CRICKET COMMENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1948, Page 7

CRICKET COMMENTS

"Not Out")

Horowheitua - Rep. Selection Is Top News Of Week

'(By

I see that the representative team has been announced by the selectors and shows Rice as captain apd the team, Baumber, Galloway, Saunders, Lambert, Dome, Wilsdn, Gardiner, Sciascia, Moore and Andrews. , ' - ■ Of the team I suggested, last •week, Lynch and Hudson were the only two excluded, Ki Hudson be'cause of an injury, and evidently the sele'ctors preferred either Moore or Andrews to Lynch, relying on their fielding and batting ability to make up for the distance they *s fell behind Lynch in bowling. ' Ihe se'ectors did not announce their' twelfth man and I understand that none will be taken to Palmerston North, as the district competition will be continued and local clubs will be short enoug-h without the extra man traveliing away. . A word about running between wickets. Many players c'ould re- i ceive a good lesson by watching and copying the Sciascia Brolhers. When together they certainly get every run possible. The first run is made at full speed, and immediately ground is made, be prepared for the second, one in case it is there, or the opportunity arises through a faulty return. Every Saturday teams could inerease their scores 'by improvement in running between wickets. Lambert (Levin) is noticeable for his slowness when taking his first run, while, a few weeks ago Wilson, a good scorer for Weraroa, wss run out for the same reason. He made his ground and continued on "to the bush," with the reS.ul^ that when Saunders csilled for a second run — an easy one — he had so much extra ground to cover that he was run out". Furthermore, many a single is lost through batsmen being unable to judge when to move. ■ A ball hit firmly may appear to be traveliing fast to a fieldsman, but it takes time for him to field it and time for the return to come in. Two good batsmen can make an easy run, butv time and again we see this association's batsmen remaining fiat footed within their crease and making no attempt to ccllect an easy sing'e. The junior competition continues to be onesided — the bowlers' side. The bo'wlers always appear to be on top. Satherley, Horn* and Wong Shee are excellent bowlers fcr their age, but I 4m afraid their figures are a little too flattering — ten for 17, seven for 10 and seven for 29, being devastating averages. Junior batsmen shouM have more confidence and remember that they are out to hit the ball and hit it hard. In future I want to ree and hear of many hard hitting and good scoring junior batsmen. In the senior competition batsmen seem to be striking form. Galloway, G. Sciascia and Dome again put up good totals while Keogh, K. Hudson and Keenan, proven batsmen of the past years, have made their first good scores of the season with the hope, I anf sure, of making many more. Although two. or three batsmen have been consistent with tneir scoring — good scoring I mean — there are msqiy consistent at the cther end.

The same cannot be said of the i bowlers. Good bowling on one Saturday is followed by atrocious ' work the following week. Lambert and Andrews struck a good patchj last Saturday, and we hope theyj hit the spot at Palmerston North ; next week. * j Finally, all cricketers extend ; greetings to Mr. and Mrs. G. C.] Fi'ance on their return from a 1 holiday in Austraha. I have' not 1 been talking to George' yet, but I ; hope to glean some stories of the • "Aussle" and his cricket, and in- i clude the suitable ones in this- column. George's expression of ' regret at not being able to stay and see the Bradman testimonial probably" will not be printable. George, we welcome you back ahd; hope to see you out leading Wera- 1 roa next Saturday. The following Manawatu- crick- | teters are to play Horowhenua on j Saturday: J. Armitage (capt.) , H. • Harkness, W. Nicholls, V. Holland,; W. Singleton, R. Dilks, B. Millar, D. Adcock, G. Northover, N. Sherer,| P. Poananga. Reserves, W. Cook, ; P. Melody. I