THE CRICKET CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 13

THE CRICKET CRITIC

Season's Last "Cricket Critic” Just as surely as winter follows summer, so football follows cricket. The tinge of harsher things in the air on Saturday awakened again thoughts of the winter sport in the minds of the flannelled fraternity. Now that the Auckland Cricket Association’s senior A grade competition for the season has been concluded, the “Cricket Critic” will be discontinued till spring and King AVillow come round once again—early next October. Changes Through the Months Much water has flowed under the bridge since the season, now' ended, began. It gave promise of being a season of seasons and that promise has been fulfilled in every respect. The visit of the English cricket side would have made the year an outstanding one, but even in addition to that the Plunket Shield fight has provided one of the closest and most exciting finishes in the history of the competition. The standard of club cricket, too, has been maintained, and although it had evidently been decreed that the fight for the championship was not to be a close one, it was keen all along the line. Features of the Club Season The senior grade season has brought its usual surprises and fluctuations in the form of players, old and new’. Last season two colts, P. I*3. AVhitelaw and G. Langton, dominated the final stages, and this year other colts with I-I. G. Vivian, the Parnell left-hander, and E. T. •L. Thakobau (Eden) in the van, have appeared on the horizon. Among the older players some have added to their reputations and others have not reached their former standard. * * * Eden Goes Down on List Last year undefeated in the senior competitions, the Eden club finishes up third on the list this season, having suffered in all three defeats. The members of the side generally have not maintained their past form, but the success of Thakobau proves that the club has young material coming on. In G. L. Weir and J. E. Mills, the club had two New Zealand representatives. * * * Wellington Championship Tho Wellington Club is to be heartily congratulated upon carrying off senior championship honours in AVellington for the 1929-30 season, says tho “Post.” Though the old club has always had a big membership, and has each season fielded a strong senior eleven, it is many years since the first eleven finished up a season at tho top of the senior championship tree. Progressive management has had much to do w'ith AVellington’s return to premier position. With sportsmanship as its watchword, the committee has created enthusiasm in all grades by promoting young players who showed promise, with the result that the old club became rejuvenated, and finished up the season at the top of the tree. For many seasons; the AA r cllington first eleven contained too many veterans, with the result that no" matter how many runs they scored they had not enough fast-moving fieldsmen to prevent opposing teams from heading their scores. * * * Bowling in England Commenting on the \bowling in the English cricket season of 1929, the new issue of AVisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack says that perhaps the most notable performance in this branch of the game was “the achievement of T. AV. Goddard, of Gloucestershire, who, originally a fast bowler of indifferent quality, turned his attention to spinning tho ball at a medium pace, and —helped, it is said, by the advice of Charles Parker —became such a high-class performer that he took nearly 200 wickets. Another player to show a marked increase of skill was W. Voce, of Notts, who, abandoning the obsession of always trying to swing the ball, put his ability in spinning it to such good purpose that he doubled the number of his wickets and materially reduced- their individual cost.” Season in Dunedin “The season just ended, though disappointing from many ways, particularly in regard to the weather experienced during the greater part of the season, has been exceptionally interesting in that .it was never certain from start to finish which team would ultimately win the championship,” says a Southern exchange. “First one team and then the other would show signs of coming to the front, and it was not until tho last hour of play in the full season that the point was decided and Albion gained the honours. For Ah is reason, then, the fact that the standard of play in Dunedin could not be said to have been high, the players contrived to maintain interest in the game right up to the last moment.” Varsity Team’s Averages Following are the batting and bowling averages of the members of the Auckland University Club’s first Xl.:—-

Summary of season’s performances: Matches played, 12; won outright, 1 ; won on first innings, 4: drawn, 4; lost first lost outright, 0. "Will Meet With Satisfaction” C. S. Dempster’s appointment as official coach to the AVellington Cricket Association for a term of three years is bound to meet with general satisfaction, according to a AVellington paper. Dempster’s ability as a cricketer is recognised not only in New Zealand but also in Australia and in

England. His heart and soul is in the game, and there is no reason why he | should not be able to fill the role of ] coach with just as much distinction as he has filled his place as a player. The chances are that his new duties will make him an even better player. Dempster is not taking on his important work without experience; he has done quite an amount of coaching, and he can take credit for having been largely responsible for bringing forward some of the most promising cricketers in New Zealand today. He will make a strong appeal to the young players eager to improve their game, and it is safe to say that those who have the opportunity of being coached by Dempster will prove to be some of the most enthusiastic of our young cricketers. Dempster should do well. The AVellington Cricket Association’s officials have shown well and truly that they are alive to the needs of Wellington cricket. North Shore B v. Papatoetoe These teams carried on their match last Saturday, and Papatoetoe’s innings closed for 21U. The chief scorers were: Valentine, who was much slower than usual in compiling 52, and Leighton, who exhibited nice placements and scoring strokes in his total of 46. The skipper, A. Swaffield, was unfortunate to twist his ankle when going well with 23 to his credit. Of the bowlers, J *y £»°t the best average with two for but Smith, three for 60, and Nicholas, three for 58, were the most consistent. Shore’s second innings was rather a procession, Cowie 34, and Rankin, 15, being the only double-fig-ure men. At stumps six Wickets were down for 74. AVitli the ball Burnside took two for 24 and Kerr three for 44 did most damage. Papatoetoe Averages Batting.—H. Swaffield, 27.3; Valentine, 21.3; P. Swaffield, 20.3; A. Swaffield, 16.7; Wotherspoon, 16.6; Leighton, 14.4; Henderson, 14.3; AVinks, 13.6; Bright, 13.2; Kerr, 11.6; Burnside, 9.4. Bowling: Valentine, 25 wickets, 332 runs, 13.3 average; Burnside, 29—484 16.7; Wotherspoon, 14—238—17; Kerr 397—20.9; P. Swaffield, 5 —119—• -3.8; A. Swaffield, 7—176—25.1. GROUNDS FOR SATURDAY The following grounds have been allocated for matches to be played under the control of the Auckland Cricket Association on Saturday: Western United v. Tamaki, Victoria lark; If. M. Customs v. Shipping Companies. Victoria Park; Hardley’s, Limited, Victoria Park; Turnbull and Jones, Victoria Park; Balmoral, Eden Park No. 6; Church of Christ, Eden Park No. 4. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ MATCHES Following are the results of matches played in the latter half of the season under the control of the Auckland Primary Schools’ Cricket Association:— SENIOR GRADE ..Cornwall Park B 22, v. otahuhu 68 CArkinstall 17, Burman 16, Vei-rall 15). lapatoetoe, 92 for eight wickets (Halsey 47 not out Swaffield 16) v. Kohimarama Papatoetoe 8G (Brown 29, Ranum 1J) v Otahuhu 75 (Hume 26). Stanley 13a>, 54 (Sheen 24, AValters 11) v. Takapuna, 100 for two wickets (Wheeler 47, Eu-rell 20, Earrach 20). St. Hellers, 23 (Catkin 12), «v. Remuera A, 124 (Vost 16, Richards 23, Lewisham 11, Watkins 21). Newmarket 81 (Buchanan 25, Dean 11) V. Grafton 33 (Dobson 14, Clough 10). Remuera A, 92 (Thompson 32, Williams Lewisham 10), v. Norman 73 (Goudie “*9» Dyer 15, Boyle 16). Pevonport 61 (James 24, Latta 12), v. Takapuna 68 (Wheeler 22). Cornwall Park 63 (Bricknell 21, Carter 10, Bell 10), v. Remuera B 25. Kowhai B 112 for one wicket (McGregor 52 retired. Bain 43 retired), v. Kowhai C 84. Beresford Street 54 (Henderson 16, McClellan 13), v. Curran Street, 59 (Stone 10, Knock 11, McMath 16). Ponsonby 80 (Satterthwaite 29, Ryan 13 not out), v. Richmond Road 54 (Stabbing 12, Alexander 11). JUNIOR GRADE Richardson Road, 69 (Underwood 39) v. Point Chevalier 22. Remuera 61 (Gilmour 23, Gascoigne 15) v. Meadowbank 74 (Cardwell 22, Kademacher 16, Harvey 13). Richardson Road 50 (Glaisher 18, Baker 10) v. Avondale 94 (Burgess 51 retired, Clement 13, Gifford 10). Normal 68 (Cullen 22, Ilendry 16) v. Remuera 27. Vauxhall 5, v. Takapuna 93 for five wickets (Cotterall 23, Fincham 21, Stubbing 12, Wood 11). Takapuna, 115 for one wicket, Cotterall 57 not out, Brinsden 40 not out), v. Stanley Bay 26. Normal 45 (Eady 27) v. Otahuhu 57 (Verrall 14 not out). Newton Central, 36 (Brannigen 18, Honten 10), v. Epsom 35. Vauxhall 32 (Allan 16, Hambrook 10), v. Devonport 65 (Sims 14, Archer 44, not out). Cornwall Park A 84 (Pountney 30, Kneebone 10) v. Otahuhu 40. Meadowbank 40, v. Cornwall Park 26. Bayfield 73 (Skilling 37, Finkelstein 16. Robinson 19) v. Beresford Street 24. Devonport 3S (Cox 10), v. Takapuna 93 (Cotterall 51, Hitchings 11, Stubbing 12). Remuera 62 (Gilmour 23, Gascoigne 15) v. Meadowbank 71 (Cardwell 20, Rademacher 16, Harvey 13, Wilcox 11). Maungawhau 102, v. Mount Roskill 20. KING'S BEATS MOUNT ALBERT In a secondary schools’ cricket match at Middlemore, King's beat Mount Albert by 91 runs on the first innings. Mount Albert made 124 (Everson 42) and 61 for three. Bowlfor King’s in the first innings, Howden took three wickets for 26, Caughey two for 20, and Ilandyside two for 23. King’s mad© 215 for six and declared (Howden 77, Browne 46 not out. McCarty 39). For Mount Albert, Lange took three for 52. SUBURBAN NOTES THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Green Lane lias proved its right to the suburban cricket championship for J 930 by three points. The team deserved the honour, not only because of its consistent performances throughout the season, but the magnificent successful light on Saturday to win the game and the premiership on its merits. Undoubtedly, Green Lane was easily the season’s most improved team in all departments, but particularly in fielding. The XL’s success is, no doubt, largely due to the excellent coaching given the team last season by the Sussex professional, L. H. Cox, who played with them that year. In fielding the brilliant example set by the skipper, Eric Watts, was an inspiration to the team. Himself probably the best mid-off man in the senior grade, he kept his men up to scratch by his own keenness. The bowling strength of the team developed wonderfully during the season, Uie medium swerve bowler, Seccnmbe, improving in a marked degree in the second round, while the fast trundler, Scarborough, was a big factor in the team’s victories, though his ability was late in gaining recognition. In batting, the team showed decided weakness and performed very erratically on

many occasions, only the bowling strength averting several defeats, but in Trevor Clark, Wroath and Eric Watts, the team had a fairly reliable trio when in difficulties. When Jack Dykes, the former Grafton player, laid aside his tennis racket ia.te in the season for the bat. Green Dane gained a valuable addition to its batting strength. During the second round games. Dykes generally knocked up a creditable score in a short time, principally through his terrific hitting. He gradually worked back to his old form until Saturday when he excelled himself by giving one of the most torceful displays seen on the Domain this season, and incidentally sharing with Trevor Clark the credit of carrying Green Lane to victory. one of the most promising colts in the grade this year was Trevor Clark, but in the majority of matches his performances were mediocre and he experienced a run of bad luck. The tall batsman, however, struck form on Saturday, and played stylish and chanceless cricket. His forceful carpet-driv-ing on both sides of the wicket, cutting and hooking was a treat to watch his strokes being beautifully timed and executed with the ease of wrist-work that made his performance the outstanding one of the day. There were many calls from the large crowd of spectators, after the winning boundary had been hooked and stumps were being drawn, for the game to be continued to give tlie batsman a chance to reach his century. But this was not to be. Les Breese. the Harbour Board veteran and skipper, was probably the highest scorer of any in senior grade matches this season. In the majority r.f his displays he knocked up. a good score, and in addition hoisted four centuries in a similar number of matches. Formed only this season, Albion deserves the utmost credit for its sturdy fight to the position of runner-up for the championship, and its defeat on Saturday at the hands of Green Lane did not in any way detract from the merit of the team’s fine showing throughout the season. Outstanding figure, both in batting and bowling, was undoubtedly the veteran, Ernie Stall worthy, who battled hard to place <he team in the position it gained. Two of the most promising of the younger batsmen were B. Wright and Mine-ham, both of whom showed an excellent style, which, with coaching, could develop them into first-class performers with the bat.

Matheson .. BATTING .. I l0 N B O -» T « 1 i K.S- Av. 106 n.o. 52.6 :: aS-i 158 91 39 Metge S3 30 Pearson ... Smeeton .. :: 18 1 I®# 50 20.14 55 24.5 Bush . - .. 73 22.4 Wells . . .. 1 — 20 n f?.« 6 Sclinauer . . 13 1 207 Shanley . . :: i? 1 if? 13 1L.5 Bunn .. .. 36 11.1 Bannister 3 1 21 iS n -°- Te 29 9.14 Burbidge . . 7 1 55 Kay . . . . .. 7 — 04 .. 12 1 SI S 2 28 BOWLING O. M. McJDougal 20 7.35 Browne .. 11 4.66 R. W. Av. Smeeton Wells .. : :: To 2 ! 501 32 15.65 63 4 15.75 Bannister 139 S 17.375 il? iS 11:? 592 30 10.0 Sclinauer Matheson . .. 40 5 . .. 141 9 Hay .. . . . 33 3 140 6 23.6 Bush :: - 364 14 26 Pearson .. Burbidge 27 1 27 47 1 47

p. w. L». E>. Pts. Green Lane ..JO G 2 2 ] 6 Albion 10 4 3 3 13 Harbour Board.. 10 4 4 2 12 KUerslie 10 5 4 1 10 Ponsonby .... 10 3 4 3 9 W.Y.M.l 10 1 5 4 6