Prospect Of New Record

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 15

Prospect Of New Record

T F the Canterbury fast bowler, R. C. Motz, continues to enjoy, during the four international matches against the Australians, the same sort of success which has come his way so far this season, he could set a new record for bowling dismissals in a season. In 1902-03, G. J. Thompson, a member of Lord Hawke’s touring team, took 57 wickets in seven matches. S. T. Callaway, a former Australian international, took 54 in five matches in 1903-04. In 1956-57, R. W. Blair took 53 in eight matches, and others with

aggregates of more than 50 were W. W. Armstrong (Australian Eleven) in 191314, S. Austin (New South Wales), in 1893-94, and J. W. H. T. Douglas (M.C.C.) in 1906-07. In his five Plunket Shield matches this season, Motz took 27 wickets, and captured a further 10 in Canterbury’s match with the Aus-, tralians. So, with 37 wickets, he is only 20 behind the record, 17 behind the resident record. He is certain to be chosen for all four unofficial tests, if fit, and he must have a very good chance of setting a new mark. The Canterbury captain, G. T. Dowling, may also write a new line or two in

the record book. Already he has the best aggregate in a season by a Canterbury batsman. His total so far is 563. This leaves him only 296 behind the national record set by B. Sutcliffe in 1952-53. Of visiting players, the most successful was E. D. Weekes, of the West Indies, who totalled 940 during the 1955-56 tour of New Zealand.