Cricket. Out Door Sports And Pastimes

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 176, 14 November 1903, Page 20

Cricket.

Out Door Sports And Pastimes

By Touchline.

SURPASSING bnght was the display of batting given by the Phcenix team in the opening stage of their game against the Wellington team last Saturday. Right from the delivery of the first over till the end of the day's play the display was characterised by aggressiveness more than anything else on the part, oi the Phoenicians. Each succeeding batsman followed the example set by Redgrave and Mowatt in opening the innings, seeming to come to the wickets with the intention of hitting hard and often. To this end they were assisted by the bow ling and fielding of their opponents. The major portion of the trundling was on the weak side, a good-length ball being a rare exception. And the fielding —bee; pardon that is the only word in the laws of cricket that applies to the work of the out team— w as not what one expects to see when w atohing senior players indulging in the summer pastime There were exceptions, ot course, but this comment applies to the fielding generally. To give a few instances — A simple catch ?t mid-off was dropped by a hitherto reliable fieldsman, a couple ot fast ones in the slips were allowed to co by an easy chance of catching at the wickets and of stumping met similar fates These were chances that should have been accepted by the fieldsmen, and the leeway they have now to make up when they take their turn at the wickets would have been reduced considerably. However, these occurrences go to make up the eaane of cricket and if the Phoenix players were lucky it was only because the-v took the chances, and eveiry credit is due to them for their fine display of exhilarating batting. Redgrave 98, Day 48, Waters 47, Brice 45 (not out), Mow att 24, Hurley 13, and Naughton 12 were the doublefigure scorers in the total of 311 for nine wickets. * » * Redgrave's innings was full of dash. On all sides of the wicket he was very effective, but a peculiar stroke over his shoulder to long leg put a Lot of runs on, the score-sheet. A late cut generally found the boundary, and he placed the ball nicely on the leg side. Many of his strokes were uppish, and. altogether, though he scored quickly, his was not a stylish display. His hits were not "according to Cocker," by any means, but, as the main object of a batsman is to make runs, he can, be forgiven on that score for the big aggregate he made. He had bad luck in not reaching the coveted three figures, although he was fortunate in being let off when he had about forty runs to his credit. Mow att's innings was the most stylish on his side, his strokes being solid and pretty. A great hit was one he made off Hales over the fence near the Caledonian Hotel. Mowatt's offdrives were full of power, and straight alone; the carpet. Victor Waters signalised his first, appearance at the 1 batting crease this season with an innings worthy of his reputation. As a matter of fact, although. Waters does not, as a rule, have to stay long before many run® are opposite his name he scored quicker than, usual last Saturday. He kept the fieldsmen in the country very busy during his stay. George Day is fulfilling this season the promise he gave when promoted to the Phcenix senior team last year. There is plenty of defence in his batting, with a lot of aggressive strokes. He has a weakness for the on-drive, but still he makes it splendidly. The square and the late cut, and the placing of the ball clear of the fieldsmen on the on-side, were amongst the best features of Day's display m the match under review. Stanley Brice, the lengthy one from Petone, came in to have a> lash. His team v. ere doing so well by that means he thought it was only right he should follow the example set him. But, nevertheless, he did not sacrifice his defence for that reason. Included in his inninas was one fine drive bang up against the wall of the Caledonian

Hotel and a sweet stioke to Jog that put h\e iuiis on the score-sheet. Naughton is a batsman of tlhe sedate older but he was afflicted with the same trouble' as his mates — he was out to nake runs too. When fairly going he had hard luck in being declared out ca.ught at the wickets. Hurley, the Wednesday player refen ed f n last week, has been fortunate enough to get off from lus employment on Saturday afternoons, and has thrown in his lot with the Phoenix team. He seemed to me to be ill at ease during his stay at the wickets, the- strain of a fast appearance possibly affecting him. Hurley has a nice stand at. the wickets, and bats in a ca.ieful and corlect style, and, if I may veniturei a piophecy will be a tow er of strength to the Phoenicians directly. Thcie was something radically wrong with the Wellington bowline on Saturday. Perhaps, the aggressiveness of the Phoenix batsmen mierht account for it, but, despite frequent changes by the Wellington captain, ea.ch in turn seemed to sufter fiom a tned feelnxe — the effoit to get the ball the fuJl distance being too great for most of t/hem. Hales, even, could not kee<p the batsmen quiet, and he generaJly can manage that much. However, his averasre of six w ckets for 84 runs w ould have been much better if he had received full assistance from the field — there 1 weie not less than Six catches dropped off his. bowling. Fish was another successful bowler, the two wickets he obtained, however, eost'ng 50 runs. Richardson, Taylor, and Ashbo'lt sent down twenty-five overs between them with, nary a wicket, and Mahomy was successful in breaking up the first paitneiship — Mowatt and Redgiave. ■*•>-+- The match on No. 2 wicket, between the Midland and Old Boys, was dull alongside the other game. The ex-Col-leigians had first strike, but, with ? total of 57 runs on the score-sheet, the last pair of batsmen retired to the pavilion,. Many of them tried ineffectually to bans; Stephenson's bowling over the pavilion fence, but, instead of hitting straight they pulled them to the on, and in that direction the fence was too far, and the Midlanders generally had safe hands. KukcaMie 12 (not out), Tucker 11, and J. P. Blacklock 11 were the- only doubles-figure scorers. Kirkcaldie has been seonng so well in comparison to his mates lately that I venture to* recommend him to open the innings with Staples the next timei they go to the w lckets, putting Tucker in fiist wicket down. By this means they may cnve the innings a good start, and so encourage the succeeding players Tucker looked like making any number of runs when he dragged a. simple ball from Stephemson info the safe hands of Hutohings at wide long-on. J. P. Blacklock made one fine hit over the band rotunda m his totail, but his stay was all to>o short at the waokets. He has a taking stvlei of batting, but has. not yet got into the form, he displayed before he went to Kruger's land. Stephenson (six for 28) a.id U "ham (three for 23) accounted for the Old Boys' wickets. During last season Upham's aggregate of wickets mi senior championship matches crossed 500. I w onder how many there w ill bei standing to his credit when he takes to bowl's? Let us hope, however, that that time will be a long while in coming, for, on present appearances, Upham is still our best fast bowler. * -v * The Midlanders wound up the da.y's play 87 runs to tihe good, with half their wickets in hand. Hickson 50, Quee 38 (not out), and Williams 24 were responsible for the major portion of their team's total. Claud Hickson is still the same old plodder with but few scaring strokes, and a decided weakness. His last two dismissals will illustrate the weakness. In the Wellington match he w as bow led off his pads, and last Satuiday his legs weie again the trouble/ — Ire nut them in front to a straight ball. At last Billy Quee has. come to light with a double-figure score. A fine batsman, full of aggressiveness when faiilv going, and with any number of scoring strokes, Quee is one of the best we have m Wellington. He is an enthusiast too and deserves success. Arnold W T ilhams put another doublefiguie score to hi® credit on Saturday, but I did not get a good view when he was at the wicket* — mv attention was fully occupied at tlw time A fine drive for 6, however, was included in his tally. Williams' scoies so far this season aie 18 87, and 24 — an average of 43. Jack Hutohings lun himself out in this match and. now that, he has lost his wicket by his performances in this

dnection, lie will be inclined to credit my early comment Ims season,, when treating of his return to the Midland team. His wicket should bei worth at any time more than a risky run. Stanley Brow n, who has a swerve from leg in lus bow hngr was promoted to the Old Boys' senior team, but, although he got Williams' wicket, he kept too much on the leg-side to be particularly effective. Tucker has great hopes of making something above the ordinary out of Brown, so if he can keep his bowling within the limits to guve hist swerve ai fair chancei, he ma.y be what the eix-Co]-legians are looking fo.r — someone to keep the runs down. a,nd get wickets ait the same time * * * Both matches w ill be resumed next Saturday, and the Phoenix- Wellington match will, no doubt, attract, a lot of attention. The following note will answer a questuon asked me last Saturday — "If one bail is off it is sufficient to remove the remaining one with the bartl in order to stump or run a batsman out." Coptinued on page 21.

The time taken m playing to a finish a senior match in Wellington is eenerally disheartening. For example, the Midland-Wellington match has already taken thiee Satuidays and two evenings and is a long way from completed vet In the other centres in New Zealand only two Saturday afternoons are allowed for each game, the first innings deciding the match if theie is not sufficient time to play t\\ o innings. The cricket is, therefore, much brighter than in Wellington. Of course it is no use suggesting an alteration of the existing formula to the powers that control Wellington cricket— what was good enough tor the cncketers of the past is surely 'ootl enough for the cricketers of the present ' \nd the public who take an interest in the game. What about them? Cricketers play the game for the games sake only, and are not affected at all by the feelines of the public, and v.ould play equally as well as if there weie no. interested parties watching them. teo what is the use of advocating a change * * * •The Cncket Association are. to bla^e for the present condition oi the wickets on the Basin Reserve, says a writer m the daily papers. Itt that there is not much doubt, although 1 was informed last week that No. 2 wicket is dropping m places. It may not be generally known, but the Basin Reserve. I am assured, w.as originally swamp land, and if it shows shrinkage in places it is only m the nature ot things. I am not an expert in the preparation of wickets, of course, but it seems to me even this could be provided tor. However, I have saad my say, and the sooner a decided improvement is shown the bettei the players will be pleased. * * * A South African team w ill visit England next season, playing sixteen firstclass matches. Mailer, who was here with the Melbourne Oncket Club team a few years ago, has left Victoria to settle in Queensland. Baker, the Dunedin batsman, who many of us w ould like to see batting when m the humour, put a tally of 42 on the score-sheet a w eek back Alec Downes, the Otago oncketer, lecently secured nine wickets for 38 runs. Evidently, the Southern ciack is still m the first flight as a bowler. The Wellington correspondent of the "Canterbury Times" sajs an Umpires Association is badly needed in Wellington. lam not going to contradict the statement. Latest Auckland scores —I Mills b6, Sterrjson 46 (not out), Elliott 26, W. T. Wynyard 11 (not out), Stevenson 3/, KavanaP-h, 23 Magee 31, Sloman 30, F. Murray 37 (not out). Adams, of the Albion Club, Dunedin I presume the footballer of that name — took two hours to make 25 runs m a senior match recently. He went in first, and was unbeaten at the end of his side's innings. J. Lynes, formerly one of the East Melbourne staff of professionals, is taking up his residence in Invercargill. He is said to be a capable leg bow ler, and should prove of great assistance to the cricket in the far South city. An Auckland comment — 'Stem son never bowled better. He took_no less t-han nme wickets, at a cost of 7.5 iuiis a-piece. His fast, good-length ball was used with splendid judgment, and no one was at home to him." A Sydney . writer says — "As a bowler, Marsh has gifts no other man m Australia— and probably no other man in the w orld — possesses. He curves the ball, he bowls a peculiar dropping ball, and his break back on a perfect w lcket is phenomenal for a bowler of his pace " Some good scoring m Chnstchurch — Sydenham rattled up 106 runs in, ninety minutes, to which Lancaster Park replied with 138 runs in an hour and ahalf. Bennett (63^ and Macdonald (33) were the principal agents in gathering together the former's score, Callaw ay (72) and Hammond (39 not out) being the aggressors for the latter. There are more than two Yorkshiremen in Wellington' If you don't believe me, just casually remark anywhere you like in the town, I notice Rhodes took a wicket with the first ball he bowled in Australia," and I guarantee the remark w ill be received with enthusiasm by one, or other of his fellowcoaintymen. I have tried the experiment, so I know . The. opening match, of the Englishmen against South Australia points to the present tour being an interesting one. At time of writing, the match is not finished, but the fine batting of the Englishmen was the conspicuous feature of the game as far as it had gone when this note was written. Wayward Braund, Lilley, Warner Hirst, Re f, and Bosanquet all contributed to the total of 483 runs for eight wickets put together by tlio Englishmen. Such good form in the opening match will cause many to enthuse.