Canty’s flaws healing?

Press, 30 December 1978, Page 32

Canty’s flaws healing?

I By R. T. BRITTENDEN I' The public bar facilities at I Lancaster Park have been! upgraded, which may be I good news for disconsolate! Canterbury cricket supporters. But rather than drown- i ing their sorrows, they <

would no doubt prefer to see an improvement in Canterbury’s performance when the | match with Wellington begins today. i Canterbury has had to reI build its side, with the loss Ithis season of Bevan Cong1 don, Dayle Hadlee and

Stephen Boock, and there have been fatal flaws in the side’s performance. But there is little doubt that the experience the young players are receiving will be of benefit, and there is room for hope that Canterbury will do better in this match. There was bad news yesterday, however, of the injury to the Canterburycaptain. Maurice Ryan. His right hand was bruised and swollen and his chances of playing today- are not good. The Burnside-West and Canterbury B wicket-keeper, Kevin Collins, has been asked to stand by. i The management committee has decided that if Ryan is unable to play then Barry Hadlee will lead the side. I Wellington, with two wins I in its opening matches, has kept the same 12 players for the match with Canterbury. There is a prospect of Grant Cederwall, twelfth man in those two games, winning a place in the side, and if he does it will probably be at ; the expense of his brother, Brian. Both of them are useful batsmen and mediumpaced right-hand bowlers. Wellington has performed ■ well so far. It has as an | opener Bruce Edgar, a cer- ! tain test selection, who has j already made three good scores'in Shell Cup matches this season. His partner Graham Newdick, has played two very useful innings, and Robert Vance has advanced in stature with four good innings and a lowest score of 21. The captain, John Morrison, ran into the runs against Auckland and Jeremy Coney, many still feel, is the man to replace Bevan Congdon in the New Zealand team. A little further down the order is Bruce Taylor, making a highly successful re- ; turn to first-class cricket ! after an absence of five ! years. He has performed usefully in each of his three ; innings and has taken eight I wickets for only 100 runs. A very popular personality at Lancaster Park, Taylor'is certain of a cheerful reception. He is part of a formidable attack in which there are two other New Zealand representatives, Ewen Chatfield and Peter

Petherick. Chatfield had 16 wickets in the first two matches, a solendid start to the season, and the off-spin-ner Petherick, is a doughty opponent, with a fine record during a relatively brief career. Coney can bowl very economically, and Evan Gray is a talented left-arm spinner. So Wellington had depth and variety in its attack. Canterbury’s bowling depends very largely on Richard Hadlee, who has already had a very busy cricket season and who seemed to be showing signs of wear in Otago’s second innings on Thursday. At his best, and given the encouragement of some life in the pitch, he is capable of restoring the balance between the sides.

Stephen Bateman, Hadlee’s opening partner, is going to be a success as a representative player. He is competitive, lively with the new ball, fields well and will make his share of runs in the next few years. Gerald Cummins also bowled better in Otago’s first innings and if Les Watson, his rival for the last bowling place, is slower than Cummins, he can move the ball about. David Stead has served the side well with his leg-spin and Vaughan Brown, one of the colts, has shown coolness and accuracy with his off-breaks in depressing situations. Canterbury has missed some easy catches this season, and it lacked the speed to the ball and sheer determination of the Otago side, but pride, and individual ambition, may see this put to rights. The batting, shortened in length if Ryan can not play, has not been really impressive, although Barry Hadlee had two fine innings against Central Districts, Paul McEwan had one superb performance against Otago and Rod Fulton provided a very good double in this week’s match.

Canterbury beat Wellington twice last season, and is capable of offering stern opposition to the competition leader this time. But it will need an all-out effort if Wellington is not to improve upon an already impressive record.