Wight, Bolton To Play At Nelson

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30337, 13 January 1964, Page 14

Wight, Bolton To Play At Nelson

[By Our Cricket Correspondent} It was positive, attractive batting which carried Canterbury to victory over Otago on Saturday, and it is to be hoped that a similar attitude will distinguish the team’s performance in its final match against Central Districts, which begins at Nelson next Saturday.

The return to the team of B. A. Bolton will be welcomed. although it will not now be in the expected capacity of opening batsman. I. R. Hartland is clearly entitled to another match in that position. But Bolton’s leg spin will be valuable, and as a No. 3 batsman his experience should be of benefit, particularly as it would allow P. G. Z. Harris to drop down to No. 6, where he distinguished himself particularly against the M.C.C. and South Africa. P. B. Wight also returns to the team, but if there are any doubts about his fitness—he was injured at Wellington—he should not be played. With nothing hinging on the result of the match, and much to be gained from giving young players experience, it would be reasonable to expect C. J. Stevens to be given his first match. This young batsman, outstanding in the recent Brabin tournament, is a powerful but sensible hitter, with a maturity of method quite beyond his years. Hortin’s Regret There will be regret that R G. Hortin has had to be dropped, for if he is not the most accomplished of batsmen, he has shown fine concentration and determination and left behind him a hint that he is a batsman who could, with a little more experience, be a punishing batsman. More will certainly be heard of him. The omission of B. F. Hastings was almost inevitable,

although this too will cause regret. It was at Nelson that Hastings two years ago scored 149, and if there is anything in the theory of horses for courses, this might have been the opportunity to get him back into form, without risking too much. Bolton’s bowling success in this fixture at Nelson two years ago may well have persuaded the selectors into his overdue return to the team. Canterbury will go into the match with a little more confidence, on the strength of the performance against Otago. It could bring the shield season to a more satisfactory close than seemed possible after some of the earlier, dismal displays. The 12 players chosen are: G. T. Dowling (captain), I. R. Hartland, B A. Bolton, P. B. Wight, P. G. Z. Harris, B. G. Hadlee, C. J. Stevens, J. T. Ward, R. C. Motz, J. W. Kiddey, B. C. Irving, B. Andrews.