ON THE CRICKET FIELD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 63, 8 December 1926, Page 8

ON THE CRICKET FIELD

CAN COUNTRY BEAT TOWN?

MARSHALLING FORCES FOR SHIELD GAMES

(By

“Burwood.”)

Signs are not wanting that the present season will witness a big revival in cricket throughout the Dominion. Interest hasa been steadily quickening in the game during the past few years, but this year should see a wonderful increase of public interest. This, of course, is due to the forthcoming visit of the New Zealand team to England at the close of the present season. Desire to see prospective candidates in action should stimulate interest in the Plunket Shield and Hawke Cup matches, and also in the trials which the New Zealand Cricket Council are arranging in order to try out talent in the provinces.

A Strong Country Side. Mr. A. M. Ongley, the sole selector for the minor associations in the Wellington territory has chosen a well-balanc-ed side to represent the Country against the Town, in the match to be played at the Basin Reserve on Friday and Saturday of next week. Mr. Ongley is to be congratulated on the selection he has made, as it proves that he must have kept in close touch with current form throughout his wide district. It is easily the- strongest team which has ever been marshalled for the Country, and it is such a formidable aide that the Town eleven will need to be at their very best to repel the invaders. With such batsmen as T. C. Lowry, R. de R. Worker (Hawke’s Bay), C. Dempster, E. H. L. Bernau, and G. Orr (Wanganui), O. M. Naismith and C. Kingston (Taranaki), and N. Gallichan, the Country team will neted to be dug out down to the last man, as J. Newman (Nelson) can also make runs. Mitchell, of Hawke’s Bay, who has been included in the team, is a player who bowls a useful slow legbreak. He must be a good man for Mr. Ongley to prefer him to such a tried all-rounder as H. S. Stephenson, of Hawke’s Bay, who scored so heavily in club games last season, including a brilliant 203 against United. In bowling, the Country attack will have variety with such able m ®n as Bernau (Wanganui), Clarke (Taranaki), Gallichan (Manawatu), and Newman (Nelson). „ Clarke bowled brilliantly for Taranaki against Wanganui in the Hawke Cup match at Wanganui on Friday last. Though Wanganui had quite a good batting side, they could do nothing with Clarke, who secured seven wickets at trifling cost. He trapped Dempster and Orton lbw., clean bowled Bernau, Holland, Treadwell, and Harris, and had Wood caught off him. Clarke’s figures, which are as brilliant as any bowling performance ever recorded in a Hawke Cup fixture, read as follows: —10.7 overs, 3 maidens, 7 wickets, 16 runs. The appearance of this bowler at the Basin Reserve will be awaited with interest. C. Kingston is considered by many to be as expert a wicketkeeper as New Zealand possesses. That he is also an able batsman he proved on Friday last, when he hit up 64 in laranaki’s first' innings. Kingston is better known as a Rugby footballer, who at one time played fullback for New Zealand, and whom many regarded as the equal of Gerhard Morkel, the famous Springbok, m the memorable drawn third test match between New Zealand and South Africa at Athletic Park in September, 1921. Kingston had the misfortune to be seriously injured in a motor smash a# New Plymouth some four years ago, and it was feared that his athletic career had been ended for ever. It takes a great deal to kill a New Zealand Rugby footballer, and all good sportsmen are delighted to see Kingston himself again. Naismith, who scored 54 in Taranaki’s second innings on Saturday, is a stvlish voung batsman, who scored 33 and 9' not out for the Country against the Town last season. .He learnt his cricket at the Gisborne High School, under the veteran coach, Harry Ellis, and first came into prominence bv scoring a brilliant double century for the Gisborne High School against the Napier High School at Gisborne about five years ago. ’ Gallicban is the makings of an international player. He played a sterling innings for Manawatu against Wellington on St. Andrew’s Day. Fie has the soundest of defence, and is strong on the on-side. He also bowls a reallv serviceable ‘slow medium lefthand delivery, with a sharp turn from leg. Of good physique, he possesses all the attributes to develop into a first-class player, and only requires experience to’ fit. him for international honours. He is just the type of young plaver it would pay New Zealand well ’to send on the educative trip to England. The Town v. Country match next .week will occasion as much interest as a Plunket Shield game, as everyone of the twenty-two players engaged will be battling for their places in the Wellington eleven. If the weather behaves itself, some heavy scoring should be witnessed, as both elevens will be exceptionally strong in hatting S. Dempster, the ex-Wellington plaver, who has been scoring so sensationally in club games in Wanganui this season, could only manage 1 and 2 against Taranaki last week end. He fell l.b.w. in the first innings, and was run out in the second knock. Such >is the luck of the game. Tmmediatelv following the Town v. .Country match in Wellington will come the game between an eleven selected from the minor associations of New 'Zealand and a Wellington team. This should reveal the full' strength of . cricket in the countrv districts throughout the Dominion. Lovers of the game 'in this portion of the Dominion are fortunate in being allowed to witness two such interesting games as both should prove. A Brilliant Colt.

A. M. Hollings, the University allrounder, has not been long in demonstrating his ability as a brilliant performer with both bat and ball. By running up 114 not out for ’Varsity against Y.M.C.A. at the Basin Reserve last Saturday, he scored his third century of the season. To date this season he has placed five innings in championship matches, once not out, for an aggregate of 384 runs, which gives him the solid average of 96 runs per innings. With the ball he has captured seventeen wickets for 271 runs, an average of 15 94. This is a remarkably fine double for a player in his second season in the senior ranks. It is an amazing thing that a player of Hollings’s out standing brilliance has not vet had the honour of representing his province Hollings is blessed with tireless energv, and can stand the strain of long spells at the bowling crease He should be one of the first names marked down for the tour to Encrlancl. and should prove one. of the best all-rounders on the side. 'Varsity Making Good.

The youthful ’Varsity team is making good with a vengeance in the sen-

ior ranks When they overwhelmed Midland in the last match some people said, “Oh- any team is likely to colapse.” Well another team did collapse on Saturday last, but it was ’Varsity who again caused the complete downfall of a senior eleven of long standing. So ably did V letmever and Hollings bowl at the Basin Reserve that Y.M.C.A. could oirlv tota 137 runs. White (35), Grant (2b), and M. Henderson (25) were the only batsmen who could do anything, victmeyer was practically unplayable, and ended up with the sterling record o five for 25. The striking success ot this young bowler should encourage other senior teams to give their most promising juniors a try-out with the first eleven. ’Varsity brought Vietmever up from the junior ranks for the Midland match, and he justified them confidence bv taking five wickets for 50 runs. A'colt who is good enough to take five for 50 and five for 25 in his first two senior games is worth keeping an eye upon. Iheie must be real merit in his bowling. Wellington is' none too well off for bowlers of class who can dislodge batsmen on plumb wickets. At the present time, Be-ard, Massey, and Vietmeyer are the best in sight, excepting Badcock, the professional coach. Another colt who is shaping really well for ’Varsity is A. C Tripe, who helped Hollings to add about 150 for the second wicket against Y.M.C.A. Hollings reached 114 and Tripe 50, and both were undefeated and full of fight when stumps were drawn at 6.45, with one wicket down for 201. ’Varsity deserve their success, as they are as keen as mustard on the game. Any night at Kelburn Park one . can see the ’Varsity players out practising catching. One man has a bat, and hits the leather sharply at all conceivable angles to the ring of fieldsmen in front of him. These are the methods which win matches. Defence Wanted.. Most batsmen can score runs against, moderately easy bowling on a good w'-ket, but it requires defence to stand up to a bowler who can “do something” with the ball both in the air and after pitching. This fact is reflected by the poor totals which are registered by teams which have to meet the Hutt and Petone attacks. These teams, which are at the head of the championship ladder, had to swallow a little of each other’s medicine on Saturday, when they met for the first time this season on Petone Oval. Hutt had first use of the wicket, but they found the bowling of Brice (four for 35) and Reyling (four for 86) too good for them, and the whole side was out for 130. Tattersail (25) and Nunn (24, not out) shaped best, and McLeod (18) and Gwilliam (14) also stayed fora while. Reyling bowls a useftjd slow right-hand leg-break, and is a young bowler who should improve. It was the Petone captain, however, who rose to the occasion in splendid style. 1.. Finlayson’s absence, Brice ha/d to carry an extra load, and he bore it manfully. Bowling much faster than usual. Brice pegged away steadily. Brice is doing particularly weft with both bat and ball this season, and is still one of the ablest all rounders in the province.

If Hutt had found it hard to get runs, Petone found ■ it still harder. Beard was in his best bowling trim, and, keeping a splendid length, he flighted them in the air, and brought them back sharply from the off. He clean-bowled M. Nicholls, Corner, and Senior, and had A. Hamilton caught off him, at a cost of only 19 runs. He sent down thirteen overs, which means that a little over one run was scored off each eight balls he sent down. McGirr bowled steadily in taking one for 17 off nine overs. At call of time, Petone had lost five wickets for 63 runs. H. E. Nicholls, who went in first, and Brice, who came in fifth wicket down, held the fort well for Petone. H. Nicholls was 30 and Brice 17 when time was called. The pair thus scored 47 of the 63 for five wickets put on by the side. There should be an exciting finish to next Saturday, as Petone still require 68 runs to win with half their wickets in hand. If Petone can win this watch, they will supplant Hutt at the top of the ladder. Midland Do Better.

Midland, who failed so dismally against ’Varsity in the last match, did better against Wellington at the Hutt on Saturday, when they totalled 289. J. Hutchings, who is in good batting form this season, notched an even half-century before Hiddleston got an off-break past him. W. Turvey was going well, with 61 to his credit, when he had the ill-luck to be run out. W. A. Baker shared the same fate, after reaching 18. A. Donagliue contributed a stylish 47 before Hiddleston beat him. Hiddleston, who took lour tor 71, was a good deal the best of the Wellington bowlers. Craig, Plant, Tucker, and Cousins all had a turn at the bowling crease, but had few terrors for the batsmen. Hiddleston and Airey . put on 52 without loss tor Wellington, who thus require 238 to win with all their wickets in hand. Thorndon Still Making Runs. If Thorndon could dig up another bowler or two they would have quite a respectable side. There is nothing wrong with their batting, as they proved when they reached 284 against Kilbirnie on Saturday. A. Gibson, who is making a first appearance this season in the senior ranks, got 30 on Saturday before ■ Holt yorked him. Kortlang defended well until Armstrong got him 1.b.w., with his score at 26. The batting honours, however, went to R. Ellern, who played a vigorous knock for 68 before being caught by W. Christopherson off Badcock. E. Foley (46) and K. Mason (36) also contributed useful scores. Badcock again had to bear the heat and burden of the attack for Kilbirnie. He swung the ball iii puzzling fashion, and got a turn on from both sides in capturing six for 69. The ball with which he bowled Roberts was a beauty. Badcock has now taken 32 wickets in championship matches this season for 350 runs, which gives him an average of 10.93 runs per wicket. It is hard to imagine what Kilbirnie would have done without the Englishman this season, as the other bowlers on the side appeat quite unable to get wickets. Kilbirnie. at call of time, had scored 56 for one wicket so the finish of the game on Saturday should prove interesting. Random Shots.

Rupert Worker, opening batsman for New Zealand for several seasons, is now on the staff of the Napier High School and is plaving cricket for the High School Old Boys’ Club. He captains the side and opens its innings,

and so far this season has had a steady run of consistently solid scores. It is confidently expected that he will get a place in the team to go Home. In an article in which he discusses the probable perasonnel of the Auckland cricket team this year, a writer in the “New Zealand Herald,” although he does not definitely state his choice, indicates that it would be something like this:—E. H. Bowley, |. E. Mills. C Allcott, I. W Cooper, D. R. Garrard, A. S. Player. R. W. Rowntree, J. P Gerrard, N. C. Si edden, C. Dacre, and Newdick. It is rather interesting to note that the writer is not too sure of Dacre getting into the team, because he has not struck form this season. Snedden is in the same position, but he is considered worth a place because of his ability as a captain. The Auckland writer is of opinion that those three well-known Auckland players, A. Anthony E Horspool, and S. G. Smith, have probably made their last appearance in shield cricket. It is doubtful, (says an Australian writer) if at any time Macartney can claim to have been the greatest batsman in the world, when he has as a contemporary the inimitable J. B. Hobbs. However, the Australian wizard was at the top of the averages in his last series of tests, a comparison of his averages with those of Hobbs being as follow: — Highest Total > Inns. N.O. score, runs. Av. Macartney 6 1 151 473 94.60 Hobbs 7 1 119 486 81.00 One of the best batting displays in the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland was that bv Archibald Jackson, the Balmain colt. Fie compiled a delightful hitting freely and giving abundant proof of his promise as a coming international. In first grade matches in Sydney earlier, Jackson made 129, 111, 143, and 158. Alan Kippax was a good man to leave out of the last Australian cricket team. Against Queensland he made a century in each innings, 127 and 131. L. O'Connor, who scored 191 for Queensland against New South Wales, made 103 in the match between Queensland and New Zealand last season. This was the only game that the. New Zealanders lost on their Australian tour. Besides being a good bat, O’Connor is also a very fine wicketkeeper, and his claims for inclusion in the Australian team, which visited the Old Country this year, were strongly urged by Queensland. King George, although a versatile sportsman, was never too good at cricket, in spite of the fact that he took part in many matches while a midshipman. His son, Prince Henry, has the reputation of being the best cricketer in the Royal Family On one occasion when an impromptu match was being played at Windsor, the Prince acted as captain of one of the sides, and having jfust dismissed the Prince of Wales, he,turned to one of the fieldsmen and syid: “We shall win now: there is orflv father to come in, ami 1 can bowl him any time I like.” He was as g<V>d as his word, for the King was. bowled neck and crop by the first ball he received.