CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 10

CRICKET

REPRESENTATIVE GAMES COMMENCED (Notes by “ Substitute.”) SOUTHLAND’S GOOD SHOWING. Southland has good reason to led satisfied with the showing of its representative- team in this week’s match with an Otago B eleven, for, though the match nominally ended in a draw, the'Southianders were in much the stronger position at the closo of play, and generally speaking they well deserved a win. Reports from the south indicate that the standard of cricket in Invercargill and the surrounding districts lias improved lately, and this was shown by the play of the Southland team. Despite the fact that several well-known players were not available, the side shaped confidently, and the youngsters who tilled the gap justified their inclusion. Outside of one or two well-known crickets who have previously played against Otago, one or two of the others showed considerable promise both with the bat and ball, and Southland’s fielding was immeasurably better than that of Otago. Southland’s innings commenced on a good wicket, but the overnight rain made it very tricky on Wednesday morning, and the remaining Southland batsmen found it very difficult to get jams, taking nearly all morning to get 67. Tho wicket had improved greatly by the time Otago went to the wickets, but, nevertheless, the home side shaped most disappointingly, the majority of batsmen showing a sad lack ol enterprise, and batting as if they were opposed by a team ol test placers. The Otago bowling on the first day left a good deal to be desired, a great deal of loose stuff being sent down; but there was a big improvement on Wednesday morning, there being much more sling in the attack. The biggest fault, however, was in the fielding, ami in this respect many runs were allowed by poor stopping and by wild returns to the wickets- There wore too many glaring weaknesses in the field, and unfortunately' these wore usually shown by young players who should have boon much move keen and alert than they were. ‘ Silver was very lax in _ the field, »od the same applied to Claridge, and in lesser degree to Niinmo. The latter let one or two past him, but he was responsible for one very- smart piece of tickling while be bad charge cf the attack himself. The ball was driven just off the pitch, and the batsmen ran, Niinmo making a fine return to bring about Lee’s dismissal. M’Lcod did a littlo better than in some games, but there is room for further improvement so far as his fielding is concerned. Where so many young players showed a. lack of keenness in the held, it is refreshing to record the fact that Proctor was the reverse, his work leaving very little to be desired. The team that did battle against Southland was supposed to be an Otago B team, but the selectors can hardly be complimented on their choice of a second eleven, for there were several players available who were_ thoroughly deserving of a place in the side. Among them may be mentioned Gale, of Old Boys, and Strang, of Dunedin, both of whom would have made a difference to tiie batting strength of the team. Reg. Cherry was the outstanding batsman in the match, and the oxOtago representative player scored 102 in a little over two hours, though on going for a knock in Southland’s second strike he went for a “duck.” Cherry lias represented Otago with distinction in Plunket Shield cricket, having a century to his credit against Canterbury. It is only recently that lias struck form in Invercargill. In form lie is a batsman worth having in any team, and bis display on Tuesday was a treat to watch. He laid the wood on well and truly, his well-timed and powerful drives usually finding a gap in the field- Cherry’s crisp cutting was nicely exploited, the square cut being most favoured. On his display in this match Cherry has reason to regard himself as being unlucky in that the Otago team to play Auckland was selected prior to the Southland match .—a rather unwise policy if the selectors wish it to be known that they are out to give promising players a chance in Plunket Shield matches, whether they belong to Dunedin or play in a minor asociation district. Outside of Cherry, one of tho most impressive Southland batsmen was A. T. Anderson, a youngster who has been only a couple of years away from school, lie" is a stylish type of batsman, with some splendid shots to the off, crisp, and usually well placed; hut on the leg side he did not display the same confidence. If bis play in this direction is developed a little ho is going to be a batsman who will be contending for a place in a Plunket Shield team one of these days. Eric Lee, another young player, has been playing senior cricket in Invercargill since be was a. primary schoolboy, and has been well coached. He had liard luck in being run out in Southland's first innings, but got 17 by nice cricket in the second innings. Carson is a forceful bat, who knocked j up 17 in quick time when Southland | went to the wickets a second time. Ho made some hard off drives, and also displayed some nice leg shots._ Dalglish, a Gore player, is an orthodox type of batsman, but. while be batted steadily, he did not display a great variety of strokes, and was disinclined to force the pace at all, even when nothing depended on the game. Keast has been playing cricket a long time. but. though be batted on a difficult wicket on Wednesday the ox-Otago pi aver a. gave a very fair in making 22 before Proctor bowled him. He was scratchy at the start of bis innings. but be batted freely once be got into bis stride- • Keast scored well on both sides of the wicket, and on ono occasion got away a.beautiful late cut. Groves was another of tho elder bands who hatted well tor 19; while the colt,.Nisbet, shaped attractively in getting 19 not out. Nisbet was strong on the ou-side, driving vigorously, while he also made some sweet glances to leg. He looks like a batsman who cas make runs, and is certainly one of the most promising players on the Southland side. • Torrance gave most ot the Utago team a turn with the bfill, but outside of-the bowling of Cameron and M Lregor, who did a good deal of havoc on Wednesday morning, it did, not give the visitors much trouble. Cameron finished up with-ithree wickets for 31 runs, but bis figures for Wednesday morning were two for 3. Cameion is a medium-pace bowler who mixes them well and turns the hall from the off. He has been shaping very well, both with bat and ball, this season, and is fast becoming one of our most useful all-rounders. M’Gregor did not bowl up to his best on the, first dav of p ay, but be was well on it on Wednesday, • his four wickets costing 5i runs. He was getting some assistance from the wicket, and bad most of the later batsmen-tied up. Proctor finished up with two wickets fur 34 runs; but nci'.her Ninimo imr Torrance got a wxket. TJk latter bowled steadily, but

without luck, and the former was not particularly accurate, Still, lie has it in him, and tho experience will be useful later on. There is not a great deal to bo said about Otago’s display at the wickets, j for the batting was very scratchy. Boyd top-scored with 27. but lie was rather lucky, making several uppish strokes. Boyd shapes confidently at tho wicket, ami is a very useful opening batsman. He did not. take many chances on Wednesday until he had a pretty good look at tho bowling, and then lie began to bat more vigorously. Tic scored on both sides of the wicket, and is a, player who should make a lot more runs before the present season closes. D. Allan is a disappointing batsman. Ho was shaping well when lie was caught and bowled by Johnston after making 6. Allan is inclined to go for a hit rather early in his innings, and usually starts to lift them immediately he does so. Cameron played a steady knock for 10, ami Claridgc was batting well when he was run out alter making 11. He made one or two nice shots on the on side, but did not display a great variety of strokes. Pioetor and M'Gregor both batted brightly, the former carrying liis hat lor 17 and the latter making 15. Nimmo, too, shows .some j promise as a batsman, getting 12 be- | fore lie was out Ibw to Nisbet. M’Lcod j did not get going, reaching out to one i from Nisbet "that was well off the wie- I ket and being caught by Keast in the | slips. Southland’s attack possessed a lair amount of variety, and the southerners have a couple of useful lett-ti,uiilers i in Nisbet and Johnston. 'The lornicr | sends down a medium-pace ball, varied | by an occasional last one, and ho j swings a bit. He was bowling lairly accurately, and kept a pretty good , length all day, taking four wickets for > 21 runs. At one stage he had taken j three wickets for 2 runs. Johnston j took one for 21, and sent down more i loose stuff Ilian Nisbet. He is a pro- . niising bowler, nevertheless. Keast ; took one fur 33. but , bowled better j than his figures indicated. He mixed! them well, his log breaks tying must ol ; the batsmen up, while he sent down one or two fast ones that kept low and made pace oil tho wicket. It was one of these that brought about Boyd's dis- ] missal. AN ENVIABLE RECORD. E. Hbrspool, the Gralton Club cricketer, who will he seen in Dunedin nest week, has an enviable record in representative and club matches. He joined the chib in 1905, and lias played with the senior team since 1903. _ He has had 245 innings, being 20 times not out, for 9,933 runs ; uii average ol -14.14. This season in Ins first lour innings Horspool scored 151 runs, and this put him past the 10,000 mark for senior cricket. His best club season was in 1917-18, when ho made 1.080 rims. This probably stands as a club record for New Zealand (says an exchange). Horspool has scored 28 centuries in senior cricket, his highest score being 225. In club and representative cricket in the 1924-25 season lie totalled 1,038 rims, and his aggregate in both classes to date is 11,094 rims. Horspool represented Auckland in 1909 at tho early ago of IS years. He turned 37 on August 23 last, and is therefore not so old as is generally supposed. In representative matches from 1909 to 1920 Horspool played 65 innings. He was onco nut out, and scored 1.610 runs, at an average ol 25.1., His highest 1 score was 143 runs against Victoria m 1925-26. His highest scores against Wellington were 113 in 1913-14, 90 in 1920-21, and 89 in 1921-25. Against Canterbury he scored 90 in 1919-20. He lias passed the hall-century mark on numerous occasions against all tho provinces. He represented New Zealand in 1913-14. Apart from his ability as a batsman, Horspool earned a repute ion as a first-class fieldsman. He lias also proved a useful change | bowler and a. capable emergency wicket- , keeper. This is the ninth occasion on 1 which ho has made the trip south. | OTAGO BEGINS WELL. The Otago team in its first Plunket Shield engagement ol the season, against Wellington, has begun well, though at tho time of writing there lias been but two days’ play in the mutch. The Otago team was regarded as being a sound combination, though the loss of three prominent players was expected to be felt. However, the side acquitted itself remarkably well against a strong Wellington attack, a score of 398 against bowlers of the calibre of M’Girr, Badeock, and Henderson being no mean effort. Outstanding on Otago’s side was the success of the skipper, Arthur Alloo, who scored 101 alter a line innings. Arthur has been playing representative cricket for twenty years, and though he has made many good scores lor Otago this is only his second century in Plunket Shield cricket, his first being scored in the game against Wellington in 1908. Grimmett, now an Australian eleven player, was included in the Wellington eleven on that occason, and cricket enthusiasts may recall the fact that his inclusion was tho cause of criticism before the match. Ono of the most pleasing features ol the whole innings was the success of tho Dunedin colt V, Cavanagh, who got 61 by very sound cricket. Cavanagh certainly lias the cricket in him, and he has moved along nicely since he left the Boys’ High School. Ho has an increasing number of shots, and though he has not had the best ol luck in club cricket this season he came to light I with a score of 59 in his most recent I grade match. Ho played representative cricket for the first time last season, and looks destined to become one of Otago’s star batsmen. He is a stylish cricketer, and it looks as if he were determined to justify his inclusion in the team, for he played himself in before he started to take any risks. Eastman again proved a big asset to Otago, as was the case on the Otago team’s tour last season. He had bad luck in failing to get the century by 12 runs after giving a fine display, his score including no fewer than fifteen 4’s, which shows what an aggressive innings he must have played. Blunt' played a very useful innings for 39, and Monk certainly justified his inclusion, getting 25. He is a very consistent, batsman, and, has 'made some good scores this season. Zimmerman, too, made a good contribution to the score, but both Galland and Douglas went cheaply. Cecil Alloo opens for. Old Boys in'grade cricket, but he is baldly' steady enough to occupy position an a Plunket Shield game. Knight is

essentially a lorcmg bat, and wo id make more runs il he played his "aLnral game. With the responsibility opening tho innings he may luuc had a tendency to crump his-play, but still ho got 18. . iii James was apparently in iorm behind {lie si-mps, as ho took three catches, ft is' a .parent that tho Wclhngtoman realise, the wisdom ol fielding at short stop to the fast bowlers, and it is a iiitv that more of our wicket-keepers do ’not follow his example when stanclill<r up to a last bowlei. Wellington at the time ot writing have lost six wickets lor 281, so that Otago has so far performed not at all hadlv. Elmes has taken three tor 5-, and in view of other games ahead the lei t-ha mler’s success is heartening. Arthur Alloo’s two wickets cost 37 runs, and Monk has already proved usctul as a bowler by taking one tor 23. Dempster, as usual, came to light with a -mod score of 66, hut apparently he was able to take no liberties with the Otago bowling. Lamason is a solid bat witf a good variety of strokes, but he is imt a particularly fast scorer. Still, bis 52 not (hit on Tuesday was ol great value to Wellington, and he and M’Girr were a good partnership, being still associated at the end of the second day’s play. \\ellington s most successlul bowlei was the New Zealand, representative, .Henderson, who took lour wickets lor 127 runs, while Lambert get three for 67. Henderson, the last bowler, claimed three victims at short stop. NOTES. It is reported that the Auckland representative cricketer and lornicr Cambridge player, J. A. Dunning, will not return north with the Auckland team, but will remain in Dunedin, where he is to take up a. leaching alter the holidays. He should greatly strengthen the Carisbrook side in local club cricket. Local grade matches will be resumed on January 5, and most interest will be taken in the mutch between the two undefeated teams—Grange and Old Ftys. The former may be .without tiie services ol MfMnllan, which will be a big loss, but nevertheless Old Boys wilfliml Grange no ctr-v team to defeat. Dunedin plays Carisbrook, ami tho Colts meet Albion. No more chili cricket will he seen in Auckland till January 12, for the matches commenced on Saturday the fifth for the season in the AnckCricket Association’s senior A grade competition—-arc being suspended over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Even had they been completed next Saturday a grout deal of interest would have been sacrificed owing to tho fact that most of the best players will lie cm tour with the representative team (savs tlie ‘Sun’). The third test match, England v. Australia, commences at Melbourne on December 29, and will be continued on December 31 and Janmiry 1,2. 3. and 4 if necessary. The anrl.li test takes place at Adelaide on February 1-7, and the fifth and final test at Melbourne on March 8-14. E. H. Diaek, the Southland cricketer, is some hustler. He played iu the match against Otago on Tuesday and Wednesday, left for the south on Wednesday night, and was married yesterday. Congratulations to a fine .sportsman! Diaek is well known in Dunedin, having played for Otago ’Varsity A and Otago at Rugby. Ho has represented Southland at Rugby, cricket, and tennis, is a fine professional runner, and a first-class rifle shot —in fact, there are few better allrounders -anywhere in New Zealand than “ Charlie ” Diaek. [n caustic comment on play in the first test at Brisbane, the Sydney ‘Bulletin’ says “ Kelleway provided some excellent batting practice for the visitors, ft is interesting to consider that one of the proven best howlers in Australia during the past four years, R. Oxen ham, was relegated to the pavilion as twelfth .man, while the English batsmen pasted tho antediluvians who were preferred to him. Disaster feil upon the opening Australian batsmen. Within ten minutes playerwriters Wood full (0) and Ponsford (2) were out to Larwood. After every allowance lias been made, our men have been beaten in. every department of the game Too much mixing of playing with writing, perhaps.”-