TEAM FOR NEXT TEST

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21721, 2 March 1936, Page 8

TEAM FOR NEXT TEST

BETTER BOWLING STRENGTH WELL VARIED ATTACK The following team has been chosen to represent New Zealand against the Marylebone Cricket Club, in the fourth test match, to be played at Lancaster Park, commencing on Friday:— I. B. Cromb (captain). P. E. Whitelaw. ./ H. G. Vivian. M. W. Wallace. E. D. Blundell. B. Griffiths. C. K. Jackman. J. L. Kerr. A. W. Roberts. W. A. Hadlee. C. S. Elmes. The umpires appointed for the match are Messrs D. Ryan (Auckland), and J. Forrester (Christchurch). SIDE > IMPROVED BY CHANGES HADLEE’S SELECTION WELCOME TBy COVER-POINT.] The inclusion of Canterbury’s young batsman, Hadlee, is particularly gratifying to his many admirers in this province. His fine century against Otago after the announcement of the team for the third representative matclf made his inclusion in the New Zealand team for the final match a foregone conclusion. He has undoubtedly earned New Zealand honours, for last year his performances in his first year of interprovincial cricket were second to none in the Dominion. It will be recognised that the selectors, during the progress of the matches against the English team, have gradually been sorting out a first-class side to represent the Dominion—one which undoubtedly will form the nucleus of the team to visit England next year. The side chosen for the Christchurch matches inspires perhaps the .greatest confidence of those so far chosen. Certainly it is a far better team than that which is now playing in Auckland, particularly in its stock bowling strength Jackman Flays Again Only one selection may cause surprise—the dropping of J. A. R. Blandford, the Wellington wicketkeeper, for Jackman, Canterbury’s stumper. The form of the latter has been variable this season, and he was dropped after the first match against the Marylebone Cricket Club in Dunedin. Blandford’s batting record is incomparably the better, and his fine partnership with Roberts in the match at Wellington definitely saved New Zealand. Jackman, however, kept very finely in the match against Otago. Roberts was not available for the Auckland match, and was replaced by Matheson. Blundell, who proved a thorn in the Englishmen’s side at Wellington, was omitted, apparently because the selectors thought his type of bowling unsuited to the Auckland wicket, in favour of the fastish Auckland bowler, J. Cowie. Neither Matheson nor Cowie met with much success on Saturday, nor do they impress as the equals of Roberts and Blundell on any kind of wicket. All-rcund Strength ' The other alteration in the team for the third match is the omission of D. A. R. Moloney, formerly of Otago, and now of Wellington. He has an average of 26 for Plunket Shield games, and his innings for New Zealand against the Marylebone Cricket Club have been 2, 25, 32, 10, and 0. In the second match at Wellington he was called on to open the innings in the absence of a real opening batsman to partner Kerr, and he did his job quite well. He failed at Auckland on Friday, however. Whitelaw is an experienced opening batsman and no doubt will partner Kerr in the match at Christchurch. Griffiths did not meet with any striking success in Auckland, but a slow right-hand bowler is needed, and he appears to be the most likely bowler to fill Merritt’s place in the future. Altogether the team seems a very sound combination. There is plenty of batting ability in Kerr, Whitelaw, Wallace. Hadlee. Vivian, Cromb, Roberts, and Elmes, there are two excellent quick-medium stock bowlers in Roberts and Blundell, and Cromb (slow), Griffiths (slow), Elmes (left-hand medium), and Vivian (left-hand slow) will provide a fairly well-varied change attack.

FIVE CRICKETERS OF 1935 TWO SOUTH AFRICANS IN “WISDEN’S” SELECTION LONDON, February 28. “Wisden’s” five cricketers of the year, based on performances in England in 1935, are:— Bruce Mitchell (South Africa). H. B. Cameron (South Africa). E. R. T. Holmes (Surrey). Denis Smith (Derbyshire). A. W. Wellard (Somerset). tH. B. Cameron, the South African wicketkeeper and batsman, died in England recently; Holmes and Smith are members of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s team now playing in the third test match against New Zealand, at Auckland.)

LAUCHLAN CUP MATCH TRAMWAYMEN TO MEET TO-DAY The annual cricket matcli, lor the Lauchlan Cup. between the Christchurch and Wellington tramway teams will be played at Hagley Park to-day. The Wellington team arrived by the steamer express yesterday morning, and later attended the tramway picnic at the Pines Beach. This morning a welcome will be extended to members of the visiting team by the chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Board, Mr J. K. Archer, and the general manager, Mr H. E. Jarman. The match will be begun after the welcome and continued to-morrow. This evening the Wellington men will be entertained at the Tramway Social Club’s euchre evening. To-morrow, after the match is completed, the visitors will be guests at a smoke concert in the workshops messroom. A bus trip will be provided for the visiting men on Wednesday. The teams for the Lauchlan Cup match are as follows; Wellington (challengers)—C. Chambers, R. -T. Clothier. C. Beaton, L. Elliott, P. Yates (captain), A. Bennett, L. Noot, G. Dumbleton, H. E. Holmes, W. Gwynn (vice-captain); twelfth man, E.‘Hazlett. Mr H. Tankard is the manager of the team and Messrs E. Kemsley and J. Tillyard are the selectors. Christchurch—G. Browne, W. J.-Caden-head, R. Commons, J. Dawson, T. Alexander. T. Cook, A. Milne. D. Parkes, F. Holmes, D. McKenzie, and L. Smith. Mr W. J. Walter is manager and sole selector.

J. Hardstaff, not out .. .. 57 J. H. Human, c Wallace, b Cromb 5 N. S. Mitchell-Innes, c Wallace, b Vivian .. 7 E. R. T. Holmes, c Blandford, b Griffiths .. .. .. 7 Extras .. .. ... 7 Total for six wickets .. 289