DUNEDIN PITCH MAY DECIDE N.Z. TEST BOWLERS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 11

DUNEDIN PITCH MAY DECIDE N.Z. TEST BOWLERS

rpHE Indian cricket team in Australia has come through the test series very much better than seemed likely when the tourists were in the toils in the early state matches. Australia has clearly been the better side, but the Indian players have shown such determination and aggression that their New Zealand tour which begins at Hamilton on Monday week, promises to become one of the most enjoyable in recent years. It is expected that New Zealand’s chances of extending and perhaps beating the Indian team depends on the sort of pitches which are produced for the four five-day test matches. New Zealand has for some years looked to its pace bowlers to provide its most penetra-

tive attack, and if there are hard, fafet pitches, New Zealand will certainly worry the Indian batsmen. On the other hand, there was ample evidence at New Plymouth and Dunedin last season that on a turning pitch V. Pollard and B. W. Yuile can demoralise and defeat batsmen of international repute. So fears of the strong Indian spin bowling can be kept in perspective. New Zealand's best chance, however, remains with its fast bowlers, and the selection of the team for the first test at Dunedin will probably take into account

the need for the usual three. There can be no doubts about the opening batsmen to be chosen. G. T. Dowling has had another splendid season, and B. A. G. Murray, making the most of his chance when New Zealand toured Australia, has shown form in the Plunket Shield matches; T. W. Jarvis, sadly, is out of touch and now, unfit. The places held by B. W. Sinclair, Pollard, Yuile, R. C. Motz, and B. R. Taylor—if he is fully fit—are almost beyond dispute. Interest in the selections is chiefly in the choice of the batsmen for the numbers three and six positions, of the bowier to support Motz and Taylor, and of the wicket-keeper. B. E. Congdon has been first choice at first wicket down for some seasons. In Australia, he struggled twice to half-centuries, but his form was unconvincing. He was not able to play in the first round of Plunket Shield matches, and he batted badly until Central

Districts played Canterbury at Napier. There he made his runs with more freedom than he had shown earlier. But at Napier the pitch on the first day yielded nothing in turn or bounce and Congdon was able to make runs without being betrayed by a style which has become distinctly cramped and which brings him almost square-on facing down the pitch, with an inevitable tendency to play across the line. But Congdon has experience, and throughout his career he has been able — once thoroughly established —to hit slow bowling with lofted shots past the bowler. This attribute could be an important one to him in this season, as India leans so heavily on spin. Congdon’s principal rival is M. J. F. Shrimpton, a New Zealand batsman who looked like becoming a class test player a few years ago. Sbrimpton has done nothing sensational this season, but appears to have been improving steadily match by match. J.

W. Burtt must be considered; he may well have a chance to advance his claims in the match at Hamilton for the President's; Eleven. S. N. McGregor, sounder now than in his younger days, has earned a place but he might be a victim of his own past. M. L. Ryan must also come under close scrutiny. For the first test, Congdon’s present tenure of the position is unlikely to be relinquished. M. G. Burgess is the strongest candidate for the number six position. He did well in Australia, but if the selectors are to take a chance, they could play G. E. Vivian. This young and hard-hitting batsman might not be the soundest of players at present, but he is one of the few in the top bracket who could conceivably slay a test slow bowling combination; as a lefthander he would have a distinct advantage. R. O. Collinge has been a disappointment since his excellent form in Australia. He has bowled without much success so far in the shield games, and in them has shown little of the consuming fire one now expects to find within him. On the other hand, the Auckland

left-hander, R. E'. Sutton, has had spells of dynamic bowling—and more solidity physically than in some other seasons. Again, however, the selectors may be unwilling, for the opening match of a series, to discard one of its top-line players without further trial. There must be a possibility, too, of only two fast bowlers being chosen. If the Carisbrook pitch looks as if it will allow the ball to tern early, J. C. Alabaster could play another test at the expense of Collinge. The probability is, however, that the selectors will rely on a three-pronged pace attack again, and that they Will draw on experience and known capabilities rather than on the possibilities of newcomers. If J. T. Ward should be available, he would almost certainly regain his test place as wicket-keeper, but R. I. Harford is an able substitute, if one is necessary. The first test team may well be: Dowling, Murray, Congdon' Sinclair, Pollard, Burgess, Yuile, Taylor, Motz, Collinge, Ward. This team has batting in depth, bowling variety, and good fielding. It would have good prospects of defeating India.