NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 61

NOTES BY LONG SLIP.

The northern tour of the Otago representative team ia now history, and, so far as Otago is concerned, very bad history. The three defeats were somewhat inglorious, and, save for the fine stand in the second innings against Canterbury, reflected little glory on Otago batsmen. In all three matches Otago made a bad start, the first innings in the contests against Canterbury Wellington, and Auckland falling far short 3f their real batting strength. Who will say that Otago was only worth 92 in the .first innings against Canterbury, 115 against Wellington, and 81 against Auckland? These figures do aot represent the -side's true form, but that was exactly the position they 'left themselves in after the first innings - against the provinces named. Against Canterbury and Wellington the Otago representatives made a good recovery Inthe second innings, but against A.uckland--->—in the most important match of the tour — the team /ailed dismally in both innings. The glorious uncertainty of tlje game was well exemplified throughout the tour, but what was demonstrated more than the fortunes of the game was the inability of the Otago batsmen to realise the possibilities of scoring off bowling which, while not altogether devoid of sting, was playabla all, the time. tn all three matches the Otago players made the bowling more difliiult.than if really was by the tactics they adopted. Throughout the tour the majority of the_ batsmen took up defensive as against offensive tactics, and to this is principally attributed the team's downfall. The result of the tour is most disappointing not only to the players themselves, but to the local association, which sent the team away with such hope and confidence. No fault can oe found with the selectfoff of the players, for, save for Baker and Ogg, who -were -unable to make the trip, the team 'mas Gonoioßfi4 nt th© best men available.

Some different tale might have been told in the Auckland match had Downes and Fisher been, available for that fixture, but it ie extremely doubtful, even with the assistance of the well-known pair, if Otago would have brought the Plunket Shield from the far northern city. Auckland may have been dismissed for considerably fewer runs than they compiled,, but it is not likely 'that Otago's totals would have been materially increased. The results of the matches have proved the superiority of the northern teams against that representing Otago; yet while congratulating Canterbury, . Wellington, and Auckland on their victories, I cannot bring myself to believe that there is a difference of 104 runs between Otago and Canterbury, eight wickets bsiween Otago and Wellington, and 315 tuns between Otago and Auckland.

Taking the players individually, Siede ! berg was the most successful batsman, and was the most consistent scorer. The Carisbrook representative's contributions frere 26 and 37 against Canterbury, 21 and 45 against Wellington, and 6 and 37 against Auckland. Eckhold. who heads the batting average, has also the honour of mating the highest individual score during the tour— to wit, 59, not out, against Canterbury. For this he tfins the 1 Trumper bat presented by Mr J R Smith to the local Cricket Association. fn addition to his 7 and 59 against Canterbury, Eckhold compiled 26 and 41 againet Wellington, and 8 and 6 against Auckland. His best innings was undoubtedly -hat against Canterbury. After Siedeberg and Eckhold there is a ■ big drop in the averages, Downes coming I next with an average of 18 and Fisher Jving close with 16 Gerald Austin again lomonstrated his ill-luck in big cricket, for apart from his fine innings of 53 in the second innines asjainst Canterbury, his other contributions were 4-, 0. 15, 0, 0, and this from a batsman of the undoubted abilities of the popular Carisbrook player t Alan Adams, the Albion player, was aomewhat disappointing in the Canterbury match, but he stonewalled to the purpose of 3 3 and 17 in the Auckland engagement.

Fine bateman as H. C. Watson, of Carisbrook, ie, he, too, failed lamentably on the northern tour. Save for his splendid innings of 40 against Canterbury Watson practically did nothing, as read the fo'lowing: 6, 1, 0, 11, 7. Watson is certainly a much better batsman than that dismal row of figures represents. C. G. Wileon, the captain of the Otago team, too, did not perform up to expectations, his figures reading — 19 and 14 ajrainst Canterbury and 11 and 0 against Wellington. In ihe Auckland match he was unfortunate in meeting with an injury to bis ankle, end had to be replaced by a substitute. That consistent Dunedin batsman W. Mackersy did not show any evidence of his consistency on the northern tour, his only double-figure sontribution being a goo 4 innings of 41 against Wellington. His o^hei totals were 7 and 1 against Canterbury, 8 .first innings against Wellington, «.nd 2 and 0 against Auckland. Yet Mackersv is a better batsman than tha figures would attempt to prove. Tom Adams, who had been, performing well with the bat in club cricket, shared i xnucfc of the. fate meted out to his fellow batsmen, and did . not play up to form The Carisbrook man's jontributiocs were 5 and 18 against Wellington and 0 and 1 againet Auckland. Such is cricket! Of the ; rregular batsmen Torranse played 8 good 'nnings of 3? against Wellington, and shaped well for 12 and 16 against Canterbury, but he was a victim for 1 and 0 in the Auckland engagement, which proved so disastrous to the majority of Otago batsmen. Eckhoff was twice not out agaii-t Wellington for 0 and 6 respectively, and compiled 12 and 0 against Auckland. Frank Williams was <iot put in the tearr? vo make runs though he sometimes effects a (surprise in fcbis direction. Unfortunately,' there jcas no surprise on the recently concluded tour for bis figures read: 1 anl 8 against Canterbury, 0 tnd 8 against Wei Ungrton, <md 1 and 0 against Auckland Despite nis failure with the bat, Williams ', kept wickete well throughout the tour, and .is still regarded as one of the beat

T keepers ' in the Dominion.

Tn the bowling department Torrance comes out" with the best average. The Dunedin bowler was made little use of in Christchurch. but he put up a sengational performance in Wellington, and bpwled we'l in Auckland. Downes and Fisher, too trundled well particularly in -the matca against Canterbury. In the match against Auckland the honours were divided between Torrance, Mackersy, Austin, and Ec'khoff.

Fhe ground fielding throughout the tour was excellent, the picking-up being clean and the throwing-in accurate. Eckhold, Austin and Kilgour did particularly good •*ork in the field. .

The deadlines© of the Ibw. Both Siedeberg and Austin were twice out " leg before," the former in the first and second innings of Wellington and! Auckland respectively, and his clubmate in the second innings againet Wellington and the first against Auckland. Other lbw's were, Williams, first innings Wellington ; Mackersy, first innings Auckland ; and Watson and Torrance, 6econd innines against Auckland.

"The following are the averages -of the members" of the Otaeo representative team in the matches against Canterbury, Wellingtons and Auckland: —

O. M. Runs. Wkts. Avg. R. JTorranee ~T ■■ 78 17 208 12 17.33 A. Downes .~i 43 6 121 6 20.16 W. MacTcersy — 55 6 215 10 21.50 3- G. Austin ~- 71 9 241 8 30.12 A. H. Fisher 75 17 5248 8 31.00 H. Eckhoff 50 14 148 4 37.00 fl. Watson • 3 — 14 — —

From a private letter jrritten after the rirst day's play of the Apckland-Utago match I glean that the wicket was no faster than that to which Otago batsmert are accustomed. The writer states that the wicket would have suited Alex. D.ownee

to % nicety, and that the Grange bowler would have been particularly destructive on it.

_ The members of the Otago representative team will return from the rather inglorious northern tour on Thursday. They left Auckland on Monday evening, and will reach Christchurch in time to catch the second express to Dunedin on Thursday, at noon.

Senior Grade matches, interrupted by the holidays and by the extended northern tour of the Otago team, will be resumed on Saturday next.

The many friends of Mr James Baker, the veteran Otago cricketer, will bo pleased to hear that he is making good progress towards recovery from his recent indisposition due to a poisoned knee. It will, however, be heard with regret that Baker will have to move about on prutches for some weeks. . He has played his last game this season, but let us hope that he will be in good form for cricket during the following year. Speaking of Baker, I have it on my mind that 'the veteran was sadly missed on the Otago team's northern tour. SomeoDe was badly wanted to go for the northern bowling, and I know of no one who would greet it with such confidence as the big Albion batsman. „

On his showing in recent matches, George Cummings, the ex-Albion batsman now of Auckland, is a vastly improved player* on his Otago form. In Auckland he is regarded as one of the best bats in the province. Owing to twisting his ankle when fielding in the first innings ag-ainst Auckland, Mr 0. G. Wilson, the manager and captain of the Otago team, was unable to take part in the conclusion of the match, and W. Kilgour was played as a substitute. Alex. Downes,* who did not journey further north than Christchurch with the Otago representative team on its northern tour, has concluded his twentieth year of representative cricket. Mr James Hazlitt, father of young G. Hazlitt of first test match fame, -was in Dunedin last week as stage director of Williamson's "Brewster's Millions" "omedy Company^ In a letter to his father, young Hazlitfc briefly refers to the sensational conclusion of the first test, in which he made the winning hit: "It was the ordeal of my life; I just set my teeth and went for the bowling." * Apropos of this, Hazlitt hit six 4'_s, and was batting 40 minutes. Hazlitt is said to have played with the head and ability of a veteran.

There were some good performances in Junior cricket on Saturday. W Maclean captured four wickets for 23, and E. Wilson three for 28, for Dunedin No. 1 against Carisbrook D. For Carisbrook, West, who hails from Christehuroh, secured five for 16, and Coombes four -for 23. In Carisbrook's second strike Maclean took five for 11, and Wilkie four for 11 C. Anderson played a fine innings for 52 for Roslyn againft Albion on Saturday Albion won an interesting game by 56 runs on the .first innings. - Playing for Grange against Opoho, Best had the - honour ot compiling a century, notching 104- by free and vigorous batting. He was well assisted by Davidson, who scored 54- without a chance. Crosbie secured five Opoho wickets- for 16, and Davidson three for- 15. < - A Christchurch appreciation of Eofcnold s throw-in ' dismissing 1 Moorh'ou6e in the second innings of Canterbury against Otago : — Eekhold's run-out of Moornouse ■was simply maTvelloxis. Picking up the bal) left-handed, throwing in with his right, the ball was thrown beautifully to Williams, who gathered it nicely and whipped the bails off. Reese, Siedeberg, Coporoft, and many others pass before my mind as I think of brilliant fielders, but nothing finer has been done since the days of W." J. Crawshaw and H. Macneil than that piece of work by Eckhold. Commenting on the versatility of the players in the Otago-Canterbury match, "Scoring Board" draws attention to the fact that Downes is probably the finest footballer Otago has turned out.; Eokhold la a New Zealand representative footballer; Orchard and Reese have played for Canterbury with success ; and Adams is a. shining light in Otago football ; FLsher is a past New Zealand wolf champion; Bennett has, played hockey for Canterbury; Siedeberg is an Otago " Soccer " player, and was at one time bracketed with Austin as the best gymnast in Otago. Another appreciation: F. Williams, the Otago wicketkeeper, has represented his province for the past 12 seasons, and, like* the proverbial wine, grows better with age. Williams xnd Boxehall are two good models for the young enthusiast. The former stands calmly at the 'wickets, and only bends at the last moment, taking the ball quietly, with ease, with no flourish, and withal a certainty that bodes ill -for the lifting foot. Williams is especially at gathering the ball from the field, and. in this department is superior to Boxshall. Otagoites have maintained- for years that Williams is New Zealand's premier wicketkeeper, but mv opinion is that there is very little to choose between the pair. If anything the honours in this match rested with the Otago player. My own comments of the Otago-Canter-bury match have already appeared, but it i 6 just as well to hear what the enemythinks of us. The following are brief appreciations from Christchurch: It is marvellous to think how well Fisher and Downes keep up their form, and batemen to-day have almost as much difficulty in negotiating them as in bygone days. Downes first represented Otago in 1887, and has devoted 20 years' cricket to his province, while Fisher made his appearance three years later. Up to date Fisher has taken 229 wickets for 2879 runs, average 12.5; while Downes has taken 257 wickets at a coet of 3330 runs, average 13. Watson, the Carisbrook groundsman; made a satisfactory first appearance for Otago. " His 40 in the second innings twas marked by some free play in all directions, whcthei* to coyer-point, long-leg, deep-field, or past third man. Siedeberg, is only recovering from a very severe illness, and his play naturally suffered. In both innings, however, he played "sound free cricket. C. G. Wikon, +he skipper, an old ' Victorian player, was another who had not recovered from illness, and his play suffered considerably Austin in his 53 gave by far the best display to which he has treated local spectators. For ten or eleven years Austin has been in the front rank of New Zealand batsmen, but he has always failed in Christohurch, and I heartily congratulate him on his success. He is a stylish bat, playing more forward than the average. Otagoite, but -be possesses .a sweet cut-

one of the very best, — and scores well in every direction.

Auckland retains the Plunket Shield, and in this connection it is interesting- to know' that the northern province is now the proud possessor of the four shields offered for field sports — Rugby, Association, hookey, and cricket.

Barron, late of Ohristchurch and later of Welling-ton, who has been transferred to the Customs in Dunedin, will be an acquisition to the club which the exOanterbury representative elects to join. My fellow-scribe ("Touch-line") of Wellington shows his appreciation of the Otago players in this strain : . " The outstanding performance on the part of the visitors was -the excellent bowling by Richard Torrance on the Friday. . The way he rattled the stumps of the Wellington batsmen on the opening day will live long in the memories of those who witnessed the performance. _ Torrance's batting 'in the second innings proved him to be a more than useful member of the combination." Of Siedeberg he says : " Having seen Siedeberg making one of his characteristic displays, in which many clipping hits, especially on the cut and the drive, were th 9 principal features, I have no hesitation m saying that his, form in. this match was not in keeping with his reputation or the previous displays he has given in Wellington. The style was there, but the execution was weak for him. Austin is a double-handed^ player, and as a bowler impressed me very favourably. His deliveries on and outside the off stump were treated with much re--spect by the batsmen, as his medium-paced balls came quickly after they pitched. A 8 a batsman, Austin must have shown considerably better form in times that are pa-st and gone than in this match, or assuredly he would not have won the place he haa in the estimation of competent pricketing critics in various parts of the Dominion. . . Alfred Eckhold, who was a membe r of the last New Zealand football team that toured New South Wales," must- put moro vigour into his work at five-eighth than he does when he gets the oat in his hand. It is only fair to say. 'though; that he covers a lot of ground in the far country, and saves many runs by the pace he mus-" tere up when intercepting the ball on- its" ■way to the boundary. . 'As a capta'n, O. G. Wilson gets thet-most out of his* team, and places his fielH with rare iudgment. He soon" gets the measure" of "the batsmen, and changes his field accordingly, although he could have uufc at least two more men on the on-side when Wellington's last wicket was causing him' so" much trouble. . . Frank Williams is the burly | gentleman of the Otago team, and with I the gloves gave a very "cerditable exhibition, excepting in the closing v scenes' of the match. He kept the extras down, and ' stood right up to the wickets no matter whether the howling was fast, medium," or slow. . Fisher's bowline rarely had much sting in iV aerainst Wellington in the match just concluded, although if a couple of chances had been accepted off him his average would- have been better than it was. Of course, bowlers have their day as •well as other people. With the bat, his execution was much better than the majority of h^s side, there being more freedomin - his methods than shown by any of his comrades in the first innings. . . Harola 1 Watson is considered by the leading cricketwriter in Dunedin to be one of the finest batsmen bhey have in that city, albeit luck ever seems to- be against flim. He did not stay in long enough on either occasion to enable me to form an estimate of his capabilities. But there is no question about his bad luck — he was run out. in the first inninga trying for an impossible run, and in the second 1 was dismissed by practically the best ball sent down hv a Welliriflrton howler during the match*. . . William. Mackersy doss not like a leg-break slow bowler, for Cbberoft had him tied in aknot many times. When he found, however, that he couldn't play Cobcroft's deliveries by staying at home he had a bang, and the score mounted nuicklv from that cause. Probably the whole side and their score would have benefited if - ,they had adopted similar tactics. ... - Eckhoff can .turn the ball both ways, and can bowl off-theory if occasion demands. Alihoueh he was tried a lot he only captured one wicket, but the runs were bard to get off his bowling,. . . . Tom Adams was one of the opening batsmen in. i the first inning 3, but did not get a chance to get fairly going 1 . In the second innings he came in late, and gave" a sound disp l ay of free cricket. His driving" was particularly erood', and a similar remark applies to his work in the far country, where he covered, muoh ground." The first test match produced £3004-, which is divided thus : £1004- to the M.C.0., £1428 to the New South Wales Oricket Association, and £54-1 to the Sydney Oricket Ground Trustees. The Marylebone CC. hag received close upon £3000 to date from all matches. _

Apropos of close finishes in test matches,, the two closest finishes in runs and wickets ■were the successive games at Mapchester and on the Oval in 1902. Australia won by 3' runs, when Saunrlers bowled down Tate's wicket. England won by one wicket, Jessop with 104, Jackson with 49, Hirst not out 55, and Rhodes not out 6, dragged the match out of the fire.

An unpleasant incident occurred during she first day of the recent test match in Sydney, wjiich delayed' play for a little while, and might (says the -Australasian) have led to more serious consequences. Trumper had posted a list outside the Australian dressing room giving the names of friends who might be admitted, but Mr Bowden, secretary of the association, removed it. Noble and Trumper declined "to go out unless the list was replaced, and the diplomatic intervention of Mr M'Elhone, of the Board of Control, settled the difficulty, which was too trivial to be worth! notice, save as indication that old sores are by no means healed.

M. A. Noble is one of the greatest cricketers, the world- has produced. For some time, not only' was" he the undisputed all-round champion, but probably the best bowler and batsman at the same time. vVnen things are going against his side, there is no player living who will' play with greater heart and determination than he. Never will I forget (saye Frank Layer) his historical words, ** "Good-bye, savages, till 6 o'clock," when he went- into bat on a sticky wicket in our test match at Manchester in 1899- Though nearly .six hours had , to elapse before the drawing of stumps, he was still batting when time was announced. rHe completely changed what appeared a certain defeat for us itfto. a, draw greatly, in our favour. Time after time ha has saved his side from collapse.

completely changing the aspect of this game.

M. A. Noble is the first to captain Australia to victory" in a first test match on, Australian soil since the five test match series was first introduced, in .1894. T# is generally held that the most difficult of these matches for Australia to win is al-' ways the first. ■ England's batsmen in the first test match did not, one feels sure - (says Sydney Referee), do> justice to their powers- ! -thaC is, speaking generally. G. Gjinn's bat--ling was, of course, superb, and'J. Hard-, staff's cricket was keen and clever ; bub on the whole some very able batemen did not show their best, or anything like it. . The Fijian cricketers have been providing intense amusement for the youth of Sydney (> mainly through their appearance,, which is likened to that of a troupe ofV ballet dancers. They opened play in Syd'-* riey by a war cry, whidh was neither sy bhrill nor so fearsome as that of the New' Zealanders. As for their appearance—' their heads are bare, save for an enormous thatch of frizzy hair, decorated witK carnations, which no hat could cover, unless it were as large as a foot-bath. Their, feet, legs, and arms are also bare, save" for armlets and leglets- of beads and gas ribbon. A.bout their -shoulders they weatf streaming blouses of seaweed or moss oaf' dry grass — kept in place by sashes of fish* akin f and Ipose kilts of similar material hanrf from their loins. While fielding they,: squat, and when a ball is hit half of th«, crowd pursue it with wild yells, aocom,panied by the jangling of the beads which" " enoircle their waists, necks, and other partaof their bodies, while their weird seaweed 1 costumes stream behind them and revealthat nothing lies beneath except white cot-" ton breechcloths. As cricketers, they shino* mostly in ground-fielding and in the return, of the' ball. Two of the N.S.W. wicketa were thrown down from the field by them?It was the fun of the world- to see then* gradually shed their skins, lava-lavas, beads,and seaweed blouses, until eight large heaps, of millinery adorned different portions of the field. . An • Albion team journeyed to Tapanui at New Year to 'meet the local team-, ancfc succeeded in defeating them by an innings' and" 16 runs. -Tapanui, taking first strike, put together .65, EskdaJe (22 v nolout) beingf the highest scorer!' Albion, on going' to the wickets,.' ;were_ not -disposed" of until 16S' Tuns were to their credit. N."Cramond' (71), Hiddleston (20), Vorreth (20), Shelton, (18), Brinsley, (16), were "the principal" scorers. Tapanui's second innings realised^' 84. H.. Rodger (19 not out), G. Edie (19fc, D. Crawford (19), • Eskdale (10) -all batted consistently for their runs. H. Rodger (foun for 55), and A. Edie. (£hree for 28) secured! the wickets for Tapanui, whilst CramonA (two for 2), Hiddleston (three for 12C Vorreth (six for 42), and ,Hart (twov for 15)were most successful for.Albion. The team' 1 was extended the. utmost hospitality during^' its stay by the local enthusiasts, , the ladies*providing refreshments during the matchd In the evening . the -teanv was entertained^ at a banquet,* when a most enjoyable timW was spent. The team left for home onV Tnursday. having enjoyed a rery pleasant?' outing.

Inn. N.C A. Eckliold .. - 6 1 H. G. Siectebeig o 6 — A. Dowries j 2 1 A. EL Fisher ? ( t 4 — W. Kilgour to .■ 2 2 G-. &. Austin . , . -. 6 — A. Adams .. -- t; { 4 — C. G-. Wilson «A * — R. Torrance o '"^ 6 — H. C. Watson -_) * 6 — W. Msck«rsy -, . 6 — H. Eckhoff -, . 4 2 T. Adams .. , 4 — *?. 'Williama .. 6 — 0. H.I. Runs. Avg. 59* 147 29.40 45 172 28 66 13* 18 18.00 34 64 16.00 10* 13 13.00 53 72 12.00 21 46 11.50 19 44 11.00 33 66 11.00 40 59 983 41 -69 9.83 12 18 9.00 18 24 6.00 8 18 3.00

Batting.

Bowling.