CRICKET.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 8 December 1906, Page 3

CRICKET.

(By Scout) « . • A good judge of the game is of opinion that there is no better bowler m • Australia than R. Selk, whp wrought so much havoc with the l>all when playing for Western Australia against South Australia last year. Teacher to class : "Who was Grace Darling?" Smart kiddie, who follows cricket form closely : "Two of the best bally batsmen m the world, miss." Collapse of teacher. The seventeen from among whom the Auckland eleven will be picked have the assistance of Relf, the Sussex professional, four evenings a week, and his advice has been found to be exceedingly useful to the men, some valuable- ' hints ' having been given. Relf 1 does not attempt to alter the style of any of the players, but he shows, them how best to use the strokes they possess, and what they ought to leave alone. He has given valuable advice m fielding, and loses no oppontunity of ' brightening up this department. Owing to the Basin Reserve being taken up with the Y;M.C.A. Amateur Athletic Club's sports meeting, no senior championship competitions were under way last Saturday afternoon. Apropos of the squabble between Umpire Sando and the Phoenix team, it might be stated that the law expressly states that two umpires shall be appointed, one for each end— not one for each side, 'bear m mind. Once, Sir T. C. O'Brien, who came out with Vernon's team to Australia some years ago, ' was given out unfairly at Cambridge, and being curious to know the reason he went up to the umpire and said, "That was either a very ignorant decision or a downright swindle." The umpire, putting on his blandest smile, coolly replied : "I guess, sir, it was just a bit of both." But perhaps the' most unjustifiable decision given by an umpire was recorded m a Lancashire League match. Barlow, the celebrated stonewaller, was the victim of the decision of the umpire, who, on being remonstrated for his palpable error, innocently and cheerfully replied, "I didn't see it, but I gave him out arid he had to go." C. G. Macartney is said by a Sydney scribe to be qualifying for honors m the next Australian eleven. If he keeps up his present form he has a promising future m international pricket. They say, notwithstanding reports to the contrary,- that Joe Darling will be about when the next Australian team is packing up its "port, Sammies" far Fogland." ,J. Darling, Sid Gregory and F. S. Jackson were all born m the same year, IS7O. Though he has been playing m in-ter-State cricket for over a dozen years, Joe Darling, strange to say, has made only. one hundred m Sheffield Shield matches, and that against New South Wales ten years ago. A. H. Fisher, the Otago and New Zealand representative, is showing fine form with bat and ball for Carisbrook A team, Dunedin, this season. Alick Downes was on the job for Grange against Opoho, bagging 6 for 14 m the first innings and securing all the three wickets down m the hillmen's second essay for 4 runs: K. Bain registered 101 for Riccarton against St. Alban's last Saturday and was undefeated when the innings terminated. Sid Callaway, playing on the same side rattled on 39 at a great bat. Charlie Gregory was presented with a bat with a silver shield on the back, on which is inscribed: Presented to C. Gregory by a few admirers m recognition of his record score of 383 at Brisbane, Nov.. 1906. It Is stated that W. W. Armstrong, the Victorian champion all-round cricketer, has developed fluid on the knee. If so this may keep him out of interstate cricket for some time. The way m which the selectors of interstate teams ignore the claims of i that fine all-round cricketer Bowden for inclusion m repreppn' alive cricket is extraordinary (says the "Sports- j

man.") He is undoubtedly the best exponent of slow-break bowling; m N.S.W.,'and can also send down a fairly fast straight ball by way of a change. He is a plucky hard-hitting batsman and good fieldsman. In thefew minor matches of importance m which he took part he did remarkably well, whilst m club cricket he invariably attains a high position. At present he has taken more wickets (20) than any other first-grade bowler, and at the low' cost of 11 runs a wicket. Wanting bowlers Sp badly as we do, it is incomprehensible how he is overlooked. The finances of the N.S.W.C.A. are by no means m a flourishing state just at present, and by way of economy it is proposed to abolish the payment of the 2s 6d allowed the umj Fires for their expenses. Should this i be done there will be a dearth of um- | pires of standing,, and m outlying districts it will be very difficult to get an umpire at all. It is intended to try and arrange matters so that the present umpires can officiate m the districts m which they live. Cobcroft asserts that Upham refused a substitute for Brice on the last night of the Midland-Phoenix match. The Midland skipper gives a pointblank denial to "Corbie's" statement. One of the two is a beautiful' liar. Who is m the direct line of descent from Ananias I leave my readers to judge. I know which of thepate I would sort out as the correct j ,"ea. ■ ■ ■ | The complete performances of Allan 1 Marshall, the ex-Queenslander, and at one time member of the Padding-ton team., for the London Co. C. C. m 1906 are as follows :— During the season he created five new records for the club, viz., highest aggregate, 3578 ; highest score, 300* ; 12 centuries m one season ; 167 wickets and 40 catches. In all cricket he made 4350 runs, 14 centuries,, and took 210 wickets. His centuries for London County were :-500*, 245, 219, 204*. 171, 167, 138, 135, 118, 112, 101, 201. He batted 53 times, six not out : average 76.12. With (he ball he took 167 wickets for . 2355 runs ; ave.raee. 14.10. Prodigious ! ! Ty Wesley's benefit match waS a bumper one' ; he received no less than £3105.