A fairy tale finish for Canterbury captain

Press, 31 December 1976, Page 7

A fairy tale finish for Canterbury captain

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Maurice Ryan's unbeaten 93 for Canterbury in the Shell Cup match at Whangarei on Sunday has put an almost fairy tale finish to his strange story. From 1965 to 1973, Ryan was a regular and successful member of Canterbury and Central Districts teams. He averaged more than 30 for Central Districts in 1967-68. 53.5 the following summer. When he returned to Canterbury in 1970-71. he scored 397 Plunket Shield runs at 44.3. and even in his last season. 1972-73, his return was 223 at 27.8. Then he dropped out of sight — or. more accurately. was thrust out of view. He was not selected for Canterbury for three long summers, and his recall this year was only to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his brother-in-law. Ken Wadsworth. Canterbury needed someone to keep wicket, someone who could also make runs; it also needed a captain, after Bevan Congdon had decided to relinquish the post and Brian Hastings had declined nomination for the position. So Ryan was brought out of obscurity. He kept wicket competently against Otago, led the side well, and went on to that splendid innings at Cobham Oval — the runs taking his tally in Plunket Shield and Shell series cricket to beyond 2000 at an average of almost 33. It was * his eleventh halfcentury in these games —

but it might well have been his fourth century, but for his declaration. It was a selfless but wise decision, giving Canterbury an advantage of a performance point over Northern

on the first day — and it might become a vital point; Northern was the first-round leader. The only pity of Ryan's present captain-batsman-'keeper position is that it

deprives Canterbury of his services as an off-spin bowler. He has had remarkable success with his occasional spells of tempting-looking slows — 32 wickets at 19 runs each.