OPENERS IMPRESS IN FINAL PRACTICES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 12

OPENERS IMPRESS IN FINAL PRACTICES

[By R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Final preparations for Canterbury’s Plunket Shield match against Auckland today were completed yesterday—but the weather may give the series a damp beginning. Southerly rain is forecast for today.

Canterbury had a full open wicket practice on the back ground at Lancaster Park yesterday, after a period of fielding practice.

There was some very encouraging batting from the players expected to open for Canterbury—l. R. Hartland and M. L. Ryan—also from the captain, B. F. Hastings. Canterbury’s pace bowlers took it quietly from shortened runs, but there was considerable interest in the field placings. SLIPS CATCHING Canterbury does not seem strong in fieldsmen behind the wicket, and slips and gully catching could be of paramount importance to a team which is so strong in pace bowling. Because only 12 players are in the team, of whom two were batting and one padding up, there was a distinct shortage of fieldsmen, and G. A. Bartlett had two slips when he started—R. C. Motz and B. R. Taylor, with Hastings in the gully and D. L. Gallop leg slip. Motz bowled to P. A. Sharp, Taylor and Hastings as slips, Bartlett in the gully and Gallop again at leg slip. There was a strong nor-’wester blowing, and it was significant that Motz opened into it. Taylor and Bartlett had it behind them. It seemed to be a useful practice, although some of the throwing was disappointing. Hartland and Ryan both brought off some fine drives from the fast bowlers.

BROKE FAVOURITE BAT Later in the afternoon the Auckland team had a net on the oval at. Lancaster Park. The young New Zealand batsman, T. W. Jarvis, made a particularly good impression. But he had the misfortune to break a favourite bat.

If the weather holds, conditions at Lancaster Park should favour the batsmen. The pitch is very firm and fast and although it carries some grass, it is not expected to yield excessive bounce or lift. The

outfield is also very dry and I fast. The twelfth men for thei match will be announced this morning. The 12 players named by each side are:— ! Auckland: J. T. Sparling i (captain), J. D Behrent, T; W. | Jarvis, R. M. Harris, N. S. Harford, R. Harford, R. Sut-I

I ton, R. S. Cunis, R. W. Morgan, J. D. Millener, J. Moririson. H. J, Howarth. I Canterbury: B. F. Hastings (captain), B. G. Hadlee, K. 'Thomson, 1. R. Hartland, G. iW. Henry, R. C. Motz, B. R. Taylor, G. A. Bartlett, D. L. {Gallop, J. M. Mclntyre, P A. (Sharp, M. L. Ryan.