WEBB STAYING IN CHCH

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32972, 19 July 1972, Page 32

WEBB STAYING IN CHCH

New Zealand’s fastest bowler, M. G. Webb, is almost certain to be in Christchurch throughout next summer, and to be playing for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield contest.

Webb, wh is at Teachers’ College until May, was thought likely to return to Dunedin during the long vacation. However, he said last evening it did not seem that this would be convenient and he proposed to make himself available for club cricket in Christchurch throughout the season. There is a distinct possibility, too, that when he completes his course at Teachers’ College in May, he may spend at least part of his first teaching year in Christchurch.

The availability of Webb for Canterbury will be warmly welcomed. In the last season or two Canterbury’s traditional strength in pace bowling has declined, with the loss of R. C. Motz, B. R. Taylor, N. A. Huxford and A. R. Hounsell. Webb will be able to renew the province's strength in this department. STARTED TRAINING

Webb has already began his training for next season, with running, weight-lifting and exercising, although he finds he has less time at his disposal at Teachers’ College than he did when studying at the University of Otago. His choice of club has not yet been made, but it would be one of those based at. Hagley Oval. He is living near there, and his movements are defined to a considerable extent by the distance he can push his bicycle. The open clubs at Hagley are Riccarton, St Albans and West Christchurch-Univer-sity, but it seems likely that West-University will be leaving Hagley Oval for a northwest ground in the coming season.