CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 12

CRICKET

JBy Wallaby.]

NOTES AND COMMENTS

It was unfortunate that the rain came and spoiled the finish of the Australia v. Otago match, particularly as there was every prospect of the 0.C.A., for the first time in many years, making a profit out of a match with a visiting team from outside the dominion. With a guarantee of £3OO to be paid to the Cricket Council, whatever happens, and the percentage to the O.R.F.U. for the use of the ground, it makes these matches almost invariably a non-paying proposition. Yet Otago must not, for the sake of ihe game, decline such matches. .In the case of last week’s fixture, the splendid “gate” on Saturday brought .the total to £4BO, which should just about pay expenses. An additional £6O or £6O on Monday would have shown a profit sufficient to finance a jfceam to Invercargill. Alas! the sudden flight of summer and the unfriendly butting in of winter spoiled the whole thing.

I have heard many complaints by the man in the street concerning the slow and uninteresting wicket shown by our illustrious visitors. The batting certainly lacked sparkle, or even fizz, and Arne longed for the Macartney touch to relieve the monotony of the single-ac-cumulating tactics of these Aussie bats. 'Nevertheless, it was a true demonstration (more’s the pity) of the way firstclass cricket is now played in Australia and England. ' And one can quite understand the paens of praise which Dacre, Dempster, and Co. aroused in the Old Country.

Easily the most interesting phase of 'the game on Friday and Saturday last was the bowling. Each side provided a thrill in this department, and cricketers were, and still are, highly appreciative of the performances of Grimmett and Blackie on the one side and of Dickinson on the other. The more one analjses that wonderful burst of bowling on the part of George Dickinson the more meritorious it appears. The Carishrook “express” bowled like a demon for those five eventful overs, and, as I have already said, any bowler in the world might well_ bo proud of such a performance against such opponents. ( . It was good, too, to have seen Grimmett and Blackie “ right on the job,” for they are without doubt two of the finest bowlers playing the game to-day. The more or less casual onlooker might laugh at the feeble efforts of our batsmen to deal with these sinuous deliveries, but again the real cricketer got satisfaction from the spectacle. He was seeing with his own eyes what he had read about and tried to visualise. And it might be pointed out that Otago’s total, smalt as it appeared, was higher than the Englishmen could muster in either innings on that memorable occasion just three years ago, when they met Grimmett for the first time in the fifth test on the Sydney Ground. _ It ■will he remembered Itbw the little South Australian bowler went through Gilligan’s men, bagging five for 45 and six for 57, England’s total being 167 and 146. So, as our visitors pointed Out to us the other day, we have nothing to feel ashamed of. As for our fielding, it was splendid right through the match, and though catches were dropped which unfortunately proved expensive, there was nothing approaching slackness in our outpricket. Humor hath it that the New Zealand team for the tost matches is likely to bo anything but full strength, three or four of the certainties having already notified their inability to take part. This is unfortunate, as it would have been most interesting to see how our best eleven would shape on New Zealand wickets against such ® representative Australian eleven as that now in the country. On the other hand, it is not surprising that our leading players are finding it inconvenient to give up any more time this season to cricket.

It came rather as a surprise to find that' the Australian team that played at Carisbrook last week contained no left-hand bowler. It is rarely that a first-class eleven the field without a “south paw.” In this regard some of our visitors spoke in high terras of Dick Torrance’s bowling, and considered him something of a wonder in that he had been playing in representative matches for twenty-two seasons. As this will be the last occasion upon which my notes will appear in the ‘‘Star,’ 1 would like to thank all my cricket friends for the way in which they have received my criticisms. In all these years it has been a rare experience for me to even hear of any resentful remarks concerning my comment on play and players. Difference of opinion on certain points there must necessarily be, but these opinions have been, expressed always in a friendly tone. For my part, I have ever tried to be fair, and no writer can do more. I wish every player the best of luck. Before “ closing down ” may I add just a few remarks on cricket in Dunedin generally. The game is undoubtedly gaining in popularity, and with a recurrence of this fine weather and of the daylight saving measure there is every prospect of improvement, especially if we have better luck next year with our coach. Mr Eastman had a most unfortunate experience for his first season with us, and should he return next year fit and well there is no qudfction but that our standard of play will begin to improve. On the other hand, if sound coaching is not available the improvement will not come. _ A number of our present representative players must soon drop out of big cricket, and it will be the task of .the coach to mould those who are to succeed them. And I am satisfied that L. C. Eastman is, assuming his .complete recovery from his trouble, the man for the job. One thing a competent coach can do is to create a real cricket “ atmosphere.” This may be done by cricket talks, as well as by tuition at the nets. Inoculate the boys with the cricket microbe; make them feel that thoroughness and enthusiasm aie essential .to success, that a knowledge of the finer points of tho game is something to be proud of; that slovenliness either in their play or in their appearance is something to be_ashamed of; in short, that to be a ciicketer one must be a man.

Captains, as well as coaches, can do a lot, too. It is their duty to study their teams not only when they assemble on the ground, but during the week; to scheme out ways and means of getting the other side out and of getting the best out of their own batsmen. Too many skippers, I’m afraid, come to the ground on a Saturday without having given a thought to the best way of placing their fields or to the order of batting. And rarely do yon come across a leader who can inspire his side when things are going against them. On the contrary, it is usually the case that, as the match is slipping from them, the losing side . becomes slacker and slacker. There is, generally speaking, a lack of method in match play as well as in net practice. A word as to the umpires. I know how very difficult it is to obtain the services of men who are willing to give up their Saturday afternoons to “standing umpire.” And those who do turn out deserve the thanks of all cricketers. But here, too, there is room for much improvement. Usually, the umpire is an player, or one who has followed the game more or less closely. But even this class of man needs to be constantly “ brushing Up ” his knowledge of the game. Points are continually cropping up that need immediate settlement by.the umpire, An these points

it looks bad. Here, too, talks and practical demonstrations in between times are invaluable, and if arrangements were made for the coach to meet the umpires occasionally and discuss matter's connected with this very important part of cricket, it would do incalculable good. I have seen some really bad decisions given during the present season, and feel sure that they were not so much the result of ignorance of the laws of the game as of the lack of opportunity to “ brush up.” The necessity for encouraging the young cricketer is obvious. This could be done in many ways by older players and ex-players who have sufficient enthusiasm. It is remarkable that.in all the years I have been writing these notes' I have never, in spite of the repeated appeals through this column and through the Cricket Association, succeeded in finding anyone keen enough to supply me consistently with interesting data concerning cricket in the lower grades. Now and then one man here and there has responded for a few weeks, but invariably the flash has died down. Pity His, His true. Baa, OraiJ