Our Cricket Girls at The Wicket

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 519, 23 November 1928, Page 6

Our Cricket Girls at The Wicket

“We Want a Coach " Sydney has Bert Oldfield The demure ingenue of yesteryear, whose ample skirts confined her sporting activities to a mild game of push-ball, may sniff: It wasn’t done when WE were girls.’ But the sprightly members of the Auckland Girls* Cricket Association possess neither the qualms nor the crinolines of their grandmas. THKV turned out Saturday on * their own grounds at Remuera, and with all their characteristic abandon and keenness, proved themselves budding century-making exponents of King Willow. But wielding the willow in unwieldly ways is not the way of cricket, and at the tea adjournment these enthusiastic damsels gathered in groups, as girls will, and floating through the breeze went the whisper: “Yes. we want a coach.” Now. Sydney girls who play cricket knoHUhe value of coaching, and the fact that they managed to lay their hands onBert Oldfield. Australia’s famous keeper. to put them through their drill, spells heaps for what they are going to be like in the future. Bert’s engaged, but that doesn’t matter. They want a good experienced coach and they make no stipulation as regards affairs of the heart. It. is cricket, they say. A score of Sydney’s pretty girls started the ball rolling first when they induced Oldfield to the Domain (during the day. of course), and casting aside all their powder, cosmetics, etc., paid homage to the small but solid person of Bert by attentively watching, while he showed them the intricacies of a game to which they were practically strangers. And it comes from across the waters of the Tasman that, a funny thing. Bert never blushed: In fact, he was quite at home with the ladies. First, ho quite unnecessarily introduced himself. Then he grabbed a couple of bats, and made toward the pitch, followed by 20 feminine udTi hold the bat correctly was the girls’ first lesson. Several conscious young sportswomen had to have their hands held in position for a little while, but it's all in the game, and neither party appeared to mind very much. Anyhow, in about ten minutes Australia's great cricketer had three - iris lined out, armed with bats, and '\as putting them through their paces. Judging by Oldfield’s expression, they did very well. Bowling, catching. fielding, and in rowing lessons were given by three oi the Australian ’keeper’s youthful attendants, who looked as though they thoroughly enjoyed acting as honor«r> instructors to a bevy of young feminine beauty. Hereafter, the most popular male