Having Trial With Surrey

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 19

Having Trial With Surrey

G. Howarth, the 18-year-qld Auckland cricketer, will leave early next month in a bid to qualify for the English county, Surrey. After weeks of anxiety waiting to see if his application would be accepted, Howarth learned late last seek that Surrey had agreed to give him a trial This involves, said Howarth yesterday, a trial period of three to four weeks during which Surrey stages live twoday matches among’ players j wishing to gain a place on the county staff. “I have been told not to expect a place on the county ground staff,” said Howarth. “I shall just have to fight for it” If Surrey accepts him, Howarth will join the county ground staff and serve a year’s residential qualification period there. During this time he will play for Surrey seconds

and in other ground staff matches. If Surrey do not accept Howarth, the county has agreed to recommend him to two other coun, ties. Howarth’s cricketing career came to a spectacular peak this year when, after leaving Auckland Grammar School as captain of the Ist XL he won a place as captain of the Auckland Brabin tournament team, and was chosen in the national Brabin side. After this, he was selected for both the Auckland and national under-23 sides, and made his first-class debut for the national under-23 side against Auckland at Easter. Howarth, a promising righthand batsman and offspin bowler, is a brother of H. J. Howarth, who will tour England, India and Pakistan with the New Zealand team this year.