THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 517, 21 November 1928, Page 11

THE CRICKET CRITIC

Players for Practice The 38 players chosen for practice view a view to selection for the Auckland representative team’s Southern tour during the Christmas and New Year holidays occasion no surprises, jt is, of course, as yet early in the season to discuss Plunket Shield prospers, hut the Auckland Association is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to cret the best possible team away. The selectors may from time to time add other names to the list 0 i 18 already named. * * 3 Butler’s Bowling Display One player who displayed convincing form on Saturday SJJ Vic. But lor, the Eden bowler, jte gained his representative cap against tire Melbourne -CM— lhe season before last, but since then has given only mediocre displays. He may be into stride again in time tor consideration when the representatives are being chosen. Bu.hr is » outfield. m * * . v weir, who played in represen- . ;we cricket last season, is not among the 1* already chosen for practice tor the Southern tour this season. Another Harry Graham Kradman, one of tho newcomers to erteket, halls from tlm rural disof New South Wales. Feartrusts tho foundation of his less footwork is tno sound. batt : n |i 1 ned another Harry Graham." 1 and Bradman may ho the man. He is only 20. * * * Odds on England n-ho last-minute, and somewhat unahe jo . of ironmonger in sroisrswa >- sr-sw* batting some little h cncern SoUd rather than brilliant concern. men have showed grTrars'ss S V^me\°w t m at the n duesuin n of tl crickm supremacy be answered.^ Australia’s Captain \t the age of 39, Ryder, the upstanding Victorian batsman, has been called captaincy of Australia as sueressor m -'Eucky Collins. He has scored with pleasing freedom during th nast two years, but unfortunately SSTBiSS is no’better as a fieldsman than a big man of his age ean be. He if*, however, a reliable slip catchRyder has scored 56S v. England in Tests (average 37) and has made 3,499 in Shield cricket, at 49 an innings. Has captured 125 Shield wickets, but his fast-medium bowling has deteriorated since 1920, and his eight wickets in Tests have cost 56 runs each. * * * Cleverley for Auckland It was reported at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening that Don. Cleverley, of Wellington, was being transferred to Auckland about Christmas or New Year. He is a fast bowler of some repute, and both Suburbs and Darnell are hoping to have the benefit of his services. * * * Merritt Losing Guile W. 33. Merritt seems to have regained some of his schoolday batting form at the expense of his bowling. Although he got good averages in the Canterbury colts’ match with a minor association’s team recently, his bowling was not up to his best standard. On the second day he was trying, for some time, to bowl quite fast, without spinning tho ball and without a deepfield* * * « John Bull Knows Best Not infrequently have been heard growls at the conservatism of the Marylebone Club in refusing to sanctiou any tinkering with the laws of the game. From time to time, the most absurd suggestions have been put forward for speeding up the play, arid among these may be mentioned having four stumps instead of three, and doing away with the l.b.w. rules. A few years back, Australia put forward a suggestion that the over should consist of eight instead of six balls. “Tho laws as they stand are Quite good enough for me,’* said John Bull in effect, “but if you prefer an *‘ight-ball over you can have it—in your own country.” Well, the eight-ball over has been •jdven a good try-out. and John Bull nas been found to be right. Australia as reverted to the six-ball over, and Zealand last year followed suit. BRISK SENIOR B BATTING In a senior B match at King’s Colon Saturday Ponsonby kept Var•Mty leather-hunting all the afternoon until the inevitable rain put an end to Play for the day, about 4.30. The wicket "'as in excellent order and the outfield Inst, but there were only two note- " Pithy features of the game. Bindrum gave a fine exhibition in collect-

ing his 73, the Varsity bowling never seeming to trouble him. The rest of the batsmen were rather of the hit-or-miss variety, and unfortunately for Varsity did more hitting than missing. Against good fielding Ponsonbv’s total would have been considerably less, but there is only one word to describe the Varsity fielding. It was atrocious, except on the part of Hudson. who did good work at point. The bowling was uninspiring, chiefly owing to the fact that the stock bowlers were run to a standstill, and were only taken off when literally at their last gasp. This was particularly noticeable in the cases of Waddingham and Hay, who were both doing well until they became too tired to impart any “sting” to their bowling. The latter was particularly unlucky several times, for which he must thank the exceptionally bad fielding. If Varsity entertains any hope of winning the championship, it. must immediately set about improving in this department of the game, and its bowlers must receive more “nursing.” - » 9 PAPATOETOE MATCH Y.M.C.A. had a field day at the expense of the Papatoetoe bowlers and fieldsmen on Saturday. The day was marred by an hour’s rain from just after 4 o’clock, and after the fieldsmen had been well soaked, play was stopped for about three-quarters of an hour. The opening batsman, Worth, proved to be a power of strength to liis side, playing a sterling innings for 75, almost all scored on the leg side. Sutherland, with 35 not out, also played a very straight bat and chose judiciously the balls to hit. Had it not been for dropped catches, Papatoetoe would have been in a much better position. The slippery ball excuses tho later mistakes, but for the earlier ones there is no excuse, and they proved very costly. When stumps were drawn Y.M.C.A. had lost six wickets for 182, so it will bo interesting to see how the match continues next Saturday. EXECUTIVE MEETS At the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening a letter Was received from tho Wellington Cricket Association inquiring if it would be possible for the Auckland reps, to play a match against a Wellington side during the Northern team’s Southern tour at Christmas. It was decided to reply that the Auckland team’s programme had already been arranged, and that it would not be possible to arrange a match. The committee decided to send a letter to the Takapuna Borough Council. expressing appreciation for the work which that body had done in the interests of cricket in Taharoto Park. An application for the regrading of B. Caere, of North Shore, from senior grade to second grade was granted. Dykes, of Grafton, was awarded a bat for scoring the first century in junior grade cricket this season. The chairman stated that he had received complaints from various quarters regarding the row boys had made on the members’ stand at Eden Park on Saturday last. Members of the Management Committee have been authorised to remove any boys causing such disturbances in future. WHANGAREI REP. TEAM (From Our Own Correspondent) WHANGAREI. Tuesday. The following team has been chosen to represent Whangarei in a wholeday match against Northern Wairoa at Whangarei on Saturday:—Mason (cap tainl and Hewlett (Onerahi), Gash (Whangarei), Grove (Nomads), Aim, Miller, Burch and Izzard (High School), Williams and Newton (Portland), Wilson (Hikurangi). Twelfth man, Balgent (Whangarei).