CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19996, 13 January 1927, Page 4

CRICKET.

Bt Slip. NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S TOUR. The following is the itinerary of the New Zealand team during its tour of England:— May 11, 12, 13.—M.C.C., at Lord’s. May 14, 16, 17. —Essex, at Leyton. May 18. 19, 20. —Cambridge, University, at Cambridge. May 21, 23, 24. —Middlesex, at Lord’s. May 25, 26, 27.—Royal Navy, at Portsmouth. May 28, 30, 31. —Sussex, at Hove. June 2, 3. —Wiltshire, at Swindon. June 4,6, 7. —Oxford University, at Oxford. June 8,9, 10.—Worcestershire, at Worcester. June 11, 13, 14. —Northampton, at Kettering. June 15, 16, 17. —Leicestershire, at Leicester. June 18, 20. —Durham, at Sunderland. June 22, 23. —Northumberland, at New-castle-on-Tyne; June 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, July I. Reserved Ur Scotland. July 2,4, 5. —Yorkshire, at Bradford. July 6,7, 8. —Nottinghamshire, at Nottingham. July 9, 11, 12. —East of England, at Wisbech. July 13. 14. 15.—Gentlemen v. Players, at Lord’s. July 16, 18, 19.—Civil Service, at Chiswick. July 20, 21, 22. —Army, at Folkestone. July 23, 25, 26. —Warwickshire, at Birmingham. July 27, 28, 29. —West of England, at Exeter.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Hain again interfered with play on Saturday, and only very enthusiastic juniors had a full afternoon’s cricket. In both the senior matches adjournments were made, and in the Carisbrook-Albion game the weather stopped what was beginning to prove one of the brighest displays seen on Carisbrook for some time. Duncan and Blair opened Albion’s innings, and both shaped confidently. -They attacked Blunt and Dickinson freely, and both looked like staying longer. Blamires was aggressive from the start, but Shepherd, when he joined the veteran, was content for a time to wait for loose balls. He was not long, however, in getting into his stride. The spectators were then treated to a sparkling exhibition of hard hitting. Blamires was at his best, driving with great power. Shepherd showed some of his old form, giving the ball the full face of the bat at every stroke. Blamires appeared to be well on the way towards his century when the rain began to fall. It is understood that he will be but of town on Saturday, so that he will not have an opportunity of reaching the three-figure mark. Dickinson was erratic at the start, and though he had placed all his field on the off side he pitched several balls on the leg. When he moderated his pace he howled with greater accuracy. Blunt was the hardest-worked bowler, but he was not imparting his usual spin to the ball. Douglas turned little, if any, and he proved expensive. M'Gavin, promoted from the juniors, failed to find a length, but had he been kept on a little longer he might have done better. In the field Blunt Was as safe as usual, and Holden did a lot of useful work. Escpiilant, who was replacing Green behind the stumps, shaped well, and Dickinson never_ once beat him. Owing to the absence of Galland and A. W. Alloo, their two principal bowlers, Grange’s attack was greatly weakened m the match against Dunedin, and Conradi and Elmes were left to bea the brunt of the work. Cherry’s early departure removed one of the obstacles from the Grange bowlers path, and M'Gregor, too, bad a short stay. Anderson, who has been fc rly consistent of late, came to light with a contribution of 24, but the bright spot was Strangs innings of 87. Strang has struck form this season, and this is his best effort so far. He attacked the bowling without fear, and collected his runs with well-timed strokes. To have been run out when so near his century was an unfortunate termination to a bright display. Co-radi ’nls the most dangerous bowler, and Elmes showed improvement as a trundler.

RECORD PARTNERSHIPS. Three records have been created in Plunket Shield cricket so far this season. The following is a full list of record partnerships;— first wicket—2ol, by E. Horspool and A. Anthony for Auckland against Wellington, 1924-25 Second wicket—227, by W. A. Baker and B J. Kortlang for Wellington against Otago, 1923-24. Third wicket—222, by S. G. Smith and N. r C. Sneddon for Auckland against Hawke’s Bay, 1920-21. Fourth wicket—lßo, by N. C. Sneddon and C. Dacre. for Auckland against Wellington, 1922-23. , ~ Fifth wicket-197, by C. Dacre and C. Alcctt for Auckland against Otago, 1926,27. Sixth wicket—lß4, by D. C. Collins , and H. M. M'Girr for Wellington against Otago, 1923-24. ~ Seventh wicket—l 74, by C. A. .Snedden and A. Anthony for Auckland against Canterbury, 1920-21. , Eighth wicket—ls 4, by K. C. James and F. T. Badcock for Wellington against Canterbury, 1926-27. _ Ninth wicket-115, by E. H. L. Bernan and K. C. James for Wellington against Canterbury, 1923-24. . Tenth wicket-153, by K. C. James and W S Brice, for Wellington against Otago, 1026-27. BATTING PERFORMANCES. When D. M‘K. Sandman, in his second innings against Wellington, compiled a tally of 1000 runs in Plunket Shield matches, he became one of 12 men in New Zealand who has passed the thousand mark (says the Christchurch Sun). Hews the second batsman this season so to (hstingmsh himself R. de R. Worker, in the WellingtonOtago match, achieving the performance. This is a list of the 12; I. N.O. H.S. Agg. J. S. Hiddleston - 44 1 212 2481 W. R. Patrick ... 59 3 129 WC9 N. C. Snedden ... 41 5 139 146. S. G. Smith 33 2 256 1400 I>. G. Hemus 39 3 148 1341 RC. Blunt 34 1 116 ||i9 km: m^ 0 "- ::: \ m 1194 S r c5r,n.... 3 'll ■ D. M‘K. Sandman 53 5 93 1020 It, would be unwise, however, to fasten upon Plunket Shield matches as the sole evidence of greatness in big cricket. Inter provincial matches were played . .ong befor" the shield competition was inaugurated and besides are representative games aeamst Australian and English teams Dan Reese, in important matches for Canterbury. has a performance that prohahlv stands' alone. He hasten over 200 wickets and made over 3000 runs.

AN EXTRAORDINARY RECORD. "W. IT. Ponsford’s record in first-class cricket is extraordinary, for. a? the following table shows, he has scored 4879 runs at an average of 70,7 an .innings. Onlvfirstclass matches are Riven in the English figures, while his Test match scores are included in the matches against English teams in Australia and in matches in England. The Australian eleven matches include the game between Australia and the Rest last season, and those played in lasmania and West Australia before departure of the Australians for England. the complete record is as follows: I NO H.S. R- Aver. Vie v. Old. 2 0 248 399 199.3 Vic v! Tas. 2 0 429 591 295.5 Vic.’ v. B.A. 15 0 214 911 70.0 -,r;„ .. w A 1 0 158 158 15H. Vi.™ vNS’w". 11 2 352 1067 117 6 AstEngteam 15 0 IPS 642 42.8 • ;« s \ii Aust X- m tch s 5 0 102 208 41.0 ISotol* J6~4 423 4877 70 7

NOTES

Tbs Auckland-Wellington Plunket Shield match is to be played at Auckland, commencing on January 21. It is understood that the New Zealand team will be picked after this match, also that the whole team will be announced then, not eight or nine members of it, as at one time intended. The date for the Canter-bury-Otago Shield game has not been fixed. Earlier in the season it was announced that it would be played some time in February, but it would be just as well if it could be played before the New Zealand team is selected (says the Christchurch Star). This would give Canterbury and Otago players the same number of opportunities as Auckland and Wellington players of showing their ability. K. C. James, the youthful Wellington wicketkeeper, by his 56 against Canterbury dn New Year’s Day, has made his selection sure for the grand crusade to England (says “ Burwood ” in the Dominion). Against Otago he scored 16 (not out) and 107 (not out). lie is a first-rate batsman, possessing good strokes, and is always after the runs. As he has all his cricket before him, he should return from England a finished batsman, fit to rank with the very best. His work with the gloves is very sound, and he possesses that rare virtue in a stumper that he seldom misses a catch. Referring to the record partnership put up by Ponsford and Woodfull, “Not Out” in the Sydney Referee says;—“Boxing Day’s display by W. 11. Ponsford and W. M. Woodfull, in which they broke records for the first wicket in the Shield, admits of only one explanation. They were far too good for the bowling. The pair have come back from England full of vigour and good form and toned up in their skill. Their tremendous partnership, in which the runs were piled on at an extraordinary pace, especially for Victorian batsmen, must have been almost as inspiring to the crowds as those stan Is by Victor Trumper and R. A. Duff n the long ago, in which they topped 280 in first-wicket partnerships against South Australia and Victoria in successive matches in Sydney. Being youthful and a type who will last long in the game, Ponsford and Woodful are creating an association probably destined to become as remarkable in the cricket of their State and of Australia as that of any of the illustrious players whose names are linked imperishably through different decades in the cricket of this country. If Ponsford keeps going to the end of the season he will probably run into a four figures aggregate for the Sheffield Shield alone, innings of 214, 54, 151, and the record attesting his mastery of the bowling of the day in such a way as to make almost anything possible while the wickets are kept intact from the effects of rain. Ponsford’s record against New South Wales throws into the shadows those of any other Victorian, past or present, Warwick Armstrong, Vernon Ransford, T. Horan, G. H. S. Trott, H. Graham, and others having done nothing comparable with what he has achieved, save, of course, that, on the whole, the best of the old batsmen had to face more dangerous and reliable bowling, some of them on wickets not so perfectly turned out and protected as those of to-day. This is Ponsford’s sixth match against New South Wales, and his fourth century. and it is his eighth century in the Sheffield Shield in 13 matches. Page, ot Canterbury, ‘pressed the Wellington players by his fine batting efforts (says the Wellington Evening Post). He is a t-ery solid bat, and puts the face of the blade to everything that is at all dangerous, and treats the loose stuff in tl r right fashion. He now comes to light as a possibility for the New Zealand team, while the hopes of several others in Canterbury have been shattered. Canterbury will be doing very well if they have three representatives in the New Zealand team. Cunningham bowled very well against Wellington. He and Oliver (who cai..e to light with one good batting effort) still have chances of selection in the team for England. Read also has some rcdentials as a bowler, his figures to date being slightly better than those of Cunningham. Otago’s candidates for the English tour have also decreased in number; in fact. Blunt is the only one who appeals. Dickinson must now be out of the nipping with one wicket for 260 runs in this season’s Plunket Shield games. A.-ckland have two certainties in Dacre and Alcott, and a couple of possibles in Mills and Cooper. Rowntree’s claims as wicketkeeper are being advanced in the north, but there are other good keepers better suited for this tour. The Wellington country districts should provide three members of the New Zealand team, and the remaining places should be filled by Wellington city players. Form in the Auckland-Wellington match at Auckland is bound to weigh with the selectors, who v. ill be present at that match. It would seem that in some cases the fact that the players are on trial for selection in the New Zealand team is putting them off their usual game. There are also a number, too, who have been unfortunate in .the manner in which they have been dismissed in the Shield matches. With two matches played by each of the . four provinces, the averages are interesting. It is quite clear from the list that Wellington holds a very strong hand in both batting and bowline.