THE SPORTSMAN'S LOG

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 9

THE SPORTSMAN'S LOG

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Verdict of the Australian cricket selectors had no Ryder. Australian comment on the cricket team for England suggests that the selectors are Ryders for a fall. Parking place troubles—the Canterbury Rugby League’s. * * # Changes in Tennis Itinerary Several changes have been made in the itinerary of the Australian tennis team which arrived at Auckland this week and is to tour the Dominion. Matches at Palmerston North have been cut out because no suitable arrangements for such games could be made, and the match against a North Island team has been transferred to Wellington in place of the Australia v. Wellington fixture, and will be played at Miramar on February 28 and March 1. The Australian team will visit Masterton and give exhibition matches there, after which the players will go direct to Christchurch, where the only lest match will be played, the dates being March 7 and 8.

League players are trying to do some firing-out. Monica S-Park.

George Cook, we are told, left JacK Sharkey’s training- camp because Sharkey was “too Bough” with him. A cook who could not take his, own gruel? * * * Tennis Life Members ' A proposal is to be brought forward at the next quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association to add the names of Miss K. Nunneley, M. Jean Borotra, Dr. .T. C. Gregory, Mr. P. IT. Woodward. M.8.E., Mr. G. N. Goldie, Mr. J. • \ Peacock, and Mr# M. I U Denniston to the list of honorary life members of the association. ! N?." that W. 'h. Wagstaff, of Wellington, has purchased Betty, thrice winner of the Sanders Cup, we presume that the Canterbury yachting administrators who wanted her to have a new crew will be satisfied. The “baby’’ of the Australian crick, t team for England is S. J. McCabe, of New South Wales, who is 19 years of age. “Every time I put my foot on the track the shock goes through my whole body.” That is the opinion of IjCo Lermond, famous American distance runner, of New Zealand tracks, lie js used to running on cinders, and turf tracks “kill” his style. Cable about a wrestling match in the United States—it is necessary to emphasise the fact that it was a wrestling match, not a boxing contest—says that although he bled profusely Shikat beat McMillan. A Shikat with nine lives, apparently. * * * No Longer a Demon J. M. Gregory, Australia’s demon bowler of a few years ago, is no terror to batsmen in Sydney Club cricket this .season. T-ie has to nurse his old knee injury so much that his pace is little faster than medium. Up to the Saturday before last he had taken. this season, only five wickets for Randwick, at an average cost of 41.20 runs each. In eight innings (once not out) he had scored 103 runs, at an average of 23.28. Cheers For Mr. Extras! Oamaru has been very modest about an achievement which “Mr. Extras” that useful member of cricket teams —put up in a club match there last i Saturday. _ln the Oamaru Club’s score of 397 against Union, extras ; yielded 81 runs! That was the second- • highest score, one batsman having I made 150 not OLit. j Sympathy for the hard-used race of : Aunt Sallies is the reason why we do not divulge the wicketkeeper’s name Disqualifications ! Phil Scott’s chances of a match with Jack Sharkey do not seem to be rosy. Those critics who adversely criticised Scott in New York have not made matters better for the British boxer, says an English writer. Considering that he is a champion and has had so much experience, I cannot understand .why Scott's defence is so fragile. He has figured in more disqualifications than any other heavy-weight, although in every instance Scott has been the victim.

Dr. Otto Peltzer said, a few days ago, that he would like to come back to New Zealand after the Olympic Games of 1932, and spend more time in the Dominion than he lias been, able to spend in it on his present tour. But we have not noticed any enthusiasm among Canterbui'y amateur athletic officials at the prospect of another visit from a runner who is very hard to please. A contemporary has been discussing a choice of books for seaside reading. This week we have found that the beach beauties’ favourite poet is Browning. Tim Banner, of New South Wales, former holder of the world’s professional sprint championship (now held by Lynch Cooper, who visited Christchurch recently) has caused a sensation in Australian athletics by being credited with having run eight yards inside “evens,” from 2yds in a heat of the Wangaratta Gift, 130yds. But !he had to be content with second place. * * * ; The committee of the French Lawn | Tennis Federation has proposed the | setting up of an international cham- ; pionship of France for veterans, with ! an age limit of not less than 45 years. The Suggestion that such a* competition should be held is stated to have come from Jean Borotra.

Aid to Sprinters According to an amateur athletic enthusiast who has just returned from America, wooden blocks are used for supports for sprinters’ hands at Stanford University, famous collegiate home of athletics. It is contended that the blocks give the runners a better position for fast starting. Incidentally, the racing track at Stanford University is of clay, with a very light covering of cinders.