CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 331, 5 March 1910, Page 3

CRICKET.

ENGLAND v. SOUTH AFRICA. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Capetown, March 3. England beat South Africa by three wickets. Bird made -15 ami llobbs 93 (not. out), '-"'' NOTES. "' (By "Third Slip.") '"<♦ The long-looked for Wanderers v. Carrington Road match was commenced jon the Recreation Grounds on Thursday, and drew quite a goodly number of enthusiastic spectators. The heavy rain of the previous week had left the wicket in rather a heavy state, so the captains' eventually agreed to have recourse to matting. The Wanderers' captain, having won the toss, elected to bat, but it was an open question as to whether his deei- ] sion was a wise one. The matting itself was damp, and this undoubtedly helped the Carrington Road bowlers to get a little more "devil" into their bowl fug. This, however, did not justify such a poor exhibition of batting as was given by Wanderers in their first essay; for only two men just reached double figures. Benbow and Southall were certainly bowling well, but by no means at their best, and it is difficult to reconcile the small total of 55 runs to a team like the Wanderers,,that has gained such an enviable reputation for allroundness this season. Doubtless the glare of the limelight was' too strong. Carrington made a very good start, Robertson and Gwilliam playing with great confidence, the former contenting himself with square and late cutting, but the latter showed aggressive tactics. He treated Whittle with scant respect, and brought on Nicoll in his place. This, however, did not trouble him, as he lifted him right out of the ground in the first over. Had Gwilliam not been unfortunately nm out, he might have treated the spectators to a bright innings, as he scores very rapidly, and is a very hard man to dig out after an over or two.

I have noticed that the several wouldbe selectors, who have gone behind the back of the official selector, have studiously overlooked Gwilliam's fine ■performances this season. Apart from his batting, he is a capital field and would prove himself a change bowler of considerable merit.

However, all cricketers have every confidence in the sound judgment of Mr. Clegg, and I feel certain that tlice will not be a single player in the representative team, who has not thoroughly earned his place. Hill was easily the best bowlev for Wanderers, and worked like a. Trojan. After his first over he kept an excellent length, and gave the batsmen mo chance of taking liberties.

Wanderers in their second venture made a much better showing, but this was s'olely due to a fine display by Greatbatch and E. Lash. Certainly, the former played quite the wrong game in batting so recklessly, and eventually got out off a wild mis-hit, but his innings was very bright and appealed to the spectators. Lash was content to play the game, and he played it in quite a masterly style. Carrington Road's' fielding went very slack and many runs were given the other side through this defect. The game is left in a very interesting •state, and even if Wanderers should give their opponents 100 runs to make, it will be a case of working very hard to make them, provided the Wanderer*' bowling and fielding is up to standard. The Rovers' put a good score against Waitara, the first three batsmen, Williams, Weston and Hasell collaring the bowling in real earnest. Clarke and Arden also batted well for the last wicket. Price, who appears to have had two strikes, was also of great help to his side in his' first venture. Sarten was the most successful bowler for Waitara.

Waitara have lost three wickets tor 34 runs, of which Eggleston made 14 by careful cricket. Mr. Hay, the sole selector of the New Zealand tean\. has chosen his' eleven to try conclusions with the Australian team in the first Test Match, but i'. seems to me he has been rather premature in attempting to sort his men ct before Otago has shown what it can do against the Australians. The bowling department of his team seems decidedly weak, and it would not surprise me to see Macartnev and Calloway (To so well with the ball that j common justice would demand their inclusion in the team. And they are both I men who might also make a lot of runs. As these notes are being written before the result of the first day's play j becomes known, it behoves me to : await with anxiety the soundness or I otherwise of my tipping;, One must I select on present performances, and should these two men fail, I must bow to Mr. Hay's remarkable second sight. The Warehousemen's Club wilf be represented by the following players in I their match with the High School team on the High School ground this afternoon:—McLaren, Green, White, Burgess, Williams, Johns, Greene, Bullock, Cock, Bigelow, Gwilliam, Thompson, Asher.