N.Z. MAY PLAY ONLY 3 FAST BOWLERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30761, 27 May 1965, Page 18

N.Z. MAY PLAY ONLY 3 FAST BOWLERS

[From R. T. BRITTENDEN, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent J

BIRMINGHAM, May 26.

New Zealand’s team for the first test against England will be chosen after practice this morning but there are very few places in doubt.

New Zealand cannot afford to diminish its batting resources to make way for all four pace bowlers in the side or for three pace bowlers and two spinners.

So it is certain that six batsmen will be played, with a wicketkeeper, a slow bowler and three of the seam bowlers.

As B. W. Jarvis is not available for consideration, there are only six players chosen for their batting left —Dowling, Congdon, Sinclair, Reid, Sutcliffe and Morgan—and while the form of some of them leaves much to be desired, these six will find places in the team. The choice of wicket-keeper is still open but the place will probably go to Ward. There may be a strong desire to supplement the batting wherever possible and to choose Dick, for he is a better batsman than Ward, but Ward has kept wickets well. Bruised Thumb Moreover, Dick is still recovering from a badly bruised thumb suffered in the match against Nottinghamshire, and although he will be passed as fit to play, there must be some doubts about him on that score. Cameron and Motz are almost assured of places for they are the steadiest of the faster bowlers, and Collinge and Taylor are competing for

a position in the side. A few weeks ago Taylor was ahead on points but he may have to give way to CoMinge. Taylor has picked up wickets fairly readily in county games, and in suitable conditions he can be as dangerous as anyone in the team, but Collinge, being the fastest man in the team and having the added advantage of being left-handed and disturbing opposing batsmen by this rather unusual line of attack, will probably be included. Lost Early Form

Had Taylor maintained early batting form he would probably have held his place and the selectors may still feel the possibility of him scoring well would warrant his inclusion. But of late his batting has been rather sketchy. Pollard, although still far from being accomplished in the art of off-spin bowling, is certain of a test place. Jarvis returned to London after the match with Cambridge yesterday. He will have further treatment for a recurrent skin rash which kept him out of the first four matches.

The best total of the English tour, a century by Sinclair, a score of 87 by Dowling, and useful batting practice for the others, made the last day against Cambridge much more satisfactory than the previous one had been. The match was drawn.

On a pleasant pitch against bowling of moderate quality New Zealand ran up 424 for eight wickets in an innings lasting 445 minutes.

Sinclair batted with particular distinction in making the fourth century of his . firstclass career. Splendid Strokes

There was a slow period when he was in the nineties, but his stroke-making was splendid and he gave a delightful display lasting four hours and a quarter. Dowling was rather unsure of himself for the first hour, but thereafter runs flowed from his bat beautifully. Dowling, like Sinclair, was in four hours and a quarter and these two shared a second wicket stand of 139, which was the best of the English tour so far- Once he had begun to middle the ball, Dowling drove with great power and discovered openings in the field which had so often eluded him earlier. Reid batted for an hour and played several drives of fearful force, but was not quite as convincing as one

might have wished on the eve of a test match.

Sutcliffe, however, batted with charming culture and certainty and Pollard went for his shots with encouraging confidence. CAMBRIDGE First Innings 364/9 dec. NEW ZEALAND First Innings .. 137 Second Innings 6. T. Dowling, b Whitaker 87 B. E. Congdon, c McLachlan, b Hughes .63 B. W. Sinclair, c Murray, b Barnwell .130 J. R. Reid, lbw, b Whitaker 28 B. Sutcliffe, b McLachlan .. 33 V. Pollard, c White, b Hughes .22 R. C. Motz, lbw, b Hughes 8 B. R. Taylor, c Close, b McLachlan .. 29 G. E. Vivian, not out .. is J. T. Ward, not out . 15 Extras (log-byes 7, noballs 2) ..9 Total (For 8 wkt5.).424 Fall of wickets: one for 100, two for 239, three for 287, four for 332, six for 369, seven for 383, eight for 419.

Bowling 0. M R. W. Harvey .. 22 5 66 0 Whitaker .. 27 8 62 2 Barnwell .. 35 10 101 1 Hughes .. 49 18 106 3 McLachlan . . 20 6 67 2 White 6 2 13 0