THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 889, 5 February 1930, Page 13

THE CRICKET CRITIC

!The English Match The English cricketers are now en route to Auckland via Rotorua. They were to have arrived at the thermal regions this morning from Wairakei, and depart again at 9 a.m. on Friday for Auckland, where they are due at 3.40 p.m. the same day. Long Awaited Appearance Tho Englishmen make their long awaited first appearance at Eden Park on Saturday morning when the match England v. Auckland begins. It will be continued on the following Monday and Tuesday. After commencing the tour with a number of drawn games, the tourists have swept on from victory to victory in recent minor matches, and should be at their top for the Auckland game. Auckland’s Chances Represented as they are by the strongest team available for the first time this season, the Plunket Shield holders should be able to give a good account of themselves against their doughty opponents. In fact, Auckland is about the strongest side the visitors have been called upon to meet outside of the tests teams. It is expecting a lot to hope that Auckland in 1930 is capable of doing what she has never done before, defeat an English touring team, but it is not likely that the margin between the teams will be as big as has been the case in past days. Allcott Captain Tho Auckland Cricket Association’s representative selection committee notified the management committee of that body at its meeting last evening that C. F. W. Allcott had been appointed captain of the Auckland team. In the past it has been the habit of tho selection committee to recommend the appointment only, but it has just been discovered that under the rules of the association the selectors are empowered to make the final appointment. The management committee, in recent times anyway, has always acted on the recommendation of the men who select the team, so that the de- j cision would hardly have been different had the executive itself appointed tho captain. The Third, and Vital Test The Auckland match will be followed a week later by the third and final test. England v. New Zealand at Eden Park. This, as was generally expected, will bo the vital test of the series, for England having won one and drawn one, is one up on the Dominion. Thus the wearers of the silver fern will have one last chance of breaking even with the Marylebone men and doing something more to redeem their batting reputation after the first test landslide.

The New Zealand Team At tho time of writing, the New Zealand team to oppose the Englishmen in this game has not been announced, and thus it is to be expected that the New Zealand selection committee will* wait till the conclusion of the Auckland match before making

its final choice. Tho ability of Allcott to play in tho Auckland match probably indicates that he will also be available for selection for the third test, and if this is so, he can be regarded as a certainty for selection. Me would increase the bowling, and in fact the all round

strength of the team. Gillespie’s Omission The bombshell dropped by the omission of H. D. Gillespie from the second test team after his fine batting and fielding display in the Auckland —Canterbury Plunket Shield game has not yet subsided, and this batsman needs only to come to light again in the Auckland match to force the selectors to again consider him. Nevertheless, it appears as though that austere body needed a deal of convincing that lie was in great form when the second test team was selected, and his name was conspicuous by its absence. * * * Four Aucklanders for Test? Auckland did not have a single representative in New Zealand’s first team, and only two, J. E. Mills and G. L. Weir in the second. There are at least four Aucklanders worthy of a place in the third test team, and they are:—Mills, Gillespie, Weir and Allcott. This is. of course, without again considering the wicketkeeper position. K. C. James has in the past gained precedence over Rowntree because of his calibre as a batsman. But the fact that he has scored only seven runs in three test innings this season indicates that as a batsman he is out of form. Rowntree’s Claims There is, therefore, no object in the New Zealand selection committee persisting in playing James, when this and the opinions of those best able to judge, prominent cricket visitors from overseas, are considered. There is more reason than ever that Rowntree should be played in the third test, as the match takes place at Auckland. Thus there would be five Aucklanders as contenders for places in the New Zealand team, and especially if some of the southern stars are unable to travel North, four of them should stand a good chance of getting into the team. Otago’s Lost Chance By fading away badly in its second innings after being in a winning position, against Wellington. Otago lost a grand opportunity of presenting Auckland with the Plunket Shield for the season and at the same time adding to its own none too brilliant Plunket Shield history.. It was indeed, cruel fortune for Auckland that Otago should be allowed to go within sight of victory and then crash miserably. The Plunket Shield The following table indicates the positions of the various provinces in the season’s Plunket Shield competition to date at the conclusion of the OtagoWellington game this week:

The New Zealand Cricket Council has appointed Messrs. K. Cave and L. Cobcroft to act as umpires during the third test, England v. New Zealand.

Manager for Wellington Mr. J. 11. Watts, treasurer of the Auckland Cricket Association, was last evening appointed by the management committee of that body manager of the Auckland team to visit Wellington at the end of this month for the Auck-land-Wellington Shield game. Mr. Nalder’s words of congratulation to him were: “If you don’t win that match, God help you.” Shore Recovers Form The North Shore club showed a surprising recovery of form last week, when only the bell saved Y.M.C.A. from a. certain innings defeat, while on Saturday the Shore made no race of it with Grafton. In both matches the home side was on top of the visitors throughout, and winning the toss twice in succession, has broken the hoodoo which haunted Shore in the first round when it failed to notch a win. It would seem that Shore is inclined to start tho season badly and finish brilliantly. Last year it was unbeaten in the second round of the championship and history may repeat itself this year. Brilliant Fielding A feature of* the younger members of the Shore seniors is their brilliant catching and fielding. Outstanding among the colts is Shore’s “Little Tich” —Don Webb, at cover-point. He is quite as good as Ces Dacre in that vital position, and Ces was the best we have had in New Zealand for many years. Webb hasn’t far to bend to pick up the ball, and with one action it is back to shatter the sticks, or just over the bails for a run out, before the batsman realises his peril. Two Young Men on Wednesday, returned to the pavilion relenting their lack of discrimination in running sharp ones, and two of the youngster’s catches against Grafton on Saturday, were thrillers, which nine fielders out of ten would never have attempted.

Mr. H. Roy has been appointed honorary official scorer for Auckland in the English match.

Papatoetoe v. Ponsonby In spite of the heavy rain on Saturday morning, a most enjoyable afternoon’s cricket was indulged in at Papatoetoe during the afternoon, when the match Papatoetoe v. Ponsonby was concluded. With the exception of Bin-

j more and Sellars. Ponsonby’s batsmen | did not get going, and its first innings | closed for 120—a deficiency of 22 runs, j Binmore had at least as many lives } as the proverbial cat before he was ! run out with a total of 23. Sellars , never looked like going out. but none !of the others stayed with him. 11 is ! total was 21 not out. 'With the ball. ! M otherspoon two for six and Iverr four ; for 47 were most successful. Papatoetoe then went in for its second strike, and when the total was . 3S for four wickets. Skipper A. Swaf- ! field declared, leaving Ponsonbv 120 to j get in 33 minutes. A period of verv i bright cricket followed, but at the call ot time, seven wickets were down for • 93. leaving Papatoetoe victors on the i first innings. Toward this total, iloare contributed a lusty 27, A. War- ! neford 16 and Matheson' 15. With the j bal1 * "Valentine four for 19 and Burnj side two for 32, gained the honours. | Trip To Helensville i Mr - “ Don ” Miller was last evening i granted permission by the Auckland Cricket Association to take a Y.M.C.A. | team to Helensville on Saturday next to meet the Kaipara representatives, ihe visiting team will include half a dozen senior A grade Y.M.C.A. players and should do the game a deal of good in a district where it has only recently been placed on its feet.

SUBURBAN NOTES

I A welcome return to form of the Green Bane veteran, Alex. Kerr, was signalised by his performances in the opening of the second round games last W ednesday. Again on Saturday lie demonstrated he is still a force .'o be counted with, both as a bowler and batsman. Sending down splendid length deliveries that broke right across the wicket, a week ago he completely baffled the Ponsonby batsmen, four of whom he dismissed for three runs off five overs! lie struck a good length again on Saturday, gaining the best average with 5-30 against W.Y.M.I. More spectacular in style and for the energy he infuses into his Dowling is Scarborough, Kerr’s team-mate. The young Green Bane speedster is very erratic in his length and for ilie most part his deliveries are pitched short, and shoot violently on a favourable wicket. Batsmen treat him with caution mainly because of his speed, but now and then he sends down a beautiful length ball which invariably spread-eagles the swiping batsman’s wickets. His six for 18 against Ponsonby a week ago was a remarkably good performance. Typical of his energetic temperament, it was amusing to see him rushing the bowling at break-neck speed nearing the bell on Wednesday last in an effort to dispose of the remaining Ponsonby batsmen so that his team might secure a three-point win.

Cries of “wait a minute —he’s 97,” greeted the timekeeper as he appeared with the bell on Saturday. The spectators who exhorted the sporting delay, were referring to the youthful Albion batsman, Mincham, whose spectacular display of boundary hitting had so intrigued them, together with the fact that the player could not attend the following Saturday because

lie had to go to camp, that they I wanted to see him top his century. ' The sports had not long to wait, for Mincham lifted the next ball to the . boundary, and the bell clanged its ap- ! plauso along with the crowd. Corney. of W.Y.M.1.. had a field day against Albion on Wednesday. lie. bowled fairly consistently and at one j stage had an excellent average which was knocked about severely later on. However, he finished up with 4-74 and then went to the crease to give a , bright display, topping the score with 61 not out. He played attractive cricket, showing good judgment in timing and placing his strokes.

WELCOMING M.CX.

VISITORS ARRIVE ON FRIDAY ENTERTAINMENT OF TEAM The management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association at its j meeting last evening received a letter from Mr. A. H. M. Gilligan, captainmanager of the M.C.C. team stating ; that his men would arrive at Auck- i land at 3.40 p.m. on Friday next Mr. Gilligan thanked the A.C.A. for ; its decision not to commence the ! Auckland-England match till Saturday, j instead of Friday as originally arranged, thus allowing the visitors an i extra day at Rotorua. Many offers to assist in the entertainment of the visitors during their 11 ' days’ stay in Auckland have been re- i ceived by the committee. These in- ’ elude invitations by various business : houses to morning and afternoon teas, • by picture theatres and by Western Springs Speedway**, Btd. As the Auckland Cricket Association has been informed by Mr. Gilligan. tlirougmh the management committee I of the New Zealand Cricket Council, i that-ho desires no entertainment ar- I rangements to be made until after 1 consultation with him, it was decided ; to thank all those making offers and j notify them that their offers would be j brought to the notice of the English captain on his arrival at Auckland. On their arrival at the railway j station by the Rotorua express on \ Friday, the Englishmen will be wel- ; coined to Auckland by Mr. Fred Earl, j K.C., president of the Auckland : Cricket Association. Mr. E. Nalder. j chairman of the management commit- J tee, and executive members of the j same body. The visitors will stay at j Hotel Cargen. The secretary of the management committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr. W. H. Winsor, informed the committee that the Southern members of the New Zealand team to play in the third test commencing on Friday week would probably arrive on the morning of February 13. Mr. Winsor himself, together with several members of the council, will also be in Auckland for the match.

Province P 8 Pt 4 Pt 0 Ft 2 Pt Pts Wellington . . Win Win Loss 0 0 Loss Auckland Canterbury .. O taero 2 0 0 2 0 0