Three schoolboys in Canty cricket squad

Press, 26 August 1980, Page 28

Three schoolboys in Canty cricket squad

By R. T. BRITTENDEN The fact that Canterbury’s cricket team in the coming season will be without three of last summer’s side, and that three schoolboys have been included in a training squad of 23 announced yesterday, is probably coincidental.

But it may not be without significance that the chairman of selectors, Mr Noel McGregor, made his firstclass debut at the tender age of 17; there could well be an inclination to look for a downy«cheeked Dempster or Dacre or Dowling to meet the situation.

Of last season’s side, Trevor Jesty and David Rathie have returned overseas, and Paul McEwan will be in Australia with the New Zealand team.

The schoolboys in the training squad are Paul Rutledge and Brian Davidson, of Linwood High School, and Max Bremner, of Christ’s

College. All three are batsmen, Rutledge and Bremner also being wicket-keepers. Their presence, however, really suggests that they are being given a chance to practise indoors before they go to Australia with the New Zealand secondary schools team. Canterbury’s preparation for the next Shell Series began with a squad of 42 being put through a physical training programme, and having their fitness assessed, over a period of five weeks. Mr McGregor expressed satisfaction with the general picture as far as fitness is concerned.

The new, reduced, squad is: Cran Bull, Dayle Hadlee, Peter Rattray, Bryan Ritchie (Old Boys), Vaughan Brown, Richard Leggat (Old Collegians), David Dempsey (Lancaster Park), Lindsay Thorn, Tim Murdoch, David Stead, Glen Bateman (Riccarton), Les Watson (St Albans),

David Boyle, Tony Farrant (B ur n s i d e-West), Craig Thiele, Grant Neilson (EastShirley), lan Wilson, Ashley Hart (Sydenham), Bob Masefield (North Canterbury), Warren Eddington (South Canterbury), Bremner, Davidson and Rutledge. This can not be regarded as the only source of selection for the final team. Rod Latham, one of the most promising' batsman Canterbury has had in a long time, is still heavily engaged in Canterbury rugby, and so has not been included in the squad, which will begin its indoor training at the Hagley Sports Centre on Sunday morning. Moreover, Steve McNally, Ray Jones and Graham Kench — all of whom could well merit consideration — are still playing cricket in England. The indoor training will continue on Sundays for five weeks.