CRICKET

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 10, 14 January 1901, Page 1

CRICKET

AUCKLAND V. HAWKE’S BAY,

THE AUCKLANDERS FARE BADLY. [by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Napier, last night. The match Auckland v. Hawkcs Bay commenced at the recreation ground yesterday afternoon. Rain fell during the night, but the weather cleared in the morning, though a start was not made before 3 p.m. A good wicket was provided. Auckland .ailed to make any stand in the first innings, all being dismissed for 78. Of that number Ohlson made 10, J. Mills 21, Hay 10, and W. Mills was not out with 14. There was no change in the bowling, Dene and Wilson taking all the wickets between them. Hawke s Bay lost four wickets for 91 in the first innings, Gore scoring 18, and Lusk being not out with 49.

[By Point.] The Napier tour of the Poverty Bay team was a success in two ways—by beating Hawke’s Bay, and in having a splendid trip. The team was treated exceedingly welt all the week, and the members thereof cannot praise their treatment sufficiently. A great deal of this good treatment was due to the energetic and obliging secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association, Mr Ludwig, who looked after the comfort of the cricketers well. The play on the whole was very even. _ In the Scinde match a different result might have eventuated if the match had been played out. The Gisborne team required 180 runs, and on the good wicket provided there should have been no difficulty in doing it. The same remark also applies to the United match, when Gisborne were 41 runs behind on the first innings, and in their second innings had put on 168 for one wicket. The last match against Hawke’s Bay was the most interesting. It was played to a finish in two days, and afforded a splendid example of the fickle nature of the game. Hawke’s Bay, who had made 270 in their first innings, could only make 129 in their second venture on a perfect wicket. Rees handled his bowlers much better in this innings than in any previous innings. It is a good idea to commence with a fast bowler, for such a bowler may often obtain several good men. Rees made tho mistake of not changing his bowlers when they were knocked about in the first two or three overs. He usually kept them on till a certain number of runs had been made before he effected a change, otherwise his captaincy was perfect, and I congratulate him on the excellent way in which ho handled his men, a thing which no doubt contributed a great deal to the success of the Poverty Bay in the last match.

Comparing this team with that sent last year, I find a great change, not only in the personnel of the.team, but also in the form shown. Taylor, who is one of the best allround men we have, is not with this year’s team. On the other hand, we have excellent new men in Porter, Harris, Hussey, Gibson, Vincent, Fairlie, and McCredie , but even as the team stands it is not a rep. team, for we could add Taylor, Hodge, Crawford, Andrew, and Beale, who are all first-class men, and with such a team Poverty Bay would make an excellent stand against any provincial team. E. R. Ludbrook, who had the batting average of the team, was in splendid form. His defence was most stubborn, and proved a tower of strength to his side. In every match he batted in his best form, and his scoring was most consistent. What tempted him to try and hit Gore out of the ground in the last innings is a mystery. He had not stepped out of his crease o nce during the other inings. His fielding wa s also very good. As a bowler he was onjy tried onee, and met with some success. With the small amount of practise he has had his form is surprisingly good. There is none of the dashing player about him, but soundness and steadiness are the main point 3 0 f his style. He seems to have no weak strokes, and is at home as much on a bad wicket as on a good one. J. M. Hussey usually opened with Ludbrook. He is a young player, with a dashing style, combined with a sound defence. No doubt, as aN a pier paper says, he requires more strokes behind the wicket, but his defence is beyond rep roa oh. He can play a brilliant aggressive game, as in the Scinde match, or a steady, slo w game, as in the United match. With Ludbrook and he tho team was sure of a good st a nd for the first wicket. As a batsman, j expect to hear more of Hussey, who is shaping so well. As a bowler, he was one of the best, his brilliant performance in the last innings of Hawke’s Bay being specially Praiseworthy. He fielded well. W. Gibson batted well in every innings. His innings of 98 against United in the second innings was a chanceless display of ageressive cricket. In that score there were 16 fours and only three singles. It speaks well for such an innings of hard hitting that there was no chance given, and no fewer than six were hit over the fence. In the other matches Gibson batted steadily, but his weak stroke to mid-on got him out twice. He bowled with a good length, but all loose stuff was knocked about. He requires more pace on his bowling. Vincent-showed good form only in the last match. He has a weak stroke at a good length ball, playing too high and allowing the ball to get under his bat; otherwise his batting is very good. He does not appear to like «low bowling, and does not hit it sufficiently. Both innings in the last match were excellent although not without an element of luck. In the field he was most energetic and willing and saved a lot of boundary hits by his S£> McCnfdie was the wicket-keeper of the team, and quite justified his inclusion. In the first match he did very, well, there being only one extra out of a score of 210. In batting he was fifth on the averages, but several not outs bring this up. His hook stroke and clever leg hits were brought off against Gore. Porter had the worst luck of the team. He was run out twice, through impatience to score. He made some sweet strokes on the off side, but he has a bad habit of trying to out a straight ball. He bowled very well, especially in the Hawke’s Bay match, and his fielding and throwing in were the best on the 8 Massey made one good innings against the United. He played in his true form, and avoided hitting and poking to the off._ Unfortunately he did not keep this tip in the next match but tried to hit, and was consequently bowled. In bowling he pitched most of his balls too short. In the Seinde match first innings, he bowled] splendidly, but with hard luck. In the field he did splendidly as ** Harris, like Massey, should avoid hitting, unless he hits hard. Twice he was caughtun the long field off half-hearted strokes.. He batted well for 26 and showed a finished style. In tho -field he was not good, hut he can be excused, as he received a very severe blow on • the leg in the first]{(mateh. His bowling was at times good, but rather short Pl Rees did not do much with the bat, but in bowling he performed excellently. At times he bowled very short, and again he was in grand form, with a perfect length. He was very consistent all through. His batting was very fair, and his fielding perfect. As a captain I have already commented on his excellence. His luck in winning .the toss is P Fairlie made one score, and that was characteristic of him. A hit for five, and two fours were his contribution. In fieldmg he was willing and his throwing in very good. If he practices more he will do well with the bat.

Ferris played in only one match, and was not a success, except in the field. , W. Dods fielded well, but was out of form with the bat. , , The tour did not develop any new’ batsmen, and most of those who failed with. the bat can attribute their failure to insufficient practice. A better system of practice ought to be put into force, and cricket made more attractive to young players. . At present there is really only one club practising.