With Bat and Ball

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 11

With Bat and Ball

A Cricket Causerie

Auckland’s Rep. Record The Australia-Auckland match has come and gone, and not altogether unexpectedly it has resulted in the defeat of the local team. After the splendid fights put up by Southern provinces, Aucklanders had hoped that their representatives would do something more than go under to the tune of an innings in their clash with the redoubtable cornstalks. Once again the batting which we prided ourselves was fairly reliable, if nothing else, has collapsed, and it cannot be said that a really out-and-out bowler has yet been discovered. Nevertheless, the sadly weakened team, which is but a shadow of elevens which have done battle for the province in the past, put up a gallant. fight with the material available, and one and all must carry away pleasant memories of the match. For Once He Failed Perhaps Auckland’s sad batting displays may be explained in part anyway by the fact that for once Bowley failed to come off with the bat. His early dismissals no doubt had their effect on the younger members of the team. It is also possible that the reputations of the world-famous players the Auckland team was called upon to stand up to over-awed our men, although the New Zealanders at Home were no respectors of reputations. What Auckland’s batting would have been like without Langridge’s welcome contributions may well be left to the imagination. Auckland was outclassed from the start, and when the spin of the coin went against them the odds became greater still. One almost forgets when Auckland last won the toss on its home ground. Professionals in Rep. Teams Bowley has been one of the batting mainstays for the two past seasons, scoring consistently in all the matches, and this has no doubt led to too high a value being placed on the team’s batting. It will certainly be a sad day for Dominion cricket, if ever a provincial side has to rely on the aid of a professional coach to win its matches. The most consistent rungetters in the world have their off periods, and while OBowley’s 16 for the match cannot detract seriously fro*n his great reputation, it will have done much good if it has served to remind our cricketers not to rely too much on players brought out from Home, but to concentrate on improving under their guidance. Farewell to the Coaches At the Australian match the Auckland Cricket Association’s two coaches, E. H. Bowley and J. Langridge, put in their last appearance here, for the present season anyway. They leave Wellington this week for Home, and the coming English season. For Bowley the season promises to be one of the most important of his career, for on his performances for the Sussex Cricket Club will depend whether or not he is fated to gain that distinction sought by many but attained by few —an All-England cap.

The deeds of Langridge will no doubt have travelled before him, and the Sussex Cricket Club selectors will await with interest the return of one of the finest of England’s younger set of professionals. All Aucklanders will join in wishing the two good luck—even though their luck may be Auckland’s bad luck.

The New Zealand Team Mr. N. C. Snedden, the ex-New Zealand cricket captain, left Auckland last evening for Wellington to attend a meeting of the New Zealand Selection Committee for the purpose of selecting the team for the first test with Australia. It is expected that the decision will be made known in the caiptal this evening or to-morrow morning. As matters stand, it does not look as though Auckland will be very strongly represented, Rowntree and possibly Player being the only outstanding candidates. J. E. Mills, unfortunately, is unable to obtain leave. * * * The Next Australian Test Eleven Prominent members of the Australian team at present touring New Zealand consider that J. M. Gregory, C. V. Grimmett and D. D. J. Blackie will form the nucleus of the bowling strength of the Australian test eleven against the Englishmen next season. Gregory, who had a spell from bowling in the early part of the present season, has staged a remarkable “come-back” to form. Jack, like Sid was before him, is a wonderful field and a solid batsman. The Australians say there is no doubt that he will be worth a place in the team—and furthermore that he will be a tower of strength if he plays up to his present form. * * * Net Profit of £33 The Auckland Cricket Association has netted a profit of some £33 odd on the recent Australia-Auckland match! When the hon. treasurer presented his balance sheet at the Management Committee’s meeting last evening one member suggested that there must have been a good'deal of “wall climbing” gc)ng on. He was assured, however, that two rangers had been employed to keep a look out. The gross receipts amounted to £538, of which the New Zealand Cricket Council receives £3OO. General expenses amounted to £97, and £IOO went to the Eden Park Board of Control. “If that is all we get out of it, I can see the gate charges being raised next time an overseas team comes here, added a member. Mr. Watts said he estimated that if Auckland had batted first, £2OO more would have been taken at the gates. * * * Player’s Bad Luck Admittedly, the Auckland bowling was weak, but just after the double century went up, Snedden called for the new ball and put Player on. Although he had borne the brunt of the attack up to this stage, the Devonport man rose to the occasion in great Style. Swinging them down with splendid vim, Player ought to have had both Richardson’s and Alexander’s wickets when they had compiled only about 50 or 60 of their great double century partnership. This was the critical point of the match, and splendid as had been the fielding all through, it was sheer bad luck that

just at this time chances should have been missed at the wickets and in the slips. Had these two chances been accepted, or even the one from Richardson, it is questionable if the Australians would have gone much past the 300 mark. Saturday’s Fixtures Following are the matches for Saturday next: First Grade Ponsonby *v. Eden, Eden Park No. 1, championship final; North Shore v. Parnell, North Shore; Y.M.C.A. v. University, Eden Park No. 2; Grafton v. United Suburbs, Eden Park N®. 3. Senior B Grade North Shore A v. Parnell, North Shore; Papatoetoe v. North Shore Colts, Papatoetoe; Y.M.C.A. v. University, Eden Park No. 4; Ponsonby v. Eden. Eden Park No. 5. Second Grade Final.—Windmill v. North Shore (to be arranged). Fourth Grade Final.—Victoria v. All Saint’s, Victoria Park. Special Match W.Y.M.I. v. Grafton Rugby Juniors, Victoria Park.