CRICKET COMMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 389, 25 November 1932, Page 7

CRICKET COMMENT

"Cover-point.")

TEST PROSFECTS CLOSE GAME INDICATED BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND M.C.C* ROTORUA COMPETITIONS.

(Notes by

The second series of matches in the McLean Cup competition ended very quietly last Saturday and few notahle performances were made with the hat. With the exception of High School A, who made 273 on the previous Saturday in the first innings, the scores of teams in the series were exceptionally low, no side compiling over 250 runs as the comhined total of two visits to the crease. Albion disposed of Ngongotaha very easily to secure an outright win hy 84 runs and for this the winning team is indebted to W. S. Wallis, who bowled exceptionally well to take a. ood douhle of seven wickets for 21 runs and eight for 12. This consistent performance, and particularly the last innings achievement, demonstrates the ability of the bowler and his value to the club. High School B lost hy 85 runs to Old Boys, and although the performance in this last game was to some extent an improvement on the first series, it is appai-ent that the side is far below the standard of McLean Cup status.

Much comment has heen caused hy the abandonment of the High School A versus City game 30 minutes before time when the former team had a reasonable p'ossibility of gaining an outright win. It seems to he an unfortunate custom in Rotorua sporting circles to throw overboard any rules pertaining to the particular game played in order to suit the desires of one, or two of the players. This practice is fast resulting in loss of interest in sport in the town and until a firm stand is taken in these matters, that interest will continue deteriorating. It is therefore pleasing to see that such a stand has heen

I taken on this question of playing j' Rours hy the Rotorua Cricket Assoj ciation and that in future teams will be required to play full time at the penalty of losing points. j Position of Teams. The position of teams at the conj clusion of the second series places ' Albion in the lead with 7 points, the othei^s heing as follows: — Old Boys, 5 points; City and High School A, 4 points; High School B, 3 points; and | Ngongotaha, one point. i Tests Prospects. i With the remarkable collapse of the f M.C.C. tourists in the second innings against an Australian eleven at MelI hourne this week the prospects t of Australia and England in the test match which commenees at Sydney on December 2, appear very even and interesting. The success of Nagel as a bowler is no doubt causing the Australian selectors considei'able th'ought and it will be interesting to see whether be is considered by them to have the ahility for a place in the team.

F,ew Places in Doubt. . The selection of the first five places m the batting order for each Test team presents no difficulty. Sutcliffe Leyland, Pataudi, Hammond and Jar- ; dine ax-e to be regarded as certainties tor England, as are Woodfull, Pons- | ford, Bradman, Kippax and McCahe • xor Australia. And two fine sets of batsmen they are! Ames appears to J he assured of a place in the English jside as wicket-keeper, since he is a • far better batsman than Duckworth, j and there is no doubt about Oldfield agam heing Australia's 'keeper. The big problem on eitber side is in the selection of bowlers. Harwood and Brown are hound to be wanted in the Enghsh eleven, and Grimmett must go mto Australia's team, witli O'Reillv now apparently entitled to a place. it England is going to depend upon a battery of fast bowlers, Allen, Tate \ ocg and Bowes all come into the reckoning, hut they cannot all he placed Bowes chances of a place are not fancied, and Tate will not have had much tmre to get into top form before the first Test. Voce has heen referred !°,f ^ llkeIy menace, and, being a lefthander, he is entitled to serious eonsideration, whil-e Allen has shown oi m m Australia which has impressed the cntics. Although Verity has peiformed well so far, it is going to be hard to find room for him in the Test eleven, unless the wicket is likely to suit him.^ The possibility of the wicket wearing under the strain of heavy use h'as to be considered, and no doubt every endeavour will he made o _ play Verity. Wyatt, too, has ciaims,^ but the prospects of Pavnter and Mitchell appearing in the first Test are slender, unless they do anythmg sensational in the meantime. ^ VeMty in the team, it is cnificult to make room for Wyatt thf °AnS6 r8maining tW Piaces 'in fie Australian team there are Rich ardsdn, Fingleton, Wall, Ironmonger an Nagel Walls' experience in big cricket will probahly ha the/ deciding factor for his inclusion as the fas? claTm^ f and I?lchardson has strong claims for inclusion for his batting n JLSUrlvlsinf that the clai ™ of xenham have been overlooked as an wnnlTk °f the type of this Piayer %h r0nan aCquisition to the side. J-ne tollowmg teams would provide a great hattle for th'e first of the test PaST>'aBd: ; ataudi, Hammond, Jardine, Ames Larrnod AHen. Brown, VVoce, and Verity Australia: Woodfull, PousS Kippax, McCabo, Wall, Sv n °'Eeilly, Ironmongsi, Oxenham or Nagel.