CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1927, Page 1

CRICKET.

Australian & N.ziCable Association.)

CRICK *

LONDON, Sept. 4. “Tho Times’s” cricket writer says: •‘This has been Hammond's year. He is a fast-wicket ha Rim an. If tlie wickets lmtl remained (firm, there is no telling "what records ho would have broken. His methods may he a trifle adventurous, hut Fry, Hayward, Abel, Ranjitsinhji and other great runmakers might well have had their great aggregates surpassed. He is now established as a batsman of the very highest class. If he curbs his inclination to score unnecessarily fast, ho should be even a greater force on Australian wickets. Hallows has a better record on paper than in 1920, but be sacrificed much />f his batting charm because his mission was to see that a match was not lost, ratjier "than won. Mead has been a toweff of strength, hut ho has eoti^slioiitl^.been. rated, especially when a test was Being played to a finish in Australia. Hobbs is still tho best bat in the worldj ,-ind can be trusted to give perfect exhibitions under any conditions. Sutcliffe is not far behind him. Jai'diue has introduced a greater variety of strokes. Any English team, especially that of tourists in Australia, will he incomplete without him. Bates, Leyland, Ames, and Barling may next July bo regardaTTle as highest class batsmen. The fact is that there is a wealth of hatting talent.” “The howlers provide a less cheerful outlook, remembering that our chief task is the Australian visit in 1928. Tate is making too many runs. ,A much needed rest should restore his full glory. Larwood was howling better than ever when he injured his knee, hut we must bo pessimistic when a fast bowler damages the leg on which he puts his weight. The most important matter is to find length bowlers, who, in the Australian test, count for much more than funny howlers. There have, been wickets this season which would have helped a combination like Blythe and -Fail-service, or ITaigh and AVainwright, but no howlers gained any advantage thereby. Sibbles has been wisely coached, and ho offers the best hope. S. Staple has great possibilities.” “Tho Now Zealanders’ visit has compensated for the inter-county disappointments. They deserve unstinted thanks for tho pleasure which they have given. They have been stouthearted. modest and able. Under Lowry’s captaincy they have avoided the stupid little frictions incidental to so many tourist teams. The New Zealand team’s charm lies in its obvious enjoyment of playing. Their early successes did not alter their attitude They came to lonrn tho finer points.

LONDON, Sept 4. Players made 330 for 4 (Hobbs 119, Holmes 127. North first 203 (Gunn 78). Hearne took 0 for 70. South made 85 for 1 (Brown 50). n KINGSTON (Jamaica) Sept. 4. It is stated Lionel Tennyson is bringing a strong cricket team next year, possibly including Carr. White, Lyon, Arnott and Cresswell.