Few Changes In Senior Cricket Teams

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 14

Few Changes In Senior Cricket Teams

"VERY few changes are likely in the composi.tion of the teams in the senior cricket championship which will begin on October 10. One or two notable players from other centres have been transferred to Christchurch during the winter season, and no doubt some of the better-qualified junior players . will win places in the senior sides; but by and large the senior teams will, be much the same.

The only Plunket Shield player new to Christchurch is J. R. Veitch, a forceful left-hand opening batsman, who has played 13 matches for Otago since 1957-58. He has joined the West Christchurch - University club, which seems likely to provide St. Albans, last summer’s champion team, with strong opposition.

ST. ALBANS

Although the promising left-hander M. A. Clements, has transferred to Old Boys and P. Dabovich who last season scored 72 in his first senior innings is now in Auckland, St. Albans has a strong batting side. J. A. Mills is one of the younger players most likely to progress, and with him are J. Ruston, S. C. Guillen, M. B. Poore, P. G. Z. Harris (all former Canterbury representatives), A. N. Bailey, J. W. Burtt and G. K. Austin, who played several senior seasons with' West Christchurch. Austin,. also a useful • slow ' left-arm bowler, looked effective at

medium pace in a trial game last week-end. With A. R. Taylor, T. L. Jones and K. I. Ferries all playing,

St. Albans has good medium pace boWling, and Burtt should advance his legbreak bowling further this season. WEST-UNIVERSITY West Christchurch-Uni-versity .will have quite a pleasant problem in deciding which of its opening batsmen to send in first. G. T. Dowling, Veitch, J. Monk of the Hutt and Karorl clubs, P.. Smales, an Auckland senior, are all openers. There will be more good batsmen from whom to choose—B; F. Hastings, who set a post-war club record

last summer with his 873 runs; J. L. Williams, although he will miss the early games; A. T. Waters; probably G. A. Bartlett, although his future is uncertain; and B. Prestidge, the University senior footballer, who is a Brabin tournament representative. The bowling looks less impressive, for B. H. Hopkins is almost certain to leave Christchurch at Chrismas, Bartlett may nbt be playing, and J. Cahill left for Wellington before last season ended. P. A. Sharp’s off-breaks and A. C. Timpson’s left hand leg-breaks give the side an excellent pair of spinners, - and the problems of opening bowling may be solved by the

return of D. Beuth, top of the Christchurch averages in 1959-60, and the probable advance of I. D. Hounsell, a left-hander of medium pace. .

RICCARTON

Third equal last season, Riccarton will, welcome' the return of G. T. Barrett, which will do much to off-set the loss of its captain, I. McK. Sinclair, the absence of G. Wainscott, and the fact that its outstanding batsman, W. Muncaster, will not be available before Christmas because of an injured leg. If Barrett finds form, he should do much to balance Riccarton’s budget, for the batting in the last year or two has been decidedly thin. R. C. Motz, J. W. Kiddey, D. Mclntyre and

E. R. Hignett make a strong bowling combination, and there will be much interest in the probable advance of some of the club’s youngsters, among them D. Stead,

R. Thomas, P. Smith and C. L. Broad.

OLD BOYS

The transfer of M. A. Clements from , St. Albans should help Old Boys, who were third equal last season. The batting last summer was frail, but Old Boys have the players to make runs regularly. B. G. Hadlee and C. A. Stevens lead the younger brigade; but Stevens will be doing his military training in the second half of the season. W. A. Hadlee, it is to be hoped, will play again, but he will not be available for the first match. The bowling will again depend largely on W. M. Duncan and D. Hicks, with the all-rounders B. A. Bolton and M. L. Ryan.

LANCASTER PARK

Although fifth last season, Lancaster Park finished only 12 points behind the top team. But the side may find it hard to get enough runs. P. J. Andrews has gone to Ashburton, P. B. Wight’s contract as Canterbury professional has not been renewed, and B. J. Ellis may be playing for Sydenham. A gain is A. E. Dunlop from East Christchurch-Shirley. This useful batsman may

also keep wickets for the senior team. A. G. Duckmanton, R. Gearry and R. T. Dowker will be expected to score heavily, with Duckmanton, D. J. McKendry and B. C. Irving to provide the nucleus of the bowling with the highly promising young B. Andrews, who made such

a good impression for the Canterbury Plunket Shield team. SYDENHAM

Like Lancaster Park, Sydenham was not flattered by its final position last season, sixth. It was only 21 points behind the winning team, and three extremely close matches could easily have gone in Syden-

ham’s favour. This keen team which seems to consist largely of Thomases and Thomsons has been practising for about six weeks indoors and has bad some

preliminary games. In them, W. Thomson, who scored nearly 500 runs last season, has been in top form. With I. Hartland, K. Thomson, D. L. Gallop, W. Thomson, P. Clark, and R. Thomas, the side has useful batting. The bowling of Gallop and B. Salt will command respect and high hopes are held for P. Thomas, who bowled particularly well towards the end of last season.

; OLD COLLEGIANS Old Collegians will field 1 very much the same side as ’ last season, but P. M. Hill 1 will not be available after 1 Christmas. A. T. Bishop ‘ also left at the end of last ' season, and there will again 1 be batting problems. Much will depend on A. R. MacGibbon and J. E. England The bowling looks much

stronger, for if Mac Gibbon’s best days are done, J. H. Dawson will again lend energy and enthusiasm to the attack, with the fast left-

hander, N. F. Curtis, the practised off-spinner B. A. Carpenter, and the talented young left-hand spinner, M. G. Lester. EAST-SHIRLEY The loss of C. K. Smart, who has bowled for several seasons with consistent success, is a sad one for East Christchurch-Shirley, which finished at the bottom of last season’s table. B. A. Haworth, J. D. Capstick, P. G. Coman, J. W. Grocott, and T. R. Marshall all are capable of scoring well, but seldom, apparently, in con-

cert. Dunlop’s departure is also a severe blow. He scored the side’s only century last season. I. D. Shewan lost bowling form last season, and if the side is to prosper he will have to recapture it. The offspinner, B. G. Adamson, will have plenty of work, and D. I. Cameron, a leftarm spinner, may now command a regular place in the team.