No Dearth Of Talent In Young Senior Cricketers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29336, 15 October 1960, Page 5

No Dearth Of Talent In Young Senior Cricketers

"ALTHOUGH two of the 14 players who represented Canterbury in the Plunket Shield series last summer are not available this season, another strong and attractive team should be fielded for the next contest. But at this stage of the season, established players command only passing interest compared with the large group of promising young cricketers wh j may, in December, be competing for places in the team. Some of them are but beginning their senior careers, but there is strong evidence that Canterbury cricket, like Canterbury Rugby, need not be short of adequate replacements for those falling out in the next few years.

Sydenham has a strong candidate in its opening batsman, I. Hartland. Last season Hartland reached double figures 16 times in 17 senior innings, and he scored 534 runs in all. He has the concentration and determination needed in first-class cricket. In the East ChristchurchShirley team, there are several young players with distinct possibilities. J. W. Grocott has

some way to go before reaching representative standard, but he is a fast-improving player, and he has the eagerness and capacity for work which could take him further. A few years ago J. D. Capstick seemed certain of a place in Canterbury teams, but he has had-several seasons of very moderate success. However, last Saturday be indicated that when his head is down he is a fine player; this might be the season of his advance. C. K. Smart is a steady bowler, acurate, and with a late movement. And if he has played only one senior Saturday, B. Hawkins clearly has potential as a pace bowler. It may take him a little time to reach his peak, but he will be worth watchin v.

Prospects

In the Riocarton team, B. Pankhurst has prospects as a batsman, and E. R. Hignett’s startling figures with his offbreaks last Saturday demand attention. With A. F. Rapley on the West Coast but still eligible, and with M. Beban bowling so ably, Hignett’s chances of immediate promotion are slim, but he is very young, and the next year or two will present ample opportunity for development. T. T, Jones (St. Albans), who holds the post-war record for a season’s bowling, must claim attention if he keeps on taking wickets so readily, and in the West Christchurch - University team, Beban is also on the fringe of representative selection. P. P. W. Morris, in the same side, is an accomplished batsman and a superb field. The Old Boys team is beginning to be as full of H’s as a famous Surrey combination. B. G. Hadlee is a young batsman of exceptional possibilities—already noted for his attractive methods. B. R. Hope is in only his third senior game, but this tall left-arm spinner was a pronounced success in the last Brabin tournament, and bowlers of his type are so rare in Christchurch that he must have excellent opportunities if he progresses. D. Hill has forsaken wicket-keeping, but as a batsman

he seems certain of a fine future. Lancaster Park has D. E. < Woods, an opening batsman who i is compiling an extremely impressive record, and D. J. McKendry, whose left-arm spin and solid batting should take him s further. A young wicket-keeper-batsman in the Old Collegians ; team, J. England, is highly re- s garded by good judges. And al- i though he is not yet playing i senior cricket, J. St J. Parson, of i Christ’s College, is clearly a re- ■ presentative player of the very I near future, Only a very few of these young ; players can hope to be in a posi- t tion to challenge strongly for places in the weeks before the I Canterbury team is selected; but s they all have a chance, and in the next six weeks competition among them will be intense. > Which is all for the good of the game.