CANTERBURY’S CAPTAIN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 14

CANTERBURY’S CAPTAIN

APPOINTMENT OF R. T. DOWKER UNANIMOUS VOTE OF COMMITTEE On a unanimous vote, R. T. Dowker, the captain of the victorious Canterbury Plunket Shield side, was elected captain of the team to meet the West Indies on Friday, at a meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association last evening. The motion that Dowker should be elected captain was moved by the chairman (Mr C. F. Collins) and seconded by the convener of the selectors (Mr I. B. Cromb). Earlier .n the season, when the committee discussed the captaincy of the team, Dowker was elected captain for Lie Plunket Shield series only. When giving their reports to the committee on the matches the Canterbury team had played in Otago and Napier, Messrs C. G. Crawford and T. W. C. Tothill. the managers, gave unstinted praise to the'quality of Dowker’s captaincy. Mr Tothill said the team’s success against Central Districts was due to the very fine spirit of the side, its fielding and catching “and above all to the splendid captaincy of DowkeY. His field placing and intelligent use of a rather limited attack were outstanding,” said Mr Tothill “On behalf of the selection committee, I must say how pleased the selectors are that the side did so well and won the shield.” said Mr Cromb. Dowker had done an excellent job and all the players had pulled together as a team. “Regarding the captaincy, I can say that I saw Harris on his return and told him that we would continue with Dowker as captain. Harris sa:d that Dowker had done a wonderful job and that he hoped to piay under him if he was selected.” said Mr Cromb. Speaking to the motion that Dowker should be appointed captain, Mr Tothill said that he had seen three of the four games played and he considered the captaincy of Dcwker was the most outstanding he had seen for many years. The committee extended its congratulations to Dowker and the side for its line performance

Harris was elected vice-captain.