CRICKET COMMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 69, 12 November 1931, Page 2

CRICKET COMMENTS

"Cover-point."

By

Lenihan, the Albion stock bowler, continu.es to bowl consistently and on Saturday took five Ngongotaha wickets for 23 runs. This made his bag for the mateh 1Q wickets for 31 runs, or an average of 3.1 runs per wicket. Godsalve (City) also bowled well on Saturday, securing seven wickets for 49 in Mamaku's first innings and one for 7 in the second, stumps being drawn when the score was 20. He followed this success up by making top score for his side, his score being 47 runs. Going in ninth wicket for Mamaku, Faulkner kept the City fieldsmen busy after getting set, and scored 29 runs before falling lbw to Godsalve. High School knocked up a good score against Old Boys on Saturday and were able to deelare with six wickets down for 155 runs. Top scorers were: Beale 40 runs, Higgins 40, and Hampson 43. Playing fbr Reporoa against Mokai, Bloomfield secured a good double. by scoring 60 runs and taking seven wickets for 13 runs. Npticeable Fault. A fault very noticeable in local .cricket is the wild manner in which ' the ball is returned to the wicket by fieldsmen. Numer ous instances have occurred during tbe last two Saturdays when the fieldsman has thrown .the ball at the wicket in the hope.of '•runnning a batsman out, and when, had the ball . been eorrectly returned to the wicketkeeper, more chance of a run-out would have been possible. It shoqld be remembered that the wic-ket-ke.eper's- hands are padded and he is therefore better able to stop a fast return, and avoid additions to the score from over-throws. When returning the ball to the wicket-keeper, particuarly when a run-out is possible, the ball should- be^ thrown at the top. of the stumps and not at his feet, or at a spot where it will bounce before reaching him. An interesting decision was gi'ven at the Government Grounds last Saturday. A player in attempting to. hit a ball on the ieg side, swung round and missed and in recovering . his stance, knocked off the bails when grounding his bat. The player, thinking he was out "hit wicket," walked out, but wa§ recalled by the umpire. Apparently the reason for this decision was that the batsman had completed his stroke before hitting the wicket. The rule reads : "The striker is out if in playing the ball he hit down his wicket with his bat or any part of his person or dress." "Real Sportsmen." In reviewing the past season various newspapers in England make special ref erences to the performance of the New Zealand cricket team. "One of the most unfortunate effects of a wet season," states "The Times" (London), is the disappointment that it has caused by making it difficult for the New Zealanders — the bravest and most charming of Dominion teams — to show their true worth. But in spite of this handicap, splendidly led by that great batsmen, G- S. Dempster, they have shown themselves to be a fine fighting team of real sportsmen, and in saying goodbye to them all English cricketers join in hoping that, notwithstanding the weather, they may have enjoyed their matches here as much as every side that they have met has enjoyed playing against them." The "Field" comments upon some astonishing bowling and batting per-

formances that have been accomplished on rain-affected wickets, and continues: "The New Zealand team of amateurs has surprised everyone-r-in-cluding an England side — by its ability and fighting spirit. . . The way in which the New Zealand team has been making runs oif some of our best bowlers and dismissing some qf our best batsmen, cheaply has been rather disquieting in view of the tour to 'Australia next year; and the continued prominence of 'veterans' like Fr'eeman, George Gunn, Parker, and j Woolley has shown that our younger I players have still a lot to le'arn. But I at least it can be said that there are [ now a considefable number of exceed- | ingly promising young players who j may at any moment achieve greatness. i Let us hope that they will take their 'chance next season." i Springbofes' Tour-. Owing.to the alteration in the date of departure of the steamer on which the South African cricketers now In Australia were booked for their homeward trip, it has been suggested by a southern cricket writer that the New Zealand Cricket Gouncil should endeavour to arrange a short tour by the South African team through New Zealand. Should the Australian Board of Control refuse to agree to any alteration in the original programme of matches, the South Africans will find themselves with practically a month without matches and a short tour as suggested would therefore be a gopd means of filling in the gap before tiae departure of the next steamer from Australia. In the itinerary suggested, which is published below, it will be noted that two days in Rotorua are provided, apparently without a match. Opportunity should be taken by the local Association of advancing the proposal, by suggesting that the tourists play a combined Bay of Plenty team here on the dates suggested. The following is the itinerary suggested : — • February 19. — Leave Sydney. February 23. — Arrive Auckland. Feb. 25, 26, 27, 29.— v. Auckland, at Auckland. March 1 and 2. — At Rotorua. March 4, 5, 7, 8. — v. New Zealand (Test) or v. Wellington, at Wellington March 11, 12, 14, 15. — v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. March 18. — Leave for Australia. This suggested programme provides for four-day matches, and the dates do not clash with other sporting fixtures.