Choice Of Canterbury XI Presents Complications

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 9

Choice Of Canterbury XI Presents Complications

FOR most of its hundred years, Canterbury cricket has put teams only 11 strong into the field against visiting sides, but the selectors at present might be forgiven for wishing it was again possible to choose the “twenty-two of Canterbury” for the match against South Africa on March 6, 7 and 9- Already there is a squad 19 strong, apart from the professional P. B. Wight, and recent events have done nothing to simplify the task of bringing the number down to the legal maximum. Not one Canterbury batsman came through the Plunket Shield series with a performance good enough to indemnify him against dismissal for the next few matches the province plays. And since the shield games ended, some of the rejects have shown, in club games, form which argues their return to the side. Canterbury’s team for the final shield match was: G. T.. Dowling, B. A. Bolton, I. R. Hartland, B. Andrews, J W. Kiddey, R. C. Motz, B. C Irving, P. B. Wight,

J T. Ward, B. G. Hadlee, and P. G. Z. Harris. Dowling. captain and New Zealand opener, is a certainty. Hartland, who played two shield games with moderate success, could possibly have been a candidate for dismissal, but he scored 72 on Saturday. Bolton, who had one match and no success, made a half-century. Hadlee remains the form batsman. Harris, who struggled grimly for runs throughout

the shield programme, is now batting well and made a big score in his most recent innings. Motz and Kiddey are almost fixtures, so is . Ward. Andrews can hardly be left out after his good efforts earlier, and Irving has done nothing to suggest he is a failure.

But B. F. Hastings’s huge score must put him back in the running. K. Thomson, said to be the best batsman at the Canterbury net practices, did well at the national under-23 tournament and again batted very ably on Saturday for 60. Gallop, who had lost form sadly, made 60 the week before. A. G. Duckmantan keeps pressing his claims with excellent all-round performances. And now P. A. Sharp further complicates the off-spin position with his 13 wickets in the round which ended on Saturday. One or more of the selectors may feel inclined to try out one of the province's promising youngsters, such

as C. 3. Stevens. Or J. W. Burtt. Or C. Broad, or B. R. Taylor. They are all in the squad, and it may be presumed they are not there to provide bowling for more favoured candidates. It would be almost comical if G, A. Bartlett suddenly found form, for it is reported that he is keen to recover his great bowling ability. If he found his direc-

tian and was able to bowl fast without discomfort from his back injury he would be an automatic selection. Wight is eligible for this game, and presumably fie will play. It will be an interesting selection, when it is made. But there will be more than the. usual amount of disappointment among the unofficial selectors.