CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 10 February 1927, Page 14

CRICKET.

THE N.Z. TEAM. MERRITT GAINS A PLACE. Tlio selection of the New Zealand team to visit England has been a burning topic with cricketers lor months past, but all speculations were set at rest yesterday. The selectors, Messrs W. S. Urite (Wellington.), \V. I!. Patrick (Christchurch), and F. Williams (Dunedin) spent the greater p;«rt ot the day in Christchurch yesterday making their final decision, and about 1 o'clock the result was made known. The team is as follows: C. F. Allcott (Auckland). F. T. liadcock (Wellington;. It. C. IMunt (Otagoj. \V. Cunningham (Canterbury;. ('. (,'. Dacre (Auckland). C. S. Dempster (Wanganui). M. Henderson (Wellington). K. C. James (Wellington). T. C. Lowry (Hawke's Bay^. AV. B. Merritt (Canterbury;. J. E. Mills (Auckland). 11. M. McGirr (Wellington). ('. Oliver (Canterbury). M. J*. Page (Canterbury). .Mr I). Hay (Auckland) is the manager.

Two pleasing features of the selection stand out prominently. The one is that preference has been given the young plnyers, and the oilier is the fact that an eleven can be chosen that will inelude batsmen, almost to the last man, without sacrificing the bowling strength. That the principle has been followed of ranking it a team of young players is shown by the exclusion of such fine players as Brice, Rowntree, and Kortlang. Any or all of tliem could have been included without weakening the playing strength, but on the other hand it must be admitted that the non-inclusion of the players mentioned will not weaken the side except in the case of Rowntree. The Auckland 'keeper has no equal in New Zealand, but .ho is getting up in years, and is a very poor bat. Added to this, th© selectors were able to pick two very capable wicketkecpers—Lowry and James—both of whom are very fine bats.

The Certainties. The majority of those chosen hare probably been picked hundreds of times bytho "man in the street." AJlcott, Blunt, Cunningham, Dacre, James, Lowry, Mills, McGirr, Oliver, and Page have been looked upon more or less as "tertainties." Of the remaining four, Badcock'a chance rested on how the ■electors viewed his status—whether they might think that an English professional should not be included, even though he is a permanent resident in New Zealand, and fully qualified. As a player, his qualifications leave no doubt. The remaining three- are Dempster, Henderson, and Merritt. The first-named may be considered just a trifle lucky, for, fine player us he is. lie must have had serious rivals for the last place or two in Gillespie, "Cooper, Worker, and Hollings. The inclusion of*Henderson would be a surprise to a great man;, but it should be remembered that in the absence of Dickinson, who has not shown top form this season, Henderson will be the nearest approach to a fast bowler that the side will have. Selection of Merritt.

The inclusion of Merritt caused great rejoicing among both past and present pupils of the Boys* High School. The ■electors shoved admirable courage in recognising sterling cricket ability upon such slight acquaintance. Merritt has played senior cricket) only this season, and was not considered for the representative matches against Auckland and Wellington. He got his chance as a slow bowler against Otago through Sandman's defection, and he HteraOv won his way into the New Zealand team by his bowling in that match. It was not only that he got very fine figures—s wickets for 48, and 8 for 20—j hut his bowling immensely impressed die Otago cricket people, including the Otago selector. It is stated that Downes, one of the best bowlers in New Zealand in his day, and who umpired the match, stated that Merritt was the best slow bowler he had seen for 25 years. That his inclusion was an eleventh hour decision is shown by the fact that the selectors interviewed Merritt yesterday, and as the Wellington selector had never seen him bowl, he was taken to Hagley Park for a try-out. That this was satisfactory is shown by the fact that his name was subsequently included in the fourteen. The dearth of good slow bowlers was doubtless a determining factor in his selection. He was not among those nominated' by tho Canterbury Cricket Association for the tour. Merritt is regarded locally as the coming "googly" exponent of the Dominion. He bowls a good length leg break, with a well disguised "wrong 'un," and a straight ball occasionally. He is also a promising Rugby threequarter, and last year he was the outstanding player in the Boys' High School team. It is to be regretted that Hiddleston was unable to make the trip. The Wellington crack has no superior in New Zealand as a stylish and attractive batsman, and he would assuredly have phased the English critics. However, rtgret is tempered by the knowledge that'he would not have strengthened the fielding, and the fact that his absence leaves room for a young player who would be more benefited by the trip.

Well-Balanced 81de. On the whole, the selectors are to Se complimented on their choice. The; have cot together a string of batsmen who should not only put up good •cores, but should make their runs so attractively as to p'.case the British public. # Most of them are of the aggressive typo, and if the Dominion players succeed in making goo,) scores, there should bs few dull spells. Tho bowling'is the feature that will be most •ererely tried. Any eleven that is chosen should be. a fine fielding side, and in this respect one expects the New ZealandcTS to create a very favourable impression.

"THE PRESS" STAFF MATCH. A match waa played on the Boys' League around yetterday afternoon, between the Editorial and Mechanical staffs of The Patas. The Mechanical team could make hut little headway against the steady bowling; and clean fielding' of their opponents, and war* dismissed for the meagre total of 41 run*. The Editorial team scored 1-6, winning fay 83 runs (L. Webb 13, K. Hanrock 14. J. Mahonry 30, K. Thornton 83) R. Gillespie, W. Gtiiney, X. Archer, anil K. Thomson for tho winners, anil C. Haase, F. Hood, and G. WiUon fov the loaers, took the wickets. J TO TOUR WITH MELBOURNE I TEAM. r trim issomnox -riuciux.) AUCKLAND. February P. i In response to the invitation of the .Sew Eialand Cricket Council to appoint a rcpreMBtatiTi te tour the North Island with the Melbourne Cricket Club team. Mr V.. 0. Beaia jaas b««n aeleeted. Mr K. K. NaMor (chairSua of thi Auckland Association) being unable te acetfh) <>• offer.

[MELBOURNE TEAM'S TOUR. I WAIKATO MATCH. i trr.«33 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) ' HAMILTON. February 0. ! In the cricket match with Waikato. the i Melbourne team, which reriliel to the home (cam's first innings score nf 119 with "93 for r.ine vesterday. csiried the total to 490 for . nine in fifty minutes' play before lunch. ; Warwick Armstroisr ad-alined from 60 lo MG in the mornine, an! T. .?. Armstrong 1 f:cm 18 to 50. Hah' an hour after I.ir.cheo.-. , ;h<- «corc was 542 for nin; wickets. i Following are the scores :-- ! WAIKATO. I First !nr.:n;s .. .. .. •• 113 ! MFXBOI'KNE. I F:ist Inning*. i Wood, c Coins, b Hawkc .. ..3! j Jewell, low. 1) Taylor ..27 ! Unyoiis, t Allen. b .. Yi Dakin, r Skect, b Pomciov ..20 Campbell, c ar.d b Pomrroy .. "4 I!od:rer«on. b Taylor .. .43 Sandford. b Taylor .. .. '2S Ransforri. c nnd b Pomeroy ..32 W. Armstrong, not out .. .. 148 Kbcling. b Taylor .. o T. G. Armstrong, no*, nut .. 72 Extras _24 Total for nine wicket* .. 54'.' [Further de'ails of play weie not sent bv the Press Association.]

WEST CHRISTCHURCH CLUB. The following teams will represent the West Christchurch Club in the eighth round, commencing on Saturday, at i pjn. : First Grade A v. Sydenham, Haglcy Xo. I—Baiter, Booth, Blank. Condlifte, Findlay, Cocks, Foster, Hayes, Jarrett, Hawkes, and sim. First Grade B v. Old Boys, Elmwcod No. &—Blamircs, Cameron, Hampton, Ramsdcn, Prendergast, Philiips, Yates, Donnelly, Patterson, and Parton. Second Grade A v. St. Andrew's Colegc, St. Andrew's College No. J—WunJilyn, Darby, Ccrrigan. Denton, Donn. Malloy, Wardell, I.twcrs, Galvin, Smith, and Dary. Second Gradf- B v. Christ's College, College No. 3—Aycrs, Cameron, Smart, Fogarty, Walker. Littermore, Koberts, Hayes, O'Cain. England, and Hnughey. Third Grade A v. Biccarton, Hagley >o. 6—Copcland, Kciirnev, Smith (2). Hope, OakIcy, Meynel'. Hill. Smart, McKav, and Binwnlce. Third Grade B v. Old Collegians. Idmwood Xo 5 Ronsliani, Pimm, Hall, V. Roberts. Banks. Christmas, Wcodham, Xunes. Bradley, Naughton. Day, Eayner, and Suthor'and , ~ . . i Anv of the above players unable to ta.-tc part," and any- member available who IS rot included, is requested to notify the secretary not later than a p.m. Friday. Phone 3 AISI7 and 183111 - -

SHEFFIELD SHIELD. VICTORIA'S BIG TASK. (ST cmß-PRMS ' tSSOCIATIOH-COPIBIOST.) (ABSTIUI.IA2I kW B.Z. CIBLB ASSOCIATIOS.) (Received February 9th, 10.15 p.m.) BRISBANE. February 9. In the Sheffletd Shield match. Queensland, in their second innings, made 439 (K. Oxenham 73, Knowles 144. Mayes, in, 37). Bowlin* for Victoria. Hondry took three wickets for 51 and Blackie two /or 09. \ ictoria in their second innings are 120 lor no wickets (Ilendrv, in, 65, Fonsford. in, 00). Oiennim was to-day batting practically single-handed, owing to the injury to his wrist received yesterday, but he played soundly, despite the handicap. After passing the century in his first Sheffield Shield match, Knowles hit out strongly, and frequently rattled the pickets Black a was.unable to b6wl owing to a drained left side. WIIU--753 necessary to win. Mctoria opened he second strike, Ponsford and Hendry batting cautiously.