N.Z. MUST ATTACK TO BEAT N.S.W.

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31547, 8 December 1967, Page 15

N.Z. MUST ATTACK TO BEAT N.S.W.

(From

D.J. CAMERON)

NEWCASTLE.

New Zealand will have its last, and most important chance of making an impact on Australian cricket when it meets New South Wales in the four-day game, starting at Sydney today.

New Zealand has lost one and drawn two of the first-class matches played so far, but the ground lost at Adelaide was partially recovered against Queensland.

However, the final judgment on the tour will be delivered at Sydney. A good performance there would do New Zealand’s cause tremendous benefit, for Sydney is still the most influential centre of Australian cricket New South Wales has, at first sight a team of forbidding strength. In its last game, R. B. Simpson scored 277 and N.S.W. defeated Queensland by an innings and 267 runs. G. R. Davies, the young all rounder, also scored a century in that match and now

the side has been reinforced by the latest of Australia’s : batting Idols, K. D. Walters, i

who has been doing military service since his brilliant debut in 1966. The other leading batsmen —B. C. Booth, B. Rothwell and L. Marks—are men of wide experience, and this game could be Booth's last chance of regaining his test place. The bowling will be led by test players, D. Renneberg, regarded as the fastest bowler in Australia, and G. Corling. J. W Gleeson will, with, Davies and Simpson, provide the spin and Walters will be the third seamer Yet the background to N.S.W.’s recent big win is less imposing. It has suffered outright defeats by South Australia and Western Australia and has been headed on the first innings by Queensland. On this basis, N.S.W. must be regarded as strong, but not invulnerable.

The New Zealanders, who might have preferred a little more free time to prepare for

this game—they will arrive in Sydney about 12 hours before the match starts—will not announce their side until this morning. The choice of the XI will obviously be dictated by the likely behaviour of the pitch.K. Thomson or B. E. Congdon could be dropped from the batting, with Thomson the likeliest to go. Congdon, whose form has not been good, may be placed lower in the order. Since it was relaid, last season, the Sydney pitch has become a spinner’s paradise. In the Queensland match a fortnight ago the pitch took slow

turn on the first day and seemed fairly comfortable on the second day and early on the third.

However, late on the third day the spin was quick and sometimes vicious—and there seems every possibility that the pitch will behave similarly in the New Zealanders' game.

The New Zealand selectors will obviously have to choose between B. W. Yuile and J. C. Alabaster for this game. While Yuile may be more economical, Alabaster should be preferred on the basis that if the pitch does take a sharp turn he could be New Zealand’s most potent attacking weapon.

If Alabaster is chosen it will show that the New Zealanders are prepared to field their strongest attacking side —a bold move perhaps, but boldness will be needed if the New Zealanders are to do well in this most important match.