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WET-WICKET PLAY
Richardson On Art Of
Not Playing At Ball
By V. V. RICHARDSON
In his commentary on Satur-<*>
day's district cricket matches,
V.Y. Richardson explains the
type of batt ing required to meet
the conditions ichich prei;ailed.
Sutcliffe. he says, is the best
balsm&n in the world on n:et
trinkets.
JORIDAY night's rain affected all
wickets, and thp opening day's
play in district, cricket, on Saturday
was full or incident.
Unfortunatel.r. in Australia nlsyers
do not get much practice on -xa
wickets, and consequently bowlers re3p
a harvest when the wicket is soft. Not
all wet wickets favor the bowler. In
fact, they are hampered unless the
wicket has dried sufficiently to allow
the ball to 'bite"' and respond to the
spin imparted by the bowler. On a
rrally sticky wicket—one which has
been dried by the sun. and causes the
ball to jump sharply and turn almost
at rinht anerles—any player in the
world is lucky to make runs against
a bowler who rums die ball and keeps
a Derfoct length.
Verity is a model sticky wicket
bowler. Some batsmen, however, are
all at sea on any wicket which is rain
affected, 'sun ply because they are es
sentially forward pl?yers and have not
mastered -Mic art of back play, which is
essential on damaeed pitches. Unless
a batsman can smother the ban at the
half-volley, or reach it upon the full,
it is fatal to lunge forward. The most
successful batsman in these circum
stances is the one who moves right
back to the stumps, and then plays
the turning ball with what is known
as a "dead" bat, or, even better still,
avoids playing the sharply turning
ball at aIL
The greatest, present day bad wicket
player is Sutcliffe. a master of back
nlay. with uncanny judgment in not
"playing at" a ball.
tuck Of The Toss
In every case on Saturday the side
which won the toss elected to
field, and, with the exception
of Sturt and Prospect, forced home
the advantage gained by the
spin of the coin.
Glenelg routed West Torrens. and
then good batting: by Catchlove and
Haddrick placed the side in a position
to take advantage of similar conditions
should they obtain next Saturday.
Shepherdson. Glenelg'6 new fast
bowler, had an auspicious opening, and
has taken three wickets for one run in
less than two overs.
Most of Port Adelaide's runs were
made by the younger players. Brogan
and Bails, who batted solidly^ against
the fast attack of Tobin. Sharpe made
great use of the conditions, which gave
him an exaggerated break, against
which Ports later batsmen were all at
sea. Unfortunately, spectators must
wait a little longer to. see Badcock in
a scoring vein, as a great piece of
fielding by Worden brought about his
early dismissal.
Davcy And Thompson Save Side
Dayey and Thompson extricated
"Vareitv from an awkward position
against Prospect. After their side had
scored 85 against the good length
bowling of Dansie and Scott, they
completely annihilated the northern
team on a wicket which had dried con
siderably and gave them great as
sistance. Scott, for Prospect, later
used his natural left h3nd delivery to
great advantage.
The Colts, with many new players,
are in a cood portion* against Ken
sington. Golden's batting was out
standing, and as he was at the
wickots while conditions -were bad. his
was the best battintr effort for the day.
At Unley. Sturt threw away by bad
fielding the advantage gained by the
dismissal of Bast Torrens's early bats
men. After being missed before he
had scored. Schultz took advantage of
the improved wicket and hit
?vigorously to scone 76 in quick time.
His partnership with Jamieson. whose
batting was the best of the side,
brought about a wonderful recovery
for East Torrens. which had lost
seven wickets for fewer than 130 runs.
Hutton and I*arcock carried the Sturt
attack, and with better support from
the field would have finished with
much more attractive ficures.
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