With Bat and Ball

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 273, 8 February 1928, Page 7

With Bat and Ball

A Cricket Causerie

BOWLEY’S SCORE IN PLUNKET SHIELD The honour of scoring the most runs in Plunket Shield matches this season was secured by E. H. Bowley, who made 359 in six innings. T. C. Lowry was second with 317 in five innings, and James made 300 in five innings. These were the only batsmen to top the 300 mark. Last season J. S. Hiddleston (310) and F. T. Badcock (306). were the only two batsmen to score more than 300 in Shield games. IMPROVING CRICKET A Sydney scribe suggests that when a side’s score reaches 300 runs the wickets should be made wider by the addition of another stump. Yes. And when it reaches 400 another stump should be added. If the team still goes on scoring at 500, another stump. At another bowler should be tried, at SOO another umpire, and at 900 the batsmen should be blindfolded. If, in spite of this, the side should make 1.000. the other captain should push the batsmen off the creases and say. “Dammit. I’m going to have a knock now.” OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY Auckland deserve the greatest credit for their great effort in the second innings. in the tinal match for the Plunket Shield, says the “N.Z. Sportsman.” and a fourth innings of 458 in the face of 735 required is something to be proud of. In fact, there are only seven better performances in first-class cricket. The wicket was inclined to be dusty and the ball came along a bit unevenly in s height, which enhances the merit of Auckland’s ’ -tting. ,THE MAINSTAY OF HIS SIDE Without Ernie Horspool in the team, Grafton’s already difficult task would become positively hopeless. Week after week the ex-representative batsman turns out for his old club side, and renders great service to a team which possesses few outstanding cricketers. It’s no fault of Horspool’s % that his team does not occupy a higher place on the championship ladder, for week after week he proves himself to be the only really reliable run-getter on the list. Without his dogged century on Saturday, Ponsonby’s annihilation of Grafton would have been complete in the extreme. What Grafton selectors should look to in the future is the raking in of some of those brilliant ex-Auckland Grammar School colts who reside in the team’s district. A POINT IN THIS After watching the dreary cricket for a while at Eden Park on the Anniversary Day holiday, some one in the stand commented: “Why don’t these clubs play some of the Grammar School boys in their teams. There are many secondary school players in Auckland who would get a place in preference to the present members.” Someone else explained to him that secondary school boys were allowed to play in teams other than their

school team, only in the summer holidays, known as the long vacation. The idea of this imposition is purely a safety device to ensure that all schoolboys shall be loyal to their school first as far as cricket is concerned. And as such, it is certainly necessary. But there is another side to the question. NEVER BETTER THAN AT 18 In the interest of the game at large, it appears at present as if many very promising players are being held back by such a .restriction. To take some examples. Th© veteran Brook-Smith was never greater as a cricketer than he was at the age of 19. The incomparable Trumper came into big cricket in his teens and Clem Hill played for South Australia at the age of 17. Plum Warner was only 18 or 19 when he played hisf first game for England. Archie AlacLaren, while still at school, played for Lancashire, scoring a brilliant 108 in his first innings for the county, and Archie Jackson, the New South Wales wonder, has turned 19. There are schoolboys in Auckland every bit as promising as those giants of the past, who generally do not get a taste of big cricket till they are 19 years or more old, since the school leaving age has been raised considerably in the past few years. There is certainly a point in this, which could well be considered by the authorities. A COMING CHAMPION P. Whitelaw, the budding Hobbs of New' Zealand cricket, who distinguished himself playing for the Auckland reps, against Manawatu, is perhaps one of the outstanding examples of the type of player affected by such a rule. Paul would be the last to think of deserting the ranks of his school team, but it is really a moot point whether a man who would bo eagerly sought after by any of the clubs in Auckland should be compelled to continue in a grade where he is obviously so much above the ordinary standard. And there are many others, Bush, of the Alount Albert Grammar (who has now left, however), th© Vivians and "Don” Webb, who in the school vacation distinguished himself as one of the most successful bowlers on the Shore side. For the honour of their schools, and the future of New Zealand cricket w'hy should not such men win their rightful place in club elevens. A SINGING CRICKETER Alec Bannerman, "The Rat,” as his comrades knew* him, played cricket more seriously than any of his contemporaries. He had no sense of humour in cricket. He was batting against South Australia, and onle of his opponents was a merry soul who, to beguile the time while Alec was stone-walling, softly hummed to himself popular songs. Alec stood it for a while, and then leaving his crease, walked up to the offender at short slip and said, "Do

you know, son, you’re playing cricket? If you want to play cricket, play it; and if you want to sing, go and sing, but for heaven’s sake don’t sing comic songs in the slips,” and then he went back to the wicket and took block. THE CRAFTY OLD MAN W. G. Grace loved a joke at the expense of his friends, and never enjoyed a coup more than one he brought off against two of his Australian pals, W. L. Murdoch and L. O. S. Poidevin. The three of them had been playing a good deal together in the Marylebone teams at Lords, and in the last match of the

year someone remarked that Alurdocli i and Poidevin were about level for the ! best batting average, and this game would probably decide between them. “Where do I come in?” asked W. G. I and the scorer explained that if he got I a hundred and was not out, he could beat both of them. The old j champion set to work as methodically as if it were a Test match, and, having got his hundred, turned to the other captain and said: “We close our innings.” They w*ere still wondering why he did it, when a roar of laughter from the pavilion and a very broad grin on W. G.’s face suggested that there was more in it than met the eye. Another “Wrong ’Un?” What appears to be a “storm in a teacup” has arisen in Christchurch over the no-balling last Saturday of Newman, the professional coach, by an umpire who stated that he was acting under the instructions of his association. The bone of contention is a rubber protection cap which Newman has worn for years on his little finger, which has been broken thr«*p times. It is vaguely argued that this cap enables Newman to get “work on the ball.” As Newman is essentially an "off theory” man. there is about as much likelihood of him getting spin on the ball with his little finger as there is of a cricketer bowling a legbreak with his leg! SUBURBAN NOTES Green Lane has to Fight With two wickets down for 64 runs and facing the task of making 215 more for the win, Green Lane’s prospects are anything but bright, considering that the Lane seldom reaches the 200 mark. True, the Lane has some fast-scoring

batsmen, but few have shown the ability to stay for long. Wroath batted attractively for 19 not out last Saturday, and this is a time when he will be wanted most. Let Green Lane show what they’re made of!

Batting Form Two instances of the consistency that is maintained in suburban cricket are given by the batting performances of Fletcher- and Roberts, Ponsonby. Their latest figures, respectively, read: 22, 86, 57 and 55, 58, 53. Fletcher is a good stock bowler, and Roberts, apart from being a billiards champion, keeps wickets for his side. Without detracting from the merit of these fine performances of theirs; it might be added that there are others in the association who are equally consistent. Never Forgotten Though fielding seems to be an almost lost art in cricket these timefe, it cannot be said that Suburban players forget this important department of the game. Earlier in the season there was room for criticism perhaps, but latterly the fielding in all games has certainly shown improvement despite the weather, which to say the least, is rather enervating this year. Good Standard Perhaps the best all-round standard set by any one team in a first innings this season in suburban cricket was that created by Ellerslie against Harbour Board B on Saturday. Only two players failed to reach double figures. The grand total of the team was a •well-played 325, compiled in one of the brightest innings seen on the Domain for some time. Sorry Cricket Just why Glen Eden failed so miserably against Harbour Board on Saturday is hard to understand. Certainly Martin, for the Board, secured six wickets, but he is not an exceptional bowler. Perhaps it was the oppressive heat of the afternoon that reduced the batsmen to a state of apathy. Spearpoint and Kay were the only players to go out to anything. Surely the remaining batsmen could have made some little endeavour to emulate the example set by these two, who refused to have their confidence shaken even after seeing three wickets upset in one over. Batted to Suit Bowler Martin must have felt highly elated over the manner in which the Glen’s batsmen were attempting to play his bowling. He would send down a yorker for the batsman to play over the top of it. This would be followed by a medium-paced ball on the off, and the batsman would make a "subtle” poke at it and send it skywards! This mode of play was continued throughout the innings by the major portion of the team. Not one apparently wanted to step out to anything-—just have a jab and trust in Providence! * * * Snap—and then Some! What a contrast, however, was the opening, of Harbour Board’s innings when Breese and Turner went to the crease. These two hard hitters compiled 132 in 37 minutes. It was a rattling good partnership, and brought the spectators out of their coma. It was good to see the way these men moved between the wickets. They evidently

hold with the good maxim of “run the first run hard.” Two Good Knocks George and Lawrence were in good batting form for Ellerslie against Harbour Board B, their respective scores of 80 and 43 being freely made with nice strokes all round the wickets. Gedye as usual made god use of his strong driving and spectacular legpulls. A.C.A. FIXTURES SATURDAY’S MATCHES Following is th© draw of th© A.CLA. cricket matches to be played next Saturday:— Senior Grade. —A Section: North Shore V. Eden, Eden Park No. 1; Ponsonby v. Parnell, Eden Park No. 2. B Section: Y.M.C.A. v. Grafton, North Shore; University V. United Suburbs, Eden Park No. 3. Second Grade A. Parnell v. Y.M.C.A., Domain No. S; Eden v. University, Eden Park No. 4; North Shore v. Balmoral, Victoria Park. Senior Grade B. —North Shore A v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe; North Shore Colts v. Parnell, North Shore; Y.M.C.A. v. Ponsonby. Domain No. 10; Eden v. University, Domain No. 4. Second Grade B. —All Saints v. Grafton. Domain No. 5; Windmill v. Ponsonby, Victoria Park; Epsom United v. Takapuna, Victoria Park. Third Grade A.—Eden v. Technical Old Boys, Eden Park No. 5; “Herald” v. Mount Albert, Mount Albert; North Shore v. Northcote, North Shore; Grafton v. Birkdale, Birkdale; Papatoetoe v. Remuera, Papatoetoe; Balmoral A v. Bycroft’s, Domain No. 13; Western Springs, a bye; Windmill v. All Saints, Domain No. 14. _ _ _ . Third Grade B. —W.Y.M.I. v. C.C.C.C., Victoria Park; Henderson v. Point Chevalier, Henderson; Comrades v. Western United, Domain No. 12; Y.M.C.A. v. City, Victoria Park; Swanson v. Onehunga, Swanson: Balmoral B v. Glebe, Domain No. 9; Parnell, a bye. Fourth Grade A.—Birkdale, a bye: All Saints A v. Onehunga, Onehunga; Comrades, a bye; Eden v. “Herald,” Outer Domain No. 1; St. George’s v. Y.M.C.A., Outer Domain No. 2; Takapuna v. Te Rami, Takapuna. Fourth Grade -B.—Ponsonby v. Victoria, Domain No. 16; North Shore v. Point i Chevalier, North Shore; All Saints v. Swanson, Swanson; Eden B v. Cambria, Puhinui; Mount Albert, a bye. AUCKLAND CRICKETERS TO PLAY AT PAEROA LANGRIDGE TO MAKE TRIP RE-DRAW IN SENIOR GRADE At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association held last evening, Mr. E. : E. Nalder presiding, a letter was received from Mr. P. C. Furley asking for permission to take a team to Paeroa on February 22 to play a match against an eleven selected from several clubs in the Thames Valley Association district. It was stated that the team would leave on February 21 and would return, on February 23 and would include some of Auckland’s prominent players. It was also requested that E. H. Bowley be permitted to accompany the team. It was decided to grant permission

for the team to travel, but as Bowley is at present on the injured list, it was decided to send Langridge- in his stead. It was further resolved that the Thames Valley Association be advised that Langridge would be available todo a day’s coaching at Hamilton on Thursday, February 23. In reply to a telegram from the Rotorua Association it was decided to inform that body that it would not be possible for Bowley to go there for coaching purposes, owing to his injury. DACRE BENEFIT MATCH The Dacre benefit match is to take place at Eden Park next Saturday, when Eden will meet Shore. It was resolved to advertise the match, to charge Is admission, and to have tickets printed, and as many sold previous to the match as possible. The committee expressed the hope that ground tickets would not be used on that day. After a lengthy discussion had taken place regarding the playing of the second round of the senior competition, it was decided to divide the teams into two groups of four, the A section to comprise Ponsonby, North Shore, Parnell and Eden, and the B section United Suburbs, Y.M.C.A., University and Grafton. The points will run on from the present totals.