Bright Prospects For Under-23 Team

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 11

Bright Prospects For Under-23 Team

TTNDER the leadership of v C. L. Bull—now with 11 first-class matches to his credit—the Canterbury Rothman’s under-23 cricket team should improve substantially on its lowly fifth of last year at the tournament in Wel-

llngton from February 19 to 24. The team is rich in experience, with Bull, R. W. Anderson and R. C. Merrin having played Plunket Shield matches for Canterbury; a further seven have Rothman’s tournament experience. Only A. E. Collins and B. Bhana are new to this series. This will be M. G. Lester’s fourth Rothman's tournament, although he was not selected last year. Bull is also playing in his fourth series—his second as captain—and P. A. Stubbings and B. P. Isherwood will play in their third. Led by Bull and Anderson, the batting should be strong. Bull has matured this season and his 96 against Otago was of a high standard. Anderson did not have a happy introduction to Plunket Shield cricket this season but he has scored heavily in club matches.

Stubbings has batted attractively and well this season after a bad last year. The two left-handers, I. M. Walter and D. W. Stead, went to Australia with the Canterbury Kiwis and have scored well. Stead has developed as a right-arm legspinner this season and Walter can bowl off-spinners usefully. Collins has had a grand season after a period in which he did not come up to expectations. He is a batsman who likes to attack the bowling at all times with his wide variety of shots. Bhana and Isherwood, and, to a lesser extent, Lester and D. R. Hadlee, should all be able to score well. The fast battery of Merrin, D. G. Trist and Hadlee should be very successful. Merrin, after his sensational debut for Canterbury, when he took seven New Zealand wickets for 60,

did not reproduce this form in later matches. But, with a little more variation, he will be a strong force. Hadlee, a member of last year's New Zealand Rothman’s team, has been a regular wicket-takhr this season, as has Trist It is likely that Hadlee may be called upon to act as stock bowler, an assignment he carried out very well in the recent Brabin Cup tournament. Lester, with his left-arm orthodox deliveries, and Bhana, left-arm off-spin, complete a varied and very sound attack. Bhana may have to push the ball through a little quicker than usual to get good results but Lester, with his persistant accuracy, is certain to perform welt Isherwood, another member of last year’s New Zealand Rothman’s team, won the wicket-keeping position without any real competition. B. J. Patchett, captain of the New Zealand Brabin Cup team, is perhaps unlucky to miss selection.

Last season he could not make the Brabin Cup team, but was chosen for Canterbury to play in the Rothman’s tournament. This season the position has been reversed.