CRICKET.

Shannon News, 12 November 1929, Page 4

CRICKET.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES FOR 1929-30.

PLUNKET SHIELD. December 24, 25, 26, 27.—Auckland v. Otag >, at Auckland. December 28, 30, 31, January I.—Canterbury v. Wellington, at Wellington. January 3,4, 6, 7.—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Auckland. January 31, February 1,3, 4.—Otago v. Wellington, at Dune din. February 21, 22, 24, 25.—Wellington v. ' Auckland, at Wellington. February 28, March 1,2, 4—Canterbury v. Otago, at Christehurch. ENGLISH MATCHES. January 10, 11, 13.—First Teat, M.C.C. v. New Zealand, at Christchnreh. January 24, 25, 27.—Second Test, 'M.C. C v. New Zealand, at Wellington. February 14, 15, 17.—Third Test, M.O.C. v. New Zealand, at Auckland. February 7,8, 10, 11.—M.C.C. v.. Auckland) at Auckland. Macartney's Brilliance.

It was with brilliant batting that C. G. Macartney scored, in rfo minutes, his 112 runs for Gordon against Manly, in Sydney first-grade cricket on Saturday week, October sth. On the following Monday (Eight-Hour Day), when grade cricket was also played, Macartney got (81 against Northern District. As he had scored s'" when he had to retire with an injured leg last Saturday, it is clear that Macartney is going to have a Cue r.casori, bar accidents. Importance of Fielding. An English correspondent wrtes:--While on the subject >f fielding, I am convinced that this branch of the game must be thoroughly grounded into a cricketer when he is young. It is possible to turn a fair bat and bowler into a good bat and bowler fairly late in life, but impossible to improve the fielding and throwing in of a man who has not been thoroughly grounded in this art as a boy. The South Africans have evidently realised the importance ,)f fielding. They saved thousands of runs in the field. They were always a joy and delight to watch when fbl.V. •„'. Their fielding was such that seldom did a batsman or bowler take up the whole interest of the spectators. It made cricket what it is—the finest outdoor game in the world to watch from a scientific point of view. Not a dull moment. To score boundaries or runs the batsman had to hit hard and place scientifically. The game was always what it should be, a battle between the b.itsman versus the bowler and ten fieldsmen; not what it generally is, the

bowler and four fieldsmen versus bats men and six fieldsmen.

If those in charge of New Zealand cricket will concentrate on fielding, I hope to live long enough to 1 see a quadruple test year, England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Duleepsinhji. Referring to the approaching visit of the English team, a London authority, says:— Lulcepsinbji will be the batsman most eagerly awaited. Duleepsinhj'i set is a cricketer's dream. His foot and wrist work are, for an Occidental, inimitable. Just as England cannot breed the leopard with its quiex eft'ortles.sbound and striking power which conrfs from exaction of timing, she eannot breed a Run jit or a Duleep. Duleepsinhji, like his famous uncle, Ranjitsinhji, ;ees .the ball a fraction of ix second quicker than any Jiving man. ile has therefore a wee instant more to se"; himself. Watch the technique of iiii strikes, but let no Britisher blindly imitate his methods. English coaches tried to install the methods of tlu Prince of Cricket (Ranjitsinhji), a decade ago into the Englishman (the leg glide and back play of v hat great cricket genius done naturally and effortlessly), with disastrous results to English batting. The techniqu? could be and was taught, but the quickne3 of. eye was lacking, .in 1 rmthirg but failure occurred. K ■-'•:•£i)?,.j tios iii mind, let the keen

cricketer of Nov Zealand rejoice, for he will hav-3 an opportunity of watching Duli:ep*!.>ihji and Woolley at the wicket together.

Copy Duleep's technique and Woolley's method of play. Combine the two and yon have the per- ' feet batsman. But in this team' there is a galaxy of batsmen to build" one's game upon—Dawson, Turnbull, Nichols, to mention the best of style. Here and There. There „are six left-handed batsmen in the Sydenham Cricket Club's firstgrade team. .With New Zealand's most famous left-handed,batsman, i)nn Reese, coaching them on Monday evenings, they should not be left at the nets.""

Hits over the boundary now eotint eight instead of six in New South Wale 3 grade cricket. With the edght-ball over, and a •'possible" of 64 runs to an over, it looks as if some of the bowlers' analyses will be. sadly creased.