CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 123, 22 February 1928, Page 8

CRICKET

OUR AUSTRALIAN TUTORS

LESSONS FROM THE WELLINGTON MATCH

(Notes by "Burwood.")

It was a great compliment which the Australian Cricket Board of Control paid the game in thia country when it decided to send practically the full strength of Australia across for the New Zealand tour. Barring Gregory and Hendry, the Australian team now with ua consider that their side represents the full strength of the game in the Commonwealth. The Board of Control showed sound wisdom in sending their best players over to the Dominion, as New Zealand wickets closely resemble those of England, and the experience gained on the tour will stand the younger members of the side in good stead when next they .visit the Old Land. Though cricket in the Dominion has very much improved within recent years, we cannot claim as yet to be able to seriously challenge the full strength of Australia. Shield Averages. A study of the Sheffield Shield averages for this season will disclose just how powerful is the Australian team now in this country. The leading Sheffield Shield averages for the present season are as follow:—

The Australian team gave us a taste of their quality at the Basin lieserve last week-end, when they completely outplayed Wellington, the premier cricketing province of the Dominion. But we by no means saw the men from the Commonwealth at anything like their real form. Inconsiderate.

The New Zealand Cricket Council were decidedly inconsiderate to the visitors when they compelled them to go on to Nelson the vciy day they arrived from Sydney, and play there the next day. Similarly the Australians crossed Cook Strait on Thursday night, and took the field against Wellington a few hours after coming off the boat. All athletes know that it takes "a few days to get their land legs again after coming off a sea voyage. Owing to the rain on Tuesday night, the wicket at the Basin lieserve was much slower than usual, and Ponsford and Woodfull had difficulty in timing their strokes after coming off the fast Australian wickets, on which the ball comes to the bat.

Nevertheless the famous Victorian pair, who are claimed to be as solid opening batsmen as Australia has ever possessed, not forgetting Trumpcr and Duff, defied the Wellington bowling for 97 minutes on Friday morning, while they put on 122 for the first wicket. Impregnable Defence.

As like as two peas in build and height, the Victorian pair are similar in Style. The merit of their play is their impregnable defence. It was a great tribute to the steadiness of the Wellington bowling that neither Ponsford nor Woodfull, even after they had been an hour at the wickets, over got on top of the attack. It was a decidedly sedate display which the world-renowned pair gave, but no doubt this was dtie to the fact that they had not recovered from the effect of the sea trip. Ponsford was the first to go, Brice beating him after he had reached 58. Considering that the famous recordbreaking batsman had a batting average of 152 in Sheffield Shield matches this season. Wellington can consider ihemselves lucky in getting rid of him so cheaply. He played forward defensively to the one which bowled him, but was trapped by the slower paca Woodful to-dav must be regarded, with Ponsford, as one of the world's best batsmen. Though his batting average in Shield games this seasadn was 129, he lived up to this high standard by ecoring 165 against Wellington on Friday. He was at the wickets for 244) minutes, and gave a masterly display, though only fifteen fourers figured on his score-sheet. He has speeded up since he scored so heavily in this country for the Victorian team a few seasons back. After reaching 150, the famous Victorian appeared to have had enough, and threw his wicket away after lunch in attempting to force the pace. A Bright Little Star. The biightest display on the Australian side, however, was that given by the youthful South Australian. K. J. Schneider. This little fellow, who is not much bigger than Ihe bat, deliidited the crowd with his enterprise. He is a left-hander, and, like most lefthanders. is very strong on the on-side. He came over with the reputation of being a. stonewaller, but he was in most aggressive mood on Friday, opening with a three and four fourers in succession. He ran to 73 in 114 minutes, and gave quite the brightest display on the Australian side.

Alan Kippax. the New South Wales Btar. who was hero with (ho Australian team in 1921, and with the New South Wales side in 1924, is at the zenith of his batting powers now. his average in Sheffield Shield games this season being 80.70. He started aggressively on Friday, but like all the Australian batsmen found that it was fatal to attempt to flog the Wellington bowlers. After breaching 26, he mishit a short one ''trppi McLeod to McGirr at pudlon-

A Good Bowler. The feature of the innings was the fine sustained bowling performance put up by F. T. Badcock, the Wellington professional, who sent down 41 oveijf tor 82 runs and four wickets. This was a sterling performance against an Australian eleven on an easy wicket. Badcock maintained perfect control of the ball, and varied Hight, pace, and spin cleverly. Woodfull, Schneider, Alexander, and Oldfield all fell to the Englishman, who in this innings placed the seal upon his reputation as a first-class bowler. Lowry once again proved that he is quite a useful bowler. Tho Wellington captain did not call upon the Hawke’s Bay man until 311 runs were on the board, but he ended up with* the second best average, two for -19. He should also have had Schneider’s wicket, as James missed a stumping chance. Lambert got Richardson’s wicket as soon as he was put on, and was entitled to be given a longer spell at tho crease than four overs, a? only 12 runs were hit off him.

McLeod kept, a good length with his leg-breaks, which lent variety to the attack. He secured one for 46 off thirteen overs.

Brice did good service in getting rid of Ponsford, but G 4 runs came from the fifteen overs he sent down, and he only secured the one wicket.

AlcGirr and Massey both kept the batsmen quiet, about three runs an over coming from them, while they were operating. The former bowled eighteen overs for 55 runs, and tho latter eleven overs for 35 runs.

The Wellington fielding was quite good. The majority of the side moved fast, were very sure in their ground work, and returned well. Badcock, at cover, Dempster and Lamason, in the country, and Lowry and Lambert close in, were outstanding. It was a clever bit of anticipation by Badcock at cover -which saw that able batsman, R. K. Oxenham, of Queensland, run out. A Bad Crash.

With 322 on the board for the loss of only four wickets, it looked as if the Australians were going to pile on a record score.

So well did the Wellington bowlers perform, however, that the last six wickets only added 53 runs, the innings closing for 375. It was a distinctly good performance on the part of the Wellington side to dismiss such a powerful batting combination for such a modpraie pcoro. Disappointing Batting.

Wellington’s strength has hitherto been considered to lie m their batting and hopes beat high that they would be able to reach the modest main set them by the Australians. There was much satisfaction when Dempster and Foley gave the. side an excellent start by putting on 87 for the first wicket.

Here Dempster, who had shaped like the master batsman he unquestionably is, attempted to get Blackie away to leg. The Victorian had three men close in on the leg side, and into this cordon flew the leather. The ball struck Grimmett on the chest, and he clasped it to his bosom, bringing off a brilliant catch. Dempster reproduced every stroke in running to his 52, and his defence was of the soundest.

The Institute man shaped even better in the second innings on Saturday, putting his 4-9 together in attractive fashion. In all matches on the English tour, Dempster averaged 54.41 runs'per innings. His average in this match against the Australian eleven was 50.50, which shows what a wonderfully consistent batsman he is against the very best of bowling. ROck of Gibraltar.

H. Foley, the Institute left-hander, showed the Australians that they were not the only batsmen in the world who could sit on the splice. Foley was at the wickets for 171 minutes for 36 runs before being snapped up behind the* wickets by Oldfield off Grimmett. The Australians found it was like bowling up against the side of a house while Foley was at the wickets. He met every ball with the full face of the bat, and played Grimmett, Blackie, and Oxenham well, if he did not get many runs.

Badcock opened confidently, but he found it impossible to force the pace against such able bowling, and after scoring 23 was smartly caught and bowled by Grimmett.

Lowry failed badly in both innings. After scoring nine in his first knock, the Hawke’s Bay man was left standin» with a leg-break from Oxenham, which was of slower pace. Lowry apparently did not know that the Queenslander had flits deadly arrow in his quiver, and it beat him badly. In his second innings, Lowry played round a ball of slower pace from Alorton, and fell for a “blob." It does not pay to leave the door ajar to these Australian bowlers.

lhe majority of the Wellington batsmen, however, found tho howling ot Grimmett, Oxenham, and Blackie too good for them, and from one for 87 the whole side were out for 20G.

Should Have Done Much Better. Admitting that Oxenham, Grimmett, and Blackie are first-class bowlers, Wellington should have done much better with the bat. Dempster and Foley showed that runs could be got, and the downfall of the local side on an easy wicket was due more than anything to crass had batting. Oxenham bowled particularly well in taking tour for 39 off twenty-two overs. The Queenslander sends down a me-dium-paced ball of immaculate ,’ength and turns the ball both ways with subtle changes of pace. Grimmett also bowls a machino-like length.. Fie mainly used the leg-break, sandwiching in an occasional "wrong un/' and making an odd one cut straight through. His bag was three for 65 off 172 deliveries. Possibly the most difficult bowler on the Australian side to plav was HiacKie the tali Victorian, who flighted the bali in most nuzzling fashion, a -.-r who made them whin back sharply from the off after swinging away. ‘He sent down 32 overs, securing two wickets for 53. A Horrible Collapse. The big crowd of about 10,000 spectators wore very disappointed when they found that the Australians had ordered Wellington to follow on. Everyone was keenly anxious to see tlie famous Australian batsmen in action, and hundreds had come from the provinces simply to see Ponsford bat. The Australians, however, w-ere tired after their journey to Nelson, and were no doubt looking for a day’s rest on the Monday. If Wellington batted disappointingly in their first innings, what can be said of their showing in the second knock. The innings opened at 1.27, and when stumps were drawn at 5.15, on an appeal against the light, six wickets were down for 92 runs, of which Dempster claimed 49 and Lambert 35. A Terrible Crash. When Dempster hit four fourers in the first two overs when Wellington followed on on Saturday afternoon, many peojde expected that the local men would do much better in their second crack. These fond hopes were quickly dispelled, however. After scoring a single, Foley fell l.b.w. to the express bowler, Morton. Then Lowry played all round one from the same bonier. Badcock and Lamason were both howled bv Blackie before scoring, and the score-board looked a thing of beauty, as I—o—o—o appeared. .Wellington were considered to be §

strong batting side, and something like consternation reigned os four such batsmen were sent back in quick succession for a combined total of a solitary run. Lambert and Dempster made u spirited stand. The former is a good tighter, who is never seen to better advantage ihan when things are going badly. He opened out in confident style, and whanged both Grimmett and Blackie about with lusty strokes. After reaching 35, he jumped out to hit Grimmett, was beaten by the break, and Oldfield had the bails off in a flash. ‘‘Be Careful!”

Dempster got Grimmett away to longleg onco or twice. Tho Instiluio batsman hit a clinking tourer m this direction off the googly bowler. "Be careful, Stewie,” said Uhlfield quietly; “if you ure going to play that shot don't leave your wicket open. This fellow can break a mile on these wickets, and il you leave your wicket unguarded ho will bowl you round your legs.” Two balls later, Grimmett tossed one well up outside Dempster's pads. The Institute man went for a slam io leg, but the ball whipped across, and bowled Dempster round his legs. It was such a phenomenal break that several of the Australians came up and measured the distance.

Dempster gave a finished display in running to his 49. He is a great little batsman, and the Australians freely conceded this.

Things looked blue for Wellington when six wickets were down for 92 nuts on Saturday afternoon. Several appeals were made against the light, and stumps were at last drawn at 5.45 p.m. A Welcome Surprise.

Few people imagined that Wellington would avoid the innings’ defeat on Atonday. So certain was everyone that it would all be over in a few overs that the Cricket Association decided to make no charge for admission, and the caterer was informed that no luncheon would be required. All hands and the cook, however; leckoned without James and Massey, who made a splendid stand for the last wicket, which carried the total from 126 to 230 before Massey was caught behind the sticks by Oldfield off Morton. Massey again stamped himself as a batsman of class in running to 61.

The youthful Institute batsman makes a habit of doing this kind of thing. No one has forgotten tho famous lastwicket stand he made for Wellington against Otago early in January, when, with Beard, the Hutt bowler, be out on 123 for the last wicket in the first innings, the pair carrying the total from 290 to 413. Massey’s share on that occasion was 64, while Beard got 60 not out.

Despite the style in which Massey made his runs in that innings, the Wellington captain apparently does not consider him a batsman, as lie put him in last in each innings against the Australians. It would have done no harm if he had been allowed to go in before Brice, who bagged a pair of spectacles, shaping very feebly in each innings. This high-class innings against first-class bowling should put Massey well in the running for a place in the New Zealand team. A Little Fighter.

Great credit must also be given to James for the surprising recovery made by the Wellington team. He and Massey played Grimmett, Blackie, and Oxenham soundly and well, and were not afraid to jump out and hit them. It was the fighting men who did best in this innings. McGirr hit out lustily until Grimmett bowled him round his legs. He had a bit of luck, though, when Alexander dropped him early at square-leg off Blackie.

Wellington’s Turn to Laugh. It was Wellington’s turn to laugh when the Australians went in to hit off the paltry 62 they required to win. The wicket had been peculiar all through the match, and it had worn a good deal' by the time it came to the fourth innings. So ably did Badcock and Brice bowl that the Australians at one time looked as if they might even be beaten.

The Englishman, who took four for 82 in the first innings, again bowled splendidly. Ho kept a perfect length, and varied pace and spin very cleverly in taking four for 23.

Brice got a lot of work on from the off in taking two for 31.

Wellington completely redeemed themselves on Monday, and Air. W. C. Bull, the manager of the Australian team, after the match paid a tribute to tho fine fighting finish the local men had made, especially referring to the splendid stand made fnr the last wicket by the two colts, and Badeock’s fine bowling feat.The Acid Test.

Let there be no mistake. The Australian Board of Control has set its best team across the Tasman to thoroughly try out the strength of New Zealand cricket. There is to be no tempering the wind to the shorn lamb. The Board of Control is anxious to know just where New Zealand cricket stands, and this powerful combination will apply the acid test. When the batsmen get used to New Zealand wickets they will be terribly hard to dig out, and some big scores can be looked for before the tour is over.

The bowlers, too, are at present very much at sea on our wickets. “I don’t know where I am,” Blackie plaintively remarked to "Burwood” on Saturday. "On Australian wickets I consider I am lucky if I succeed in turning the ball in inch. Hero I can break a yard, and every time I boat the batsman I also boat the wicket by a foot. I don’t know where to land the ball. I will simply have to learn how to bowl on your wickets.” Blackie is learning all right. The youthful K. J. Schneider is cne of the wags of tho Australian team. When V. Y. Richardson, the Australian captain, gave him an over or two on Saturday afternoon, he remarked: “It is time one of the regular bowlers had a turn.”

BATTING. Tl. I. N.O. H.S. Runs Av. Ponsford (V.) 8 0 437 1217 152.12 Woodfull (V.) 7 2 191* 645 129.00 Kippax (N.S.W. 11 1 315* 807 80.70 •Hendry (V.) 7 0 168 561 80.14 Ryder (V.) 5 0 106 382 76.40 Rowe ((J.) 8 1 147 480 68.57 Sangster (SA.) 2 0 62 116 58.60 Rigg (V.) 3 1 110* 112 56.00 Schneider (S.A.) 10 0 .143 520 52.00 Oxenham (Q.) 3 0 65 156 51.33 Harris (S.A.) 11 1 77 485 48.50 O’Connor (Q) 10 1 133 425 47.22 Bradman (N.S.W.) 10 1 134* 41G 46.22 M'Kav (S.A.) 3 1 40 92 46.00 Oldfield (N.S.W.) 7 2 101 228 ■15.60 Thompson (Q.) 10 0 118 443 44.30 Morgan (N.S.W.) 9 0 121 387 43.00 Grimmett (S.A.) 0 3 61* 300 42.85 Hack (S.A.) 8 1 77 283 40.42 Jackson (N.S.W.) 9 0 131 360 40.00 Hartkopf (V.) 5 1 111* 155 38.75 Nicholls (N.S.W.) i 0 110 151 37.75 Andrews (N.S.W.) 10 0 no 375 37.50 Higgins (Q.) 8 0 179 289 36.12 Scarfe (V.) 7 1 54 207 34.50 Alexander (S.A.) .1 1 84 328 32.80 Lister (Q.) 5 0 82 155 31.00 a'Beckett (V.) 2 0 47 61 30.50 •Not our. BOWLING. Runs. Wkts. Av. OxAnham (Q.) 156 8 19.50 Blackie (V.) 689 31 22.22 T Wall 1S..A.1 289 12 23.91 Nicholls (N.S.W.) 326 12 27.16 Grimmett (S.A.) a... 1152 42 27.42 Morton (V.) ... 783 28 27.96 Jordan (N.S.W.) 201 7 28.71 Ironmonger (V.) 728 25 19.12 Rrntt. (S.A.) 639 21 30.42 Phillips (N.S.W.) .... 231 7 33.00 M'Namee (N.S.W.) 615 19 33.94 a’Beckett (V.) 286 8 35.75 Gregory (N.S.W.) 251 7 35.85 Everett (N.S.W/ 301 8 37.62 Hornibrook (Q.) 192 5 38.40