CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 December 1924, Page 9

CRICKET.

NOTCHES BY THE WAY

Owing to rain no piay eventuated in the games set down to be played by Midland and Manaia and Excelsior and Eltham. Stratford went down to Patea and cam© away with, a draw; on the run of the play Stratford would no doubt have won if full time had been played. The postponed games will be played to-day, and the result of the Excel6ior-Eltham game will be of interest, as the former team have a good lead at present. The rain which prevented play in Taranaki also stopped the games in Napier, Wanganui and Wellington. The writer had the pleasure of a visit to Wellington during the last week and of noting the improvements which are being effected in the Basin Reserve. The new grandstand is well under way, and will be a splendid asset to sport in Wellington. Improvements have been effected to most of the practice wickets, and the extra pace of these was noticeable after coming off the grounds of this coast. The writer has vivid recollections of some bad wickets, both match and practice, on the Basin Reserve about 16 or 17 years ago; and the improved, quality of the ground is more striking as one’s mind goes back over the period of years 6ince then. new soil from Oamaru is under trial, but so far some dubiety is being expressed as to the outcome of the test. The peaty formation of the Basin is somewhat against the southern soil, also the moisture necessary to keep the top-dressing in the best condition is missing. So far, from information gathered, the Napier soil wicket was a much better one, and tips seems to he the right stuff if the required quantities were available. If better wickets were obtainable right through New Zealand the cricket would soon tend upward in quality. Of course practice wickets should be given proper attention, too, so that no excuse can be given by players for non-attendance at the practice wickets. r With the advent of the Plunket Shield matches the Wellington Associatioh is looking for. players to represent the province. With that end. in view the Town and Country match will be played on the Basin Reserve on the 19th and 20th in6ts. There is one drawback under which the country players labour, and that is the different paces of the pitches. A player may be an excellent performer under his local conditions, hut only a moderate under those of the city. Especially does this' apply to bowlers, and country selectors should make it their aim to pick only those . likely to succeed under the different conditions. A fastislx bowler who does well on the poorer wickets appertaining to the country is very often hopelessly lost on the truer pitches, and unless he is faster than usual it is not much us© picking such a,’ man. With batsmen things are a little different. The half-cock player and the one who is going back constantly are usually clean bowled summarily at first, but the forward players are those who do fairly well. Thus it is far better to pick those only who show a sound working knowledge of the game. Young players might come off right away, but as a rule they lack experience. After all 'a player who scrapes a 20 or 30 in a haphazard fashion in trial matches is' not likely to shine in the big games. The player must show signs of being on top of the bowler, and 1 am quite sure that 6ome of our selectors do not pay enough attention to this aspect of the case. The practice 14 selected in Wellington bears evidence of this, and unless a miracle occurs Wellington will not hold the shield after the current season.

PLAY IN OTHER CENTRES

CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 7. Weather conditions on Saturday were perfect when the third round of the championship matches were concluded. Sydenham v. West Christchurch. Sydenham secured a three-point win. Sydenham (first innings 232) made 100 for two wickets at second strike (Oliver not out 51, Patrick not out 21). The first innings for West Christchurch closed for 129 (Blunt 44, Hayes 61). Bowling: Cunningham took three wickets for 44 rims; D. Mcßeth, one for 49. The second innings yielded 203, of which Blunt made 101 and Jarrett 53. Bowling : Mcßeth took four wickets for 85 runs; Cunningham. four for 50. Linwood v. East Christchurch. After an exciting finish. Linwood won by a single run. East Christchurch (first innings 272) lost three wickets for 103 in the second innings (Gregory not out 45 Brosnahan 22). Linwood’s first inyielded 273 (Condliffe 25, Armitage 52, Talbot 61, Kennedy 28, extras 33). Bowling: E. Weston took five wickets for 22 runs. Riccarton v. St. Albans. St. Albans won on the first innings. St. Albans (first innings 215) knocked up 192 for six wickets in the second strike (Non-ie 32, North not out 49. Dc.reen not out 44.) Bowling: C. E. Evans took three wickets for 46 runs. Riccarton’s first innings yielded 137 (Haines 25, Powell 30, Evans 24). Bowling: Thomas took four wickets for 19 runs; Sandman, four for 76. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND Dec. 6. The cricket competitions were continued on Saturday. The winning team of the day was University, which carried its first innings from 110 for three wickets to 225, thanks chiefly to the fine knock of 114 by R. Garrard. Ponsonby made a great effort to hit off the runs, but, being a man short, just failed, and the last available Ponsonhy wicket fell five minutes before time when 13 runs more were wanted for a win. University thus won by 12 runs. Parnell dismissed Grafton for 117 runs, but were prevented by the steady howling of Wilson and Allcott from getting the runs needed for a win in two and a half hours. When stumps were drawn Parnell had lost seven wickets for 98 runs, and the game was drawn.

North Shore knocked up 250 runs for three wickets, Elliott carrying his bat for 107, and they then declared and dismissed Eden for 101, getting a substantial win. SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S CAPTAIN. V. Y. Richardson, the South Australian captain, has made four centuries in his last four Sheffield Shield matches, three against New South Wales and one against Victoria.. In hi s last two n''a.in«t the Mother State he scored 135. 67. 109 and 127 nil on the Svrlnov ground Between these he represented the Rest of Australia on the same eround. scoring 21 and-32. It is worth notion- that within th« calendar year of 1924, as distinct from the

cricket year, he has made five centuries in the Sheffield Shield, that in addition to those specified being 100 against Victoria on the Melbourne ground. It is peculiar that not one of the six to his credit —three each against the rival States —has been compiled at Adelaide. His only century there is 118 against the English team in 1922.

V. Richardson has come into firstclass cricket only since the close of the war, and has already built up a most imposing record. He has had twenty innings against each State, scored 795 runs against New South Wales and 876 against Victoria, the average being 43 runs per innings. His brillancy in the . field makes him a strong rival to the other Australian batsmen for a place in the Test teams against England. He has had a similar distinction in football under Australian Rules, for he has led South Australia with'success in the great matches for a year or two. -

A SUGGESTED TEST TEAM

By “J. W.” in Australian.)

It may be taken for granted irrespective of anything -that may nappen in the interim, that the certainties for Australia are Collins, Gregory, Kellaway, Bardsiey, Mailey, Oldfield, Ponsford, and Hendry. It is not known whether Kellaway has placed himseli out of court by not playing for ins State, but while that grand 'ail-rounder may have good reasons for his action, he is not gifted with tact, and he has not increased the number of his friends by his retirement from the State eleven. 1 should say, however, that it his services are available for his country, he would be considered on his merits, which would make him the first man chosen. Bardsiey has proved himself in his best form, while Hendry, who is getting more practice than ever before, has benefited greatly by his opportunities. With Ryder unfortunately suffering from a strained side, he is out- of court for the present’ which narrows the selection down to the claims „oi the two Richardsons and Grimmett, or South Australia ; Woodfull, Hartkopf, Tarrant, and Mayne. of Victoria; and Kippax, Andrews, and Taylor, of New South Wales. On the form displayed against the Englishmen, Kippax would receive no consideration i whatever. One swallow, however, does not make a summer, or one failure a sign of decadence, but in no department, especially in the one of fielding, has Kippax claims equal to those of either Andrews or Taylor. Woodfull, though possessing but few scoring strokes, has th© temperament; Hartkopf is a strong probability, especially if two slow bowlers are required, and Mayne may have a chance for his batting, though I would have Woodful! in preference every time, as he has youth on his side. The two Richardsons are in the running, with Arthur as the best all-rounder, and Victor a dashing fieldsman. If there he any doubt between two men, States rights will be in evidence, and for that reason I will place Arthur Richardson as ninth man. Very few of the local men have struck their best form this season, Hartkopf. being one of the number. Variety in attack is essential, and I would have him on my side. , He is a hard-hitting batsman and a magnificent field—a champion anywhere, either in the slips, the off, or the outfield.. That makes 10. Eor the otherposition it is a toss-un between Andrews and Taylor. Personally, I consider Andrews the better batsman, both being great in their resoective positions in the field. It may be that Hendry could make way for' Hartkopf. room thus being made for both Andrews and Taylor. There are many who prefer the claims of Kippax to either of the two; but on the form displayed again s'! the Englishmen— not an absolute thoroughly reliable guide, one must admit I would prefer either of the other two. I certainly like Andrews as he is such a grand cover. Bardsiey <ind Ponsford are outfields of class* and on this occasion I will olace m the team, with Taylor as ]2th'm«n J do not for a moment consider that, this eleven will be the one chosen, as it. will be difficult indeed to leave Kipnax out, yet it is one tlmt .should render a good account of itself agains* England’s best.

THE TEAMS. Placed side by side, my selections are as follow : AUSTRALIA. ENGLAND. H. L. Collins A. E. R. Gilligan„r (captain) (captain) W Barsdley A. P. E. Chapman J. M. Gregory j. 33. Hobbs C. Kelleway F. E. Woolley A. Mailey 11. Strudwiclc W. A. Oldfield E. P. Hendreu T. J. Andrews J. W. Hearne W. Ponsford M. W. Tate H. L. Hendry R. Tyldesley A. E. V. Hartkopf H. Sutcliffe A. Richardson W. Howell J. M. Taylor (12th ’ man) On the Australian side evei'y man is capable of making runs even Oldfield and Mailey. There is ’ a fast bowler in Gregory, two slows in Mailey and Hartkopf, two mediums in Keilaway and Hendry, with Richardson as a change. Exception may be taken that there are seven Welshmen in the team, but taking iielding and other things into consideration, I cannot see there should be less. The slips should b e all' right, likewise the outfields, with Andrews wanted at cover and Hartkopf not out of place anywhere. There are about 16 men available, all cricketers, and deserving of a place everyone. SOME THOUGHTS ON THE BOWLERS. Australia, is on of the look-out for one, two or three liigh-class bowlers, young men, who, with widened experience might enter the class of some of the old bowlers who made history such as George Giffen, C. T. B. Turner’J J Ferns, H. Trumble, and M. A. Noble. We have one or two great bowlers of a type different from any of these but sorely need one or two medium-pace, aggressive, length bonders with devil off the pitch. Victoria has won three matches, having twice beaten South Australia, and also lowered the colors of the English team. But the work of the younger bowlers has not been quite so successful as we could wash Best results have been by F. A. Tarrant, the veteran of the side, who has taken 15 u-ickets at 17 runs apiece, most excellent figures (for Australian wickets, though to what oxtont tho.so hnvo hocn influenced bv the rain one does not 1-now, not having seen the matches Still Tarrant got his results under conditions which appear to have little too solid for most of the other \ ietorian howlers -whose wickets have been much more expensive, and he not a. tvpe of bowler who is difficult or dangerous on hard, true Australian .wickets. P. M. Wallace has taken

eleven wickets at 39 r..ns apiece, A. E. Liddicut six ,at 36, A. E. >. liartxopf four at 44, ana h. x,. Hendry twelve at 29. Eigures, of course, may not provide a true reflex of ti.e powers of a bowler. Hart imp i, for iusiiui.e. is a finer bowler than ms lean results imply. And the same may be said of some of the others.

If you. turn to the English bowlers and their achievements against the three Sheffield Shield States, you will find that there is not much apart from the form of Tate and Tyldesley in Sydney to lead to enthusiasm. Tate has -secured thirteen wickets at an average of 15.07, and J. W. Hearne six at 21.50. The other performances are: Tyldesley, nine at 25.66; Gilligan,- nine at 33; Douglas, four at 38.25; Woolley, three at 46; and Kilner, one at 152. These figures and those of New South Wales and South Australia emphasise the significance of perfect fielding, which means the holding of practically every chance offered up by the batsmen. The side that . snap s up the chances with the fewest errors will probably win The . Ashes.

“BRIGHTER CRICKET REMEDY.”

Replying to the toast of County Cricket at the annual dinner of the Birmingham and District Cricket League, Mr R. V. Ryder, secretary of the Warwickshire C.C.C., said that recently “we had been watching a cricket revolution. Driven by perfect wickets to devise some cunning form of attack, the bowler has developed the inswinger, the deceptive top-spinner, and the leg trap to such an extent that the batsman was much more beset with difficulties than was formerly the case, and this did not lead to • brighter cricket. The only remedy was a more adventurous bateinanship. Failing such spirited methods the purveyor of the leg trap would indeed reduce the art of hatting to a melancholy spectacle.” The remedy, suggested is the best' of all- We want in all our cricket more of the hitting type of batsman. The Arthur Richardsons are the men who should be encouraged by selectors of teams. One ox* two of his type on a side makes the game more fascinating, and, incidentally, the scoring of the less venturesome artists of the bat easier by putting the best bowlers off their length.

NOTES BY WOOMERA

(Australasian.) Unconscious irony is often the more effective. After dinner the head of the house was reading .a daily paper, with his little son looking over his shoulder at the illustrations. “Is them the cricketers Dad?” he asked, pointing to a group of men, some of whom were sitting down, and the rest lying down. “No, those are stevedores,” the father explained, “and they are on strike.’’ The boy studied their attitudes awhile, and asked, “What are they s’posed to be doing’ in the picture, Dad? Are they workin’ or are they strikin’?” The Englishmen are making rather too many excuses for the barracker—it perhaps encourages them in the belief that they are a- vital part of the game, instead of being just a necessary evil. When the Ensrlishme.n were batting" in the rain Woolley, finding the turf slippery, went off to get some “brads” for his boots. By-and-bv he came back in rather a leisurely way and .commenced slowly to fasten his batting gloves. Then a voice that would have made the original bull of Bash an feel that hewn s just.' - '-* a sucking dove, asked. “Sav, long ’un, would a lookin’ glarss be any ’elp to yon.” Of course the “flapper’’ has to be in the fashion and attend the cricket matches. Two of them were alongside rue at the inter-Stnte match or the M.O.G. < v ronlid on .PatuHav Inst and. overlooking mv shoulder ns T opened the paper one sew th° lvmcliorr “Sensational Dismissal of'Hobbs.'' “OK” sb° said, turninnr ficr pMr). e-niou. “fancy, poor Hobbs has got the sack.”