PLUNKET SHIELD, SECOND ROUND Canterbury defends 20-year record

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 16

PLUNKET SHIELD, SECOND ROUND Canterbury defends 20-year record

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

It is 20 years since Canterbury lost to Auckland at Eden Park, and the performances of these two teams in the first round of the present Plunket Shield competition might suggest that this proud record will not be damaged in the match starting today.

Canterbury will not have an easy road, however. Auckland played badly at the Basin Reserve to lose heavily to Wellington, but on its own ground, and smarting from its first-round defeat, it might be a very different proposition.

In the regrettable absence of M. G. Burgess, G. E. Vivian will lead Auckland. Vivian may not be the most reliable of batsmen, but he will pose a threat to the Canterbury bowlers. He will contribute too, with his example in the field, and with his flair for attacking captaincy, which he has demonstrated in Auckland ciub cricket regularly. Burgess’s place in the team

will be taken by T. W. Jarvis; otherwise the Auckland team is likely to be as it was at Wellington.

In its long list of batsmen, Auckland has three lefthanders, and this may persuade Canterbury to omit its young leg-spinner, D. J. Gatenby. That would leave the team with two off-spin-ners—V. Pollard and B. C. Irving—which would seem a strange arrangement.

Pollard is certain to play, and he will lengthen the batting satisfactorily. Canterbury’s batsmen distinguished themselves against Otago, but the line was a rather short one. Greater variety Gatenby could still be included, to give the attack variety. He has proved himself to be a very able fieldsman close to the wicket.

The pitch at Eden Park in recent times has been a vast improvement on the dead strip which disheartened bowlers for so long. There is likely to be some lift and movement for the first few hours, and after that, plenty of opportunity for run-mak-ing. This may well be a toss for B. F. Hastings to lose with benefit, as he did against Otago. Hastings for Canterbury, R. W. Morgan for Auckland, will be the key players if this becomes a horses-for-courses event. Morgan’s last six innings against Canterbury have been 166, 113, 103, 16, 32, 37; in all he has made 898 runs against Canterbury at an average of almost 43, and at Eden Park his average against Canterbury exceeds 52. Hunting ground Hastings has scored 600 against Auckland, also at an average of just on 43, but he

has been a particular force at Eden Park, where in shield games his scores have been 26, 70, 136, 58, 21 not out, 110 not out, 52 and 0—473 runs at almost 79.

It will be a hard fought game. Auckland needs a handsome tally of points from it to keep in the race. Success for Canterbury would put the side in a very strong position, with Northern to piay, and then Wellington and Central Districts at home.