Keen tussle likely between Canty and Auckland

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 18

Keen tussle likely between Canty and Auckland

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

If and when Canterbury’s Shell Trophy match with Auckland begins at Lancaster Park, there is likely to be a very keen tussle between teams of even calibre.

Canterbury’s match with Auckland has long been regarded as the most important fixture of the season. So often, they have been the strongest teams in the country; so regularly, their meetings have produced good cricket and exciting finishes. Neither side, this season, can lay claim to comparison with the best teams of the past, but Canterbury gave an extremely encouraging display against Northern Distrists, and Auckland, notwithstanding its reverses against Otago, as some interesting batting and a seam attack which may well relish conditions at Lancaster Park when the game begins. John Cushen and Gary Troup make a formidable opening pair of bowlers, and if the pitch is damp and green they will grow in stature immensely. With them will be Warren Scott, naggingly accurately and a bowler who can move the ball about very awkwardly. It is to be hoped that Martin Snedden has a place in the team. He was twelfth man at Alexandra. At 21, Snedden is one of the most promising seam bowlers in the country. John Mclntyre’s tight-fist-ed left-arm slow bowling will be important to Auckland, and if one of the seamers is dropped, there will be Lindsay Rewcastle, an all-rounder to bowl off-breaks. Canterbury is an injuryridden team at present, but none of the casualties is sufficiently serious for any players to have been asked to stand by. Lindsay Thorn has a bruised thumb, Vaughan Brown a sore knee, David Rathie an injured shoulder, Trevor Jesty a shoulder com-

plaint and rib muscle strains. On the credit side, there must be increased confidence in the Canterbury side after the performance against Northern . Districts. The team’s batting goes down to No. 9 and of these, only Vaughan Brown has so far failed to play at least one innings of significance. And Brown is far too good a player to be out of the runs for long. The Canterbury bowling

was adequate, and there were some particularly good spells by Dayle' Hadlee and Brown. The fielding was of the high standard expected of it, although the wicket-keeper, Bryan Ritchie, did not. have a good match. But these were his first days of representative cricket, and he can not but benefit from the experience. One who has every confidence that Canterbury will do well in the remaining Shell games is the convenor of selectors, Mr Noel McGregor. “It was very pleasing and encouraging,” he said, referring to the Northern Districts game. “All our bowlers, at some stage, bowled particularly well. The fielding was of a high standard, and some excellent catches were taken. Paul McEwan played two major innings and the batting generally was satisfactory. “It was a bit upsetting to lose mid-order wickets rather quickly, and in one or two there may be a lack of application, at present. But that will come, and we will win a few games yet.” For both teams, a victory is of special importance. The lack of a result, could put both teams out of touch with the leaders of the table, and there is every reason to hope that this second match at Lancaster Park will be played with the purpose and enteprise of the first one.