THE REP. TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 287, 4 December 1929, Page 15

THE REP. TEAM.

PROBLEM OF FORM,

HARD NUT FOR SELECTORS

The players chosen to practice for inclusion in the Auckland representative, team is an indication that the selectors have not leaned heavily on form or shown a disposition to penalise advancing years, and it is refreshing to see that there is a distinctive colt element. Out of <:he twenty-one players for practice a solid provincial eleven should be selected, although possibly not quite as strong as the Auckland representative team of last season or so. There will be no player of Bowley's solidity to give the team aii opening batting lead, while the loss of Dunning, who has gone South since last season, has deprived Auckland of a fine all-rounder. Similarly since Dacre's departure to take up professional cricket in England there has been no real forcing batsman in sight, although there are a couplc of promising ones in the practice selection.

Viewed from the provincial plane the Auckland rep. bowling in sight ciW only be described as fair. There is no real match winning bowler. Auckland has never had a really fast bowler in its cricket history. Matheson will probably be selected as the man to lead Auckland's attack. He is medium fast, but on a fast wicket can nip from the pitch, while somewhere stowed away in his repertoire he has a ball which is virtually unplayable.

In Allcott Auckland possesses the best length bowler in the land, but the experience of last season was that another length bowler, who could keep an end going, was needed for support. In Lyon, of Y.M.C.A., Auckland has at the moment a very promising young bowler who has shown fine stamina with a tolerably good length and direction. In addition to being able to do a bit in the air and also from the pitch when the wicket suits the Y.M.C.A. colt is one of the few bowlers in New Zealand who can bowl the ball which runs from a right-handed batsman, and with good he had decided possibilities. The choice of slow bowler will probably rest between Lang-

ton, Garrard and Anthony. Langton has remarkable spin, but has rather spoiled his efforts of late by trying to bowl too fast; Anthony, although getting on in years, can exploit a helpful wicket as few bowlers can. In addition, he is a good all-rounder. Garrard, in addition to being a true spin bowler with the one that goes straight through by way of diversion, can be classed at the brainiest slow bowler in Auckland. Smeeton and Martin are both of the stock type of medium paced bowlers, with the former perhaps the best exponent of seam bowling that Auckland has at the moment. With the batsmen Mill can be regarded as a certain rep. choice, but the selection of three supporting batsmen will probably cause the selectors some concern. Whitelaw made good in rep. cricket last year, Postles has the dour defence so necessary for big occasions, while Gillespie can almost win a place in an Auckland rep. team by his fielding alone. Hay, the young Parnell batsman, might possibly win his rep. cap this year, but if it is deferred it cannot be long delayed. Stylish and essentially sound in his batting methods as he is, the cricket future should hold something especially bright for him. Waikato critics will be pleased that Badeley, the Hamilton all-rounder, has not been overlooked, and he should get a place as one of the all-rounders of the Auckland rep. team. In addition to being a fine forcing batsman and a very' capable bowler, he has more, than ordinary ability as a wicket-keeper. The selection of Wensley, the Sussex coach, is certain, likewise Kowntrce, who is still at the top of his form as wicketkeeper.

Other players selected for practice are Frater, liorspool, G. L. Weir and Monteith, and a run of their best form might carry any one of the trio into the rep. ranks. The cricket puzzle at the moment is Weir. Last year it could be claimed that he was the best all-rounder in the Dominion. So far this season he has been hopelessly out of form. On the players in sight Matheson, Lyon, Garrard, Allcott, Badeley and Wenslcy would give Auckland a bowling string of provincial strength. To that sextet can be added Rowntree as wicketkeeper. Mills and Whitelaw should be certain of their placcs as batsmen. The choice of another two is quite open. Weir could be added as a certainty, provided he can in time recover his lost form of last season.