Australian University Favourite For Test

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 22

Australian University Favourite For Test

The Australian Universities cricket team must be considered firm favourites on this the first day of the test match against New Zealand Universities at Elmwood Park. 'Die tourists gave a bint of their ability in the recent Canterbury match. Several batsmen showed fine form, and the attack looked dangerous at times. The team lacks a quality leg spinner, but R. Grant should fill this role ably enough. Another who could help out would be C. Meyer Nearly aH the batsmen are capable of making runs, and if T. Lee, the all-rounder, gets his eye in. New Zealand could be faced with a trying day in the field. Lee has some beautiful shots at his commend, with the cover drive a specialty Rex Pearlman is a batsman in form, and his 100 against Canterbury University was an excellent effort. Unless the fast bowler. W Armstrong. can break through early, it appears that B. Quigley. J. Sangster, and T. Lee will have to bear the brunt of the Australian attack. P P. W Morris will captain the New Zealand team He has been scoring a lot of runs in Auckland this year, and could present a problem for the Australians He scored 145 for New Zealand Universities against Waikato in January, and is a solid opening bat The other opener. B. A. G. Murray, if

a little unpredictable, hits the ball hard, and has had three years’ Plunket Shield experience. J. Collinge is an attractive stroke player, and J. Morrison used to open the batting for the Wellington Plunket Shield team. Yet another opening batsman is B. Hermansson, and D. Ward also faced the new ball for New Zealand Universities against Auckland last year. The medium pace trio of J. Williams, D. Beuth, and B. Hopkins will share the bowling, but B. A. G. Murray can bowl a useful leg spinner. The lack of a genuine pace bowler is a disadvantage, and this could be one of the deciding factors. No doubt the New Zealand team will extend the Australians, but the tourists are a better balanced team, and on present form will be hard to beat. The only change in the Australian team is that C. Meyer replaces R. Pearlman, who now becomes twelfth man. The teams are:— Australian Universities: J Erby (captain), R. Pearlman, R. Grant, T. Lee, C. Meyer, D. Oaten, W Buckle, K Steele, J. Sangster, W. Armstrong, B. Quigley. New Zealand Universities: P. P. W Morris (captain), J. Collinge, D. Hendl, J. Morrison, J. Williams, D. Beuth, B. Hopkins, B. A G. Murray. D. Ward, G Hermanssvn, B. Papps, and A C Timpson twelfth mao.