CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1926, Page 1

CRICKET.

POXSFORD. The comments written by “Third Map,” of Melbourne, appeared in Lhe “English Cricketer’s Annual” for 192526, edited hv P. L. Warner and are exceedingly interesting:—“Tho best of cricket critics here agree tluit W. IT. Ponsford (Victoria), judged bv the international standard, is not a good batsman. Were it not for his remarkably good eye, which enables him to succeed in spite of his numerous faults, he would never have risen into firstclass cricket. I have never seen a batsman in an inter-ytate or international team with so many defects. His stance at the wicket is neither graceful nor correct; ho crouches down, holds the hat handle too low. and his left shoulder points round toward square leg. Ilis fault is that ho does not get over the ball, but ‘pulls away.’ Often, when playing forward, there is a g,ap jf a foot or more between his bat and his left pad. while his head and shoulders are not over the line of the ball. He does not bring his left leg across to the off when dealing with balls on that side of tho stumps. How he makes such big scores in face of these faults is peculiar, and his success can be attributed to his wonderfully keen eye and his good footwork. Ponsford has two strokes which should prove useful on slow wickets—a hack drive and a drag to leg—hut on a wicket where the howler can make the ball do unexpected things, I (finnot sec how lie can succeed. He is the idol of the A ietorian public, however, and probably will be selected. Ponsford is a fast runner between the wickets, but is not too good a judge of a run. As a fieldsman he lias sure bands, but does not anticipate.”