CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25139, 21 March 1947, Page 8

CRICKET

Test Match To-day NEW ZEALAND’S PROSPECTS To-day New Zealand has an opportunity to re-establish itself in international cricket after the severe defeat suffered last season at the hands of the Australians. The team selected for the test match against the M.C.C. is a strong one, and should give an extremely good account of itself. There is plenty of batting strength, and though the New Zealand bowling does not give rise to such confidence, the same criticism applies to the English team. It seems certain that as the match is of three days only, one of the five bowlers selected in the 12 players to represent New Zealand wiil be omitted. Of the five, R. H. Scott and J. Cowie are almost certain to be included. B. Sutcliffe gave such an excellent account of himself at Dunedin that much —perhaps over-much—will be expected of him. However, the manner in which he handled the English bowling at Carisbrook suggests that W. M. Wallace, D. D. Taylor, F. B. Smith, V. J. Scott, and W. A. Hadlee are also capable of big scores, with E. W. Tindill and R. H. Scott likely to make runs too. The fielding, particularly with the inclusion of F. B. Smith, should be good. How Snedden, Burtt and Burke would fare against the English batting is doubtful, but Cowie is still one of the world’s leading bowlers, and R. H. Scott has made a vast improvement in his bowling since last season. The English batting is certain to please those who watch the game. At Carisbrook most of them gave delightful exhibitions, and unless the New Zealand bowlers rise to the occasion, England is likely to score heavily indeed. The English bowling in the Otago match was far from impressive, D. V. P. Wright, in particular, being disappointing. However, the Lancaster Park wicket usually gives a bowler more to look forward to than the next interval, and Wright may find conditions much more to his liking. A. V. Bedser showed, in spasms, how good a bowler he is in the Otago match, and he too will be watched with real interest. R. Pollard met with few successes in Australia, but the New Zealand wickets seem better suited to his bowling and he was perhaps the best of the M.C.C bowlers at Carisbrook. In the analysis. New Zealand has every prospect of fully extending the visiting side, and though it is unfortunate that only three days could be allotted for the fixture, the game is sure to be interesting and entertaining. The twelfth man for the New Zealand team will be announced this morning. It was expected that the English team would be announced yesterday. but as . three of the players are suffering from minor ailments, the selection will not be made until this morning. The players affected are W. J. Edrich, who is suffering from an eye complaint, W. Voce, who has an unsound arm, and L. B. Fishlock, who has an injured ankle. Yesterday the New Zealanders played a practice match against a team of secondary schoolboys at Hagley Oval, and several players practised in the nets, watched by a large number of spectators. Several prominent Christchurch cricketers took part in the net practice and others did the bowling against the New Zealand team while the schoolboys fielded.