CRICKET COMMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 75, 19 November 1931, Page 6

CRICKET COMMENTS

"Cover Point").

(By

Practice Necessary Practice is absolutely necessary to good performances with both bat and ball, and in the field, but unfortunately, it is often neglected by players. It is a recognised fact that all cricketers who have attained first class rank, find it necessary to be continually practicing in their special line. Partieularly in batting are faults always appearing and it is only by continued practice that these faults can be correeted. Even Jack Hobbs, who is recogj nised to be the finest batsman in | cricket at the present time finds it necessary to be continually practicing. The writer notices that in a southern town, prominent players have been passed over by their clubs, owing to their non-attendance at practice, and it would improve the game

if other clubs and associations would definitely declare themselves in favour of the same action. Is He Out? A point which often worries a batsman is whether he may handle the ball which lodges in his pads, without | being given out. He is not out, as the rule states that when the ball is struck, whether with the bat or not, and the ball lodges in the batsman's clothing, the ball shall become dead. Always Bat First Cricket authorities throughout the ages have laid it down that it invariably pays to'bat first. "Never lose the toss, and always bat first," is the way "Plum" Warner puts it. Good Bowling Lacking While the performance of the New Zealand batsmen had lifted high the level of batting, the same could not be said of the bowling, said Mr. D. Reese New Zealand team. ' The Dominion speaking at the civic reception' to the was lacking in good bowlers. It was disappointing to him to hear it said by the captain of the team that the bowlers failed to keep a length. Good bowling meant not merely constant practice, but self-denial. During the summer months, rowing men did not smoke, he said, and paid special attention generally to keeping themselves fit. Those who wuuld be bowlers must do the same. "Have we no wish to produce good bowlers?" he asked. New Zealand would have to raise the standard of the bowling. They must work hard to produce the talent. Mr. Reese said he was sorry to have to mention such a topic at a reception given in honour of the returning team, but facts had to be faced. He did not refer specially to the bowlers in the team, but to the cricketing community generally. It was regrettable to hear it said that it had been a pity that New Zealand had not sent Home really good bowlers. Unusual Happenings A number of unusual cricket happenings occurred during the first day's play in the match between Albion and Ngongotaha last Saturday. ; Up to the end of the first day's play, all the runs of the innings which stands at 8 wiekets for 24 runs, were scored off the Albion stock bowler, Lenihan, who took six wiekets. Dr. Wallis bowled four suceessive overs for no runs and took one wicket. Seven overs were sent down before the Mamaku team succeeded in open- , ing their account, three wiekets being do'wn for no runs. Notes on Players Had it not been for Lockie, who went in sixth wieket down, and scored 14 runs, Mamaku would have been in an even worse position. He scored his runs by hard hitting, which under the cireumstances proved to be the correct style of play. The Albion team were fielding exceptionally well, and backed up by deadly bowling on the part of Lenihan, they had Mamaku sitting on th© splice trrough the afternoon's play. The High School batsman, Beale, continues to bat attractively and scored 39 runs not out against City on Saturday. This player should be among those with the highest averages at the end of the season. Until the arrival at the crease of Dawson, Ngongotaha were faring badly against Old Boys', three wiekets being down for six runs. Dawson. however, attacked the bowling in good style and later, becoming associated with Pitts, a good scoring partnership was witnessed between the two batsmen. Both played good cricket and fully deserved their success. At the .end of the day's play Dawson had scored 39 and Pitts 32, both unbeaten. They were responsible therefore, in repairing the disaster encountered earlier in the game and at stumps the Ngongotaha score stood at the respectable total of five wiekets for 97 runs. Only-two batsmen other than those. mentioned, scored double figures in the competition on Saturday, Hinton (High School) making 15 runs and Beaumont (Ngongotaha) securing 10.