Few Certainties For Places In N.Z. Test Team

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30983, 12 February 1966, Page 11

Few Certainties For Places In N.Z. Test Team

r VHE batting of B. F. Hast--1 ings and the bowling of F. J. Cameron in the Plunket Shield match which ends at Christchurch today may be of particular interest to the New Zealand selectors who tomorrow will announce the team to meet England in the first test at Lancaster Park on February 25.

It has not been a season to kindle thoughts about New Zealand’s batting, or New Zealand's spin bowling, or New Zealand’s fielding. There are other unknowns, so far as the cricket follower is concerned. And concerned he is, for New Zealand has a very sorry record in recent matches against England, and a better showing this season would be extremely heartening.

There are so many places in doubt that this last shield match could confirm or deny thoughts about the probable composition of the test team. Before Otago began its match with Central Districts not too many things were certain. The main ones were that B. W. Sinclair was in fine form with the bat, and that Canterbury’s three pace bowlers —R. C. Motz, G. A. Bartlett and B. R. Taylor—were very likely to be included. To start at the beginning; with the opening batting. Assuming that the selectors will be seeking batsmen who are capable of attacking, G. P. Bilby of Wellington must stand an excellent chance. The choice of another opener gives much scope for conjecture. B. E. Congdon opened against England last year, but not with conspicuous success and his form this season has been disappointing. R. M. Harris batted so well in Auckland’s first innings against Canterbury that it seemed he might be enjoying another batting flowering. but since then he has made useful scores only, and made them rather unconvincingly. The ideal choice would have been T. W. Jarvis, a young man whose tour last year was ruined through illness and injury. In the shield series he has exceeded 14 only twice, with two fine scores against Northern Districts. Yet New Zealand could very well do with the athletic Jarvis in the slips, for if New Zealand is to enjoy successes in the field, they will most probably come from the pace bowling.

At Dunedin a few days ago, the unpredictable M. J. F Shrimpton was tried as an opener. The experiment was bv no means a failure. But if gambles are to be taken—and it seems inevitable that they will —Jarvis might be the best bet. Sinclair will certainly be in the side, but the rest of the batting order depends verv much on the question

of captaincy. J. T. Sparling has declared himself not available. M. E. Chapple, a natural choice a year or two ago had J. R. Reid not been playing, has batted and bowled indifferently. He may be chosen to lead the side. If he is not, the only possibilities as captains seem to be the Otago bowlers, J. C. Alabaster and F. J. Cameron. Both are hard-headed fighters. Both have a thorough knowledge of captaincy and are rich in test experience- But it would be difficult to fit Cameron into a side which will almost certainly include Motz, Bartlett and Taylor.

There must be an outside chance that B .W. Sinclair will be appointed captain—and not merely because he is one of the very few certain of a place. Sinclair’s experience as a captain is negligible, and although he is a thorough student of the game, and dedicated to it, it would probably be unwise to ask him to lead the side.

for his batting is of paramount importance to New Zealand, and Sinclair has always been a nervous starter as a batsman. He should not be asked to shoulder any additional burden. Present indications are, however, that Chapple will play and, if the popular demand for the three Canterbury pace bowlers is met, places remain for a spinner, a wicket-keeper and two batsmen. One of the batsmen must certainly be Pollard. Perhaps he has not scored as consistently in shield matches as might have been hoped, but his performances against England ranked him as the finest batting prospect for a long time, and it would be folly to discard him now. There is a whole host of candidates for the last batting place—Congdon and Shrimpton, if not chosen as openers; B. F. Hastings, K. Thomson and R. W. Morgan are among them. Congdon’s moderate performances and

Shrimpton’s poor record for New Zealand may tell against them. Morgan also has been disappointing, and the way might be open for Hastings to gain the place he so nearly won last year. He started the current shield series badly but batted very well on the northern tour. A good performance in the Otago match would, however, strengthen his chances immensely.

There will be some support for the inclusion of E. C. Petrie, who has been keeping wickets well, but the place will probably go to A. E. Dick, who can rise to the occasion, and who has batted most competently. The selection of Bartlett, Motz and Taylor is regarded by many as a foregone con-

elusion, but it would mean the exclusion of some good bowlers. R. S. Cunis has battled courageously for Auckland, R. E. Sutton, when not hampered by injury, has been very dangerous indeed, and Cameron is almost without peer as a tactical thinker. However it is unthinkable that Motz should not play, and Bartlett, with his speed and venom and accuracy is almost as certain of a place —for he is also a fine fieldsman and a distinctly useful batsman. Taylor’s place may be in a little more doubt. Yet he can be the most dangerous bowler of the three. And he sometimes bats like a champion. Taylor can sometimes be disappointing. Sometimes he can be a tremendous asset. It would be difficult to leave him out.

The spin position is another particularly difficult one. Should J. M. Mclntyre bowl well in Christchurch, with good control of length and direction, he should be included. If there are doubts about him, the selectors may look for an selectors may look for another left-hander, such as B. W. Yuile or L. C. Butler, or a more attacking bowler in good conditions, such as N. Puna.

Not until tomorrow will all the doubts be removed

and the speculations ended. But, with the provision that Hastings plays well at Lancaster Park, a likely team would read, in batting order: Bilby, Jarvis, Sinclair, Pollard, Hastings, Chapple, Dick, Taylor, Motz, Bartlett, J. M. Mclntyre.