Suburban Cricket Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 7

Suburban Cricket Review

PROSPECTS FOR NEW SEASON Clubs Actively Preparing WITH the arrival in Auckland next month of G. Cox. the English professional, Auckland suburban cricket is looking forward to a bumper season. Following is a brief review of the prospects of the senior clubs for 1928-29.

In last week’s notes, reference was made to the approximate number of teams entering th© senior grade this season, but now that practice has started in real earnest, a word or two on the personnel of the teams may be welcomed by supporters. Last year’s champions. Harbour Board A, appears to be a well-balanced side, and in all probability will be again led by veteran Les Breese, who has been one of the soundest bats in Auckland for many years past, having a great number of centuries to his credit in club and representative matches. His opening partner will doubtless be A. Turner, a very promising young batsman of the forcing type. Then follows Badeley, Martin, Matthews, Dunning, all capable of making big scores. The brunt of this attack will no doubt be borne by Bennett. Dunning. Martin. Mann and Matthews, and they proved a formidable quintet last year.. Ponsonby A team, which was run-ner-up last year, will bat a fairly strong side again with men of the type of Wright and Roberts to open, followed by innes, Fletcher, Blair and Mackie, who can all* be depended upon in an emergency. The attack will fall heaviest on the shoulders of E. Stallworthy, Fletcher, Mackie. Dickson and Robertshaw, who all combine both pace and break, and will doubtless again prove the toughness of the Western Club. A KEEN YOUNG SIDE Ellerslie looks a splendid side on paper, but it certainly did not do itself justice last year. This club has several promising juniors in its ranks, who will doubtless catch the eye of Mr. Cox, the Suburban coacli, when he arrives next week from England.

the bank, and he has been the means of pulling a representative match out of danger on more than one occasion. He will be ably backed up by K. and A. Burton, Funnell, J. Elliott, junr.. B. Lawrence and Yates, who all finished with good averages last season. The bowling strength of this team must

Ellerslie will enter a senior A and B team, a third grade, and probably a team of boys under 16 years of age, which comprised a team of League football players this past season. The Ellerslie Club is to be congratulated on its enthusiasm, as it is not charging the boys any entrance fees, and is finding their material. Among the senior batsmen is A Gedye, one of the most consistent and prolific rungetters in Auckland, who is .one of the principal draws of the Association. His consistent hitting of sixes and fours is a tre/t for the enthusiasts on

not be under-estimated, for in addition to R. Burton, who headed last year’s averages, it has Roy Lawrence who, in tho writer’s opinion, was the best pace bowler in the association last year and had extremely bad luck in not being selected to represent this association. Pie mixes his deliveries with judgment, and is difficult to watch off the pitch. On a hard, true wicket especially, he makes the ball shoot unexpectedly. Then follows J. Baxter, a slow break bowler with an uncanny delivery, which fools the soundest of batsmen, and J. R. Elliott, a medium pace bowler, who commands a good length and break. Ellerslie should certainly be heard of this season when the numbers go up. Green Lane is a team of solid young cricketers, badly in need of coaching. With the assistance of a good coach, tho “Laners” are capable of making a name for themselves. With the exception of J. Elliott, who usually opens the batting with Clive Watts, the team is probably comprised of men all in their twenties, as regards age. Last year’s runs were generally compiled by C. Watts, J. Elliott, Seccombe, Wroath, Clark, Shepherd and Robinson, and the attack was borne by Seccombe, Wroath and Elliott, one of the best bowlers, Wrathall, being injured early in the season, putting him out of action altogether, but he is available again this year. Glen Eden will have a similar side to last year’s, when they were led by th© veteran, A. Kerr, the well-known rep. bowler, who commands the greatest left-hand break in Auckland. This team has some promising colts, who will probably be seen to better advantage this season, owing to last year’s experience. Harbour Board senior B team will make its presence felt this season, with a good leavening of batsmen and bowlers, who are well schooled by W. Candy, ably supported by Storey, Nicklin, Stewart and Brighton, and undoubtedly Suburban patrons are promised some interesting contests before this season ends.