THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 813, 6 November 1929, Page 13

THE CRICKET CRITIC

M.C.C.’s Good Start The Marylebone Cricket Club side has made a good start on the Australian portion of its itinerary by defeating the State of Western Australia by seven wickets. As the tour of the Commonwealth progresses, interest in the doings of the side will be quickened in New Zealand, culminating in the first appearance of the visitors against the Wellington representatives early in December. The Wellington sole selector, Mr. W. S. Brice, has just a month to work in now, and it is expected that he will be announcing the players to practise, with view to selection, shortly. Two Notable Features Two notable features of the M.C.C.Western Australia match were the batting and bowling of E. H. Bowley, former Auckland professional-player coach, and the bright batting of Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji. Disappointment must have been felt when the young Indian was clean bowled by Richardson for a single in the first innings, but such is liable to happen to the best batsmen at any time. The players were not long off the boat before the match commenced, and therefore could not be expected to be at their best. However, Duleepsinhji made ample amends in the second innings. The performances of no member of the side will be watched with the keenness that is bound to follow the doings of Rangi’s nephew. * * * The Next Match On Friday next, November 8, the M.C.C. men are scheduled to commence their second match in Australia, against South Australia at Adelaide. The game will be continued on November 9, 11 and 12. Langton’s Great Bowling The young Eden bowler, G. Langton, who caused such a stir in cricket circles toward the close of last sea-

son, added another feather to his cap at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon by taking eight Grafton wickets for 59 runs. He has been the only really successful bowler among the champions to date this season. It will be remembered that

last season he finished second of the bowling averages for Aucmna, taKing 20 wickets at a cost of 11.1 runs each. A Great Batsman “What a great batsman Mills is,” was one remark passed by a spectator at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon when the Eden stylist was running up his 39 not out against Grafton. There was nothing new in that, of course, but it drew attention to Mills’s marvellous consistency. His form on Saturday was up to anything he displayed last year, and is particularly pleasing in view of the big fixtures, representative and test, set down for this season. Then there is the tour home again by a New Zealand team in 1931. Mills has developed considerably as a useful slow change bowler in recent years, and on his day takes wickets with the best of them.

Whitelaw’s Big Score The outstanding batting feature of the afternoon was the fine century scored by P. E. Whitelaw (Parnell). The colt excelled himself in getting the first three figure innings of his senior club cricket career. Whitelaw last season earned the unique distiction of representing his province before he had actually played in the senior grade, and acquitted himself well. In his first match for the Parnell firsts he scored 91, against North Shore, and followed this up by other good innings of 80, 79 and 32, eventually finishing fifth in the batting averages in seven innings—average 47.71. There is no doubt that Whitelaw will go far in New Zealand cricket, and if he infused just a little more snap into his fielding lie would probably be a contender for test match honours against the Englishmen.

That Parnell Incident The remarkable incident which ended Parnell’s innings against Suburbs on Saturday, is still being keenly discussed in cricket circles. It is worth pointing out the two different viewpoints on which the two rival teams acted. It has been erroneously stated that Parnell’s attitude was due to the fact that it wanted to get Suburbs in to bat in a fading light. This was not the main objective. The point was that Parnell wanted to go after a “four-pointer,” and every run scored by Parnell at that stage of the game represented valuable time wasted. On the other hand Suburbs certainly did not want to have to start its innings so late in the day, although any fading of the light was counter-balanced by the fact that the wicket was on the improve all the time. * * * No Question of Sportsmanship

Both sides have been criticised for their actions, but one could go on arguing the position till Doomsday without getting anywhere. It was simply one of those unusual things that do happen at times and it is hard to see how either side could be blamed Each had the strongest possible reasons for acting as it did. Both Duncan and Wetherill are experienced men in sport, and as far as sportsmanship is concerned, each has a splendid reputation in this respect, so that criticism on those lines can be ruled out altogether.

Ivan Coooer Transferred **'•>*> Conner. •he well-known Eden

batsman has not been enjoying the best of health of •ate, and at the commencement of the season was trans ferred to Ashburton. Me hopes that if his health improves he will be back in Auckland again in two months or so.

N.S.W’s New Blood The following 1 team has been selected to represent New South Wales against Queensland in a match commencing at Brisbane on Saturday next—the first Sheffield Shield match of the season: W. A. Oldfield. Gordon, capt.; C. Andrews, Mosman; D. Bradman, St. George; R. H. Bettington, Paddington; A. Chipperfield. Western Suburbs; H. Uupain. Western Suburbs: A. Fairfax, St. George; H. Hooker, Mosman: A. Jackson. Balmain; A. Mailey, Balmain; A. Marks, Randwick; S, McCabe, Mosman.

A. F. Kippax is on the sick list. J. M. Taylor is unavailable, but the veterans T. J. E. Andrews and C. E. Kelleway have been dropped in favour of colts. J. M. Gregory, who was

attempting a come-back, has been hampered by injury. * * * Dunedin Captains The following are the captains of the teams competing in the first grade competitions of the Otago Cricket Association this season:—Albion, W. Vorrath; Carisbrook, R. C. Blunt; Grange, A. Galland; High School Old Boys, H. E. Harraway; Dunedin, W. Strang; Christian Brothers Old Boys, P. Toomey. Gerrard’s Good Form The only batsman in the Shore team to show any form so far has been Peter Gerrard, who is one of the most modest and popular sports in Auckland. Peter has represented his native province at both Soccer and cricket, and his father was a Rugby representative before him. Three years ago when Peter gained his cricket cap he scored 100 for once out in his first game, and was then dropped! Tribute to Wensley “He is the finest coach we have had since Bert Relf was here,” was the tribute paid to Auckland’s new professional player-coach, A. P. Wensley (Sussex) by Mr. N. C. Snedden (Ponsonl at last evening’s meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association. Mr. Snedden said he was particularly pleased by the way the coach went about his job, and handled the boys. The merit of this tribute made a big impression on other members of the committee, coming as it did from a former Auckland and New Zealand player and captain, at present selector for his province and the Dominion. Dan Reese’s Example The drive which Dan Reese, president of the Canterbury Cricket Association, made against insufficient practice for players in clubs under the association certainly has scored decisively. Scarcely had the former New Zealand captain’s offer to coach the Sydenham Club’s players on Monday evenings, and any other club that would produce its full first-grade team on Wednesday evenings, from now until Christmas, appeared in the Christchurch Sun than officials of the firstgrade clubs got into communication with him. As a result, he will coach Sydenham players on Monday evenings, West Christchurch players on Wednesday evenings, and the players of other clubs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So he will give up four evenings a week, from now until Christmas, to helping in a practical way to bring Canterbury cricket back to its pld standard. Dan Reese has set an example which might well be followed in other parts of the Dominion. * * * James Lillywhite Passes The late James Lillywhite, veteran cricketer and “father of test matches,” whose death was announced recently, was born in Sussex in 1842. It was in the fields bordering on the Goodwood Estate that lie acquired the art and practice of cricket. For over 40 years he was actively connected with the game—for the first half of the period as a player and later as an umpire. Lillywhite visited Australia six times between 1873 and 1888 as a professional player. On the tour of 1879 W. G. Grace was England’s captain. It was in the tour of 1876-7, however, that the idea of instituting AngloAustralian test matches began to take form. On March 15, 1877, on the ground of the Melbourne Cricket Club the first ball was bowled in the first encounter on even terms between Australia and England. Lillywhite was captain of the English eleven and all the members of the team were professionals. The batsman who received the first ball, Charles Bannerman, made 165 runs before he had to retire hurt. Nobody else, however, made as many as 20, and the Australians won by 45. In token of sympathy a sum of £165 was subscribed by'the public and given to Bannerman. In a later match the English won bv four wickets. In 1878 the Australians sent their first representative team to England, and Lillywhite arranged their programme. In his old age Lillywhite settled down at Weston, close to the place of his birth. His memory carried back to the first visit of an English cricket team to Australia —that of H. H. Stevens, in 1861. The tour was a great success—a fact which probably fostered the test match idea. Advancing age did not diminish Lillywhite’s interest in the progress of the game, and he always had a good word to say for its modern developments. DOMINION’S AFFAIRS COMING CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH QUESTIONS OF MOMENT A meeti/ig of great importance in New Zealand cricket—the conference of association delegates to the New Zealand Cricket Council, will be held at Christchurch on Tuesday next. The Auckland Association will be represented by the chairman of its Management Committee, Mr. E. E. Nalder, who goes South on Sunday. The Management Committee of the council of the New Zealand Cricket Association forwarded the agenda paper to the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, which last evening instructed its delegate on the various questions to be considered.

One point likely to cause some discussion is the method of appointment of umpires for Plunket Shield matches. Mr. Nalder, on behalf of Auckland, will suggest that each major association send in four nominations to the New Zealand Council, which will appoint umpires, with a strong recommendation that no local umpires be appointed for such matches. OVERSEAS TOURS

The conference will discuss, among other things, association boundaries, the proposed New Zealand tour to England next year, and the financing of New Zealand tours abroad.

The fate of the Heathcote William; Shield will be decided. and anothei question to be discussed is the pro-

posed amendment (in the form of a move from Wellington) of the rules for the awarding of the Plunket Shield. The limitations of the number of professionals to take part of each team in Plunket Shield games, the number of selectors for New Zealand test teams, the location of test matches in New Zealand, and the frequency of New Zealand tours to Australia and England will also be discussed. Another Aucklander, Mr. E. C. Beale, vice-president of the Auckland Cricket Association and a member of the Management Committee, will also be present at the conference as the representative of the Waipu Association. THE SENIOR B DRAW Following is the draw for the season in the Auckland Cricket Association’s senior B grade competition: Second series.—North Shore A v Parnell, North Shore B v Papatoetoe, Ponsonby v Y.M.C.A., Eden v "University, Balmoral v King’s Old Boys. Third series.—North Shore A v Ponsonby, North Shore B v Parnell, Eden v Y.M.C.A., Balmoral v University, King’s Old Boys v Papatoetoe. Fourth series.—North Shore A v Eden, North Shore B v Ponsonby, Parnell v Papatoetoe, Balmoral v Y.M.C.A., King’s Old Boys v University. Fifth series.—North Shore A v Balmoral, North Shore B v Eden, Parnell v Ponsonby, King’s Old Boys v Y.M.C.A., University v Papatoetoe. Sixth series.—North Shore A v King’s Old Boys, North Shore B v Balmoral Parnell v Eden, Ponsonby v Papatoetoe, University v Y.M.C.A. Seventh series.—North Shore A v University, North Shore B v King’s Old Boys, Parnell v Balmoral, Ponsonby v Eden, Y.M.C.A. v Papatoetoe. Eighth series.—North Shore A v Y.M.C.A., North Shore B v University, Parnell v King’s Old Boys, Ponsonby v Balmoral, Eden v Papatoetoe. Ninth series.—North Shore A v Papatoetoe, North Shore B v Y.M.C.A., Parnell v University, Ponsonby v King’s Old Boys, Eden v Balmoral. SUBURBAN NOTES Auckland suburban senior cricket is promised an exceedingly bright season if the opening performances on Saturday can be regarded as any criterion. Two new teams, Wesleyan Young Men’s Institute, and Albion, have come in to liven up the competition, and the meeting of the newcomers in the first match Id help to stimulate keen rivalry. Prominent members of the nowdisbanded Victoria Club figure in the Albion ranks. The veteran, Alec. Gedye, formerly of Victoria, and VLcoe, a former Po:. nby stalwart, are among the bright lights of the new team. W.Y.M.I. has some promising colts, with a good leavening of old hands, in its eleven. The team on Saturday showed its members possess bouindless ener—- and entliusiams in fielding. Both Kasper and Chapman performed exceedingly well, both batting and bowling in the first day’s play. * * * The slowness of the balls rising from dead wickets at the Domain on Saturday tricked batsmen badly, particularly those who went to the crease first. The batsmen had to open up their shoulders to gain runs, so dead were tl.e outfields, and the tendency was to “sky” hits, leading to the dismissal of many players by catohes in deep field. The Ellerslie batsmen, It. Burton and Watkins, provided spectators with the best exhibitions of the day. Burton knocked up 42 with a good dispiay of strokes, and his team-mate exceeded his half-century before he was run out. * * * Turner skittled the Harbour Board’s opening wickets in great style, his average at one stage being three wickets for four runs. By one ball he just missed the hat trick. * * * Probably the quickest compiled 23 of any game on Saturday was the Green Lane batsman’s, Paxton. Hitting with terrific power, he drove at everything that came his way, and boundaries came quickly. He raised a cheer when he opened his shoulders for a mighty swipe that lifted the leather clean over the Inner Domain fence for a magnificent sixer. , The best bowling average of the day went to Cooper, of Ponsonby, who skittled six Green Lane wickets for 37 runs. The Ponies’ trundler struck a splendid length after a few overs, and thereafter maintained a fine standard, sending down few balls that batsmen could afford to take chances with. PRACTICE-WICKET PROTEST CONDITIONS AT DOMAIN As a result of a protest by Mr. J. H. Miller (Y.M.C.A.), on the backward state of practice wickets at the Domain, the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening appointed a sub-commit-tee consisting of the chairman, Mr. E. E. Nalder, and Messrs. N. C. Snedden and J. H. Miller, to wait on the parks committee of the Auckland City Council with a view to having work on the practice wickets at the Domain expedited. , Messrs. E. E. Nalder, N. C. Snedden, and W. J. Smeeton were reappointed an emergency regrading committee. The regrading of A. H. S. Singleton (Parnell) and D. Cleverley (Ponsonby) from senior A to senior B grade was confirmed. Mr. S. Mullinger (Parnell) has been appoi-Ued to the junior management committee in the place of Mr. G. Murray, of the came club, who is unable to take his se~t on the committee. The question of sending a team to the Far North during the Christmas holidays was referred to the country sub-committee. The Otago Cricket Association wrote accepting D .ember 24, 25, 26, and 27 as the dates for its Plunket Shield match with Auckland, at Auckland. The Thames-Hauraki Cricket Association applied for affiliation to the Auckland Cricket Association. This was accepted.