SELECTION SURPRISE Test bowler dropped

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 28

SELECTION SURPRISE Test bowler dropped

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

It has not taken the new Canterbury cricket selectors. Messrs I. B. Cromb and (». W. Frampton. very long to produce a bombshell.

' The New Zealand fast bowler. M. G. Webb, has been omitted from the 'Canterbury team to play Otago at Christmas, and |for the northern tour which follows.

Webb, who transferred from Dunedin io Christchurch this year, was a member of the New Zealand team in the West Indies last summer. Loss of form His form in club cricket was outstandingly good at [the start of this season, but lit has declined quite markedly, and he did not bowl [well against Otago in the reicent Motor Corporation knock-out match. However, he took six wickets for St Albans on Saturday. For all that, his omission was unexpected. At his best he is New Zealand’s fastest bowler, and he has a good shield record. The selectors have named 13 players for the first three shield matches, but one of them, V. Pollard, will not be available for the Otago match which includes Sunday play., The players chosen are: B. F. Hastings (captain), M. L.

Rvan, P. G. Coman. J. W. Burtt. C. L. Bull, R. W. Fulton, K. J. Wadsworth, R. J. Hadlee. D. R. Hadlee, C. M. Kirk, D. J. Gatenby, B. C. Irving, Pollard. Two newcomers There are two players new to representative cricket. Fulton is a promising lefthand batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler. Gatenby, who comes from Tasmania, is a right-hand leg-

break bowler who has made a deep impression in his first year in Christchurch. The omission of Webb is not the only surprise in the selection. The dropping of K Thomson will be a shock to many. He is an aggressive player and a fine fighter who returned to the Canterbury team for the knock-out match and was expected to retain his place.

The inclusion of Kirk is a lesser surprise, but his form for most of the season has I not been impressive and it ; seemed unlikely that the squad of 13 would include I four spin bowlers. Irving or Kirk [ Pollard is out of conten [ tion for the first game and lit appears likely that either [ Irving— at 40, quite the old|est man in the side—or Kirk j will be twelfth man for the opening match. Kirk has i bowled very successfully for Canterbury in the past and at practice he showed a return to his best form. 1 Canterbury has considerable depth in its batting. R J. Hadlee, who is expected to become a first-rate batsman, could be as low as nine in the order. He will provide the pace bowling, with D. R. Hadlee at the other end. Fulton will probably have to provide some overs of medium pace here and there. But much will depend on Gatenby in his first shield season, and either Kirk or Irving. Welcome return The off-spinner Irving has had a wonderful season so far, and his return to the side will be well received. So will that of Bull, who made a century against Central Districts last season, but who was omitted from the knockout team.

If replacements are needed in the shield side, they will come from the Canterbury B team which will play a series of matches during the holiday period.

This side is: K. Thomson (captain), D. W. Stead, A. E. Collins. B. Bhana, B. G. Hadlee, R. M. Gearry, N. M. Parker, B. P. Isherwood, M. G. Webb, L. C. Sparks, J. W. Calder. P. G. D’Auvergne.