THE FIRST TEST.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 11

THE FIRST TEST.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM CHOSEN.

The selectors—Messrs W. 5, Brice (Wellington), N. C. Snedden (Auckland), H. B. Whitta (Canterbury), and F. Williams (Otago)—have chosen the following team to represent New Zealand against the touring M.C.C. team in the First Test at Christchurch, commencing on January 10th:— T. C. Lowry (Wellington). K. C. James (Wellington). M. Henderson (Wellington). P. T. Badcock (Wellington). C. S. Dempster (Wellington). J. Mills (Auckland). M. L. Page (Canterbury). W. E. Merritt (Canterbury). A. W. Roberts (Canterbury). R. C. Blunt (Otago). G. S. Dickinson (Otago). E. A. McLeod (Wellington), 12th maa.

It was generally expected that Wellington Trould get five men in the New Zealand team, and the other three provinces two each. The man in the street picked the above team, with the exception that Matheson (Auckland) was expected to win a place for his bowling. Roberts (Canterbury) has earned a place for his batting. Canterbury thus has three representatives, and Auckland only one. The side is very strong in batting, there being no fewer than eight really good batsmen. Even the remaining three—Merritt, Henderson, and Dickinson —are capable of maiking the tail wag to some purpose. Eight of the eleven were in the New Zealand team that toured England a couple of seasons back. Dempster, Blunt, Mills, Page, and Lowry are in the very first flight of New Zealand batsmen, whilst Roberts, James, and Badcock follow them closely. It was a foregone conclusion that Lowry would be chosen to captain the side, and it was equally certain that James would be the wicketkeeper. The latter, besides being one of the beet wicketkeepers in New Zealand, has the additional advantage of having '-kept" to Merritt on the English trip. He is also a very sound batsman.

The. brunt of the attack will fall on Dickinson, Henderson, and Badcock, as fast to medium bowlers, whilst Merritt and Blunt will supply the slow bowling. Otners who can take a turn are Roberts, Lowry, and Page. This is a fairly good fielding combination. The side is probably the best that has ever represented New Zealand, and i* will be surprising if it does not at least hold its own with the M.C.C. eleven.

CHEVIOT V. KAIKOURA. The Cheviot Cricket Club sent a team on Saturday to play against Kaikoura, and put up a good innings, making 230 runs with the loss of eight wickets, and declaring. Owen made a century in fine style. Scores:— CHEVIOT. P. Macfarlane, b Warner .., ..25 W. Owen (retired) -. 100 G. McDonald, c Gillett, b Peters .. 6 A. Fuller, lbw, b Warner . . 19 E. S. Millar, c D. O'Callaghan, b Farrant . . . . . ... 20 M. Taylor - - - • 2 5 J. McKay, b O'Callaghan .. 0 J. Cottrell, t Gillett, b O'Callaghan .. 0 G. Crossen,- b Warner . . * • 15 Extras .. - • .» 22 Total for eight wicket* *» 230 KAIKOURA. Gillett, b Owen .. ■- " o Peter, e Crossen; b Owen .. ... ■ 2 Warner, - b Macfarlane- .. .. . 0 McLennan, st, b Owen .. j» S. O'Callaghan, St., b Owen ■•.. 38 Withers, c Owen, b Marshall .. 0 Lindsay, b Macfarlane ■ ~ ... .... * Farrant, b Macfarlane -...•■ •• ■ j» Hobbs, b Marshall ..'.'.•■ •• jj Morris, not out "... „.■,.-'. '-, " ? Carson, e McDonald, b Eutherford ... 1 Extras .... •- _** Total ...... ■ .". .•■ -• , 89 WEEDONS V. DOYLESTON. AtWeedons on. Saturday the local team defeated Doyleston by 11 runs. Batting first, Doyleston made 99 runs (Ebert 23, Maindonald 15 not out, Dally 12, Rennie 12, Smith. 10, Msckie 12); Weedon.s. 110 (Walker 50 retired, Saunders. 15, Hampton 14, Chatterton 11 not out). For Weedons, Saunders took six wickets for 48 rups. and Drayton -four for 39, and for' Doyleston, Smith took five for .39,, Ebert two for 26, and Dalley one for 36. MALVERN ASSOCIATION. Playing in the Malvern competition on Saturday, Kirwee defeated Greendale B by 161 runs. Kirwee, batting first, compiled 208 (R. McMeeken 20, G. W r ilson 77, M. Wilson 28, B. Wilson 34, E. Pratt 12 not out, A. Thomson 24). Greendale B replied with 47 (A. Brunton 13, H. Frew 11). For Kirwee, A. Roper took seven wickets for 21, and M. Wilson five for 23. For Greendale B, H. Frew took one wicket for 3b, S. Kay six for 61, and Clarence Adams one for 33.

MATCH AT GISBORNE.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TEUSGKAM.)

GISBORNE, December 30. An astonishing collapse by the local side in the second. innings, followed by fine battin's by B. Massey, gave Doneghue s Wcllinjton eleven a six wickets /ictory oyer Poverty Bay B. Wellington made 153 in the first innings, Robertson carrying his bat for 24 Poverty Bay made only 83 m the second innings (G. Clifton 39 not out). Massey, five for 25, and Fortune, three f0r.33, bowled excellently. Requiring 164 to Tin, Wellington lost fonr for 73 (Capstick 17, Griffiths 11 Ward 10, Doneghue 14), but Massey (77) and Hepburn (31) added 97 tn an unfinished partnership. Massey played biri - liantly, hitti&g two sixes and eight fours, bnt he gave a chance of stamping andla hard catch early. O. R. Olsen took four wickets for 60. SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCH. SOUTH AUSTRALIA DEFEATS QUEENSLAND. (UNITED PRBB6 ASSOCIATION - —BT ELECTRIC TBI.EORAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 30th, 9.30 p.m.) ADELAIDE, December 30. In the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland. South Australia, in the second innings, made 177 for nine wickets (Pritchard 43, V. Richardson 42). Hurwood took five wickets for 62. South Australia won on the first innings by one run. NEW SOUTH WALES Y. VICTORIA (Received December 30th, 11.10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 30. In the match against New South Wales, Victoria, in ihe first innings, made 341 for seven wickets (Hendry 103, A'Beckett 50, Sc&ife not oat 60, BTackie not out 37).