughout, and came out with the best analysis.

Going to the wickets Ponsonby made a bad start, Francis and Wilson both going down quickly. Thanks, however, to Cummings and Robinson, a good recovery was made, and the day closed with the board showing two for 83. Cummings 33 (not out) and Robinson 30 (not out) accounted for practically all the runs.

Cummings is a really safe bat, and got his runs well. He watches the ball carefully, and is not slow to punish anything at all loose. Seeing that he is as well such a fine field, I was rather surprised not to see his name among those chosen to play aganst the Melbourne team on Friday next.

Robinson’s innings was useful but streaky.

Mr. Ohlson has picked the following players to represent Auckland against the Melbourne C.C. team: — Robinson and Mason (Ponsonby team), Haddon and Hussey (North Shore), Smith, H. B. Lusk and S,temson (Eden), Olliff and Sale (Parnell), Hemus (City), and Sloman (Grafton).

I am not surprised to see that Hay and Elliott have been dropped, as they are both decidedly out of form, but I miss Sammy Jones’ name from the number. I hear that it is at his own desire he has been left out, as he wishes some of the younger players to benefit by experience in big cricket.

Sloman and Sale, both excellent fields, will strengthen our side in that department, and the same applies to Mason if he doesn’t iuse his head and entertain himself and the spectators by throwing boundaries for the othei side —a little habit he has. Apart from this he too is a first-class field.

I am also glad to see Robinson given a chance behind the sticks. Robinson is only a medium stumper, but is very solid, and seldom misses anything like a fair chance of taking a catch behind the wickets.

The selection is a good one, though I should like to see a better fieldsman in Hussey’s place. Hussey is a very fair forcing bat and a change bowler, who often gets a wicket, but I think the time has arrived when no one should be thought of for our reps, unless he first of all be a good field. Practically the same fault can of course, be found with Stemson, who is neither as active nor attentive as he once was in the field. But Stemson, on the other hand, is one of our mainstays as a bowler, and has been especially successful against many of the strongest sides that have visited us.

With these two exceptions our field is a good one, and I look forward to their blotting some of the miserable exhibitions given in the South.

The Melbourne team arrived last Sunday morning in the Manuka, and were met on the wharf by the local management committee. On Sunday afternoon the team visited Cornwall Park, and were much struck by the beauty of the view, also by the cold south-westerly that was blowing. It was 110 in the shade when they left Melbourne. At ten on Monday morn ing the majority of the team left for

Rotorua, where they will remain until Thursday. Warwick Armstrong and Charlie McLeod, two members of the Australian Eleven, preferred to spend a quiet time at Waiwera, where they are looking forward to getting a little fishing.