Out Door Sports and Pastimes Cricket.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 175, 7 November 1903, Page 20

Out Door Sports and Pastimes

Cricket.

By Touchline.

WANTED, for the Wellington Cricket Association, a groundsman, one who thoroughly understands the preparing of wickets on which to play cricket matches." Something to the above effect, I submit, in a]} seriousness, ought to have appeared in the daily papers this week as the result of last "Monday's meeting of the Cricket Association. The wickets provided for matches on the Basin Reserve so far this season have been highly unsatisfactory, and unless some decisive steps are taken by the powers that be cricketers themselves will be giving the game best. For instance, last Saturday Mahony, the wicket-keeper of the Wellington team, positively declined, after Wilhams's experience the previous' Saturday, to take his accustomed position: "behind, the sticks" for Wellington.. Of course^ he had a strong influence that compelled him to take the action he did, and therefore he cannot be blamed for a seeming want of pluck. For plucky, indeed, is the player who stands up to his work as a wicket-keeper under pre~ sent conditions in Wellington. During the first two days' play in the Midland-Wellington match, No 2 wicket was bad, but that adjective is not strong enough for its condition during the continuation of the game last Saturday — it was positively atrocious. The ball kicked and jumped all over the dace, and,' although the batsmen cot the most of the knocks thereby, the "kickinessf" of the wickets was against the bowlers, for good-length balls generally got above the top of the wickets. Especially was this the case at the farther end of the wicket, where there was a pronounced drop between the batting crease and the wickets. One could keep on relating incidents and edving advice, but what is the use ? The Ground Committee of the Associar tion know as well as I do the causes and the cure of the trouble, and, in the interests of the game, they should insist on good wickets being prepared for championship matches. If not, directly they will find the cricketers themselves advocating the taking of the tram-line through the Reserve. * » * The outstanding feature of the continuation of the Midland-Wellington senior match last Saturday was the brilliant innings played by Arnold Williams. Starting uncertainly, which was due to the bumpiness of the wicket referred to above, he warmed to h)s work, and gave a display worthy of the best traditions associated with his name. Williams has given many fine displays of batting, but I venture to assert that last Saturday's was the best in a long career. Every stroke was made with an equal amount of certainty — the square hit to leg, the leg glance, thedrive, the hook, the late cut, and the forward cut, all were in evidence, and well executed. True, there were occasions when he was beaten by the ball, but it missed the wickets as well as his bat those times. There was also a time when, by the nearest of near things, he just got horn© at the end of a sharp run, but those are the happenings at cricket, and do not in any way detract from a masterly display. * * * The Miilanders totalled 204 runs for nine wickets on Satuiday, taking three and a-half hours to gather them together, scoring at the rate of just on sixty runs an hour. Williams' contribution was 89, Weybourne following with 24/ Hickson 16, Hutchings 19 (not out), Mitchell 11, and Stephenson 10. * * * Weybourne gathered together 24 in a methodical manner for him. He appeared to me to time his strokes very badly, apparently having neglected to make regular appearances at the practice wickets since he made his score in the first innings. As one swallow does not make a summer, neither does one score make a cricketer. I may be wrong in my conclusion — I hope so at any rate. Mitchell had a bit of luck in getting us two-figure score, although he pickrl some good balls off his middle in, and banged them to leg. The

lack consisted in getting the decision in lus favour for caught at the v.ickets before he had scoied. Hickson made the best of the balls played by him bang on to the centre of the bat, and at no time during his stay at the v.ickets did he appear like gettang out. Stephenson pegged away in good style, but he stopped one with his legs in front of the wickets, and had to pay the penalty. Hutohings showed good cricket m getting his wot-out score, and qualified easily for his nlace in the team. In Upham's total of 7 (not out), he made a beautiful swinging stroke to long leg, which produced five runs. * * * Richardson worked his bowling well last Saturday, the changes being frequent, and relished by the bowlers. It was a trying afternoon in the field, and the way the Wellington players stuck to their work right up to the delivery of the last ball was worthy of commendation. Mahony came out as Wellington's first change bowler on this occasion, and although he got plenty of work on the most of his deliveries, he could not keep them off the le<?-side, in the sending of which to the fence Williams proved very effective. Hales pegged away with the conditions against him. When bowling from the near end, his best-length balls had no chance whatever of taking the wicket, as, on account of the drop previously referred to, the ball went across the top of the sticks. His average of three for 41 is, therefore, all the more creditable. Ashbolt bow led well, and kept the batsmen quiet for a long while. When at his best, he had the more solid of the Midland batsmen, opposite him. and his figures of three for 41 were not bad under the circumstances. Fish puts a lot of vigour into his bowling, delivering right across the top of the wickets, with a sharp over-hand ball. For a first appearance he did well, and if he has the opportunity to practise should do better. * * * The fielding of the Wellington team w as excellent, the ground work especially so, considering; the unevenness of the fielding area. Barney Weyboume's agility was the theme of much favourable comment. *■ *• The game was resumed on Monday night, Hutchings and TJpham carrying the score to 235 before Mahony got one past the Midland captain. TJpham scored 29, and Hutchings 28 (not out). When stumps were drawn on Monday niifht, the Wellington team had 8 runs towards the 258 necessary to win the match, Gore and Richardson being the batsmen. Play will be continued to-night (Friday). Victor Trumper was 26 years of age on the 2nd instant. McMichael 35, Layer 37, Horan 51, Giller 38 — best scores in Melbourne cricket on a recent Saturday. M. A. Noble, S. E. Gregory, and F. A. Iredale constitute the Selection Committee of the New South Wales Cricket Association this season. Poidevin, the Australian cricketer who has spent a season with the London County Club, is expected to return to Sydney some time next week. He is on board the Orontes. M. A. Noble scored a century in a match between a Newcastle team and one of his own selection. Other scorers in the match were : — Trumper 55, E. G. Noble 91, and J. J. Kelly 30. The latest Australian papers state that Trumble has commenced practising at the Melbourne Cricket Club's wiokets. but there is still some doubt whether he intends to take part in any more big cricket. Warren, who, if memory serves me right, played for the Midland Club here some years ago, rattled up a good score of 64 for the North Shoie Club (Auckland) in its opening match this season. His side's total was 121. In view of the tour of the English team through Australia the following Sydney batting figures may prove interesting :—: — F. A. Iredale 42, Hopkins 83, C. Gregory 22, W. Hume 77, B. W. Farquhar 108 (not out), Trumper 65 (not out), M. A. Noble 34 (not out), Duggan 59, Cotter 51, E. B. Dwyer 103. The Wellington Cricket Association have* a bye-law tha,t players must be attired in proper cricketing costume. Whoever is responsible for the carry-ing-out of the rule should see that it is observed in the matches played on the Basin Reserve. I noticed at least one player in the Wadestown team not in flannels. Continued on page 21.

A coi respondent writes — "A question arose in the Drapers v. Union match last Wednesday, which is causing a lot of controversy. The Unions declared their second innings closed with five wickets down, but the Drapers exceeded the former's total, and they (the Unions) claimed the right to resume their innings. Have they the right to resume?" Surely my correspondent cannot have read, the rules of the game with an understanding mind, or else he would no* ask such a question. The rule reads —"The in side may declare their innings at an end." The Unions, in declaring with five wickets down, completed the innings by that act, and it the Drapers exceeded their totaJ they have won the match. * * * The Otago Cricket Association are going systematically to work to get the full advantage to its players of the services of Shacklock, the professional v horn they have engaged for this season. May their enterprise be rewarded to the fullest extent. Personally, I would like to advocate a similar course being followed by the Wellington Cricket Association but the improvement of the Basin Reserve as a playing area is of more importance at the present tune. * ♦ * The 156 scored by Clem Hill, referred to in last w eek's notes, took that brilliant batsman 165 minutes to put together. "Barclay's bowline; was found fairly easy by the Ponsonbyites," is an Auckland writer's comment on the ParneJl Club's professional. Callaway (five for 28) and Wilding (five for 44)— two of Canterbury's veteran players, the latter particularly so -H-ere in a bowling humour on Saturday week. Judo-ing by the first day's play, the senior "teams in Auckland appear to be •very even. This should go a long way towards making the newly-instituted district scheme a success. Ike Mills, a well-known Auckland representative cricketer and 1 footballer, is playing the summer game this season. His first journey to the wickets left him with a total of 8 (not out). "Stemson is still an exceedingly clever and resourceful bowler," according^ to "Actseon," in the "Auckland Star. 1 remember Bill as a bowler as far back as 1888— so the "still" is appropriate.

The matches for to-mono\\ are — Wellington v. Phoenix, and Midland v. Old Boys. The former team should win in each instance. Siedeberg and Austin — two of Ota.go's foremost cricketeis— had the unpleasant experience of being dismissed for "ducks" the first time they went to the batting crease this season. I am informed that Hurley, who plays for the Union, Club (a Wednesday team), is good enough for a place in any of our senior teams but the nature of his employment prevents him from playing on Saturdays. The English team commence their series of matches in Australia to-mor-row (Saturday), when they meet South Australia. The first test match is set down to be played at Sydney on the 11th December. W. Mills, here with the last Auckland lepiesentative team, opened the season with five wickets for 63. Lundon (three for 28) was another bowler who met with success. He umpired in the last Auckland-Wellington match played here. Some Dunedin batsmen's figures — How den 20, G. Thomson 23 (not out), Baker 75, Chadwick 20, A. Downes 22, Roberts 25, Ferguson 30, Henderson 20, J. Downes 35 (not out), Drumm 36, Latham 26, Mackeisey 54, J. Moore 71 (not out). Callaway 72, Hammond 39 (not out), Sims 35, J. D. Lawrence 52. Garrard 32 (not out), H. Lawrence 81 a,nd 30, Kinvig 29, Reese 34, H. C. Radley 30, and F. Wilding 24, were the biggest scorers during the last two Saturday s play in Christchurch. Contrary to expectations, the Phoenix and Old Boys teams did not avail themselves of the opportunity of using No. 1 wicket last Saturday.' The players themselves know best, of course, but it seemed to me the practice they would have obtained by an afternoon's play would have been useful. A Sydney "Newsletter" item — "By the way, in the list of those selected to practice with a view to playing for South Australia, against the Englishmen, I notice 'G. Giffen ' The name seems familiar' Surely I have seen it somewhere before ! Is he know nat all in cnoket circles ? Is it his fhst or second time on earth?" Giffen has been given a place in the South Austra'han team, and there are many of us in Wellington whoi would like to see him perform well enough to play in the test matches.