Auckland Looks Strongest Of Shield Teams

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 24

Auckland Looks Strongest Of Shield Teams

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

If there is a regrettably mediocre look about the teams chosen for the Plunket Shield series which begins on Saturday, cricket is so inexplicable and delightful a game that the series may produce performances of quite unexpected quality.

And if the six competing teams have their limitations, there is likely to be an absorbingly close contest.

The series begins with Canterbury’s match against Otago at Dunedin, and the meeting of Wellington and Central Districts at Wellington. The next matches begin on December 29, with Canterbury playing Central Districts at Christchurch, Auckland and Northern Districts meeting at Whangarei, and Otago playing Wellington at Dunedin.

Tight-Fisted Bowling

Wellington, which won the shield last season principally through a very tightfisted bowling policy, has been weakened greatly by the loss of A. R. Taylor, who is overseas, and injuries suffered by A. E. Dick and L. C. Butler. The loss of Butler for the first three games is a grievious blow to Wellington. The left-arm spinner bowled nearly 300 overs in the shield matches last season, yet cost only 388 runs and he took 19 wickets. He was the bulwark of the bowling, and he will be missed. Christchurch cricketers will remember B. H. Hopkins, and respect him, but he is unlikely to be as dangerous as Taylor was on occasions; Wellington’s bowling does not look at all impressive. N. A. Huxford last season did not repeat his startling successes of a year earlier, when he took seven wickets against Pakistan on his debut. B. A. Bolton is a useful, tidy but far from lethal leg-spin-ner, R. E. Redmond has ability as a left-arm spinner, but is without much experience. Wellington has the parsimonious bowling of H. A. Morgan and the leg-breaks of B. A. G. Murray, but it does not look strong in bowling. The batting is also somewhat suspect. P. T. Barton seems to have left his best years behind, and the New Zealand opener last season, G. P. Bilby, has been struggling for runs.

Wellington does, however,

have a trump card in B. W. Sinclair, New Zealand’s best batsman at present. Wellington could win the shield again; but it would have to have the breaks with it, and a performance or two of unexpected quality. Six Internationals

At this stage, the team with the best chance of success is probably Auckland. There are six current or former internationals in the side.

If R. E. Sutton is really fit, he will form a particularly dangerous opening bowling combination with R. S. Cunis, and they will have in support the efficient J. T. Sparling, the medium-paced J. Millener, the off-breaks of R. W. Morgan and M. G. Burgess, and the left-arm spin of H. J. Howarth. Auckland, with Sparling, Burgess, N. S. Harford, R. M. Harris, T. W. Jarvis, Morgan and R. Morrison, is a likely batting team. Burgess is a youngster who has looked like Plunket Shield material for some time.

Canterbury has a team which could take first place, although there are some doubts about the batting Which have still to be resolved, and fears, too, that the catching may not be good enough to give adequate support to the fast bowling. However, several of the batsmen appear to have found form at the right time, and Canterbury, second last season and first the year before, should have another good season.

Improving Otago

Otago is an improving side, and the inclusion of R. V. Webster, the West Indianborn Warwickshire fast bowler, is of particular interest. Canterbury has a hard task in its attempt to take full points from its first game. There is batting well down the list in the Central Districts team, but there may be bowling problems. J. Howell, one of the openers, is quite untried, R. O. Collinge, however, is said to be bowling better than ever. Last season he was disappointing, but he suffered from a heel injury. This summer he may win back a place in the New Zealand team.

The steadiness of V. Pollard and B. Hampton, and the inclusion of M. Baker and G. Douglas gives the bowling variety, if not real strength. Northern Districts does not look likely to worry the top teams unduly. The return of

B. H. Pairaudeau is welcome, W. P. Bradburn is a hard man to remove, G. V. Giles showed some form last summer, and W. J. Mitchell, in particular, will be watched with interest. But the bowling looks light. E. R. Hipkiss is an opening bowler who has yet to make a name, P. D. Stone has bowled a few overs of legbreaks in previous seasons, K. Kennedy is a steady but largely unproductive left-arm spinner, J. A. Beuth had a reasonably good debut last summer: but the team’s successes in the field will again depend largely on the efforts of the off-spinner, N. Puna. All in all, it seems likely to be a close contest. But it will have to produce cricket of spirit and character, if it is to be worth-while. Last summer, the cricket was anaemic, the scoring rates the lowest ever.

The game deserves better than that, and will have to have it, if it is to continue enjoying a, considerable measure of public support.