THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 581, 6 February 1929, Page 13

THE CRICKET CRITIC

The Plunket Shield match, Otago v. Canterbury, the last this season, takes place at Dunedin on February 22, 23, 25 and 26

Congratulations to Mr. Harry Dykes, of Grafton, on'making the best catch of his career—Miss May Speirs, three times Dominion women’s singles tennis champion.

One of the Youngest With the exception of T. W. Garrett, who took part in the first two tests in the history of the game, no younger player than Archie Jackson has ever played in these games. Jackson is 19 years old. Garrett was 18 when he was selected first, and is one of the three survivors of the first Australian eleven to visit England.

The Final Shield Game It is now certain (writes a Dunedin exchange) that Shepherd will be available for the Otago-Canterbury Plunket Shield game. Although it lias been announced that McMullan contemplates retiring from big cricket, he also will probably be playing in this match. There is some doubt, however, that Roger Blunt may not be available owing to pressure of business. Pointed Pars 111 luck still dogs Nesbit Snedden His scores this season are: 7. 0,1, 4, 7, 0. Monteith. who did well for Shore last season, has come to light all of a sudden in his true form for Ponsonby. After a run of small scores—3s, 6, 11, 1, o—he0 —he has struck out with two fine centuries—l 27. 101. Suburbs appears to have regained form at last—but unfortunately the season is rather far advanced. The old war-horse, S. G. Smith, comes to light week after week with fine innings. His last four have been 114 not out, 110 not out, 18 and 66. Anzac Day Next? It is a matter for regret that at its meeting last night, the Auckland Cricket Association should have acquiesced in the proposed arrangement of representative matches on Good Friday. Surely Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are sufficient without wanting the whole of Easter turned over to cricket? With Good Friday accepted as a date for big matches, it is just as well Anzac Day falls beyond the cricket season, otherwise we might see a clash bet wen Auckland and Wellington staged on that day. Last year, the Auckland Rugby Union gave a lead to its clubs by requesting that no matches be played on Good Friday, and it is to the credit of the footballers that the request was observed.

Essex Changes Captain Mr. H. M. Morris, who has been appointed to the captaincy of the Essex County XI., is an old Repton Boy. J. W. 11. T. (Johnny Won’t Hit To-day) Douglas, whom he succeeds, has been

captain of the county since 1911, and during that time he skippered the team which brought the ashes from Australia in 1912. He was also vice-captain of tho 1924-25 side in Australia. Douglas, it is said, may now play for Middlesex where he was born. In the early ’forties, he has had a great career as an all-round athlete.

Testimonial for Jack Gregory? A correspondent in the “Referee,” in suggesting that a percentage of the gate of the last test this season be given to Jack Gregory as a testimonial, says;—“l feel I am expressing the sentiments of all lovers of the great game when I say that no personality since the days of Victor Trumper has done more for the good old game than Long Jack. Jt would be a fitting climax to a never-to-be-forgotten season.”

This Stonewalling! An article by an Engilsh writer in a recent issue of the Sydney “Referee” contains the following castigation of stonewallers and stonewalling in cricket:—

“Cricketers have a duty to the game, as well as to their teams. Cricket’s tradition shines with a gallant lustre.. This tradition is abused when an England batsman comes to the wicket with his side some 400 runs ahead, plenty of wickets in hand, and then proceeds to push and poke cannily for three and a-half hours for 72. It is no answer to quote the case of Australia’s notorious stonewaller, Bannerman. He was an exceptional stonewaller. Besides, one stonewaller in a side is necessary. But you don’t want three or four. Are we to count Jardine, Mead and Sutcliffe as the modern equivalents of Bannerman? Has the stonewaller become typical and not exceptional in our great game? The truth is that ‘The game is more than the player of the game: the ship is more than the crew.’ ”

Papatoetoe Cricket The club at Papatoetoe is having a good season. For the, first time three teams have been entered, and every team is in a handy position to win its respective grade, provided that the remaining matches have the same happy ending as most of the recent ones On Saturday last, each team notched a four-pointer. The fourth graders travelled to Swaiison, where they had an innings victory over the local team The third grades won by default. In passing, one might mention that defaulting teams would show more consideration if they would let their opponents know ahead, to obviate the unnecessary preparation of pitches, afternoon tea. etc. Three times, lately, teams have failed to arrive, after all preparations had been made. The Senior B team continued its match with Shore Colts, and won by seven wickets. The last three Papatoetoe wickets j'ielded orl3 runs, so that the respective first innings scores were: Colts 82, Papatoetoe 162.

Answer to Correspondent “Enthusiast” writes, asking for the averages to date in inter-club cricket of G. L. Weir (Auckland) and C. S. Dempster (Wellington). Weir has played seven innings, twice not out, highest score 130 not out, for a total of 298 runs—average 59.6. Dempster's figures are not yet available. When

they are they will be published in these columns. He has, however, run up four three-figure innings in club cricket, and has over 1,000 runs to his credit in club and Shield games this season. * * * Hamilton Cricket The finish of the senior cricket match between Hamilton Hast and Old Boys, the two leading teams, at Seddon Park on Saturday, was the most unusual of the season (writes our Hamilton correspondent). Old Boys, who had made 130 in the first innings the previous Saturday, closed their second essay with 199 runs, a total of 338. Hamilton Bast, which notched 103 in the first innings and were the last to bat, were six wickets for 321 when stumps were due to be drawn. However, another over was allowed and 17 added so rapidly that Hamilton East wero rejoicing over what seemed a certain win. On being consulted tie score-keepers announced that both sides had made 338—a draw. S. Badeley was top-scorer with 106. In the other Senior A game Frankton defeated Hamilton by 51 runs. (Frankton, first innings, 165; second innings,

141. Hamilton, first innings, 140; second innings, 115.) Cobbe was the topscorer with 35 and also recorded the best bowling average—four for 25.

The Old Firm Again The partnership between Ilobbs and Sutcliffe, in the first innings of the fourth Test, is the ninth first-wicket partnership for over 100 that they have made for England in tests with Australia, and their second for the present tour. These partnerships arc as follow : 1924-23 Sydney 157 110 Melbourne 283 Melbourne 126 * — 1926 Lord’s 182 Leeds Oval 1928-29 — Melbourne —■ 105 Adelaide 143 England has had some fine opening batsmen. On twenty-five occasions in tests with Australia, England has had over 100 runs on the board before the first wicket fell. Hobbs has been associated in fourteen of these partnerships, his partner in nine being Sutcliffe, in four W. Rhodes and in one C. B. Fry.

EASTER MATCHES

COMMITTEE’S PROPOSALS

Tentative arrangements were outlined at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last night for “home and away” matches at Easter. Approval was given to a request from the North Auckland Association for a match against Auckland at Eden Park on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, and permission was granted for the Northland team to play the Suburban Association on Easter Monday. Mr. J. H. Miller was granted permission to take a team to the Bay of Plenty at Easter; and it was decided to ask the Waikato Association if it would like a match against an Auckland team at Hamilton on Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

It was: resolved to go straight with the second round of the senior competition, in view of the positions of the teams. Nine more playing Saturdays are available, including Easter Saturday.

SATURDAY’S DRAW Following are the A.C.A. cricket fixtures for next Saturday: First Grade—Eden v. Grafton. Eden Park No. 1; Y.M.C.A. v. University, Eden Park No. 2; Parnell v. United Suburbs, Eden Park No. 3; North Shore v. Ponsonby, North Shore. Senior Grade 13—Parnell v. PapatoetQe, Papatoetoe; North Shore Colts v. University, King's College; Y.M.C.A. v. Eden, Domain No. 4; Ponsonby v. North Shore, North Shore; Windmill v. Balmoral, Victoria Park. Second Grade A—North Shore v. Grafton, Domain No. 5; Balmoral v. All Saints, Domain No. 12; Northcote v. Parnell A, Northcote; Western United v. Windmill, Domain No. 10. Second Grade B—City v. Mount Albert, Victoria Park; United Suburbs v. Tamaki, Victoria Park; Takapuna v. Ponsonby, Takapuna; Western Springs v. Epsom United, Domain No. S; University v. Parnell B, Domain No. 9. Third Grade A—Papatoetoe v. University, Papatoetoe: Y.M.C.A. v. Grafton. Domain No. 13; Balmoral v. North Shore, North Shore; All Saints v. Eden. Eden Park No. 4. Third Grade P—Telegraph v. Te •’ cal Old Bovs, Eden Park No. 5; Point Chevalier v. Birkdale, Victoria Park; W.Y.M.I. v. Windmill, Domain No. 14; Power Board v. Glebe, Domain No. 16. Third Grade C—C.C.C.C. v. Avondale Depot, Point Chevalier; Victoria v. Henderson, Henderson; Aotearoa v. Remuera, Point Chevalier; Comrades v. Epsom United. Victoria Park; Western Springs v. Stanley Bay, Stanley Bay. Fourth Grade A—Telegraph v. Victoria. Devonport Football Ground; Y.M.C.A. v. St. George’s, Outer Domain No. 1; Mount Albert A v. Paoatoetoe, Papatoetoe; C.C.C.C. v. Parnell. Outer Domain No. 2; All Saints' A v. Cambria, Puhinui; Roskill Wesley v. Swanson (friendly match), Swanson. Fourth Grade B—Point Chevalier v. North Shore, North Shore; Tamaki v. Ponsonby. St. Helpers: Kintrsland Jubilee v. All Saints’ B, Point Chevalier; Mount Albert B v. St. Stephen’s, Mount Albert; Northcote v. Western Springs, Victoria Park; W.Y.M.I. a bye. z