A BOWLER’S DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 301, 12 March 1928, Page 6

A BOWLER’S DAY

Both Sides Crash Badly on Wicket That Helped Pace Bowlers

McNAMEE AND PLAYER THE STARS

SATURDAY’S cricket at Eden Park was a triumph for the bowlers. Only 202 runs were scored in five hours’ cricket. The liveliness of the wicket, in marked contrast to the comparatively slow and easy surface on Friday, on which the Australians registered 97 per cent, of their big score, provided a golden opportunity for the pace bowlers, of whom McNamee (Australia) and Player (Auckland) were conspicuously successful.

two dominated the scene on 1 Saturday. McNamee’s five wickets for 12 runs represents one of the most remarkable performances ever registered in Auckland cricket. It was not a. collapse in the ordinary sense of the word that gave McNamee his wickets, and his performance was all the more impressive on that account. Right from the time it became evident that the v.’icket was going to suit him, he bowled magnificently, keeping splendid length and direction; so much so that ha confidently dispensed with the customary brace of out-fielders. Thirteen out of twenty-one overs of his were maidens. Already a good deal of misconception exists as to how the tall Sydney man got his wickets. There has been talk of a wonderful off break and subtle changes of flight and pace, etc. Actually, and much as one regrets having to shatter some more cherished illusions. there was very little of that. McNamee relied mainly on a straight ball, without any fancy frills. What made his bowling so destru stive (as it did Player's in the moaning) was the nip he was getting off the wicket. The same thins made Maurice Tate a 50 per cent, better bowler on Australian wickets than in England. Tho men who served up the breaks were Grimmett and Blackie. They bowled as many balls with spin on them as McNamee did plain straight ones—and that is saying something. But it was not a wicket for them. Langridgo and Bnedden showed how to play them by covering up to everything they sent along on the wicket, leaving the ball going away to spend itself innocuously in thin air, while the ever-watchful Oldficild sought in vain for an opportunity to whip, the bails off. PLAYER’S FINE WORK Out of a wildnerness of uninspiring cricket Alan Pla> er stands out as Auckland’s sheet anchor. He bowled magnificently in the morning, and the late afternoon provided the Devonport man with a situation which he loves. Player is a 50 per cent, better cricketer in the big games -:han he is in club matches, and when his side is up against it, whether in the field or at the wickets, there is no better Aghter in New Zealand cricket to-day. Alan’s big, rather awkward, build never intended him to be a champion fieldsman and the bankers can barrack him to their heart’s content, for he is a trier always, but the larger the score the opposition is piling up the better he bowls, and when runs are badly wanted Player is the man to get them, and more than that, to hold the side together and inspire younger comrades to a return of confidence. Anthony, .Langridge and Snedden made a good fightir.g effort to retrieve the situation after the disastrous start of tho Auckland innings. The Parnell veteran played sparkling cricket, and small as his score v/as, it was as nice je a knock as “Tony” has played at any _ time this season. LANGRIDGE DOES WELL yjL The Sussex County Club regards Langridge as one of the coming men in English cricket, and in sending him abroad for experience in the "off” sea„..son it has provided him with an opportunity which falls to few players of - - his age. On tour with E. C. Beale’s ■ .-eleven and in club cricket he has fully upheld the high opinion formed of his c y capabilities in England. In being selected to play against the Australians he was given a great opportunity, and he made full use of it on Saturday. His batting, while s carcely comparable £ yet to the polished displays that Bowley has given us, was nevertheless ’ ** marked by the promise of big things 1 J in tho future. Correct and orthodox in c " his stroke production, Langridge is a 5 line left-handed batsman in the mak3*r ing, and is going to be heard of in English cricket in the next few years. 5r It may be that he and some of his opponents in this match will meet again on the classic fields of England when the Australians go Home in 1929. The principal aspects of Saturday’s play have been already touched on. A few brief notes at random may be added. The» clean-up of the last four Australian wickets in the morning gave both Player and G. L. Weir a well deserved lift to their drooping bowling figures of the previous day. Both had bowled particularly well, the Eden coil especially bowling with more determinJ ation and confidence than he has shown in any rep. game this season. -V THE WICKETKEEPERS A comparison of the two wicket- .* keepeds is difficult, because they were ‘ placed with entirely different sets of circumstances. All the same, Rown- , tree’s figures for the innings (three 3 caught and one stumped, and eleven extras) showed that the veteran fell little short of his best form, ve The fielding of the Australians was, on the whole, very sound. The slip fielding was especially safe, but for ail that several possible chances were missed. One or two catches were certainly difficult, but one has so long associated the Australians with the highest class of work in the field that their fielding was not quite up to what was expected. Vic. Richardson’s work, THE AUSTRALIAN BOWLING i Four right-handed bowlers form the basis of Richardson’s attacking battery. Grimmett and Blackie bowled from - slow to medium pace on Saturday, -<r w hile McNamee and Morton both came in the fast medium category. Although - ..Morton is the man who is deputed with - the task of supplying the pace, Mc>N*iunee was often quite as fast as the powerful young South Australian. « There was a mild surprise when Old- * field went back a good dozen yards to £ Morton, and stood right up to the : v icketa to take McNamee, who, how- * ever, does rot rise so awkwardly as * Morton does. c Oldfield’s role of a patient, watchful c Nemisis for the batsmen rather hung j lire, not because of many lapses on his j> ft. but simply bee tuse the chances did not come his way. It was, how- i f. evident from one or two things Oldfield did that he is like lightning in |

snapping up the ball at the wickets, and an opinion of his capabilities may very well be deferred until Auckland’s second innings is finally totted up today. There was some disappointment on Saturday that the Australians did not put Auckland in first on the previous day and reserve their own innings till Saturday, so as to let everyone see the visitors at the wickets. It may be observed, however, that this is not a “picnic match,’* and with test match honours on the horizon, each member of the Australian team is making no bones about getting all the runs and all the wickets to be had in New Zealand, in vie wof the English team's visit next season. CRICKET IN OTHER CENTRES BADCOCK IN FORM CUNNINGHAM’S SIX WICKETS Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The 'Wellington senior cricket competition was continued yesterday. Old Boys in the first innings against Midland made 219 (Barclay 79). Robertson took three wickets for 62 runs. Grant 2-52, Baker 3- Midland had lost four wickets for 51 when stumps were drawn. Playing against Thorndon, Institute made 90 (Burt 25). Thorndon made 179 for two wickets (Roberts 50. Monkhouse 23, Badcock not out 85). Bowling for Thorndon Badcock 6-42, Hyder 2-29, Foley 2-14. Kilbirnie scored 142 (Morris 22, Bramley 52) in the match with T.M.C.A. C. A. White 2 25, Browne 3-38, Copeland 5-47. Y.M.C.A. lost six wickets for 46. Petone batted first against University and at the end of the day had made 226 for nine wickets (Caps tick 36, Finlayson 85, Brice 55) Wellington in the game against Hutt made 102 (Whyte 21, Buff 20). Beard 8-51. Hutt lost four wickets for 83 runs before stumps were drawn. CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. The tenth *ound of the first grade cricket matches was commenced yesterday in fine weather. Interest centred in the meeting of Riccarton and Old Boys the leading teams in the championship competition, the former having one point advantage. This match seems likely to decide t’lie issue, and Old Boys are in a good position for a win. Riccarton was all out for 118 (J. L. Powell 60). Merritt 4- Crcmto 3-14, Harris 3-13. Old Boys lost three wickets for 117 (Cromb 45, Nixon 53). St. Alban’s, batting against West Christchurch, scored 120 (Crawford 34, Dorreen 31). West Christchurch lost five wickets for 52. Playing Linwood, East Christchurch was out for 195 (Gregory 35, MeEwin 41, Phelps 32). Read 4-90. Linwood lost three wickets for 37. Old Collegians, playing Sydenham, scored 107 (J. S. Bruges 23). Cunningham 6-21. Sydenham lost three wickets for 59 (C. Oliver not out 31). DUNEDIN, Sunday. Unfinished matches between Albion and Dunedin and Carisbrook and Grange were resumed in warm weather yesterday, but heavy rain late in the afternoon caused a cessation of play. Carisbrook made 85 in reply to Grange’s 232. Alloo and Galland bowled well for Grange, the former getting 7~41 in 30 overs. Carisbrook followed on and made six before rain stopped the play. Albion, 155 for four wickets, carried the score to 242 for eight wickets and declared. Shepherd did not increase his; score of 101 made last week, but Binney went from 23 to 75. Dunedin (126 in the first innings) had lost five wickets for 79 when rain stopped play, giving Albion a two-point win on the first innings;. HAMILTON, Sunday. (From Our Own Correspondents) Senior A grade cricket was continued here yesterday in fine weather, Frankton made 65 against Hamilton East, Wilson 19 and Cobbe 12 being the only double figure scorers. Hamilton East rattled up 139 in reply (Dufty 71 and Going 28). Hamilton made 128 (Winger 50) against Old Boys, v/ho had scored 46 when stumps were drawn. THAMES, To-day. Great interest was taken in the Karaka-Tararu cricket match, played here on Saturday afternoon. The competing teams are leading in the championship with an equal number of points. The result of the game, in which Karaka was defeated, gives Tararu a lead of three points. The losers batted first and made 122 runs (A. Brokenshire 57). lararu responded with 195 (J. Fox 72, K. Dare not out 28, R. Cleave 21). The City-High School match was won by the School by an innings and 29 runs. City made 17 and 54, and the School’s innings produced 100 runs. MAT AM AT A, Sunday. On Saturday the Matamata-Manawaru match was completed and resulted in a win for the latter by 46 runs. Matamata, 62 and 72 for four wickets, continued its second strike and reached 87. Manawaru (97) replied with 98 in its second innings, Stone 37, and Scott 24, being the best contributors -with the bat.