Tense tussles ahead in Shell Trophy cricket

Press, 12 January 1977, Page 9

Tense tussles ahead in Shell Trophy cricket

By

JOHN COFFEY

In contrast to last season —when Canterbury and Otago opened up a decisive points advantage over their rivals in the first full round —there is the promise of a series of exciting tussles when the six district cricket teams begin to play off for the Shell Trophy next Tuesday. Events during the Shell Cup competition clearly proved that there are four strong contenders, Northern Districts, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, for places in the trophy grand final later this month. Northern, which achieved outright victories over Auckland and Otago by scoring in excess of 200 runs in quick time in the fourth innings of those games and then assured itself of the cup by bowling Central Districts out in even more stirring circumstances on Sunday, must be conceded an excellent chance of completing a double. But Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury certainly had the potential to head Northern off. Auckland had the cup in its grasp until the second-to-last delivery of the competition, and Wellington and Canterbury were both deprived of probable wins because of rain. There was considerable optimism that Canterbury

would continue in the vein of a summer ago, and this appeared to be justified when it had the better of the performance points against Otago. Northern and Auckland. It was only when Canterbury returned to Lancaster Park for its matches with Central and Wellington that unexpected weaknesses showed through. The batting was particularly fragile, apart from the unbroken partnership of 94 runs between Peter Coman and Barry

Hadlee to complete a 10wicket defeat of Centra), and when Coman and David Stead returned totals in excess of 60 against Wellington. Obviously a vast improvement will be needed in the trophy rounds, when the results will be decided on first innings scores if no definite decisions are reached. Hadlee, Bevan Congdon and Maurice Ryan were all twice dismissed cheaply by the Wellington medium-paced attack after having played major roles on the northern tour. Canterbury’s problems were compounded by inconsistencies in the bowling. Davie Hadlee was the exception, never wavering from his line and length and quite often matching the hostility displayed by Ewen Chatfield. Stewart Cater and Brian Cederwall when the Wellington bowlers utilised the life that was in the pitch on Friday. Richard Hadlee had a purple patch of form at I he expense of the Central batsmen earlier in the week, Stephen Boock had memorable performances in Auckland and against Central, and Congdon claimed four Central wickets at moderate cost. Alan Hounsell provided a mixed bowling bag, and, with the Hadlee brothers, suffered when Canterbury’s catching went from riches to rags in the last two fixtures.

It would be a major surprise if Canterbury does not eliminate Central from the trophy play-offs at Palmerston North and then go on to meet Northern in one of the semi-finals. Similarly, Wellington will be favoured to account for Otago before clashing with Auckland in the other semi-final.

The professional outlook of Glenn Turner, almost as much as the dominance of his batting, has been an important factor in Northern’s triumphant start to the representative programme. It was Turner and

his former Worcestershire team-mate, John Parker, who guided Northern along the path to victories over Auckland and Otago, and Turner’s scheming put paid to Central’s- hopes of an upset on Sunday. Although Andy Roberts has been most disappointing, the development of John Wright and Rod Fulton, and the support cf Parker and Geoff Howarth, has enabled Northern to share with Auckland the distinction of not having been dismissed for less f an 200 runs.

Northern’s bowling has been less effective, with the virtual part-time mediumpacer, Roberts, having the best figures in any one innings, and Cliff Dikeson troubling Auckland and Otago with his left-arm spinners. But Richard Collinge. Bob Cunis and Alan Stimpson have only a modest striking rate. The Auckland batting line-up is extremely formidable. Mark Burgess, Jim Riley and John Kasper have scored centuries, Austin Parsons has exceeded 50 on five occasions, and Graham Vivian treated the Canterbury and Otago bowlers quite harshly. But, as with Northern, the best bowling contributions have come from unexpected sources. The medium-pacers, John Cushen and Warren Stott

have combined to claim 39 dismissals and have impressed more than Gary Troup, who toured Pakistan and India with the New Zealand team earlier this year. The highly-rated spinners, Hedley Howarth and John Mclntyre, have had to work hard for their wickets. Wellington, the youngest side in age and experience, can be well satisfied with its performances. Jeremy Coney has been the only player to score two centuries, John Morrison failed twice only against Auckland, and in Bruce Edgar, Clive Currie and possibly Russell Kean Wellington has three other batsmen with most promising futures. Chatfield has given whole-hearted service in more than 200 overs, and there has been substantial assistance from Cederwall, especially, Cater and Coney. Evan Grey has had comparatively little bowling, but has eight wickets at reasonable expense with his left-arm spinners. There has been a sharp drop in standard to Central and Otago. The Central batting has been frail and its bowling has often lacked penetration: lan Rutherford and Warren Lees have had to carry too much of the scoring responsibility for Otago, and Lance Cairns was the only bowler to capture more than seven wickets in the cup series.