CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 December 1927, Page 8

CRICKET

“Mid-Off”)

(By

THE FIRST BEP. GAMES.

HAWKE CUP COMPETITION.

The initial representative match of the season proved an undoubted success for Hawke's Bay. Wairoa were soundly defeated in the Hawke Cup prelim, last week-end.

Hawke’s Bay batsmen walked out to the crease and staved there. They banged away good and hard at the poor bowling, and among them put on nearly 60U runs in good time. It certainly was a record for Hawke Cup cricket as well as for Hawke's Bay.

The display w’as a great one. and the few specators who bothered themselves to put in an appearance were given a rare treat. « • • The visitors tried out the whole team as trundlers except the ’keeper (who incidently contributed a tidy sum per medium of extras), but the attack was appallingly weak, and the Hawke’s Bay sloggers had a joyous time.

Two centuries were recorded, one by Sheppard, and other other by Heaney. The former was lucky. He had at least four lives., but he was always aggressive, and his display was really a good one. However, his pro formance was easily eclipsed by that of the schoolboy. Heaney T a innings was a first-class one in every respect. All his shots were clean, decisive and well judged. Not one mistake did he make in his all-round the wicket exhibitor.

Worker’s display also was a good one. He makes an ideal opening batsman. He is careful, certainly, but he does not waste any time in getting into action. Given a stonewaller at the other end, Worker -n--variably gives the innings a good start, and he is pretty to watch, for he is" a stylish bat.

White, too. gave a fairly sound display and quickly opened out tus shoulders to soud Wairoa leatherhunting. White usually takes a long tune in getting into his stride, but on Saturday ho was pretty prompt in settling down, and he scored rapidly. . J *

Elliott. I’irie, Mitchell and Owen ail put up good scores, but their careers would-have been cut short had the fielding been any good. * * With all due respect tu Wairoa. it must be said that they were hardly up to senior club standard in Hawke ’s Bay. Their bowling lacked sting, and was very loose, the fielding was shockingly careless, only two players showing any sign of keenness. Many runs were absolutely thrown away by this haphazard fielding, while the number of catches dropped was a disgrace to any team. Uf the eight batsmen who made good scores, Heaney was the only one who did not have a “life.” The others all hit up catches or gave good chances of losing their wickets, but -few were accepted. The chances given proved most expensive. Had but three been accepted soihe 200 runs would have been saved. It would be unfair to criticise the batting of the visitors, as they were up against a big score. Naturally, they were out to do their best, but" they had no idea of how to play the slow break bowling. The result was that they were quick ly dismissed. Their second innings was a brighter one, and perhaps may be taken as a better guide as to their batting strength.

Junior Hawk 6 Cup—Of recent years the Hawke Cup contest has developed into a decided attraction. It is the symbol of supremacy of the minor associations, and herein lies a big difficulty. There are so many associationsin New Zealand having a "fly” at the cup that the holders have a trying time to meet all the challengers. The difficulty has been most marked during the past two seasons, and to a certain extent has been overcome by the playing of elimination rounds. This has proved quite satisfactory up to a certain point, but there are still a number of challenges left after the elimination games are over. The suggestion of another cup for the South Island is a good one, but it will not relieve the trouble in the North Island. For many years Nelson has been the only persistent South Island challenger. Pos.sibly in time the South Island minor associations will bo experiencing a desire to enter into such a competition as the Hawke Cup.

However, to overcome the difficulty in the North Island, it has been suggested that a junior Hawke Cup contest be inaugurated. This is to bo open to the lower divisions of the minor associations, which would be classified for that purpose according to playing strength. This idea is a commendable one, the main difficulty being the classificatoin of the associations but after the first season there should be little trouble. One has only to have a few games like the WairoaHawke’s Bay flutter to realise what a vast difference there is in the minor associations challenging for the cup. Wairoa were hopelessly outclassed byHawke’s Bay, but there are other associations which are in the same ‘ ‘ bex. ’ ’

With minor associations having professional coaches, it is only reasonable that these associations will be come stronger yet. They will be faced with the problem of playing weak teams which in many instances have not the slightest chance of win ning. Nelson and Taranaki each have a coach. The minor associations in Wellington will in all probability be able to obtain the services of Wellington’s coaches, and the result will be that in a few years

Haw- Cup games will be given as much prominence as Plunket Shield games.

Sheffield Shield. Australian cricketers have entered upon their campaign of Sheffield Shield matches, in this contest the four States (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland) play each of the other States twice. One game is at home and the other away, and the result is that there is a succession of matches in the different capital cities of Australia. The first game was commenced last Saturday, when Queensland, who entered the contest for the first time last year, again meets New South Wales in the opening series. Later in the week the South Aus-tralia'-Victoria game was scheduled to commence

Last season New South Wales (280 and 475) defeated Queensland (356 and 391) by eight runs in the first match played at Brisbane. In the return game at Sydney, Queensland (547 and 300 for five) turned the tables on the Southern State (287 and 558) by winning by five wickets.

South Australia (481 and 267 for six) defeated Victoria (315 and 430) by three runs at Adelaide, but in the return match in Melbourne, Victoria (304 and 649) easily defeated the southerners (148 and 233) by 472 runs.

Last summer, in the Sheffield Shield games, every State was beaten at least twice, while the previous holders New South Wales, were beaten three times in the six matchqf played. It was peculiar that while New South Wales was defeated by each of the other States, she also defeated each of them. Up till this'season the contest had been in vogue for 30 years, during which time New South Wales has won the shield 17 times, Victoria 10 and South Australia 3.

Increased importance will be attached to the games this season because the form shown by the Commonwealth's leading players this year will have a big bearing on the selection of the Australian team which will meet England in the fight for the Ashes next season. The first test with the Englishmen next season will be played fairly early, so that necessarily the selectors, in picking the first test team, will have to go very largely on this season's performances, It is anticipated that the shield games will be concluded in time for the Australian team to visit New Zealand early next year.

The following are the Sheffield Shield matches for this season, the date on which each match begins being given: November 26—Queensland v. New South Wales, at Brisbane.

December 2—South Australia v. Victoria, at Adelaide. December 16—Victoria v. Queensland, at Melbourne. December 16—South Australia ’• New South Wales, at Adelaide. December 23—Victoria v. New South Wales, at Melbourne. December 23—South Australia v. Queensland, at Adelaide. December 30—Victoria v. South Australia, at Melbourne. Decembed 31—New South Wales v. Queensland, at Sydney. January 6—New South Wales v. South Australia, at Sydney. January 14—Queensland v. South Australia, at Brisbane ■January 26—New South Wales v. Victoria, at Sydney. February 3—Queensland v, Victoria, at Brisbane.

Inter-Provinolal Game*. After the first round of the Australian inter-state games have been played, New Zealand cricketers will be getting busy with their interprovincial games. The Plunket Shield contest commences in a few weeks and then the possibles and certainties to meet the Australians early in the new year will be seen in action. Apart from this aspect it will be interesting to see just how the distribution of the tourists has affected the strength of the various sides. Most of the games this year are to be in Wellington and Auckland, the two southern cities each having but one game but their turn will come next year

The decision to have only one professional playing m each side is, in "Mid-off’s” opinion, a very wise one. The value of the pro. is fully realised but with the steadily increasing number of them, the Plunket Shield games, in time, woud become a battle of pros. The underlying principle of importing the pro. is to coach up the New Zealander and make him selfreliant. Plunket Shield games—and Hawke Cup games too, for that matter, should be treated as tests for New Zealanders who have been coached by the professional. One pro. in each team is certainly accejptable, as he will be handy for the fine points of the game, but the true test comes in the amateur using his own initiative.

The following are the Plunket Shield games for this season:— December 24—Canterbury v. Otago, at Christchurch. December 31—Wellington v. Canterbury, at Wellington. January 2—Auckland v. Otago, at Auckland.

January 7—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Auckland. January 20—Otago v. Wellington, at Dunedin. January 28—Wellington v. Auckland, at Wellington.

“The match against Surrey gave us our first glimpse of the great Hobbs in action. In the first innings, he passed the aeotury. In the second, he was caught out by Bill Merritt tor a duck,” says K. James. “I'll remember that catch till my dying day. The ball went soaring up, and Bill went deashing after it, turned a couple of somersaults and fingerswings, and then we saw the ball in his hand, and Hobbs walking towards the pavillion. While the ball was in the air. the crowds of people had unconsciously risen to their feet gating after it—and then sank back with a gasp. It was a great catch.”

“One great bowler we did play against—and that was Larwood. Most of you have seen Ebeling in actionwell. Larwood is about three times as fast” s aid M. L. Page, to a Southern scribe. “After the match, you would aee the grass actually burn- 1 ed in every place where his fast ball pitched. No wonder he finished up at the top of English bowling.”

Apart from Bill Merritt our bowling was rather weak,” claimed K. James, tho Now Zealand ‘keeper. “What we needed was a slow lefthander, and a medium-fast off-spin bowler. I hope the next team that goes to England will include both of those types of bowler.”