SHIELD TEAM CHOSEN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25678, 15 December 1948, Page 6

SHIELD TEAM CHOSEN

CRICKET

SIX OLD BOYS MEN INCLUDED SIDE TO MEET OTAGO The Canterbury Cricket Association’s representative selectors (Messrs | J. L. Kerr. W. J. V. Hamilton, and C. G. Crawford) have announced that the following players will represent Canterbury in the Plunket Shield match against Otago, which begins at Lancaster Park on Christmas Day:— W. A. Hadlee, captain (Old Boys). J. G. Leggat (Old Boys). P. O'Malley (Lancaster Park). F. B. Smith (Old Boys). W. McD. Anderson (Old Boys). R. H. Scott (Riccarton). P. Small (Old Boys). T. Burtt (St. Albans). L. Mahoney (Lancaster Park). R. C. Webb (St. Albans). R. F. Cook (Old Boys). FEW SURPRISE CHOICES [By Cover Point] The team selected to represent Canterbury in the first Plunket Shield match of the season contains few surprises, knit it is a weaker combination than looked likely after last year’s successful efforts at team building. There are only six accepted batsmen in the side, including R. H. Scott, who will be expected to do a large share or the bowling. Of the six, W. A. Hadlee and J. G. Leggat have been out of form, while P. O'Malley, although scoring fairly consistently, aopears to be a little lacking in the confidence that should be his after his splendid batting last summer F. B. Smith has shown some of his very best form, but has been disturbingly erratic, and of the. first five batsmen, only W. McD. Anderson has looked like making scores consistently. Scott’s batting this season has been excellent. There is no doubt that Leggat and Hadlee, by their temperament and technical skill, are as likely to score well as if they had been successful throughout the club games, and O’Malley is a determined batsman. However, the tail—and tail it is—begins at number seven, which is far too early.

The selectors’ problems have been amSlified by the loss of bowling form of A. Mac Gibbon, who is relegated to twelfth man. If his bowling had improved as much as his batting, he would have been invaluable as a number six or seven. It is this lack of true all rounders that is the team’s most apparent weakness. C. G. Snook has been out of form .with the ball until the last round of matches, and he has made only one score worthy of note.

The choice of bowlers to support Scott —T. Burtt, L. A. Mahoney, R. F. Cook and P. Small—is a good one. The selection of Mahoney and Cook should be particularly popular. Both these bowlers have been consistently and outstandingly successful for many seasons, without getting into a Shield team, and their success has been well earned. Burtt is still the best left hander in the country and Small has shown definite improvement and should do even better than last season.

Of the several players who were unlucky not to gain a place, R. W. Emery is perhaps the foremost. He is an allrounder, and all rounders are needed, but it may be that his bowling lacks sufficient venom, skilful though it updoubtedly is. A. Burgess is similarly placed, and Snook, although showing more likelihood of becoming an international player than some of those in the side, could hardly gain a place on tw’o afternoons’ bowling. J. S. Patrick must have come very close to selection; his figures this year have been far better than Cook’s, and he is perhaps more likely to bowl an unplayable ball than his successful rival, but Cook is clearly the steadier of the two. D. A. Mcßae would have improved the bowling immensely had he regained his old form and fitness. In this list of “also rans” the names of J. C. Saunders and M. Stanley must be included.

The fielding should be good, with Mahoney, Scott, and Anderson experienced in the slips, and O’Malley. Smail and Smith star performers wherever they may be placed. R. C. Webb is an excellent wicket-keeper. With Hadlee’s astute captaincy and rich experience, the side should do well, in spite of the weaknesses which appear on paper. The selectors have made the best of the material available: but there is little doubt that the search for another genuine all rounder will go on. OTAGO TEAM SELECTED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Dec. 14. The Otago team to play Plunket Shield matches against Canterbury at Christchurch at Christmas, and Auckland at Auckland at the New Year, was announced by the sole selector (Mr S. F Duncan) to-night. The team is:—L. D. Smith (captain), L. J. Groves. T. A. Freeman, L. A. Milnes. R. T. Hunt, N. McGregor. G. H. Mills. G W. F. Overton, A. W. Roberts, R. H. Robinson, D. S. St. John, L. A. Watt. OTAGO B.H.S. AND CHRIST’S COLLEGE DRAW A CENTURY AND A GOOD OPENING PARTNERSHIP After Otago Boys’ High School had established a lead of 111 runs on the first innings, a fine opening partnership between G. C. P. Beadel and D. W. Crowe in Christ’s College’s second innings yesterday, robbed the high school team of its chance of an outright win, the annual match ending in a draw.

Otago carried the overnight score of 144 for - five wickets to 302 yesterday, thanks mainly to an excellent innings by L. G. Williams, who scored 127 not out. Williams revealed an attractive mixture of scoring shots, in particular an aggressive hook and a good drive, and treated the College bowling with the respect it deserved He hit 15 fours and one six. Beadel was the steadiest of the coHege bowlers and obtained four wickets, bowling an intelligent off-break. Andrews also bowled steadily and took two wickets, with the connivance of Whyte who held two good catches behind the wickets. Beadel and Crowe opened the Christ’s College second innings at 1.55 p.m. and in two hours of solid batting, relieved at times by some profitable cuts and drives off the back foot by Beadel. added 113 runs and placed the result of the game almost beyond doubt. Later, Andrews, who batted soundly for 40, and Hale who hit hard for 26, resolved the doubt, and at stumps College had made 235 for the loss of six wickets. Although Robertson bowled effectively, making good use of a gusty nor’-wester blowing across the ground, the Otago bowling on the whole did not look as effective as in the first innings. The outfield was fast, making for fast scoring, and during the day nearly 400 runs were scored. Scores were:—

CHRIST’S COLLEGE First Innings Total 191 Second Innings D. W. Crowe, run out _ - G. C. P.Beadel, b Robertson 78 A. J. O. Whyte, c Porter, b Robertson 0 M. M. Andrews, b Long 40 S. L. Hale, b Christie 26 J. G. Lester, lbw, b Long 10 O. A. Hutchinson, not out .. 12 J. E. Coates, not out .. .. 2 Extras .. .. .. 22 Total, for six wickets 235

BOWLING O. M. R. W. J. A. Robertson .. 19 4 53 2 R. Long ..20 5 60 2 C. S. Christie .. 11 — 60 1 A. J. Blakely .. 7 — 28 — L. G. Williams ..6 1 18 — OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL First Innings G. Aim, b Wright .. .. ..14 R. Long, c Whyte, b Andrews .. 14 D. Ma Hoch, st Whyte, b Wright .. 8 J. A. Robertson, lbw, b Northcote .. 24 C. Porter, lbw, b Beadel .. .. 21 C. S. Christie, lbw, b Beadel .. .. 34 L. G. Williams, not out .. .. 127 A. Ashby, lbw, b Crowe .. .. 25 R. G. Bishop, c Whyte, b Andrew’s .. 5 A. J. Blakely, c Hall, b Beadel .. 15 J. E. Rolfe, lbw, b Beadel .. .. 1 Extras . • .. ..14 Total .. .. .. 302 BOWLING O. M. R. W. S. L. Hale .. 29 10 sold. M. Andrews .. 15 5 46 2 O. A. Hutchinson ..10 1 19 — D. W. Crowe .. 11 4 25 1 G. C. P. Beadel .. 21.1 3 44 4 N. Q. Wright .. 18 1 47 2 J. G. Lester .. 11 2 32 — G. A. Northcote .. 2 — 6 1 J. L. Allan 2 — 12 —