CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1913, Page 14

CRICKET

(By "Half-Volley.") Gradually the revelries of "flannelled fools" arc drawing to a close ; each I Saturday a more difficult light in the final hour of play gives warning of the approach ot the season of football, hoc- [ key, and such games that appeal not to the ardent cricketer. One series of games has to be completed, and another played right through to complete the round, and it is interesting to note the standing of the teams. North have been most successful — right through so far they have played without a defeat. Against Central, East A, and Petone they managed to get two-point wins, and against East B and South threepointers — a total of twelve points. Next to them come East A with seven points, and two defeats ; then Central and South, each with six points and three defeats ; Hutt and Petone with five points each, East B with four points, and College with two points. North have East B and South to meet, and should make their total of points at least sixteen. East A, with Hutt and College to meet, may' make their aggregate of points 13 ; and Central, playing East B and South, may get 12. South also have the chance of getting twelve points by defeating Central and Petone outright. For North to come second or tie in the round, their defeat in both the coming matches must be allowed. If betting had not been abolished, there might be found a bookmaker willing to give odds against this. Of course, in cricket, as in pure science to which some followers compare it, nothing is impossible merely because it is highly improbable ; but the man that looked for bets that North would not be first would hardly get anyone outside the police to take his offer. Close scores and cricket coincidences abounded last Saturday. Hutt and Petoue were equal on the bowling tallies, with Petone one ahead according to the batting scores ; North gained an innings victory over South by, five runs ; East A missed an innings defeat by one run, | their aggregate etpualling Central's_ first innings total ; and East B, missing a three point win by four runs, gained a two point victory from College by the game margin. It is strange how, with the match depending on one or two players, those men, at ordinary times cool and capable, lose their nerve in excess of caution, and something of this kind was seen in the College-East B match. There was ample time for the runs to be got that would iiave given East a three-point win, but even Hales played slowly and very carefully, and in the end caution was needed — for only one wicket stood between victory and defeat. The wicket for the match was demoralising, and afforded at least some excuse for the wretched display. Had Central not been deprived of Robinson's services at the commencement of tho season they might now have stood in ii position much more favourable than is actually the case. Undoubtedly the fast bowler has done great work for his side since his return. Not only in the bowling line, bu(B also as a bat, when the opposing bowling has needed some hitting, he has proved most useful. Tucker was missed by East A last Saturday, for all East batsmen, save Hickson, failed rather miserably. Johnston, certainly carried his bat for 28, but that was Central's fault and his good fortune. Central's fielding was weak — in one or two cases particularly so. A very promising young player for East is Watson. Last Saturday he irade 15, and showed very good form in the performance. His strokes were perfect, and well-timed, and he gave no chances. M'Girr, after his previous Saturday's performance, came down with a bump — bowled by Naughto'n for three. Gibbes, Baker, Grimmett, and Midlane were also disappointing. ! * A match between Wellington Wednesday and Saturday players has been suggested, and should prove interesting if it is arranged. By the efforts of a few enthusiasts, Wednesday cricket has been vastly improved this year, and there are not wanting mid-week players — even excepting those who are also in the Satur- ! day ranks^— that are - well up to the | representative standard. G. H. S. Trott's remarks upon New Zealand cricket are encouraging ; for Trott must be regarded as a competent critic. The fact that he has alluded to our faults as well as our progress should be evidence of his sincerity. It is doubtful whether his suggestion of a visit to Australia will meet with an acceptance as general as that accorded his praise and criticism. Of. course it would be good for thoge players comprising the team, but it would not be productive of so much benefit as another visit from an Australian eleven. However, we have had visits from Australian teams, and should, at least, think of returning them. The best men from Auckland and Canterbury, with one or two from Wellington (Robinson, for instance), and Otago, should manage to win some minor matches, though, as Trott says, they could not hope to do much against a rejn-esentative team. But whether the visit would be wise or otherwise, there will be ample time to consider next season. "Longslip" in the Otago Witness is severely critical of Wellington's attitude in regard to the request for a team to visit Dunedin. This week he says : "I note that tho Evening Post, in its issue of Saturday last, quoted the criticism from this column of the attitude of the VVellington Cricket Association, but significantly makes no comment thereon, from which I gather an admission of its justification. The Wellington match against Canterbury jit Chiistchurch being set down^ for the middle of the month, there is* little time to lose if the tour is to be extended to Dunedin ; so that it is reasonable to look for a reply to the Otago Association's request in the course of a few days." "Half- Volley" does not write for the j Wellington Ciicket Association, so that ■ silence cannot be regarded as an admis- ! sion of justification. There was no time last week to obtain a reply from official , sources to the Otago criticism ; but at i this week's meeting of the association the Chairman referred to the matter, and explained how ifc was that Auckland | came to be invited, while Dunedin was refused. If -for no other reason, the game between North and South at the Basin Reserve on Saturday was worth watching I for the pleasure of seeing Southall's bowling and AVilkinson's hitting. Southall, | he admits it himself, has a most extraI ordinary action. Long of arm, with a whipcord wrist, he flicks the ball at the batsman in an astonishing manner. Some people have queried his howling, but Harry Trott, who should know, says it is all above board. Anyway, it gets the wickets, and at one stage on Saturday the North man had six scalps tied to his belt for an insignificent tally of 22 runs — 3.6 runs per wicket. And, despite ! this killing he made, all the luck was not his way. for the field was very careless when he was bowling, and more than once his chances for the field were disregarded. Crombie and Wilkinson formed an energetic partnership, and the latter actually sent the South fieldsmen on n leather-hunt . down Kent-terrace. Crombie also put the ball nonchalantly j over tho tram fails. Seven men in Che ! South team only made 19 between them, and when this is said all is said. The Mailed out with the breakdown of tho South tail, and the three-point wiu ' for North was well deserved.