THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 303, 21 December 1921, Page 7

THE PLUNKET SHIELD.

SOME ATTRACTIVE CRICKET. THKEE GAMES IN AUCKLAND. A special call is made on Auckland this year to justify itself in the cricket world for the reason that Eden Park is to 'be the convincing ground on which the claim by the four centres to the Plunket Shieid will pro'babiy be decided. The shield is held by WeWington by right of conquest under the okl "sudden death" custom of itinerant challenge and attack by which the trophy has changed hands more than once during the season. Now the holder of the shield each year has to meet each of the other three centres, who are qualified to challenge, and the shield goes to the province showing the best record in the series of twelve games. Auckland this year will play all its three games at Eden Park, and Aucklanders Mill have the chance of seeing Otago, Canterbury and Wellington in action against the home reps. Tlie shield will 'be awarded on points for wins, "but should two teams, as may easily happen, tie with two wins and a loss each the shield will go to the one which .shows the best batting and bo-wl-ing average on the three matches it lias played. The Otago team is due +0 play here on December 31, January 2 and 3; the Canterbury team on January 6, 7 and 9; and the Wellington team on January :JO, 21 and 23. The Otago team has already been chosen, and is:—H. (J. Siede'berg. J. Shepherd, T. Carltou, A. Eckhold, R. Torrancc, Casey, Chadwick, Galland, J. McMuttan, J. Smith, W. Wcstbrook, and 11. Duncan. It contains several piaycrs who have 'been mainstays of Otago rep. cricket for many years, and are well past the first flush of youth, notaWy Siedeberg, Eckhold, Torrancc, Carlton and Chatiwiek (wicket-keeper). TOl--rance and Carlton may bo expected to bear the brunt of the bowling, while Sicdeberg, Sheplicrd and GaHand are considered the pick of the batsmen. Some criterion of the Wellington team may be got from the following team chosen to play for Wellington against Napier:—W. S. Brice, W. A. Gate, W. A. Barclay, H. Lambert, E. M. Phillips, S. Dempster, I. Jennings, H. E. Burton, J. S. HiddlcSton, H. M. McGrrr, M. Henderson and D. Binnie. Tiio Canterbury team o.hosen to meet Otago at Christmas is:—Hayes, Worker. Evans. Blunt, Sandman, -Patrick, Brosnahah, Read, Mcßeth, Grant anc Fuller This team is- a particularly strong one. and every memiber oT it lias made his mark in cricket of recent years. The Auckland team to play Otago is:—N. C. Snedden, S. G. Smith, L. G. Hcmus, C. Dacre, E. Horspool, E. Allcott, 1. W. Rountree, A. Anthony, E. McLeod, W. Brooke-Smith, and R. Garrard. Emergencies: R. Somervcll, W. J. Coates and W. Garrard. It is noticeable that local critics look on the bowling as the likely weak spots in the Otago and Canterbury teams, while the Wcllingt6n eleven satisfies enthusiasts in tlis home city as a wellbalanced combination, strong in bowhng. In Auckland the home critics, while feeling that a good selection lias been made, are a little uneasy on two points. It is felt that the batsmen generally have not yet struck their best form, and also that the team is likely to suffer from need of a fast bowter. THE HEATHCOTE SHIELD. WON BY CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegra-ph. —Press Association.! PAJLMERSTON NORTH, this day. • The match for the HeathcotcWilliams' Shield between Palmerston North Boys' High School and the Christchurch Boys' High School was concluded this morning, and won by the challengers (Curistchurch) by nine wickets.