New Cricket Season

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 7

New Cricket Season

PROSPECTS FOR 1928-29

Clubs Actively Preparing

ALTHOUGH it is unlikely that a start will be made with ■** the elub competitions before the end of this month at the earliest, owing to the time needed to get the grounds ready, cricket clubs in city and suburbs alike are all busy preparing for the new season.

It is too soon yet to say definitely | what the composition of the different club teams is likely to be, but all the clubs are getting their list of players ready for the opening practices, and it is possible to get a good line on the prospects for the new season. The only notable newcomer to Auckland cricket so far reported is C. G. Finlayson, the Wellington all-rounder, but the reappearance of C. F. A. Allcott, of Grafton, will be warmly welcomed.

THE CHAMPIONS’ CHANCES As far as can bo gathered at present, Eden will field practically the same team as it did last season, although the club has, naturally, not yet begun the narrowing-down process. Although Eden came out level with Ponsonby for the senior grade championship, the display of the team, taken all round, was not as consistent as one would expect from a side including players of the calibre of Mills and Cooper, New Zealand reps., *.nd Gillespie, a Dominion representative of the season before last, who just missed a trip to the Old Land. Vic Butler, who in 1927 won his way into the Auckland team, rarely rose to that form last season, but he should be back to form by now. The Weir brothers, G. L. and A. F., were the mainstay of the side’s batting and bowling strength, and both gained Auckland caps. G. L. especially gave promise of turning out a bowler above the ordinary, anrl should be in the same form this season. “BROOKIE” CARRIES ON

The veteran Brook-Smith, even with such a host of promising men in the team, is still well worth a nlace, unc! he also will again be playing. He played one of the innings of the year at Eden Park last season, and his ability in the field is hardly less than when he was in his prime as one of the finest cover point men in the Dominion. S. J. Postles, D. F. Whelan. F. McCarthy, W. H. Bennett, and I. W. Cooper will also all be playing again. PONSONBY SHOULD BE STRONG Ponsonby, co-championship holder with Eden, will have most of last year’s side again available. The ever-green “Smithy” will celebrate his 48th birthday during the season, but .judging by the consistent form he showed last summer, he will not be the least successful member of the team. As a direct contrast with the ex-English-man, Roy comes to mind as being likely to reach his best form this season. Admirably handled by Skipper N. C. Snedden, he went from triumph to triumph last season, culminating in a brilliant run of success against Shore, which placed Ponsonby within striking distance of the championship. Frank Taylor showed something of his true form with the bat last year, and Charlie Guiney, the ex-Canter-bury rep., was just getting into his stride as the season closed. Ponsonby’s success last year can be put down to several factors—N. C. Sneddon’s excellent captaincy, Smith’s form with the ball, and the consistent, all-round improvement in the younger players, to whom Landridge was an excellent example. Ponsonby will not have Langridge this season, bit there is no reason why it should not be equally successful this year. There is some talk of Finlayson playing for The western suburb, but it is not yet definitely known who the ex-Wellington all-rounder will join up with. NORTH SHORE

The Shore Club will again be in a healthy and vigorous condition, with the largest number of players among the Auckland clubs. The departure of C. C. Dacre has, of course, caused a big gap in the senior eleven, and much of the glamour of the game at Devonport will be lacking in his absence. It is expected that the remainder of last season’s seniors will soon be donning flannels as summer draws on, the only other one missing will be Leo (“Jamie”) Johnson, a useful all-rounder

cackling in the menaced fowl runs ornamenting the Domain boundars*. Y.M.C.A. AND BOWLEY The Young Men are looking forward to welcoming Ted Bowley back, and the English crack will again bo the mainstay of the team in all departments, but attempts are being made to strengthen up the batting and reduce the long, long tail which used to be winding, to and from the pavilion, when the “heads” had been dismissed. Len Elliott was in great form last season, and in the first flight of Auckland’s all-rounders. It is expected that the former rep. and his ex-Shore club mate.

“Bombardier” 'Wells, will both don the pads for the Young Men once more. “Don” Miller will, of course, be the life and soul of the party, with his carefree clumping to and over the line, and his cheerful theory that all bowling is meant to be clouted. “Don” has been training so seriously for the coming season that he may have overdone it. for at present he is reported in dry dock with an attack of lumbago, and every picture tells a story that while our belts grow wider as the seasons creep along the years, a sudden onslaught on avoirdupois may cause trouble, and Anno Domini will take its toll with nerve reactions. However, you can’t keep a good man down, and the cheerful Don is confident cf donning liis pads with his chronic optimism when “You’re next!” sounds. That bright Soccer trio, Baton, Otter and Riddolls, will also be on deck for the summer game, and with Horace Hunt behind the sticks, the Y.M. will oe capable of bringing off some of the usual unexpectedness which is one of King Willow’s great charms. UNITED SUBURBS CAMP In the camp of the United Suburban Club, prospects for the forthcoming season, the second the club will have Spent under the Auckland Cricket Association, are particularly bright. Coming over from the Suburban Cricket Association last season this club entered a team in the A.C.A.’s

teams in the competitions this season, j but it has not yet been decided in j which grade the second team will take ! part. ‘Gig” Wether ill. of New Zealand j Rugby League fame, will again dor the gloves behind the stumps and : Buahill, Martin, Kerr, Somers, Mills. Leikis and Stotter will all turn out again. With its batting brought up to the mark, the United Suburbs team should make Ponsonby and Eden, and any other of the leading teams in the competition look to their laurels during the coming 1925-29 season. The club will begin practice October 6. PARNELL AND ANTHONY There is no club in Auckland which pays more attention to its juniors than Parnell, and this season should see the club reaping excellent results from its sound policy. Anthony, Duncan and “Doc” Aitken will be back again, a veteran trio, although in “Tony’s” case( he is easily tho oldest of the three), it lias been wisely said that a cricketer is only as old as he plays, not as old as his birth certificate makes him out to be. Anthony is good for many more runs and many more wickets, despite the fact that it is 20 years ago since he first played rep. cricket. Duncan, too, is one of those keen, alert enthusiasts who do a power of good to a club by their cheery optimism, and he, too, will get runs, while Aitken is tempting the batsmen with his accurately-pitched deliveries. There are any number of keen young players coming on. Hay and McCoy did exceptionally well last season, and Macallan, Kissling, Stehr and Turbott are all on hand again this season, while

it may be expected that Goodsir, who did not quite live up to his Southern reputation last summer, will b© keen to redeem himself this season, with a better knowledge of Auckland conditions. NEWCOMERS TO VARSITY Varsity lias more new men in sight than any other club. To some extent, the students were inclined to move in fits and starts last season—several men displayed brilliant form at times, only to drift back into the shadows in inexplicable fashion. With the array of fresh talent to reinforce last year’s side, it only wants Varsity to produce reasonably consistent form to give any team in the competition something to worry about. The new men include J. Dunning, the Rhodes scholar, who showed sound bowling and batting form at Oxford University last season; Macklow. who played for the first XI. a. few years ago; Young, a promising player, who has been away in America; and Aver--111, a son of Archbishop Averill, who was in the Christ’s College first XI. last season; while Simpson, who looked like being a high-class fast bowler a season or two back, is also at the university this season. It is too soon yet to say who will gain senior A grade honours, but it shows the amount of fresh talent the Varsity will have to draw on if necessary. Rule Garrard, who showed glimpses of his old form last season, and was certainly one of the few club bowlers capable of going through a side, will probably have a great deal of the bowling to do again this summer. Smeeton had one of his best seasons with the bat, and with Bannister, Schnauer and Gee, should get plenty of runs again this year. Kelly, Burbidge and McDougall are also available again. GRAFTON PROSPECTS BETTER The Grafton Club is facing the coming season with good prospects of making up for deficiencies of the past. Last year the senior grade team had one of those periodical lean seasons which come to every club sooner or later. Two of the mainstays of the team in the past, Harold Wilson and Allcott, were unable to turn out, while Rowntree was in England during the first part of the season. Then toward the end of the competition, the eleven had to do without the services of its captain, Cyril Snedden, who was in Australia on Rugby League business. This year all four are back in the fold, and will step off the mark at a pace which should make even the strongest sides in the grade look to their laurels. Followers of the game will learn with interest that the New Zealand representative, Allcott, who had to rest an injured foot last season, has completely recovered again, and patrons at Eden Park will no doubt see the left-hander tossing them in his best form this year. Harold Wilson hopes to turn out for his old club again but, as he belongs to the commercial travelling fraternity', will not be available every week. Dick Rowntree, the evergreen stumper, who proved so conclusively last season that he is still without a peer in the wicketkeeper’s art in New Zealand, will also be on deck when the battle begins, as also will be Sloman, Dykes and Wylie, of last season's senior eleven. The veteran, Ernie Horspool, whose marvellously consistent form last season was alone responsible for the fact that Grafton could make a good fight at least, in most of its matches against superior sides, has also answered the roll call this year. There is every reason to believe that he will still be one of the leading lights among the batsmen.

Grafton has lost several players in Pope, who has been transferred to the Cathedral City, where he will turn out with West Christchurch, Hopkins, who is now in Dargaville, and Hamilton. It is quite on the cards, however, that several promising juniors may be unearthed before the season is far under way.