CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25092, 25 January 1947, Page 4

CRICKET

CHOICE OF N.Z. TEAM TO PLAY M.C.C. GOOD BOWLERS STILL NEEDED Christchurch will have its first cricket test for 14 years when the M.C.C. team plays here in March. Already there is keen interest in the likely composition of the New Zealnad team, and even at this stage it is cleat- that the selectors have ahead of them a much harder task than they had last season in picking the team to play Australia. Prominent players i have returned from overseas, and others have progressed rapidly in the present season. There appears to be an abundance of batting talent; but the lack of really good bowlers is again bound to be felt.

Perhaps the chief problem confronting the selectors is the choosing of a side which, while performing capably, will give an opportunity to players who should be in the runnng for the team to go to England in 1949. The attaining of such a balance will not be easy, but the three selectors, W. M. Wallace, J. L. Kerr, and W. A. Hadlee, are among the most experienced cricketers in the country and there is little doubt that they will do an efficient job. The first point which comes to mind in estimating the probable composition of the New Zealand team is the large number of players who could be chosen without being considered at all fortunate. It is possible, in fact, to select, two teams of comparable strength, and after the ultimate selection is announced there is bound to be very many players who will be considered most unlucky.

Likely Candidates * Of the many batsmen available, B. Sut- ] cliffe. D. D. Taylor, V. J. Scott, W. M. < Wallace (Auckland), J. A. Ongley, C. S. Dempster (Wellington), W. McD. Anderson, I. B. Cromb, F. B. Smith (Canter- : bury), and W. A. Hadlee (Otago) appear < to have the best claims. The bowling is not so impressive, but there is useful ’ material among J. Cowie, C. Snedden, C. ’ Burke (Auckland), H. B. Cave (Wellington), T. Burtt (Canterbury), and.G. W. Overton (Otago). The leading all-rounders are D. S. Wilson (Wellington), R. H. Scott (Canterbury), and A. W. Roberts (Otago). E. W. Tindill (Wellington) is the outstanding wicket-keeper-batsman. It seems ! likely that the team will include a preponderance of Auckland players, but few would argue that Sutcliffe, Taylor, Scott and Wallace were not worth their places. Sutcliffe and Taylor have both performed excellently in the current series of Plunket Shield matches, and both are young players whose future should be extremely bright. Sutcliffe has further claims in that he is a left-hand batsman. Dempster started uncertainly in his two innings against Canterbury, and in the club match in which he scored a double century; but there are few better batsmen in the country and his experience in county" cricket against most of the English bowlers would be invaluable. V. J. Scott, probably the hardest batsman to dislodge in New Zealand cricket, is almost certain of a place, and Wallace is still one of the country’s most brilliant batsmen. Of the Canterbury men. Smith has perhaps made the best impression. He is a little impetuous, but he invariably goes for his shots and plays beautiful cricket. He is a player who would benefit by the experience of an international match, but it is difficult to know who to drop to give him a place. Anderson has made no big scores in representative cricket this season: but he has batted extremely well, and actually seems to be in better form than last year, when a century against Otago and a 61 against Australia carried him into the test team. In spite of a long representative *career, he is now only 27 years of age. He scored a good 53 against Otago, failed in the first innings against Wellington, but was unluckily run out, when batting at his best, for 29, in the second innings. Against Auckland, he made 43 in the first innings, and in the second, scored 18 out of a total of 39 for six wickets on a sticky pitch. , Cromb is not the free and wellequipped batsman of other times, but tor displays of determination his innings against Wellington and Auckland could not be excelled, and it would be hard to pass him ove’r Hadlee has scored few runs in club cricket this season, but his batting against Canterbury and particularly against Auckland shows that he has lost little of his skill and artistry. Slow Bowler Needed Cowie is the first choice as a bowler, and he seems to be the only one of real class available. He will be especially valuable in a three-day match, where the necessity for conserving his energy will be somewhat reduced. Snedden bowled excellently on a helpful wicket against Canterbury and his stamina and accuracy made a very good impression. R. H. Scott is perhaps the best all-rounder in the country to-day. He has made great strides since last year, when he seemed to reach top form only in infrequent spasms, and when he sqmetimes looked to be in need of success to bowl at his best. His advance this season has been an excellent one. for whicji much credit is said to be due to the coach, J. H. Parks. Scott is only 29 years of age, and has years of good cricket ahead of him. Roberts has scored well this season, but he is not the force he used to be, and he is not likely to be selected. Cave is a young player of promise who may gain preference to Snedden. The lack of good slow bowlers is one of the major problems to be met. The only two real contenders for the place are Burtt and Burk« The Auckland player gained preference last season; but neither has been very impressive in recent matches, and the choice will be a hard one to make. Wellington has a young slow bowler of promise in R. Chailies, who has been selected to play against Otago, but it is too early yet to assess his worth. Wilson is a good all-rounder, but there is not likely to be room for him if Scott is played, and the Canterbury man seems a little better in all departments of the game. Tindill, the best batsman of the wicketkeepers. seems the obvious choice, although the fact that he is 37 years of age, and the English tour is two years away, might not encourage his selection. L. Kent, of Auckland, and A. E. L. Britton, of Canterbury, are two young wicketkeepers, and G. H. Mills, of Otago, is a sound batsman; but Tindill appears likely to go in. However there are two more in K. C. James, the Hutt Valley coach, and D. M. , Dunnett. of Southland, who could also fill the position capably. If Tindill is selected, he will probably be asked to , open the innings with Hadlee, and that L might mean that Anderson would not be included. The following team makes a sound combination, although if the emphasis is to be placed on youth. Smith. Anderson, Cave, and Kent might be given serious i consideration: —

W. A. Hadlee (Otago). E. W. Tindill (Wellington). V. J. Scott (Auckland). W. M. Wallace (Auckland). C. S. Dempster (Wellington). B. Sutcliffe (Auckland). D. D. Taylor (Auckland). - R. H. Scott (Canterbury). T. Burtt (Canterbury). C. Snedden (Auckland). J. Cowie (Auckland). This side has eight capable batsmen, a fast medium bowler in Cowie (who no doubt prefers Lancaster Park to the more lifeless Eden Park wicket): a right-hand off-break bowler in Snedden: and lefthand slow bowlers in Burtt and Sutcliffe. The field might lack a little in dash, but should be reasonably capable, and Hadlee. although his first experience in captaining a New Zealand team last season was a disastrous one. should again lead the side. The position of twelfth man might well be filled by W. Pollitt. Canterbury’. who. besides living in Christchurch, is one of the country’s outstanding fieldsARRANGEMENTS FOR TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT BY TEAM MANAGER (Rec. 10 p.m.) ADELAIDE. January 24. The bulk of the English team will return to England by air after the tour of New Zealand, where on p test is to be played. This announeenn'nt was made by Major R. Howard, manager of the i M.C.C. team, at Adelaide Oval to-day.

He said arrangements were made for the M.C.C. to visit New Zealand. Thirteen players and the manager would leave Sydney by air on March 8, and also return by air. Thirteen Players would also fly to England by a British Overseas Airways Corporation aeroplane leaving Sydney about April 1. Four other players, with the baggage man and the main baggage, would leave Sydney for England on March 5 or 6, m the Largs to any changes which might be found necessary, there would be four matches in New Zealand, including one test.

MATCH AT LANCASTER PARK The match to-day between West Old Boys and Canterbury Colts will start at 11 a.m. on the No. 2 wicket at Lancaster Park. Advt. WOMEN’S CRICKET OUTRIGHT WIN FOR AUCKLAND MATCH FOR HALLYBURTONJOHNSTON SHIELD (P.A.) WELLINGTON. January 24. In a highly-exciting finish on the Kilbirnie Recreation Ground. Auckland won the Hallyburton-Johnston Shield by beating Wellington by two wickets. The final points for the shield were: Auckland 24. Wellington 16, Canterbury 3, Otago 3. On Thursday the scores were: Wellington 199 and 224. arid Auckland 216 and 83 for two wickets. The start of play was delayed by showers till 10.5 G a.m. to-day. L. McKenzie (38) and Robinson (21) resumed Auckland’s second innings. After Robinson had added a single she was snapped up by Francis off J. Lamason and three wickets were now down for 89. H. Thompson then joined McKenzie and another fruitful stand added 55 runs for the fourth wicket, the two players carrying the score from 89 to 144. McKenzie, at 63, was clean bowled by Fulford. J. Clothier then assisted her captain to put on 49 for the fifth wicket. With the total at 193 runs, and only 15 runs required to win, Thompson, at 73. was run out. Nine fours were scored by the Auckland captain. Without a run having been scored Batty was bowled by I. Lamason. and six wickets were down for 193 runs. Clothier was caught and bowled by J. Lamason after four runs were added. I. Lundy assisted Simmonds to take the score to 204, but after scoring five. Lundy was snapped up by J. Lamason off Francis. A two to leg by Gooder off Francis gave Auckland the match. Scores:— WELLINGTON First innings .. .. .. 199 Second innings .. .. 224 AUCKLAND First innings .. .. 216 Second innings M Coldham. c Farrell, b J. Lamason 3 E. Daniells, b Francis .. 8 L. McKenzie, b Fulford .. 63 V Robinson, c Francis, b J. Lamason 22 H Thompson, run out .. 73 J Clothier, c and b J. Lamason .. 13 P. Batty, b I. Lamason .. o E. Simmonds, not out .. .. 3 I. Lundy, c J Lamason, b Francis .. 5 G. Gooder. not out .. .. 4 Extras .. .. .. 14 Total for eight wickets .. 208

BOWLING O. M. R. W Francis .. 35 10 61 3 J. Lamason ..40 14 55 3 L Lamason .. 21 3 34 1 Sheridan .. 8 2 9 0 Fulford .. 5 0 24 1