Many Possibilities In Presidents XI

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 11

Many Possibilities In Presidents XI

yyHEN a President's XI was put into the field against the touring Pakistan cricketers last summer, the match was clearly regarded by the selectors principally as an opportunity to try out some players who were staking claims to test and tour places, rather than as a chance for the test batsmen to have' some match practice against the visitors. In that side, G. T. Dowling was the only current test player, and he came in, as captain, only when B. Sutcliffe was withdrawn by Northern Districts after Wellington had complained of the inclusion of P. B. Truscott and B. W. Sinclair. In the test series which followed, B. E. Congdon and R. W. Morgan, of the President's team, made their test debuts. P. G. Z. Harris and G. A. Bartlett each won test selection, and T. W. Jarvis joined Dowling. Congdon, and Morgan on New Zealand's world tour. The New Zealand test selection this season is clouded with doubts at present. and only four Plunket Shield matches remain before the arrival of the M.C.C. team. The only players who may be regarded as really strong candidates for test places are V. Pollard, G. P. Bilby, B. W. Sinclair,

A. E. Dick, R. C. Motz and G. A. Bartlett A whole host of others follow close behind. The President’s XI v. M.C.C. match at Wellington could offer opportunities to players of particular promise, such as W. J. Mitchell (Northern Districts), R. E. Sutton (Auckland), D. H. Payton (Central Districts), M. L. Ryan and J. W. Burtt (Canterbury). Or it could be used as a trial for the many players who have represented New Zealand and have lost ground recently. R. O. Collinge, for instance, was last season's discovery —but has not advanced nearly as much as had been

hoped. But he must still be considered one of the leading candidates. So also must the sagacious F. J. Cameron, and Congdon. M. J. F. Shrimpton. B. W. Yuile, Jarvis, B. R. Taylor, Morgan, R. S. Cunjs—and all too many others.. And there is another group—experienced players who have not yet played for New Zealand but who have staked claims of varying

merit: —N. Puna, N. A. Huxford, B. F. Hastings, J. Mclntyre among them. There is, however, a difficulty of dates. The President’s XI match ends on February 22, the Christchurch test Starts only three days later, so it seems highly likely that the New Zealand team for the first test will have to be announced well before the finish of the game at Wellington. So the strong possibility is that the President’s Eleven will contain the players considered almost certain of batting places in the test team, who would thus have a valuable introduction to England’s test bowling.