Canterbury Under-23 Team Should Do Well

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 9

Canterbury Under-23 Team Should Do Well

"pROVIDED the members -*■ of the Canterbury under 23 cricket team approach something near this season's form, there is no reason why the team should not repeat the success of the first Rothman’s tournament two years ago. On that occasion Canterbury finished with the same number of points as Auckland but lost the silver Rothman’s Cup on averages. This year's tournament is to be held at New Plymouth and starts on Monday. K. Thomson, the captain of the Canterbury team, is not 23 until next month but has had crowded into his short career a remarkable amount of cricket. He first played for Canterbury in 1959-60—and scored nearly 300 runs—but has not lived up to the early promise. However, this season he is playing with a great deal more maturity and his inings of 38 last Saturday was one of his most fluent. J. A. Mills, one of the most improved young batsmen in the province, is the only regular opener in the team but W. A. Thomson, M. A. Clements, M. L. Ryan and C. L. Broad have or can fill the position with some ability. All have been in good form this season and Thomson is starting to

curb the impetuosity that has hindered his progress. Clements has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the senior competition and Ryan and Broad have made useful scores most of the time. They also have the advantage of being off-spin-ners of rather differing styles.

C. J. Stevens, the vicecaptain and also captain of this year’s New Zealand Brabin Cup team, could well become another F. B. Smith and it is to his advantage that his ability to score fast is not allied with any rashness in stroke-mak-ing.

J. S. Baird, a very promising wicket-keeper and one of the fastest stumpers in the senior competition, can be expected to score runs most times he has a bat and J. W. Burtt has scored two centuries—one in a Show Day match in his first full senior season.

B. R. Taylor, of South Canterbury, is a more than useful batsman at about number 10 and A. R. Hounsell, if in the team for his fast bowling, scored a halfcentury against the Supporters' Club late last year.

The fast bowlers in the team are Taylor, Hounsell and N. F. Curtis and, as K. Thomson is a medium-pace bowler of no mean ability, it is probable that Curtis and Hounsell may have to miss a match or two. Another example of the versatility of the team may be evidenced from the fact that all except Mills, Clements and W. Thomson are fairly regular bowlers. Ryan, slower through the air, and Broad, fairly difficult to get away at most times, will provide a more-than-useful off-spin attack and Burtt's leg-breaks will complete a spin attack that should be one of the best at the tournament. If needed, it could be augmented by Stevens’ variable leftarm spinners. Canterbury has the batsmen to score quickly particularly in Stevens and the Thomsons —an acomplished and versatile bowling attack and a capable fielding team. AU that remains is for the players to live up to their form