NEW OTAGO CAPTAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 18

NEW OTAGO CAPTAIN

V. G. CAVANAGH.

CANTERBURY MATCH.

K. F. M. UTTLEY DISPLACED. HOW THE PROVINCES STAND. A telegraphic message from the South states that the feature of the Otago team to play Canterbury in the final Plunket Shield series at Carisbrook, on February 3, 4, 6 and 7, is the reappearance of V. G. Cavanagh. Like ihis father, he represented tJhe province at Rugby football. Not only is Cavanagh back in the side, but he is to take over the captaincy from K. F. M. Uttley, who led the southerners at Eden Park at New Year, 1938, and. scored a century in each innings. This equalled the performance of P. E. Whitelaw, against Wellington, on the same pitch in 1935. Curiously enough, their aggregates were the same, the individual knocks, in order, being W'hitelaw 115 and 155; Uttley, 132 and 13*.

Uttley. who was awarded the Red path Cup as Xew Zealand's champion batsman for 1937-38 in games played in this country has been one of this season's disappointments. Of the regular Otago batsmen, Uttley is last in the Shield averages. He made only 44 runs in tour innings, with a highest score of 17.

When Otago was beaten at Eden Park by 292 runs at Christmas 1938, Garanagh failed as an opening batsnran. Cowie ■bowled him for four, and Vivian had him caught behind for a couple.

As Wellington meets Auckland Ihere next week, in the other match of the last round, this season's position with regard to the Plunket Shield will no doubt be read with interest by cricket enthusiasts.

Plunket Shield points at present are:— Auckland 12, Canterbury 10, Wellington 8, Otago 0.

Points are allotted on the following basis:—Outright win, 8 points; win on first innings, 4; lo6s on first innings. 2; tie on first innings, 2 each; tie on match, 4 each; no result after six hours' play, 3 each.

With the positions of the teams as they are now it will be necessary for Auckland to beat Wellington outright if it is to make absolutely certain of winning the shield.

A win for Auckland on the first innings at Eden Park would give the shield to Canterbury, provided that province beats Otago outright, on the same dates at Carisbrook.

A loss of any kind would put Canterbury out of the running, while Wellington could win if it beat Auckland outright, eyen if Canterbury did secure first innings points at Dunedin.

Since the destination of the shield depends on the results of the two matches still to be played, it is interesting to note that the final jV»int« last peason were: — Auckland 18, Otago 16, Wellington 12, Canterbury 0.