PROBLEMS FOR N.Z. CRICKET SELECTORS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 5

PROBLEMS FOR N.Z. CRICKET SELECTORS

■VVHILE , New Zealand’s ’’ victory'over M.C.C. at the Basin Reserve this week was welcomed throughout the country, it may not have solved many of the problems before the national selectors in their choice of a team for South Africa. pne of the two batting failures was S. N. McGregor, who has been in very good form this season, and who, no doubt, is still a candidate for the tour. P. T. Barton failed too. but he did so well at Dunedin that his prospects of selection cannot have been damaged.

One of the newcomers. L. C. Butler, bowled only in the second innings, when he had impressive figures on a pitch which suited him admirably. It was a good performance, but not so good that he can be regarded as a certainty for the tour. E. C. Petrie's wicketkeeping in the two unofficial tests was not good, his place is very much in doubt. J. W. Guy still has strong claims, and there are many who would like to see the young Central

Districts left-hander, B. W. Yuile, given a trial for New Zealand. There is still much support, too, for A. McK. Moir, of Otago in place of. or in association with J. C. Alabaster. Moir may be thought too old, but he is still a very able cricketer, and there have been older players in tests, by far.

All these considerations make the choice of the third test team most difficult. New Zealand will need its strongest team to have a chance of re-

peating its victory, and that may be regarded as of more importance than experiments. But if G. A. Bartlett can play, he will almost certainly be given a trial. It will be the last opportunity to determine his fitness for the tour.

But if Bartlett, Cameron and Motz all play, there would not I be much room for Butler and ’ Alabaster without shortening the batting far too much. If, however, the selectors decide to use the last match . mainly as a trial, a' very different team could be played —Barlett, Guy, Yuile, and

Ward could find places. There would hardly be any need to play Moir, for his capabilities are well enough known. There must also be a prospect of a

wicket-keeper other than Ward being tried out. for there will be two wicket-keepers on tour, and as neither Ward nor Petrie has been in good batting form recently, a 'keeper able to make runs will be sought. But not necessarily found.