THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 13

THE CRICKET CRITIC

An Early Start j The decision of the A.C.A. to cominenco the first round of its senior competition on Saturday will meet with fairly general approval, despite I the fact that many senior players have j not had overmuch practice as yet. rWith a big season ahead’ it is necesj sary for a brisk start to be made, and : should the weather hold, that start will be on Saturday. A Big Season Thus will begin what promises to be the heaviest and most interesting season Auckland cricketers have experienced for many a long day. The visit of the M.C.C. side should do much to bring about a cricket revival and make the old English pastime, in fact, what it is in name—‘‘The King of Games.” Three ’Keepers Ponsonby has three 'keepers to choose from next Saturday—Wheeler, Hunt (formerly Y.M.C.A.) and Fletcher, a Suburban Association player. The A.C.A. last evening decided to retain the eight-ball over for senior matches. All the other provinces embrace the six-ball over. Eden’s New Delegate The Eden Club’s new delegate on the management committee of the Auck-

land Cricket Association, Mr. Peres* S h a w. was formerly well known in cricket circles in Otago and Southland. Mr. Shaw was a real “live wire” in the South, and was president , of the Southland Cricket Association during the visit of Archie MacLaren’s M.C.C.

side to Invercargill in 1923. Otago Selectors The management committee of the Otago Cricket Association has appointed a selection committee consisting of Messrs. W. W. Mackersy (chairman), R. C. Blunt and F. Williams to operate during the coming seaso^i. An Energetic Secretary Through having to travel for his firm, Mr. W. H. Johnston has had to resign from the honorary secretaryship of the Parnell Cricket Club, a position which he has filled most ably for a number of years now. It was largely Mr. Johnston’s enthusiasm for the game, and liis organising ability, which made the Parnell Club one of the best run clubs in Auckland. Pie is also no mean cricketer and played for tho club’s senior B eleven. Last season he organised and captained a team which visited Rotorua at Easter. His position has been filled by Mr. C. K. Sharp, who was elected assistant honorary secretary at the last annual meeting of tho club. The Management Committee of the A.C.A. is to discuss the appointment of a selector, or selectors, at its meeting next Tuesday. Dunedin Coach J. S. Taylor, last season professional player-coach to the Nelson Cricket Association, has applied for the position of coach to the Otago Cricket Association for the coming season. The Management Committee has referred the application to its coaching committee. Jt: will be remembered that the decision of the Wellington Cricket Association last season to include Taylor (who has previously represented New South Wales) in its Plunket Shield team, in addition to its resident coach, F. T. Badcock, caused some dissension in Dominion cricket circles.

Wellington Record Something like a record has been created by the number of entries received this year for the various competitions conducted by tho Wellington Cricket Association. .Altogether 93 ; teams have been ■ entered for four grades—B senior, 42 junior, 24 intermediate and 19 third. The greatest difficulty will be in handling the junior grade. Last year this was divided into four sections, but this season it may be necessary to add a fifth. The Wellington competitions commence on Saturday next. Wellington’s Selector Mr. K. IP. Tucker, for seven years

sole selector to tho Wellington Cricket Association, decided not to seek re-election this season, according to our Wellington correspondent. Mr. W. S. Brice, the well-known Petone and former Wellington and New Zealand representative player has

been elected to fill Mr. Tucker’s place. Caught a Swallow? The Older Brigade will still remember the magnificent catch by which the late “Syd.” Gregory dismissed W. G. Grace in one of the last test matches in which the G.O.M. played. Gregory was, of course, a magnificent field, and he was the original hero of a story which has since been told of several other celebrities of cricket. Once, in a rare moment of aberration, when j Gregory was not watching the play, he j heard a shout. At the same moment an object projected itself toward him. j Gregory’s hand Hashed out and he j caught . . . a swallow.’ ; C.C.A. Sole Selector The management committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association has appointed Mr. R. B. Whitta as sole selector for its representative season. There was a division of opinion as to whether three selectors or one should be appointed. but eventually it was decided that as the Canterbury team needed building up, it would be wise for the committee to place its faith in one man. Air. W. R. Patrick, another nomination for the position, was defeated in the ballot. Messrs. W. L. King and L. D. i Page were appointed practice manaTyldesley for Napier ? It is rumoured that H. Tyldesley is j likely to be the next coach for the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association, pro- | vided suitable work can be found for j him in Napier during the off season j (writes The Sun’s Wellington corres-

pondent). Tyldesley, who is a younger brother of the famous Lick, slow bowler for Lancashire, is said to be an accomplished slow leg-break bowler, and also a clever batsman, who has shaped well in Lancashire’s second eleven. He is a professional for one of the Liverpool clubs, and has an excellent record in club matches. The matter has been referred to T. C. Lowry, who has a personal knowledge of most of England’s leading players, for report. Future of Langridge It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that James Langridge, who has acted as assistant coach to the Auckland Cricket Association for the past two seasons, will get his England cap next year, when, by the way, ho will be 24 years of age. The “Man-

chester Guardian” recently had the following about him: —“There is not much doubt that if James Langridge, the Sussex all-rounder, maintains the form he has shown this season, he will have to be regarded as a strong candidate for a

place in next year’s tests. It is rather

remarkable that while last year proved his best with the bat, he has this season shown better form with the ball than ever before. He was third in. tho Sussex batting averages last summer, scoring 1,396 runs, and now lie has a distinct chance of reaching his 100 wickets for the first time, especially as he is likely to be seen in extra games in September.” AN EARLY START CRICKET ON SATURDAY PLUNKET SHIELD DATES The 1929-30 senior grade championship competition of the Auckland Cricket Association will be commenced on Saturday next, according to the decision of the management committee last evening. Tho following is the draw for the first matches: University v. Eden, Eden Park No. 2; Parnell v. Ponsonby, Eden Park No. 3; Grafton v. North Shore. No.rth Shore; United Suburbs v. Y.M.C.A., Victoria Park. It was decided to extend tlio entries for the second grade downward for another week. The Otago Association wrote suggesting December 24, 25, 26, and 27 as tho dates for its Plunket Shield match against Auckland, at Auckland, and these dates were accepted. It was resolved to write to the Canterbury Association suggesting that the match between Canterbury and Auckland, at Auckland, should commence on January 2 instead of January 3. as this would enable any players selected for the first test match against the Englishmen to arrive in Christchurch ..two days before the test, instead of one. It was also decided to suggest February 21, 22, 24, and 25 to the Wellington Association as the dates for the match between Wellington and Auckland, at Wellington. LABOUR DAY GAMES

The chairman, Mr. E. E. Nalder, expressed himself keenly in favour of a full round of matches in the senior grade being played on Labour Lay. Several members of the committee, however, were of the opinion that there should be no senior cricket on that day. Mr. E. C. Beale made the suggestion that it would be a good idea- to play a match between the Auckland representatives and the Auckland touring team, in aid of the coach fund. Tho chairman pointed out that there would be a shortage of playing Saturdays, and he moved that matches be played on Labour pay, Mr. J. H. Miller seconding the Emotion. Voting on the proposal was evenly divided—six all, but the chairman had no hesitation in giving his casting vote in favour of matches on Labour Day. The committee also decided that play should cea.se at 6.30 p.m. while the Summer Time Act is in operation, and that there should be a quarter of an hour interval for afternoon tea. The Poverty Bay Cricket Association wrote again in connection with the proposed visit of an Auckland representative team to Gisborne during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The committee decided to reply that a match could not now be played at that date, owing to the Otago-Auckland Plunket Shield match at Auckland. Endeavours would be made to arrange a visit at some other date, however.

GROUNDS AGAIN A.C.A. UP AGAINST IT NEEDS OF CRICKET That hardy annual, the grounds problem, again exercised the attention of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association at its meeting last evening. | According to reports presented by ! members of the committee, the various i grounds in and around the city were j in an exceptionally backward state for this stage of the season. Mr. E. E. Nalder, however, reported that No. 2 and No. 3 wickets at Eden Park were in good condition and would be ready for play on Saturday if necessary. Air. N. C. Snedden reported that No. 1 wicket at Victoria Park would be available on Saturday. Mr. Snedden said he had never seen the outfield at Victoria Park in a worse condition. I although the wickets in themselves \ were well advanced. Air. R. Dow said that he had been informed that no games could be played on the Domain before the first Saturday in November. Wickets were still being top-dressed. Mr. J. H. Watts, treasurer, suggested that a protest should be forwarded to the City Council on the backward state of the wickets at the Domain, and Victoria Park. All*. Snedden was of the opinion that the only solution of the grounds problem was for the grounds to be closed down immediately on the close of the football season and top-dressed. Air. E. C. Beale stated that he had been informed that the turf at the • new Western Springs Stadium was in i good condition, and would likely make j a fine cricket wicket. The discussion lapsed and no action ! was taken, however.