CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 8

CRICKET

PREPARING TO FACE THE AUSTRALIANS

CAN WE FIND A LEFT-HAND BOWLER?

(Notes by

“Burwood.”)

Almost before we know where we are V. Richardson and his merry Australians will be with us to give us some more of those invaluable lessons in cricket which our friends from across the Tasman have so often set us in the past. The Australian Board of Control team, which will open their New Zealand tour with a match against Nelson to-day week, will be the ninth Australian team to visit these shores. Of course, this does not include the many State and club teams which have visited us from time to time.

Strangely enough, this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first visit to New Zealand by an Australian eleven. It was in January, 1878, that .the first Australian cricket team ’ to visit England called at New Zealand on their way home and played seven matches in this country, winning four, losing one, and drawing two. That famous team included W. L. Murdoch, C. Bannerman, A. Bannerman, T. Horan, F. R. Spofforth, H. Boyle, B. Gregory, T. Garrett, G. Bailey, J. McC. Blackham, and Kendall. Notwithstanding this great array of talent Canterbury managed to defeat the redoubtable Australian band, which afterwards made history in England, by six wickets. Canterbury, in this match, scored 135 and 57 for eight wickets, while all the Australians could manage was 46 and 143. Australian teams also toured the Dominion in 1880-81, 1886-7. 1896-7, 19015, 1909-10, 1913-14. and 1920-21. The team which will arrive next week will be the strongest side which has visited New Zealand for the past twenty years as it comprises practically the full strength of present-dav Australian cricket and it is safe to predict that the hulk of the team coming to New Zealand next week will form the Australian eleven which will meet England for the “Ashes” next Season.

A Great Batting Side. The Australians are bringing a formidable batting side with them. Victor Richardson, the captain, New Zealanders know well, as he was here with the Board of Control team in 1920-21. Alan Kippax, the brilliant New South Welshman, was also a member of that team. W. M. Woodfull, the captain of the Victorian State eleven, showed us. what he could do with the bat while in the Dominion with the Victorian team in 1925. Chief interest, however, will attach to the first appearance in this country of W. H. Ponsford, the brilliant Vic--torian batsman, who has been smashing records this season. They call Ponsford "The Batting Machine” in Australia. This season he beat. his own world’s record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, hitting up 435 for Victoria against Queensland. They say that whenever Ponsford wants to break a record he just sets about doing it. The Victorian batsman should draw like a magnet on the tour, as to-day he is the most noted batsman in the, world by reason of the many amazing feats he has rerently performed.

A Brilliant Colt. Another batsman New Zealanders will be anxious to see will be the brilliant New South Wales colt, Andrew Jackson, .who is still in his ■’teens. This boy cricketer is a budding .Trumpet. He has every stroke at his command, and never does so well as in important engagements. He already has several centuries to his credit in inter-State matches, and is regarded as a certainty for the Australian eleven to meet the Englishmen this year.

SomeiStar Bowlers. The Australian team will be stronger in bowling strength than any other side which has visited the Dominion in recent years. First and foremost will come that fine all-rounder Ron. Oxenham, of ' Queensland, who should undoubtedly have been a member of the Australian eleven any time during the past ten years. Playing against Victoria at Brisbane last weekend, Oxenham was in rare form with the ball, securing six wickets for 79 runs. “The weather was fine, and the wicket good,” the cablegrams informed us. “Oxenham, who was in fine form, always had the batsman in difficulties, sometimes being unplayable.” Then there will he our own New Zealander, Clarrie Grimmett, who has now reached the highest pinnacle of fame as a cricketer. They say that when Grimmett played in Wellington, local batsmen did not fear him greatly. Tt will he interesting to. see how they will shape against the redoubtable googly merchant on the forthcoming tour. Grimmett has also developed into quite a sound batsman, and his place in the Australian eleven is firmly established. R. McNamee is yet another bowler ■whom New Zealanders will be ■ keenly anxious to see. He crumpled up the Victorian eleven badly at Sydney last season, wli'ftn the southerners were dismissed for 35 runs in their first, innings. D. Blackie is another slow bowler who should have been in the. Australian team long ago. He has been reaping a rich harvest of wickets during the past few seasons, and Australians nre only beginning to realise what a reallv great, howler he is. Morton, the Victorian express bowler, will supply the pace for the Australian team. A Bold Front. Young New Zealand has at last kicked off his swaddling clothes, and is now a sturdy youngster, who can be depended upon to hitch up his belt, and give this famous band from Australia a good ' run for theii; money. There need be uo fear as to New Zealand’s batting strength. Our fellows, will make plenty of runs all right, but the query will be: How are we going to get Ponsford, Woodfull, Richardson, Jackson, Kippax, and Alexander out? When the Melbourne Club team was here in 1927, New Zealand scored very heavily against them in the two test games played. In the first, at Christ- I church, New Zealand totalled 190 and 602 for nine wickets (declared), while Melbourne scored 409 and 148 for seven wickets. In the second test, at Wellington. New Zeal,-ird did even better, scoring 317 and 410 for four wickets, while Melbourne totted up 493. These were the matches in which Roger Blunt scored three successive centuries. notching 47 and 187 at Christchurch and 104 and 103 at Wellington. New Zealand will have a stronger team this season than last year, with FT. Badcock, r.'. 11. Bowlev. and J. S. Hiddleston to draw upon. Only players eligible to make the tour tn England were included in the New Zealand team which played the Melbourne Club last year.

With the discovery of Merritt, Now Zealand has at last secured a first-class slow bowler, so Grimmett and Blackie won’t have things all their own way during the next couple of months. New Zealand's crying need at the moment is for a left-hander who is a wicket-taker. The experience the New Zealanders gained on the English tour should stand them in good stead in the important trials of strength ahead. Thank goodness, that bottom-dog feeling, which so long paralysed New Zealand cricketers, has at last disappeared, and our fellows can be depended upon to make a decent tight against the Australians, great as the side they are bringing over unquestionably will be. It is a pitv that Dacre, the breezy Auckland hitter, has to sail for England on February 14. The public dearly love to see a fearless hitter, and 4>ocre is as brilliant in this role as any th* world has known. The Aucklander

smacked up 125 mot out at the Basin ' Reserve against the Melbourne Club team in the second test match in March last in most audacious fashion, and he scored a century in each innings, both times not out, for Auckland against the Victorian team the season before that. Why England Wants Caere, ft is little wonder that the Gloucestershire Countv Cricket Club took a fancy to Dacre, When playing for New Zealand against the county at Cheltenham in August last, Dacre gave one of the fastest displays of run-getting seen during the English season. He obtained his 64 runs out of 82 in 28 minutes, hitting five 6’s and five 4’s, and actually made 50 out of 63 in a quarter of an hour. From the purely spectacular point of view, Dacre’s hitting against Derbyshire was the most notable batting event of the match. Hitting eight 6’s and twen-ty-one 4’s, he ran up 176 out. of 250 in two hours and a quarter, after Der byshire, who had been sent in, had been dismissed for 129. Scoring so freely, it was not surprising that he offered chances—he was missed three times in an over from Cresswell when 89; but he deserved all the good fortune which came his way. He reached his 50 out of 65 in thirty-five minutes, claimed 77 when the 100 went up in five minutes under the hour, and made three figures out of 151 in eighty-five minutes. He and Dempster (81) added 180 for the second wicket in an hour and three-quar-ters.

That the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club did not “steal” Dacre from New Zealand is indent from the following explanation which appeared in the "Cheltenham Chronicle and Graphic” of December 17, 1927: —"Gloucestershire C.C.C. has been much misrenresented and maligned over the announcement that the New Zealander, C. C. Dacre, would qualify for them ext year. One Australian paper said. "It is like taking a biscuit from a child.” The facts, as recently stated by Mr. Horace Walker, chairman of the club, are that Dacre was never approached by Gloucestershire. He. came to the county club himself, expressing himself as being determined to settle in England for cricket, and that he would rather play for Gloucestershire than nnvbody, because of family ties —his father was at the Royal Agricultural. (Cirencester) College. If Gloucestershire would not have him. ho should try Worcestershire or.Derbvshire, or failing them a Lancashire League Club. Naturally enough he was told to confine his thoughts to Gloucestershire.” A Bowling. Machine.

New Zealanders know full well that Charlie Macartney, the New South Wales and Australian eleven player, can bowl all right. As captain of the New South Wales team which toured the Dominion in 1924. Macartney gave conclusive proof at the Basin Reserve on March 8 of that year that lie could keep -an immaculate length. T n the first innings of the New Zealand team. Hendry and Macartney, bowling unchanged, dismissed the Dominion side for 89 runs. Hen-

drv took eight wickets for 33 runs off 2515 overs, while Macartney secured two wickets for 45 runs off 25 overs. On January 14 last, Macartnev put up a remarkable bowling performance at Sydney for Gordon against Northern Districts. In eight overs, he captured seven wickets for 11 runs, the whole side being dismissed for 22.

Institute Still on Top. i Institute, who are leading for the championship, again proved what a good all-round side thev have by firing Hutt out on a batsman’s wicket at the Basin Reserve on Saturday for 179. When Hutt won the toss, they must have been well pleased, as conditions were ideal for run-getting. They reckoned, however, without that fine uowler, H. B. Massey, who started off sensationally by clean bowling Tattersail and Williams with the first and second ball of the innings. Thereafter, the side had to scratch for runs. McGirr p'ayed confidently for 45, until Crook caught him off Massey. Beard hit out confidently for 3G, and Watson, Gwilliam,' and Aldersley all got a few. Massey ended up with four for 41, while Prince bagged four for 75, with his slow leg-breaks.

Burt (58), Crook (50). Dempster (47), Aitken (27) and Banmber (28 not out) were the chief contributors towards Institute’s 251 for eight wickets. McGirr had to be content with two for 72, while Beard failed to get a wicket, while 44 runs were hit off him. Institute have an unbeaten record this season, and it looks as if they intend to maintain it. Midland Again,

Midland were amongst the runs again on Saturday, hitting up the solid score of 439 against University on the Basin Reserve.

W. A. baker, the captain of the side, has got right back into his best batting form this season.

He scored a century against Thorndon last Saturday week, and followed this up with a spirited knock for 152 on Sat urday last. He was well supported by A. Grant, who ran up 145 in pleasing fashion. Both batsmen found the boundary twenty times. *

A. Doneghno did some powerful driving in running to 72, wnich included nine tourers.

the biil slumped badly, however, the last seven wickets only adding 101 runs. E. McLeod, who secured six for OS was a long way the most effective of the light ’Varsity howlers tried. McLeod kept a good length with his slows. A arsify will have to put the runs on al a good pace on Saturday if they want to win this match.

Ihorndon Creeping Up. E. Roberts and A. IV. Gibson have proved a most successful opening pair -‘bormlou this season. Thev gave ilu , excellent start against at , Park by putting 1,10 wicket on Saturday Here Gibson, who had just reached the halt-century was caught behind the wicket by Virtue through chasing one wide on the off from Lamason. Roberts went on to reach 83.

The Young Men had a slice of luck when Badcock was run out after scorima. couple. Mason broke a run of ill-luck by hitting un 39 in bright stvle and every man on the Thorndon side.'with the exeenrion of Badcock and Biggar, got double figures. The innings closed for 283. and Y.M.C.A.. at drawing of stumps, had lost five for 118. J. R. lamason, who is in canifal form at present, had cot to 70 when Badcock caught and bowled him. Badcock bowled well in taking three for 49. Thorndon are a hard team to Bet runs against this season.

Pftone in Form. A. Finlnv«on nlayed a dashing innings on the village Oval on Saturday, piling on the solid total of 338. A Finlavson nlavod a dashinn innings , for 85. mil v-as well siinnorb'd bv Can. stick 158). Wilson f.VO. FT. R. Nieholb Brice '22). Revlin" ,n! ", ami 121). Morris ar.4 Brew,lev ..... jb. ~ . s f S , IP eessfnl bowlers far I-'ilbirnic, who. .w drawing of =fnrn->s, bad scored 25 for ’hi loss of one wicket. Q’jrns Wellington and Obi Boys wore verv PVfTllv mnfnbpd n f Rjlbivniz* Oil batin’ dav Wpll’nrzfon started off with 2°° towards winch TT K. BipMon (**7) and T* Whvte ’64) were the principal contribv tors. T.nmbcrf bowled reallv well for Ol. 1 Rovs in taking* five wiel.-nls f ir 3” runs _ This able player had a big hand in dis-

missing the Wellington side, as he took no fewer than five catches. Old Boys did not fare too well against the bowling of Cousins and Sharpe until K. H. Tucker and Barclay got together, and made an excellent stand for the seventh wicket. When stumps' were drawn the score stood at 173, Tucker being 79 not cut, and Barclay 48 not out. Cousins captured three for 52 and Sharne two for 52. The decision which dismissed Duncan, lbw, for a "duck” was a bad one, ns Sharpe was bowling round the wicket.

Short Runs. “Only the other day,” states Frank Mitchell in “The Cricketer," “there was for people to see a well-known player scratching about to get his 100, but when the three figures were up he was up and down the pitch, hitting every ball. He could have done this just as well when he had got 20 as when he had the century to his credit.” England is not the only country where such sad sights are seen. Larwood, who might wall be compared to Cotter (he Australian is, as all hoped he would be at the top of the averages. This little man has the pluck and grit that I should want finy of my fast bowlers to have. I do not want a bowler on my side who insists on a rest after twenty-five minutes. I want the man who hates being taken off! He is the bowler for me.—Frank Mitchell in “The Cricketer.” C. TT. Arndt played a brilliant innings for University against Thorndon in the Junior A competition on Saturday. He carried his bat throughout an innings of 479. which occupied 2’o minutes, scoring 209 not out. Tn all. he hit 35 tourers.

QUERIES FROM FEATHERSTON

A Featherston correspondent asks for light ou the following knotty problems: “I would be very grateful if you would, iu your next, cricket notes, give a ruling on the following two incidents in recent games in this district: “(1) A wild return to the wicket-keeper

is accepted by the keeper with his right hand. At the same moment lie lifts the bails with his left hand and the batsman is still out of his crease. As the ball has not actually come in contact with bails or wicket, is the batsman out ?” “(2) A batsman in playing a rising ball allows one hand io slip from bat. The ball strikes the free hand and is caught by the keeper. Is the batsman out ?” A footnote to Law 23 reads: “It is sufficient for a wicket-keeper to remove one bail in order to run out or stump a batsman. It would not be out if lie were to knock the bails off with his foot, or with an arm or hand not holding the ba II.” Tn the case cited by my Featherston correspondent, therefore, the batsman was not out, as the wicket-keeper knocked the bails off with the hand which did not hold the bull. With regard to the ball striking the hand of a batsman which has become disengaged from the bat, there is no rule dealing with such a case. I refei red the question to Mr. W. R. Boek, chairman of the Wellington Umpires’ Association, and he agreed that the ruling should be “not out.” Two members of the New Zealand representative • eain. to whom the point was referred, promptly declared that the batsman should be given out. Another declared that such a case would come under Rule 29. which roads: ■‘Or. if ho touch with his bands or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite side—‘Handled tt ball.”’ (’a in F. T. Badcock. the Wellington coach. also gave his ruling as not out. declaring that a batsman could only be caught off » hand which was holding the bat Most decisions, ho said, had to he given in the light of common sense, ns the rules could not possibly cover all the contingencies which mav nossihly occur. In both Featherston incidents, there fore, the batsmen were not out.