Cricketers On the Move

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 14

Cricketers On the Move

Big Programme Arranged English Visit Keenly Awaited IX readiness for what promises to be one of the biggest seasons in the history of cricket in Auckland, the senior club teams of the Auckland Cricket Association are getting down to practice early and sifting out the possibles and probables of their various sides. The senior competition will probably commence on Saturday week, October 19.

Most of the clubs held their first practices on Saturday, and by next week everything should be in full at the nets. "With the visit of the Af.C.C. side to the Dominion plenty of plums are in the offing for those who can strike the form to win their places in representative and test match trams. Although it is yet too early for the clubs to finalise their senior elevens, it i.s evident that the general composion of these teams will be much the same as last year. The only twe newcomers of any moment are IT. E. Burton. former Aucklander, and Wellington representative, who has returned to Auckland, and Metge, who played for Auckland some years ago. and who has returned after a sojourn in Whangarei. Championship winners for the past three seasons, Eden, as far as is known at present, will field practically the aame team as did battle last year. In the event of the club being siiccc.- - 'ul in having a second team entered ;'or the senior grade a division of forces will take place, however. At ills, Gillespie, the Weir brothers, and the evergreen, Brooke-Smith, will all don the pads again, as also will Butler, Postles, Vivian and Whelan—combining to make up the most formidable batting array in Auckland club cricket. McCarthy, the stumper, and Langton. the diminutive bowler, whose wiles with the bnll had a most devastating effect on rival sides toward the close of last season, will also be on hand again. The present Eden senior B team inti udes several promising players who will enter the senior A grade if the club's proposal goes through. They are O. Laurie, Gillespie, junr., Aickin and "Ham” Bennett. METGE FOR VARSITY The runners-up in the senior A grade last season. University, will probably be served by pretty well the •same team as last year. E. C. Gee, a fine club player, will be missed, as he has been transferred to Wanganui, but in his place the side will gain Metge, who played for the Auckland representatives against Charles Macartney’s -Yew South Wales side a few years ago. D. It. Garrard. A. M. Matheson, W. J. Smeeton. Schnauer, Bush, Pearson and Browne will be available again. Other warriors turning out again are J. McDougall and D. Lunn, a colt who showed great promise toward the close of last season. University will regain the services of E. G. Bannister, who played for Grafton last year. Last season Ponsonby did not do as well as in the previous season when it finished equal with Eden at the top of the table, but with substantially the same team wearing the green caps this year the club has hopes of something better than third place. Now well on the way to h!s fiftieth summer, S. G. Smith, former Northamptonshire, West Indies and New Zealand representative, who maintained great form with both bat and ball last season, will appear again, as also wiil N. C. Snedden. who last year was dogged by much ill-luck. Tayloy McLeod, Harry Roy . Monteith, Charlie Guiney and C. O. Finlayson are all expected to be seen in action again, but there is some doubt about Wheelei taking up duties behind the sticks this year. Fraser and Warneford will both be available. SHORE PROSPECTS With two strong teams in the Seniot B grade. North Shore has a wealth ot potential talent to feed its Senior A team. Speedmercaant. Coates, Frater Saunders, 11. and D. Webb, Alf Scott Coleburne. Naismith and Farquharaon an old senior player, are all available Another contender for a place ir senior ranks will be Anderson th€ Varsity man who is a master at th« Takapuna Grammar School. The club haa a dozen or so new vecruits from the Navy whoso abilities are not yet known, and some of then-

! may be worth a place in the senior : i A team. I ! Grafton this year will miss a val- ; uable club man in Goodwin who has i left Auckland, but the veterans of the : • ‘ side Ernie Horspool and the erstwhile ; 5 j Lick Rountree are both expected to j i ! appear again. I-larold Wilson and 1 !C. F. W. Allcott will also help to : carry the banner of the Graftonians. j . I Sale, dogged, determined bat, and Hockin, the hurricane hitter will no | doubt contribute as much as ever to ] • I the batting array. The Graftonians will be weaker this j ■ season, in that they will not. have the l services of James Langridge the l Sussex coach. 1 There will probably be more changes i ; in the personnel of the Y.M.C.A. rep- ; resentatives than in any other side, t • They have secured the services of i Innes of the Ponsonby Suburban team - and one of the finest all-rounders in j either association in Auckland. He 1 put up several big scores last year, and was a member- of the Suburban 3 representative team. Y.M.C.A’S. HAUL 1 It is also on the cards that the j 1 Young Men’s team will feature two - outstanding players from another club, - one of whom was an Auckland repre- -> sentative in 1926-27. Nothing definite 1 is known as yet, however. 2 Elliot and Lyon, who with Bowley. - were the mainstays of the side last s season will play again for the club i this season* as also will Sutherland. the Riddolls brothers, Banbury Worth and Stewart. J-lorrie Hunt has j dropped out of the team, and his place e behind the sticks will be taken by

\ Smith from the senior B team, who is j- a good batsman. Riddolls senior and e Sutherland are considered by Bowley s to have futures ahead of them. g . “Don” Miller’s position is uncertain. & If he follows his own wishes he will h play for one of the junior teams to _ help it along but as was the case last v year, the seniors may not be able to _ do without his services. (2 TI. E. Burton, the former Wellington s representative, who has returned 10 v Auckland again, may also be seen in the Y.M.C.A. ranks this year. q Parnell this year can hope to reap the benefits of its policy in the past [t season of building up the team with r promising colts. Whitelaw, who won s his place in the Auckland represenII tatives in his first season of club cricket, and McCoy, Kissling, and Hay will be playing again. The yeteran Arnold Anthony, and Aitken, G-oodsir, tv j Hugrhie Duncan, Turbott and Von >f : Rotter will also play again. A ' The United Suburbs side also will r. remain much the same. One newt, comer, however will be Nelson Bass, i. the. old Ponsonby fast bowler and good e. bat. and former New Zealand League n representative. I-lendy, Leikis. Kerr. ie Wetherill, Martin, Stottcr and Bush ill te will line up for the opening of the season. There is however, some doubt - about Arthur Williams reappearing. >s Nolan from the seconds will probably n win a place in the senior rank.