CRICKET COMMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 435, 20 January 1933, Page 7

CRICKET COMMENT

"Cover-point.")

changes waning AUSTRALIA DEFEATING ITSELF IN TEST SERIES. GAMES IN ROTORUA. / .

(Notes by

Talcing into account the fact that . the weather conditions were anything but favourable and that most players had had an enforced absence from the game for three weeks, performances were generally good in the Rotorua Cricket Association's McLean Cup matches continued last Saturday. Changeable and boisterous weather conditions made play anything but enjoyable, as rain set in in earnest shortly after 5.30 o'clock, and both games closed for the day before seheduled time. The most noteworthy performance was that of W. S. Wallis with' the bat for Albion. Going in to bat wheh things were anything but bright for his side, the doctor immediately settled down and played eaeh ball on its merits, at the same time sending the score along rapidly. Throughout \ his undefeated innings his display was one of confidence and masterful strokes, and it was not until the coveted century had been secured that he gave any semblance of a chance. Fourers came off his bat at will and at , one stage, towards the end of the inn- j ings, six succcessive strokes each pro- | duced. this number of runs. He undoubtedly was the hero of the match, ! and taking into account the low scores J of his team-mates, did well to pass- 1 the century mark. Marshall was the second highest i scorer for Albion, with 25 runs, while j Burton made a slow but steady 21. I Although without the assistance of j F. Reed, the City attack was steady > and had to be treated with resp'ect. ! Harding, who bowled 14 over for 32 ; runs and four wickets, kept the bats- j men quiet and bowled six maidens. In Bowden, City also appear to have ' a good change bowler, his figures for | : Saturday being three wickets for 50 j runs. Albion made 221 for the first I I innings. j When rain stopped play, City were j one wicket down for 5 runs, Wallis ) having taken Davis' wicket before he i opened his score. Early batting collapses marlced the j first innings of both Ngongotaha and \ Old Boys, the latter team at stumps j having two wickets down for 21. j For Ngongotaha, however, R. Daw- j I son, their youthful eaptain and most , i attractive bat, rose to the occasion | and scored a valuable 47 in his usual | c-onfident style. In the ultimate total of 150 runs for the innings, F. Hansen ! (22), Turton (20), H. Pitts (17), and | D. Hansen (16) were the chief contri- ! ' butors. I Two of the Old Boys best batsmen, Spedding and Musgrave, failed to get set and only six runs were on the board when they both returned from the crease. Keane, however, held his , wicket intact and with Pipson was not out at stumps with a total at 21 runs for the loss of two wickets. Against Old Boys, Neeson retained ! his bowling form to collect three wickets for 32 runs. The Test Match. At the time of writing, Australia appears to have an almost impossible [ task in securing the 532 runs requir- ' ed for victory against England in the ' third test match, and it sfeems that once again England will hold the ad- \ vantage for the ashes. The indignation which has implanted itself in the Australian mind concerning the alleged leg tactics of the English bowlers will not assist the

Commonwealth . team m its almost heartbreaking objective, and these supposed tactics will no doubt be quoted by many as the cause of the downfall of Australia's elect wielders of the willow. Without discussing the pros and cons of leg theory tactics, it is apparent that altogether too much controversy has been created over the matter and it is also doubly apparent that its frenzied discussion will have a serious psychological effect on Australia's chances in the remaining series of matches to be played. In the writer's opinion, the recent comment of Gilbert Jessop, a former international, that "cricket is being spoilt in Australia. The spectators are taking charge of the game and stern preventive action is necessary for the sake of the sport," can be aecepted with some justification, as by his continual touchiness the Australian barracker is slowly but surely pronouncing the deathknell of test matches between England and Australia. Much has been written in the Australian Press of the serious consequences attending fast bowling. on hard, balced Australian wickets, but surely it cannot be expected that the bowling strength of the M.C.C. should for this reason be weakened, thus giving the Australians a further advantage in addition to their supposed knowledge of such wickets. While the rules permit it, bowling on the leg will always be justified and practieed by all fast bowlers, and there does not, therefore, appear to be any point in making wild and probably unjustified allegations against fast bowlers who have quite legitimately been chosen for their ability to bowl a fast ball.