GRIFFITHS AND WEIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 25

GRIFFITHS AND WEIR.

CANTERBURY OPINION. CROMB AND MULCOCK WANTED! (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, thie day. The "Christcfaurch Star-Sun" says there will be considerable surprise and eome criticism over several of the latest selections, more particularly in connection with the choice of the Wellington rightnand bowler B. Griffithe. Griffiths won hie New Zealand cap for the firet time last year. Against the Marylebone team he bowled with distinct skill at time*, but hie eeven wickete in Tests cost 29 rows apiece. At the conclusion of the tour E. R. T. Holmes, the English captain, said of him: "Griffiths ie a genuine spinner, with nip off the pitch, but he will have to have more ' control of length if he ever wishes to reach ihe highest class."

Unfortunately, Griffiths' control of length in poorer this- season than it wae last; so much so that his captain, J. It. Lamaeon, of Wellington, made the remark recently: "Griffithe' etock ball seems to be a full toes!" In this season's Shield games Griffiths' six wickete have

cost 50 rune apiece. He k a trier, and the selector*' gamble may yet prove justified. They feel that a right-hand slow bowler is eaeential in the team, hence interest in the form shown by L. Groves and M. Sharpe at Dunedin.

Weir, of Auckland, is also rather fortunate to gain selection. He was included in the second Test team against M.C.C. last year, but showed poor batting form, and wae dropped. This season he made 138 rune in Shield matches, finishing up with the eound average of 35. Weir's main value is that he is a tough batsman xn a tight corner. He is also a medium-paced bowler. However, hie place would have been better filled by Cromb or Gallichan, both of whom are decidedly unlucky to mise the trip.

Cromb's omiseion is hard to understand. Were a New Zealand eleven choeen for a Test in New Zealand to-day he should be one of the first choeen.

The New Zealand team's bowling in England is liable to suffer from lack of variety and a minimum of hostility. Thia apparent weakness could nave been remedied to a very large extent had Mulcock, the Canterbury in-swing bowler, been included. According to leading New Zealand cricketers who have played in England his puzzling type of deliveries would secure many wickete in matches against county teams. This season Muleock has taken thirteen Shield wickete for 24 I runs apiece.

Donnelly, the 19-year-old Taranaki player, apparently wine a place in the side because of his youth and promise. He can scarcely be said yet to have earned it.