CRICKET CHAT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1929, Page 2

CRICKET CHAT

(Burwood in Dominion.) The fact that the M.C.C. team has not yet set the Australian pitches on fire with the force of their diives does not imply that the side is a weak one. The opening match against West Australia at Perth was played on a rain-soaked wicket, on which it was impossible for either side to make runs. However, the Englishmen had no difficulty in registering a comfortable win, thanks to deadly howling by the two slow trundlers, Bowley and Woolley. Everyone knew that Frank Yiooiioy could bowl, hut it must come as a surprise to New Zealanders, and particularly to Aucklanders, to learn that Ted Bowley is a really good slow bowler. The Sussex professional last season bagged 82 wickets in county matches, at an average of 25.19 pm wicket. I could never understand why C. C. Dacre, when leading the Auckland representative eleven, oul not make more use of Bowley s .‘•Ion howling. More than once, when Wellington were piling up a long score against Auckland at the Basin Reserve, Bowley could have been employed with ‘ great advantage, but Dacre rarely gave him an over. Bowley is one of the best all-rounders in England to-day, and lias been for many seasons past, and it is pleasing to see him at Inst getting the recognition due to his ability. Last season, he came second in the Sussex batting averages, with an aggregate of 2130 runs at an average of 4 per innings, and his all-round ability is evident from the fact that he aas third in the howling averages. New Zealanders will-find that Bowley can bowl all right. VALUE OF SPIN BOWLING. That spin bowling can .beat the besiof batsmen Woolley and Bowley pioved at Perth. Clarrie Grimmett, the ex-New Zealander, also drove home this truth by firing the English eleven out at Adelaide last week-mu. for the small total of 168 run®. Grimmett is, without question, thmost dangerous googlv bowler, in fh p game to-day, and batsmen have to get used to his wiles before they ear hope to keep their wickets intact when facing him. The man who shaped as well as anv against Grimmett it? New Zealand recently was H. B. Massey. This batsman use to step back almost on to his sticks, and pull the googlv merchant to long-leg. “I was scared every time 1 played the shot,’’ said Massey, after hitting up 09 <<dd. “that I was going to tread on my wicket.” Massey’s method of dealing with Grimmett’s deadly leg-breaks vas sound, as lie protected his sticks noth his pads. C. ®. Dempster, on the same tour, in one innings at the Basin Reserve was having a‘swi ng at Grimmett and trying to bash aim to square-leg. “I wouldn’t play that shot if I were you, Stewie,’’ quietly advised Oldfield, the Australian wicketkeeper. “This fellow can break feet on Australian wickets, and qn these pitches he will turn the ball yards.” A few overs afterwards Dempster had another swish and cnei went his pulpit—clean bowled round his legs. But if England has her Bowley and Woolley, and Australia her Grimmett, New Zealand also possesses in W. E. Merritt a googlv bowler who is just as full of guile as any of them. In view of the coming trials of strength between New Zealand and the English team, it’ is very pleasing to know that Merritt this season is the very top of his form. Each Saturday in Christchurch lie has been reaping a veritable harvest of wickets. Last Saturday he was in most destructive form for Old Boys, when he bagged six wickets for 40 inns against""West Christchurch, who fell for 97.

That the M.O.C. team has a good bowling string was evident from the fact that South Australia could only total 259 against them last week-end. Barratt, the burly Notts fast boviei. accounted for four for 61Nichols, the Essex trundler,. captured three for 66; Allom, the Cambridge University and'Surrey representative, took two for 56; and Worthington, the Derbyshire express merchant, one for 61. That the wicket could scarcely have been of the best is evident by the fact that the cables informed us that Wall, the Australian fast bowler, “made the hall hump dangerously. When the Englishmen get their land logs and get more accustomed to the fast Australian pitches they may prove that they are quite a iespectable side.

CAN NEW ZEALAND HOLD

THEM ?

The visit of the English team to New Zealand this year will mean a great deal to cricket in the Dominion . Many people, even including the M.C.C.. are of opinion that Now Zealand has at last attained its cricket majority and should be invited to compete with England, Australia and /South Africa in Test matches. If New Zealand can put up ft good fight against the M.C.C. team this season, this will strengthen the Dominion s claim to a place, in the cricket sun. J am with those who believe that New Zealand can place a team in the field which would give mv country a good game. The trouble with New Zealand teams in the past l as been mainly nervousness. The reputations of the world-renowned players opposed to them from overseas too often caused a panic, with disastrous results. The tour of England which the New Zealand team made

in 1927 should have removed this bot-tom-dog foaling and given the players who much* the trip confidence. !hvent visits from good overseas teams to this country lias also proved to our players that the greatest howlers can be hit and the greatest bal.-anen howled. Willi players such ns Lowry, Merritt, Blunt, Dempster, and James New Zealand should he able to build up an eleven which will extend the Englishmen to the fullest, and even beat them in the Tests.