CRICKET.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18014, 5 March 1924, Page 12

CRICKET.

■ * —. — SECOND TEST MATCH.

CRITICISM OP N.Z. TEAM.

The selection of the team to represent New Zealand in the second Test Match is meeting with much criticism, and rightly so. Of the three who have been dropped, it, may be said that there is a difference of opinion about Blunt, but the West Christchurch player is young, with all his cricket in front of him. That he has a temperament that discounts to some extent his batting is undoubted, but apart from this he is certainly among New Zealand's best and most brilliant batsmen. And the fact that he familiarised himself wth the Netv South Wales bowling and '' made good'' in the second innings should have assured him his place m the team. Alloo is another whose exclusion is hard to understand. Most people thought he was lucky in getting in the first Test, but he got there, and few will deny that in batting, bowling, and. fielding he justified his inclusion. Then why drop himf He is a keen and untiring player with most of cricket in front of him, and to replace him with one who is approaching middle age would appear to be defeating the objects for which such a tour is arranged. Collins's display in the first Test left no doubt as to his fate. Of tho three new men in the team, the selection of Henderson wil!\iot bo cavilled at, but the other two havte left most of their cricket behind them. They will further weaken a deplorably weak side so far as fielding is con " cerned. This is more noticeable from the fact that Oliver, who was chosen as twelfth man in the first Test, has not been included. The Sydenham lad is a player hardly —if yet—out of his teens. His rise as a batsman has been meteoric, and he has "made good with every promotion. In addition to this, he is a brilliant field, and would save more runs than many others would make. The selector has missed a golden opportunity of encouraging the younger players, and of immensely strengthening the fielding with" only a hypothetical weakening of tho batting. S. G. .Smith has been appomtod captain of the next New Zealand team to play in. the test against New South Wales. Smith has had considerable experience, having been captain of Northamptonshire and of Auckland. M. K. Boon, wicket-keeper, will not be in the team, owing to leave or absence being refused by the Public Trustee, by whom ho is employed.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. As Lancaster Pari is being need nerf Saturday for «n athletio meeting, it hu been found noceseary to rc-arrange grounds ° Grade—Eiccarton v. East Chnsbohurch, Hagley No. 3. iV . First Grade B—Linwood v. St. Allans, Lancaster No. 4; East v. Riccarton, Hagley Grade B—Ritcarton v. East, Boys' Association No. 2.

BOYS' ASSOCIATION. The eleventh round of games in the Canterbury Boys' Cricket Associations competition will be played -next Saturday, the draw h 7§tk~ A , nical College B, Ensor's road, N6. 4, Murat Bros. v. Y.M.C.A., Hoepital corner, No-* > BoyB 1 High School A v. Boys/ High School C, Hospital comer, No. 5 ; Boys* High School B v. St. Andrew's Collego, St. Andrew s, No. 3; St. Bed-e's College v. Boys High School D. St. Bede's No. 3. _ Sixth Grade—West. Chrwtchurch District Hieh School v.' Boys' High School A, Hospital corner, No. 6; St.- Bedee v. St. Saviour's, St. Bede's No. 4; Technical Colleee v. Bova' High School B. Hospital corner, No. 7; Y.M.C.&: a bye. • . Seventh Grade—Technical. College v. Cathedral Grammar School, Hospital corner. No. 8; Marist Bros, Hospital corner. No. 9; Boys' / High School v. Y.M.C.A., Hospital corner, No. 10; St. Andrew's Collage a bye. . The following have been selected to make the trip to Rangiora inext Saturday for the representative game agaiiist North Canterbury:.—P. Tomlinson (captain), D. Coleman, L. B. Smith, J. Haughey. JV Howison, J. Watson, W. Sweeney, J. Morrissey, A. Smith, A. Roberts, I). Mitchell,, and C. Welch. Clubs must provide auffioient material for their own players.

AMURI SUB-ASSOCIATION. On Saturday the "Waiau township played Oulverden B. «i.t Culverden, when *an even and interesting .game .resulted in a draw. Culverden .batted first, and declared with eix wickets down fpr 147 runs, to which total G. O. Rutherford vigorously compiled BX, A. Fisher a carefully compiled 46 not out, Murray 19, and Davison 14. Wai&u then went in. and at call of time had put on 130 runs for four wickets, Smale scoring a well-played 60 not out, Sincock'24 not out, J. Forbea 17, 1 and Eogera XB. For Oulverden, Walls, Murray, and Haraell bowled best, as did Higgins and Sincock for Waiau.