CRICKET NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 December 1912, Page 3

CRICKET NOTES

, (By "Leg-Break.") The Wairarapa junior cricket competitions will be continued to-day, when Mastorton A and Masterton B will conclude their match, while Martinborough and Carlton will strive for supremacy. In the former, match Masterton B have six wickets down for 178 runs, being fiftoen run 9 ahead of Masterton A'e score. From the present state of the game Masterton A will have to put their best efforts into play to avert defeat. Martjnborough finished their first innings with 50 runs ahead of Carlton, and it -would seem that Carlton too have a hard row to hoe. However, it is the unexpected that often happens, and today's play may tend to alter the present aspect of the game? to be decided. Looking back upon the match with the Smith Melbourne team, we cannot but conclude that cricket in Masterton requires a deal of lwoming, if any stand is to l)o made against other provincial combinations. The worst feature of the match wa*> the fielding of the local team, which was woefully weak. The fact that 40 extras had to be added to the visitors score on their first in»in.gp speaks for itrolf. In this connection • the mnn who "-as most directly responsible was Thron. the Wairarana. wic-ket-keeper. His display behind the wickets was far from convincing, and it p->ems as if a wiser selection could hn-vo hf»«n mado. The hatting of the team wa* very disappointing, hut it must not be forgotten that the local batsmen were up against some of the best howlers in the Commonwealth, and it will be interesting to ndte how other teams? in the Dominion will fare. The writer holds the opinion that the Melbournites should win all their matches, as apart from having a strong batting side, they have a wonderful variety of howling." Trott, Kyle, Kelly, Scott and Kenny should trouble the be?t batsmen in Now Zealand. It is understood that a Manawatu team will play Wairarapa. early in January for the Hawke Cup. The local representatives should benefit considerably by their most recent experiences, and it is to be honed that their laurels will be retrieved against Manawatu. In conversation with Mr Harrv Trott in reference to McAlpine's bowl- , ing. the veteran Victorian said that McAlpine had a fine natural swerve, j which would trouble mast batsmen. What McAlpine lacked was know- I ledge of the fine points of the game, . but with coaching and experience in ( how to place his field, he would be j very formidable indeed. In batting he said that Collins and Redmond were both fine' batsmen but lacked knowledge of how to play break , bowls. With the coaching that a. player receives in Australia, Mr Trott ( said, there were several men on the Wairarapa side who were the making of fine cricketers. The fielding, he said, lacked finish, but this could only be gained by practice a vd experience. The visitor's captain said that the team was greatly pleased with their visit io Masterton, and' were 1 greeably surprised on finding such i fins cricket ground. !