REP. CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1928, Page 5

REP. CRICKET.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

AUCKLAND v. CANTERBURY.

STRONG TEAMS AVAILABLE

MATCH COMMENCES TO-MORROW,

The second Plunket Shield cricket match of the present season in Auckland will commence at Eden Park to-morrow morning, when the Auckland representatives will play Canterbury. The visitors are due to arrive by the Limited express late this evening. The Canterbury team which played Wellington on the way up was: Gregory, Hamilton, Jacobs, Page, Nixon, Merritt, Roberts, Evans, Hayes, Read and McEwin. Newman, the English coach, was unable to play against Wellington, but he may be available to-morrow, and in that case it is probable that McEwin, the slow right-hand bowler, who played in Auckland for Canterbury two "seasons ago will stand out. Olliver and Cunningham, two Canterbury players who were in the New Zealand team which toured England, are not included. The team is regarded as a strong combination with a big leavening of young p'avers, and, in addition, two seasoned veterans in Hayes and Read. Should Newman play the visiting bowling will be moderately strong, as the Englishman is one of the best medium-paced county bowlers at Home. There should be good support from Read, who is regarded as the best provincial stock bowler of the medium-right variety, and Merritt, the colt, who did so well when given his chance with the national side, and Paj«?. who proved quite successful when tried out on the English tonr.

On paper the Canterbury batting is strong, and in fielding the side :<ho'iid live up to the best Canterbury traditions of the past.

The Auckland team will be: Bowley, Mills, Dacre, Anthony, Player,. Garrard, Gillespie, Scott, C. L. Weir, Matheson' Cooper. It is a very strong batting side, but the bowling is not convincing, although it may prove a shade stronger compared, with the game against Wellington by reason of the inclusion of G. L. Weir, who has been one of the leading bowlers in the club games this season.

The present indications are that there will be a very fast wicket and a correspondingly iast outfield, which should give an initial advantage to the side fortunate enough to win the toss.