Many batsmen seeking cricket selection

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 4

Many batsmen seeking cricket selection

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Although the arrival in Christchurch of M. G. Webb and K. J. Wadsworth has strengthened Canterbury’s Plunket Shield prospects very considerably, the selection team of Messrs I. B. Cromb and G. W. Frampton has an especially difficult task this season.

Sometimes, it has been hard to find enough players of top calibre to fill the shield team. This year there are so many who could do well that club form in the next few weeks will be of particular moment. The selectors’ first assignment is to choose a team for the Motor Corporation knock-out inter-provincial tournament, won by Canterbury when it was first held last summer; and what a success the tournament was, in terms of public support and enjoyment. It may well be that the knock-out team will differ in some respects from the one used in the shield series, and there are good arguments to support that policy, if it is adopted. Two of the most exciting opening batsmen in Christchurch for years are P. G. Coman and A. E. Collins. There would be a good case for including one. or both, in the knock-out side.

Coman has a good record in his intermittent appearances for the province and Collins has the eye and the instinct of a man who might flay anything but the very best of bowling. Perhaps he plays the ball away from his body rather readily, but if he could eliminate that fault he would be a magnificent player.

Canterbury will have problems selecting its bowlers, but it is the list of good batsmen that is embarrassing. There may be room for only five specialist batsmen: that is, if three fast bowlers are chosen. For if the selectors want to play D. J. Gatenby, the leg-spinner, as is very likely, a fifth bowler would be required and whatever other assets it may own, Canterbury is short of geunine all-rounders.

For five or possibly six batting places there is a long lost of candidates. Coman and Collins have been mentioned M. L. Ryan

has strong claims and, on the basis of past performance, so does J. W. Burtt. But consideration must be given to C. K. Baker, capable enough to be introduced into the team last season as a particularly fine prospect, and R. W. Fulton, a young player of much potential.

D. W. Stead has done well for Canterbury, B. F. Hastings is a certainty, and still the list is not ended. C. J. Stevens has scored steadily and batted very ably this season. K Thomson is anything but a spent force, and may hammer hard for a place

R. M. Gearry, a boy wonder at 17, has had a frustrating career for Canterbury and Central Districts. Today, he looks a very accomplished player, with excellent footwork and the ability to hit the ball hard. C. L. Bull came back into the Canterbury team for the last match of the previous series and scored a splendid century; he appears in good form, and the season before last B. G. Hadlee topped the national averages.

Others may come into contention as batsmen. Whatever headaches the situation may give the selectors, it is a highly interesting one for the cricket public. It is difficult to recall a year when there was such a long list of evenly-qualified candidates for Canterbury batting places.