A Cricket Causerie

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 183, 24 October 1927, Page 6

A Cricket Causerie

Reflections and Anticipations

The click of bat against ball; white « shadows :n slips: and swiftly moving ( velvet — ,nck' ’a.:., its infinite charm is with 3 bgiin, and the well-oiled bat, glis-i-'-nir.g in the cheerful rays of the sum- > - jngs to the green fields of England, V.v it sprung and spread to the f furthest corners of the earth. As a cricketing country. New Zea- ! r.d L grown into a lusty youngster, veering its first pair of longs” with ! ■•-•onsc: t us pride, and the hearty a*.«prohie . has still time to spare from a j grown-up elder brother to welcome the j youngest of the family on the homely j fields of Old England. Twenty years hence, this first Great . Adventure of New Zealand cricket will be seen in its true perspective. As yet. :t is veiled in the shadowy mists of vhat the future holds. That is marks . me passing of a milestone in the i hequered history of the game in this j of the world no reasonable person j an doubt. The experience was bought v. a heavy price, but it was worth it. | There is little use indulging in vain , regrets as to what might have been : had the treacherous English summer : cen kinder to the N**w Zealanders. That j the New Zealand Council, reduced to j are running expenses, and thousands f shareholders in the business venture vhich financed it at a loss to themselves. can still grin and bear it” is : the be=t indication of what those who i have the right to say, think the tour ..as done for the game. One of the most important lessons ft has to teach is that a success.on of matches against English county teams is of much greater value in developing the game in New Zealand that a hurried conglomerat on of matches against the “bigs'* and the •‘smalls” in Australia. English county teams supply the happy medium between the tremendously strong State elevens and the weak teams that are met with outside the big cities of Australia. YOUTH “MAKES GOOD” The best feature of the tour i 3 the f;ict that, with one exception, all of those who made the trip to England ?mould be good for several more seasons’ cricket in the Dominion. The ounger members of the ream. Merritt, James, Dempster, Mills and Page, were outstanding successes, and the policy of the selectors in this respect was amply indicated. Had Matheson and) Gil- . .-.pie, of Auckland, and Rollings, of Wellington, gone, too, instead of one r two veterans, we might have had ioO per cent, perfection; but that, perp- .- sighing after the unattainable. In every way, but financially, the tour was an outstanding success, and the - • turn of the touring party will be greeted with unqualified approval and congratulation. Apart from this tour, one of the biggest things in the advancement of the game in New Zealand has been the engagement of professional coaches from England. The success attending the Auckland Cricket Association’s engagement of E. H. Bowley and the work of Badcock in Wellington have stimulated interest in this aspect of tile game, and other associations have followed suit. Much depends on the class of men engaged, and in this respect Auckland has been more than fortunate with lielf and Bowley. It is to be hoped that other associations are equally successful.

CRICKET—AND THE PUBLIC For many years past, Christchurch and Wellington have been the strongholds of the game as far as public support is concerned. Auckland’s multiplicity of summer attractions, its unrivalled sea beaches and harbours, tell their own story in the summer time, but it is not the whole story, else Sydney would not be the great cricketing metropolis it is to-day. Someone has said that “champions of conspicuous ability are necessary to the success of any sport.” It is rather a dangerous dictum to play with, but in its wider aspect, it is true enough. Stage a match like the F’lunket Shield final between Auckland and Wellington last season, and public patronage is assured. It rests with .lie controlling body to see that the game is maintained at a high standard so that the production of champions is part of the game within its borders, and not subject to some of the undesirable features which have crept into other sports in late years. In this respect, it is clear that the New Zealand Cricket Council will have to lay down a policy in respect to the engagement, and playing, of professionals. This season, Auckland will be “at home” for the most part, the only outride representative match beine - the I’lunket Shield game against Wellington at the Basin Reserve at the end ■ r January. Matches against Otago nd Canterbury, with Auckland holding the Plunket Shield, will be the chief attractions. in addition to a match against the Australian team, and the possibility of Auckland being allocated :t Test game against the Australians. ROUND THE CLUBS A browse round the different practice grounds on Saturday, when most of • e clubs were sorting out the able talent for the season, discloses few likely changes in the personnel of the different senior teams which took the field last year. Practically all of last year’s players are available again this season, and newcomers from other centres are few. Goodsir, the young Southland bowler, who took five for 43 against the Melbourne team which visited New Zealand last year, should, if he reproduces his Southern form, secure a place in one of the senior teams of the city, but the only other newcomer in sight . re Maclaren. formerly of West Christchurch seniors, who has joined Farrell and Harwood, a Gisborne man, who has linked up with Varsity. Hendy, who registered some big scores in suburban cricket last year, has joined Grafton. X. C. Snedden is finished with representative cricket, but will continue to play for his old club, Ponsonby. Among ' e change-overs are Len Elliott. th* North Shore batsman, who will play for Y.M.C’.A. this year, while E. H. Saunders, who played for Varsity last year, may be found representing the other side of the harbour, where he resides. The biggest loss so far reported is Wilson, the Grafton bowler, who represented Auckland at Wellington last year. He has gone to Whangarei. Wells, the Varsity batsman, will be another absentee, as he is at present teaching in Taumarunui. LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONS

Eden, last year’s championship winners, will be in the happy position of retaining practically the whole of last year’s personnel intact. This club has made a special point of encouraging junior talent within the club, and the policy has brought its reward. Eden should again be very hard to beat for championship honours this season, as it has a young side, which is improving all the time. Fresh from his triumps in England Mills will bring back valuable international experience to his team, and his form will be watched with great interest this year. Gillespie, who captained the team last year, was un-

lucky enough to go off his best form a Little just at the crucial time when the choice of men for the English tour was fining down to the actual team itself. Mills. Gillespie ar.d Cooper should make a first-class batting trio this year, j and there are plenty of others who

can get runs and take wickets, too. Butler should be an improved player this year with bat and ball alike, and the two Weirs came into the picture last season with a burst of real brilliance toward the close. Brook-Smith is really the only veteran in the side, and his experience should be valuable again this year, especially as he is a good man in the field. McCarthy will, no doubt, keep wickets, and Whelan will also be on deck again. DACRE’S LAST SEASON Shore will have the bulk of last season's senior eleven playing again. Dacre will probably be available for the season, after which it is expected he will leave for England to qualify for ter. in gagement as a professional. Len Elliott, who did not play much last year, has joined up with Y.M.C.A. and Nettleton left toward the end of last season for the Malay States. His many friends will regret to hear that Dick Coates has been ill, and at present it looks as if he will not be able to play for some time. His absence will weaken the attack, especially as Nicholas, a promising fast bowler, has gone over to Y.M.C.A. In addition to Dacre, Monteith, Townsend, Gerrard, Johnson, Player and Fra ter. of last year’s eleven, are all expected to be available again. Colebourne, who did well, in the B team last year, should stand a good chance of inclusion in the senior eleven. It is on the cards that Shore will have only one senior A grade team in the competitions this year. However, this depends on the number of players available, and the desire of the association, which is expected to have another entry for the senior A grade. Practices are being held at the North Shore ground to-day and on Monday. Parnell, one of the best organised clubs in the city, will again field a solid ride. Duncan, who did not quite manage to reach his old form last year, was

out of action in the later stages of the season with an injured hand. Everybody will hope to see him back to his old form with the bat, especially as “Hughie” is one of the keenest fellows going. The evergreen Anthony will be out again this year, and others of last year’s team who will be available again are:—lrving (one of the hardest men to shift in Auckland), Broberg, Smith, Aitken, McCoy, Macallan and Len Righton, who was batting well toward the end of the season. A newcomer to the club is D. Nr. Maclaren, late of West Christchurch senior eleven, while Luke and Turbott are a. couple of juniors who will be considered.

HENDY FOR GRAFTON Grafton has no lack of senior men this year, although Wilson, who represented Auckland in Wellington last season, has gone to Whangarei, and will not available this year. As against this, Grafton has Harry Dykes back from Taranaki, where he represented the butter-fat province against Armstrong’s team last year, and W. Hendy, the suburban batsman, who put up some big scores last season, is expected to be playing for Grafton. It is not yet known definitely when Rountree will be back from England, but it is expetced that he will be playing again this season. A. C. Snedden, E. Horspool, Sloman, Goodwin, Les Taylor and Pope will all be available again, and the team should be strong in batting. The bowling, however, may give the club some thinking to do. Allcott, Wilson and Snedden did the bulk of it last year, and Wilson’s absence will be a big loss, although, of course, the club

is fortunate to have a bowler of Allcott’s calibre to keep an end going, if needs be. right through an innings. Either Olsen or Hamilton may supply the deficiency, while Hopkins and Craig ; got a lot of runs last year with the j juniors, and will no doubt be considered when the places are being filled in j the senior eleven. CHANGES IN VARSITY TEAM Considering the number of changes that are inevitable in Varsity life, the j University Club is fortunate in retaining most of last season’s first eleven. ; Rule Garrard, the ex-New Zealand rep., will be playing again, as also will be Matheson, whose meteoric rise last! season was one of the features of the*; Auckland season. Matheson is also a good footballer and was one of the outstanding Varsity backs this year. In addition to these two fine allrounders. Smeeton, Bannister, Gee, Ralfe.' Barnes and Kelly will also be available from last year’s team. The club, however, has lost Saunders an.l Wells, the latter being at present teaching at Taumarunui. Among the newcomers will be Schnauer, the ex-Grummar School cap-

tain, whose fine innings againstChristchurch Boys’ High School at E ien 1 ill be remembered- Harwood, who is stated to be a Poverty Bay representative, will also play for the students, and Nicholas, a fast bowler, is also a candidate for the eleven. Varsity has had several practices on the matting at its own ground, and on Monday will place two teams in the tches at Victor! Park against Parnell and Y.M.C.A. re s pec ti v ely. RETIRING FROM REP. CRICKET It is expected that there will be changes in the Ponsonby team this year. N. C. Snedden is retiring from • rep. cricket. but his services will be available to his old club in competition i . . - - the brur.t of th* work fell on the shoulders of Snedden and Smith, the club being very short of good young players, but it is good' to hear that there is every prospect; this year of the senior team contair/igj a strong leaven of young stuff. In addition to the two ex-New Zea-] land reps., Taylor, Smith, McLeod and j Newdick will be available again. Roy I and Lindrum are mentioned as two! likely men. Y.M.C.A. made its debut in senior ■ A grade cricket last year, and although the side met with varying success, it did enough to show that there were! distinct possibilites about the team. It; is, therefore pleasing to know that j most of last year’s men will again be available. Bowley will again play for the Young Men, who have also had the good fortune to secure the services of Len Elliott, the hard-hitting Devonport batsman. In addition to these two, the team will again have the benefit of Don I Miller’s experience. Riddolls should do well with the ball this season and there is a younger brother of this player who is spoken of as a coming fast bowler. He was unable to play i last season owing to a strained heart. A good deal of interest, too, will at- | tacli to the work of Hunt behind the sticks. He showed consistent improvement last year, and with another j season or two might quite easily prove’ ; to be the man to step into Rountree’s j shoes—or gloves. Lewis, Otter and Paton are also available again. Scott, ! a promising all-rounder las" tyear, has : gone back to England. Y.M. also has ; one or two promising youngsters comi ing on, and the team should be well up in the championship table this vear, especially if Bowley retains his English form.

OPENING MATCH

PAPATOETOE CRICKET

The Papatoetoe Cricket Club officially opened the new season on Saturday with a game between Married and Single men. The grounds were in good condition as a result of working bees that have been busy lately. During the afternoon the teams were the guests at tea of the Papatoetoe Tennis Club.

The married men won the toss and elected to bat, Dr. Valentine topping the score with 31, which included four fours. Henderson followed with 29, which included four fours and a sixer. The others who reached double figures were Gladding 18, Wells 14, A. Swaffield 13 and D. Burnside 19 not out. A total of 149 was made. Bowling for the single men, E. Kerr took three wickets, H. Swaffield two and Strackman and W. Burnside one each.

In the single men’s innings McKenzie topped with 22, including three fours. The others to reach double figures were P. Swaffield 19, Strackman 14 and W. Kerr 11. The innings closed with a total of 105.

The most successful trundler for the married men was A. Swaffield, who took five wickets. Dr. Valentine, D. Burnside and J. Henderson took one each*

SENIOR CRICKET IN WELLINGTON

TATTERSALL IN FORM Press Association. WELLINGTON, Saturday. Matches in the first round of the senior cricket competition were concluded to-day. Results were: Institute v. Midland.—lnstitute: First innings, 262 (Massey not out 83). For Midland, Grant took five wickets for 40 runs. Midland: First innings, 140: second innings, 53 for three wickets. A three-point win for the Institute. Wellington v. Thorndon.—Wellington: First innings, 180 (Airey 57). For Thorndon, Badcock took four wickets for 71 runs. Thorndon: First innings, 130; second innings, 128 for five wickets (Phillips not out 46;. Wellington gained a three-point win. Old Boys v. Kilbirnie. Old Boys: First innings, 308 for six wickets, declared (Parsloe 75 not out, C. Barclay 61 not out, H. Lambert 56, W. Dustin 55). For Kilbirnie, Christopher took three wickets for 32. Kilbirnie: First innings, 95; second innings, 174 for six wickets (Sykes 62). Y.M.C.A. v. Petone.—Y.M.C.A.: First innings, 92; second innings. 38 for four wickets. Petone: First innings, 151 (Finlayson 55); second innings, 131 (Finlayson 46). Bowling for Petone in Y.M.C.A.’s first innings, Smyrk took seven wickets for 41. Petone secured a three-point win.

Hutt v. University.—Hutt: First innings, 207 (Tattersall 120 not out). University: First innings, SI (Hall 34, Mackay 24); second innings, 138 for three wickets (Osborne not out 70). For Hutt, in University’s first innings, Beard took seven wickets for 26 runs, and Aldersley two for 10. Hutt secured a three-point win.

CHRISTCHURCH MATCHES

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. The second series of cricket matches was commenced to-day in fine weather. Riccarton, playing St. Albans, was all out for 118. For St. Albans, N. E. England took five wickets for 39 runs. Lindley four for 34. St. Albans had made 157 for seven wickets when stumps were drawn (R. Norrie 56). Old Boys, playing Sydenham, compiled 276 (Jacobs 74, Harris 71). Sydenham scored 20 runs without loss. West Christchurch, against Lin wood, was dismissed for 273 (W. Hayes 95, Sharpe not out 43). Read took four wickets for 74 runs. Linwood scored 52 without loss. East, against Old Collegians, scored 193 (Gregory 87. Brosnahan 59. Old Collegians lost four wickets for 63 runs.

ENGLISH CRICKETERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

TEAM DEPARTS

British Wireless—Press Assn Copyright \ RUGBY, Saturday. V team representing the Marylebone Cricket Club left England this morning tor South Africa. Many well-known cricketers and cricket enthusiasts saw the players off at Waterloo station. Captain R. T. Stanyforth. who is to captain the team, in a farewell message :

said it was a strong team and they were fairly confident of making a good fight. The team was strong in batting and well equipped with spin bowlers. It will play 15 matches, including five test matches, and the captain said he thought it should win the rubber. —A. and N.Z.

SLOW WICKETS

SYDNEY GRADE CRICKET

MACARTNEY IN FORM j By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, Sunday. | For the grade cricket matches yesi terday the weather was showery- and j the wickets slow. For Paddington against St. George, Gregory made 12 j and 41. For Balmain against Western Suburbs, Jackson made 104 and : Mailey 13. For Waverley against i University Kippax made 18. Levy 73 and I Forseberg 108 not out, which he made 1 in an hour, including four sixes. : For Gordon against Cumberland i Phillips made 51, "Watson 62, Macartney 178, Oldfield e. In the follow-on 1 for Gordon Macartney took five wicki ets for 43 runs, and Kelleway four for 37. For North Sydney against Mosj man O'Reillv made 10. For Glebe 1 Jordan took 11 Manly wickets for 69. | —A. and X.Z.