CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 9

CRICKET.

(By Breaker.)

The fifth round of the senior .competition was completed on Saturday. ' Tho wickets were iii good order, and the weather was all thitt could be desired.'

■ Midland with 4 down for 99 continued on No. 1 wicket against the Old Boys. Murphy, who was not out the previous week, was joined by Wynyard, and the.two set about the task of proving the ineffectiveness of the Old Boys' bowling, and- in this undertaking thoy were .successful. When tho total had reached 133, Murphy, who had made. 13, was caught bohind the wickets. Wynyard and .Patrick then started on a partnership which produced 48 rims. Both batted well, although the bowling was soft, in spite of frequent changes. Wvnrai'd compiled 39. Bruce followed, and-he and Patrick put on creditable scores. Bruce eventually; threw his wicket away.' The bowling was such that it would not get batsmen out unless they were reckless. Patrick and Manson then got together, and tho iwo hit the Old Boys' bowling all over the ground. Neither gave a chance, and in despair Old Boys put J. P. Blacklock on to bowl. He sent down a "long hopper" and clean bowled Manson, who had mado 56. 'Patrick.; was jiot but 62, and the innings was closed with 8 for 303. . •;.

Witli two hours left for play, Old Boys started their second innings in a minority of I'll runs. Monaghan was soon disposed of, and Birch followed shortly after. Tucker and C. P.,Blacklock were associated for a long time, the latter not taking part in the-'.scor-ing to any extent. Eventually Blacklock was caught off C. Hicksoii after making a .tedious dozen. J. P. Blacklock then joined Tucker, and the two played out time. Midland thus won. easily on the first innings.

Midland bowling was "dealt with," particularly Upham's, who had 27 runs knocked off 8 overs.

Old Boys fielding was not good, Beechey especially, being very weak in tlio slips. Blacklock was very sound behind the sticks. Although the Old Boys bowling had the "cover knocked off it," Dickson was not used at all. ■ It is stated that tlio reason ior this was.that this player is boing transferred to junior ranks, and it was thought that if ho had bowled, and had takon wickets,-it would not havo boon so easy to transfer him. Last season, when Old Boys beat Midland, Dickson was tlio most destructive triinalcr on the ex-Collegian's side.'

On No. 2, Gas Company failed altogether against Pctone. The previous Saturday finished with the score-at 50 for's wickets, but the first'innings only produced a tu„al of 78. Towards, this score Ashbolt lent most assistance with 17.

In the second attempt, it was considered that the Gas Company would be able to occupy, the wickets all day and so avoid a four

point win. This, however, was not the case, and Asliholt, Gourlay, Waters, and Dredge only made 44 between them. M'Kiiy topscored with 48. While not wishing to discount his innings in any way, his performance could only bo said to have, produced runs. Four chances of catching him were not accepted, the first being ono at long-on, practically before ho had made a run.

, Dredge was run out in a most foolish manner. He had hacked up rather far, end in getting hack, ran well behind tho wickets. Tho ball was returned in a manner wh.th gave a chance for an overthrow to be inn. Dredge, however, had to run four or five yards to get to the wickets for a start, and then ho had to run the length of the wicket in the ordinary way. The ball, however, got there before. Dredge, and ho retired. .Itis a most foolish habit some players have of remaining behind tho wickets. If any :d----vantago were to bo gained by,so doing there might be some reason for it, but the only difference it makes is .that batsmen have a much bigger .chanco of being rtui out, Cobcroft finished up with good figures, getting 11 wickets for 98 in the match.

u Some members of tho representative 'twenty" failed altogether, in the round just completed. Of tho batsmen. Ashbolt scored 17 and 3;' Gourlay made 3 and 5; Monaghan 11 and 2; and Becchoy 12. Amongst iho bowlers, Monaghan took 2 wickets for 34; Tucker, 1 for 70; Uphani, 3 for 80; Hales, 4 for 65; Fisher,. 1 for 49; Beechev, 2 for 46; M'lCay, 2 for 27; Gourlay, 4. for 80-; and Bnco, 2 for 30. The team selected to play Otago is a very good one, with throo exceptions. Monaghan has absolutely no claim for inclusion. Ho was a distinct failure in the Midland match, both with bat and ball. Presumably he has been picked for bowling. His record is 16 wickets for 364, which gives an average of over 22. Tho fact that ho once bowlod Noble, must weigh heavily with the solection committee . .

Laws must havo been chosen because ho had a good hatting average last season—as ho has done nothing at all since then to justify his selection. He had not been batting well this season, and, therfore, must have been selected on reputation. Gibbes bowled very well against Wairarapa at Masterkm two years ago, and ho' bowled well against Wellington in tho second innings on No. 3 last month. Between those two dates, and since tho latter one, he has not obtained an averago, so again roputation has played its part.. As a contrast, Duff's reputation, and recent performances, were unable to keep him in the Australian XI to play on Saturday. V. Waters, if not in tho team, should certainly be . twelfth man in.preference to Becchcy. He-has.a bettor performances and is a better field than the Old Boy player.

The second team, to play .Wairarapa, does not excito any interest, The chances are that the country team will be unable to make the trip. ..■..'■

■ The Wellington-Nowtown match resulted in a win for Wellington, but-not before'the older team had passed some doubtful moments at one stage of. the game as • to whether they would top the first-innings scoro of Newtown. The i first wickot, Richardson and Naughton, was responsible for 15G runs, and at this stage it looked as. though Wellington must win easily. Hickson made a stand for. 33, but was never at homo, and Nash compiled a streaky 12, taking the score up to 217 for the fourth wicket. A rot then set in, and when the seventh wicket fell the score stood at 220. Luckio and Fisher, however, carried Wellington past tho Newtown total, and when the eighth wicket was down the score stood at 262. When .the total reached 30S to*nine wickets- Wellington closed their innings, and sent Newtown in to bat :again. The Nowtown men gave a disappointing exhibition, and when time was called had loit :six ; -wickets for 50 runs.

Naughton (89) and • Richardson (55) both batted with, a,;' great, deal of luck, especially the first-mentioned. Fisher and Luckio made things lively, and pasted the ' bowling all over tho paddock. Although Hicksou scored 33, he did not hit with his accustomed confidence and dash. ■ i

Luckie and- rlalcs ,'divided ' the, bowling honours for Wellington in tho second innings, each securing three wickets, the former at a cost of 24 runs, and the latter 19.

The Newtown bowlers averages—if they have any—suffered as a result of Saturday's game. Ryan and Alpo were ,tho best of tho trundlers, securing three for 89 and three for 44 respectively. Ryan bowled a great, deal • better than his average. would indicate. ,

[' Payne, .the young Newtown player, shone in a new role on Saturday—this time as a fieldsman. His activity and general utility in tho field saved his sido a good many runs,

Caretaker Murphy is sparing no pains in preparing the representative wicket in the centre of tho Athletic Park. Already the turf is in fine order, and under ordinary conditions it should bo pretty nearly "'righl'' by- Christmas. Tho Built soil wicket is in a iorward condition, and in the opinion of experts it would make a'playable pitcli with a little preparation. It is probable that Mr. Murphy will take the wicket in hand and see what can be done with it.

W. Hill, the Gas Company bowier, will li* -ibspnt from local cricket for ab,;ic six weeks, as he has been detailed to do relieving duty at Now Plymouth for that period.

The Otago representative players will stay at the Empire Hotel during tlio time they are in Wellington.

The "Canterbury Times" says .-—Selector Whcatley is to bo heartily congratulated on tho team he has chosen to play against the Aucklanders. Having reduced his original list to sixteen names, tho final selection depended on the question of bowlers. The .inclusion of Crawshaw in tho team is naturally the chief topic of discussion, but the inclusion of .three bowlers is always a sound selection, although Whcatley in the past has. picked successful teams which have contained ten batsmen. Apart from Reese and Lu.sk, there are no bowlers who-have had a successful season this year, while Crawshaw, ■in his short • career, has bowled very well against first-class batsmen whenever lie lias boon pitted, against them. His performance, for tho colts against the Canterbury, eleven was li first-class one, and only one of many others. Cuff, the Rangiora player, deserved his'place too. On every occasion on which ho has been pitted aganist Christchurch teams he has been successful. For St. Albans he scored 70 in excollent style against Riccarton, and 59 for Ashley County against Canterbury eleven, besides other club cricket. In addition, he is a bowler above tho averago, bowling a >ery awkward slow ball with an off break. Moorhouso just missed the team, but he has failed of late in matches, and his absence from town further spoilt his chance. Wliitta has played some excellent cricket lately, especially when his side was in a state of collapse, and has earned his place. With Reese, Lusk, Orchard, Patrick, Anthony, Whitta, and Cuffall in good form with the bat, Bennett, Malono, and Crawshaw as bowlers, and Boxhall as stumper, Canterbury' will have an Al side. Tho fielding, too, has not been neglec-' ted, as, witli tho exception of Malono and Bonnctt, cvory member; of tho team is a brilliant field.

.Crawshaw, the High School captain, will have put up a record for the school in being picked to play for his province while still a schoolboy (says the "Canterbury Times.") A. M. Ollivier, while a Ind of sixteen at Christ's College, played for Cantorbury at Dunedin in the early eighties, while D. Reese played against Wellington, also at the age of sixteen. During; the school vacation Crawshaw will assist St. Albans against West Christchurch and Linwood.

The number of members on the roll of tlio Melbourne Cricket Club last season was 4830.

Victor Trumpor has made 25.centuries for Paddington in club premiership fixtures.

W. W. Armstrong'has made 17 centuries in first-class cricket, four exceeding 200, viz., 303 v. Sussex, 284 v. Gentlemen of England, 231 v. South Australia, and 200 v. Queensland. '

Tlio greatest number of balls ever sent down in ouo innings in Australian representative cricket —viz., 522 for 300 runs and five wickets —wore delivered by George Giffeu against Stoddart's team in 1895.

The match between Auckland and Canterbury for the Plunket Shield will bo played on Hagley Park.

Playing against South Australia, W. W. Armstrong (231) made the biggest innings ever compiled for Victoria, P. A. MoAlister's 229 against Now Zealand having taken the highest rank in that way for many years.

The Australian selectors now are Messrs. F. A. Iredale, P. A. McAlister, and C. Hill, the. latter having taken the place of Mr. J. Darling, who is not able to spare the time necessary to watch inter-Slate matches.

Cricket has become a business, or a profession if you like, but it is still a national game, and in all tests of national skill and strength the. best possible talent a nation or u country can put forth should he available. —"Referee."

Vernon Hansford is the first Victorian to make a century or more iu three first-class matches in succession in Australia, his scores being 136, Rest of Australia v. New South Wales; 51 and 102, Victoria v\ England; and 109, Victoria v. South Australia.

The English total of 660 is tho highest ever compiled by an English team against South Australia, the biggest in other seasonsbeing G99.-'Tho highest totals ever compiled against South Australia by colonial teams are': 918, SO", 6SI, 62-1, 573, 556, 545 by New South Wales since 1899, and 507 and 52C by Victoria.

Victoria's total of 669 in its first innings against South Australia is a record for that State's'team, the 602 against New Zealand on tho Molbourno Ground in 1899 being tho only other innings exceeding 600. It has been surpassed five times bv Now SouthWales, with totals of 918 and 807 against South Australia', 805 and 775. against Victoria, and 839 against Tasmania.

• Thehom secretary to the Board of Control for -.International Cricket in Australiahas received a lottor from the rJarylcbone Cricket Chili to -the effect that the club is scoking the cooperation •of the Counties in order that an invitation may be extended to the Board to send ' a team to England in 1909. The County secretaries meet early in Decembor next year.

S. F. Barnes, of tho M.C.C. touring team, has done wondors for Staffordshire this season, but the majority hardly realise exactly how wonderful his feats have been. For bis county, and in championship matches only, his bowling figures aro:—246 overs, 82 maidens, 505 runs, 79 wickets—average 6.39. For the North Staffordshire and District Loaguo his figures read:—l7l.3o., 50m., 342r.. 95w. —averago 3.89. Ho has also been useful with the bat, and is a fast bowler whose success is. chiefly gained when things are coin" well. '. : ■ °

In the match, ■. Petersham v. Paddington, played on Novomber 30, V. Trunipor 128 (not out) and.M. A. Noble 6-1 (not out); hit up . n lor m Pntldm 2ton in 65 mjnutes off 162 balls. Trumper scored .91 in boundary strokes-(19 fours and 3 sixes). It was, sav's the Referee," the greatest peppering bowling evor got on the Petersham Oval, and the crowd wont away thoroughly satisfied that when Irumpcr is going at the wickets ho is a, freak.

NoJimg has been heard of A. L. Now-all, the Sydney cricketer, who, together with two collie clogs, disappeared from Waverley a few weeks ago. It is believed that he'slipped ovor somo rocks. In club cricket one of his most brilliant feats was the securing 0 f" ]g .wickets for 56 runs for Glebe v. Redforn in the first season of district cricket. In 18S8 ho captured eight for 56 in tho first innings of Victoria on, the Sydney Ground. Throo years earlier ho and C. T. B. Turner got rid ■of Victoria for 88, his work being represented by three for 31. His biggest effort with' the bat was 68 (not out) for New South Wales against Stoddart's second team, when ho was tho partner of \V. P. Howell on tho latter s never-to-be-forgotten big-hitting effort tor 95.