BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27004, 1 April 1953, Page 10

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

RABONE WELL QUALIFIED One of the most reliable players on the 1949 tour, G. O. Rabone, who is 31, has the makings of an outstanding captain. His solid batting, steady offbreak bowling, and superb fielding made him an automatic choice as soon as it was found he was available, and he has, too, the capacity to tackle an uphill struggle. He is New Zealand’s most reliable all-rounder. In England in 1949 he scored 1021 runs at an average of 33. and took 50 wickets. His slip catching throughout the tour was first class. Rabone. a quiet, thoughtful cricketer, should be a success in every way. on and off the field. Rabone recently became the proprietor of a service station in Auckland. B. SUTCLIFFE Nearly every New Zealand batting record has been broken by Sutcliffe. since his first-class career began in l 1946-47. Twice he’ has averaged more than 100 in a New Zealand season; he holds the record aggregate (7849), the best total on an English tour (2627), the best career average (63.3), most - runs in a New Zealand season (859), the highest innings score (385), and so on. He has made 25 centuries,, and as well as being the most talented of New Zealand batsmen be is quite; the best to watch. New Zealand will look to him for many runs on the tour. In the field Sutcliffe is naturally quick and accurate in any position, but he is at his best in the slips or covers, and his slow left-hand bowlling may be useful more than occasionally. For the last four years Sutcliffe, who is 29. has been coach to the Otago Cricket Association. J. E. F. BECK The youngest member of the team, Beck (18) left school at the end of lasti year, and is at present employed as i a clerk. He has yet to play a first-1 class match, but all through the season j Wellington enthusiasts have been loud 1 in their praise of his left-hand batting i and fast fielding. Beck batted for Wellington with success in the Brabin Shield tournament, and although some doubts are felt about his soundness as a batsman, his selection was a good one. Under an experienced captain such as Rabone. he should develop into a fine punishing batsman, and he has already shown that although j he likes to hit the ball hard he can | be most resolute on defence. W. BELL A former Canterbury player, Bell i has bowled his leg-breaks accurately I for Auckland this season, and his; selection is another insurance against j the future. If he has a capacity to i learn, Bell (21) could be a real success. He is at present engaged in I growing strawberries. R. VV. BLAIR A young right-hand fast bowler with | a really fine action. Blair, at 20, came i to the front by taking eight wickets I in an Otago innings during the Plun-. ket Shield series. In his first test match he took four wickets for 98,1 and he then became a certain choice for the tour. Fast, and accurate, Blair | has the determination and spirit to; become a master at his craft. He is a compositor. ► M. E. CHAPPLE Playing his first game, for Canter-1 bury, three years ago at 19. Chapple I soon gave evidence of an ability to hit the loose ball hard. For two “sea-I sons he played for Central Districts and enjoyed reasonable success as a batsman and left-hand slow’ bowler. This season he - began the Plunket Shield series, again playing for Canterbury. with a score of 79. but in seven more innings added only 41 i runs. He seemed to have Tost his j chance of selection, but in the match ' between South Africa and Canterbury ■ scored 165 and 88 and then went into the team for the second test. A i fair field. Chapple still has a weak-; ness outside the off stump which | should disappear with practise and match play. He is a school teacher. E. W. DEMPSTER Included in the team as the slow left-hand spin bowler. Dempster, who I is 28, may also make runs, and his j fielding is of a good standard. Dempster's ability as a bowler may be open to doubt, but there is no question about his ability to fight hard, as a batsman or a bowler. His batting lacks style, but it is resolute and effective. Dempster is employed as an orthopaedic technician.

I. B. LEGGAT A survey draftsman, aged 22, Leggat is a solid right-hand bowler who usually gives little away, and his batting this season has improved tremendously. He has some fine strokes, and usually hits the ball hard. His century for Central Districts against Otago was a fine one, and in the recent trial match he showed the same ability to attack the bowling. His slip fielding may be useful to the team. A. R. MacGIBBON • Although Mac Gibbon’s career in first-class cricket has not brought him the runs or wickets his ability suggests he should have had, he should do well with his forceful batting and fast-medium right-hand bowling. His unusual height—6ft sin—allows him to get lift from a pitch others find unresponsive, and in the second half of this season his accuracy as a bowler has improved beyond measure. MacGibbon is a sure fieldsman. 'He is an engineer. His age is 28. L. S. M. MILLER

After his succession of big scores in the Plunket Shield series, Miller was an automatic choice for the test ■ teams, and in these matches he batted j well enough to keep his place in the I side. Tall, Miller in form uses his | reach well, and on firm pitches he ■ should make many runs. Not a great j stroke maker, his solidity and concen- | tration should service his side well. | Miller was not a successful outfield in the tests but nearer the wicket he should do well. Miller, who is 29. is a clerk employed by the Railways Department. F. L. H. MOONEY New Zealand’s wicket-keeper for the last three years, Mooney has won a fine reputation for his quiet methods behind the wickets. Mooney’s batting is as quietly efficient as his wicketkeeping, and it will be of value. Mooney is a company manager, aged 31. G. W. OVERTON For persistence and courage alone, Overton deserved a place in the touring team, but his ability to close an end up will be more than useful. This season Overton, at 33, took his hundredth wicket in first-class matches, and although spectacular successes may not come his way on tour, he is certain to give full value from first to last. Overton is a farmer in Southland. M. B. POORE For some time Poore seemed unable to make the most of his natural accomplishments, but in Canterbury’s match against South Africa, and again iin the second test, his stylish righthand batting was seen at its best. Now Poore has found he can go for his shots, he should forge ahead, and he should help the team with his strokemaking as well as by making runs. Next to Sutcliffe he is New Zealand’s most attractive batsman. Now 22, he could develop into a great one. Poore is employed as a clerk.

J. R. REID This season Reid’s batting passed from the unpredictable to the distressingly predictable, but at 24 he still has a capacity to make runs. In England in 1949 he batted magnificently at times, and he was one of the tour’s greatest successes. Unsoundness at present is finding him out, but he should be able to play his way back into form. His right-hand fast-medium bowling will be very useful, his fielding is superb, and he will be the team’s reserve wicketkeeper.