THE AUCKLAND TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 297, 15 December 1936, Page 16

THE AUCKLAND TEAM.

HVE NEW PLAYERS. SPIN BOWLER AND KEEPER. Following the conclusion of the trial match at Eden Park yesterday the Auckland representative team to make the southern tour for the Plunket Shield matches at Christchurch and Dunediu was announced last evening. It was thought that the eleven who comprised the A team were mostly certainties, while a few of the others were being given a chance to justify themselves. With the exception that the selectors dropped Carroll for Marshall all those provisionally chosen held their places. Marshall took the ball cleaner than his rival and appears to be the most promising of the local wicketkeepers. In addition tc him there are four new faces in the team, Spring, McMahon, Dunning and Carson. The team is:— H. G. Vivian (Parnell). captain. P. E. Whitelaw (Parnell). W. M. Wallace (Parnell). E. J. Dunning (North Auckland). (jr. L. Weir (North Auckland). A. M. Matheson (University). R. A. Marshall (Grafton). ,T. Cowie (Grafton). L. R. Spring (Grafton). W. Carson (Eden). N. McMahon (Eden). G. Hook (Y.M.C.A.). D R. Garrard (University) was not available. Hook will be twelfth man for the Canterbury match. ) Conditions were ideal for yesterdaj s test, -When interest particularly centred in the performances of the young Luen xS spin bowler McMahon and tQ) e !Noith Auckland player Dunning. McMahon was given a good tryout by the Auckland captain. Vivian, and he came quite well through what was in the nature oi an ordeal. He obtained four wickets for 91 runs, but. what is more important he showed ability to spin the ball. McMahon as a spin bowler, and an alternative to the experienced R. Garrard, who is not available for the southern tour, appears to be a find. True, he has a long way to go yet, hut spin bowlers are not made in a day, or a season for that mattei. Most of' them send down a considerable amount of loose stuff for simple reason that it is much more difficult to control length and direction when iniparting the finger spin to the ball. McMahon overpitched the ball in periods and was punished, particularly by Simpson, accordingly, .but when he controlled his length he was difficult to play. . With Vivian to guide him lie trapped Simpson to come out of his pitch, miss, and be stumped. McMahon has plenty of confidence, which should stand him in good stead, for jowlers of his class are sure to get a pasting on occasions. The experience of first-class cricket is what he wants and the selectors are justified in making what appears to be a bold experiment m selecting him. McMahon has the essentials and time and experience will prove whether lie can use tliem to best advantage. Obviously Dunning went out to the wicket yesterday to play himself into the team and as an opening batsman lie displayed a very sound defence. For fully an hour he defied the fast bowlers, Cleverley arid Simpson, who wasted a lot of energy with off stuff. Dunning appeared to be unduly careful during that time and the only scoring stroke he used was on the leg side. Once lie had thoroughly played himself in, Dunning showed that he could attack the bowling, and he used his feet confidently. It was a fine performance for a player coming from mat wickets. Spring, another of the newcomers, is a good all-rounder, though primarily a medium-paced bowler. In "this capacity he will be a useful change for Vivianr Carson is a ' young player of splendid physique and a batsman o| distinct P "There 'seems little doubt that had the South Auckland wicket-keeper Skeet been available he would have been chosen. Unfortunately he received a nasty knock on the back when he partnered G. Wallace last Saturday and it was not thought that he would be physically fit enough for the tour. His absence gave Marshall a chance which he would not otherwise have had. , Wallace played his best game of the season and was evidently on his mettle. He hit as hard as usual, but less recklessly and with a straighter bat. Incidentally, he hit Simpson out of the ground twice. . With a remarkable bowling performance of 29 wickets for 228 runs, average 7.86. the North Shore bowler Simpson had strong claims for inclusion as a fast ■bowler. Unfortunately his achievements were on his own wicket, which is recognised as favouring fast bowlers, whereas liis official trial was on a wicket which is just the opposite. Furthermore, the selectors had at their disposal Cowie, who is spoken of as a certainty for the English trip next year, and Matheson. last bowlers must have the collaboration of pood slip fieldsmen and Cowie has been handicapped in the past in this Tespect. He was tried twice for New Zealand figainst the M.C.C. side last season. At Dunedin several catches went begging and at Eden Park, on a wicket which does not suit him, he was also a bit unlucky. He is mucjl more accurate than the other local fast bowlers and perhaps his weakness is lack of variety. In Dunning he will have a first-class slip field to assist Jiim. Matheson has claims as a batsman and a good field in addition to his bowling. At the wicket he has often proved a snag to the bowlers, and yesterday he gave another demonstration of his batting ability. With these facts in mind, the claims of Simpson and Cleverley, too, had to be subordinated to those of Cowie and Matheson. The dropping of Mills, who has a long record for Auckland and the Dominion, was inevitable, for he had slipped in the past few seasons. Hook's inclusion as twelfth man was thought most likely and although there is quite a lot of material available—eleven men make a team. The scores in yesterday's trial arc given below:—

B TEAM—First Innings. Walters, b Spring If Mills, c Dunning, b Cowie « Emery, b Cowie ' 1° Sale, c Whitelaw, b Cowie •' Ellis, c Hook, b McMahon 4 Marshall, b McMahon 10 Simpson, st Carroll, b McMahon .... 27 Postles not out <|2 Andrews, not out -0 . Cleverley, st Carroll, b McMahon .... 6 Extras 20 Total for eight wickets (declared) 196 Bowling: McMahon four'for 91, Spring one for 9 (12 overs), Cowie three for 33. Matheson none for 29. Carson none for 14. A TEAM.—First Innings. Dunning, b Simpson . . 61 Whitelaw, Ibw, b Cleverley <» Spring, I) Cleverley J Hook, run out .... - ° Matheson. b Simpson Wallace, c Sale, b Andrews 74 Carson, b Postles Vivian, not out -« Carroll, not out £ Extras ° Total for seven wickets ........ 294 Bowling: Simpson took two wickets for 03 runs. Cleverley two for 115, Andrews one for 31, Postles one for 19, Sale none tor -4, Emery none for 45. Felts none for 39. Messrs. It. A. Duff and It. Blenuerliassett *ere umpires.