W. H. PONSFORD.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1928, Page 1

W. H. PONSFORD.

THE WONDER BATSMAN. MELBOURNE, Jan. 2. It would appear that New Zealand cricket-lovers are in for a treat when the Australian team gets over there, for they are going to see Billy Ponsford, the greatest run-getter the world has ever known, at the top of his form. Ponsford is an absolute freak, a rungetting machine that never seems to run down. lie had a great season last year, when he knocked up 1104 runs in Sheffield Shield cricket, a record, but this fades into insignificance beside his performances this year. Already he has scored 1146 runs, and the season is only little more than half over.

Here are his figures to date —133 against South Australia, 437 against Queensland, 202 and 3S against New South Wales, and 336 against South Australia (second match). Five innings at an average of 229.2! He has earned his place among the immortals of cricket, for he has conclusively proved that he is the greatest run-get-ter the world ever has seen. A FEW RECORDS.

Ponsford holds many records for firsi class matches, and lias not many to heat. By. scoring 437 the other day against Queensland he established a world’s record. He also held the previous one—429 against Tasmania a few years ago, though there was some controversy as to whether that could lie classed as a first-class match. However there can be no doubt of the status of the Queensland match. That score also made him the only batsman the world has seen who has made more than 409 in a single innings twice. When he completed against South Australia on Saturday his score of 336 before beiiq stumped off Clarrie Grimmett another record went by the hoard, for it was the fourth time he had exceeded 300 in a single innings. W. G. Grace performed the feat three times. Besides holding the record Sheffield Shield aggregate for a season, lie has beaten the previous record score for the Sheffield series—Clem Hill’s 365 for South Australia against New South Wales—and the highest score previously made against Queensland (383 by Charlie Gregory for New South AVales), and ho has also made the highest score ever registered agafiist South Australia. With Armstrong, Trumper. and Noble ho shares the distinction of having made seven scores of 200 or over.