Selections to be livelier?

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 28

Selections to be livelier?

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

The laconic humour and hard-headed thinking of Ken

Ferries are likely to enliven the meetings of Canterbury’s cricket selectors later this year.

Ferries’ nomination for the senior selection panel is one of three received by the Canterbury Cricket Association, and if the association adheres to its policy of a three-man selection panel, there will be, no need for a vote at the meeting on May 25. The other two nominations - are those of Don McKendry, convener last season, and Dayle Hadlee, also a sitting member. One of last season’s panel, John Kiddey, was not available. The appointment of Ferries to a senior position will be welcomed. He has spent the last few seasons as a Canterbury Rothman’s tournament selector, and he has a playing background which suggests that he will be ideal for the task. After coming to Christchurch from Perth — where he had made one first-class appearance — Ferries played first-class cricket from 1966-67 to 1974-75, making 21 appearances for 78

wickets at 21.4 each with his. accurate, lively mediumpace bowling. In club cricket he played 149 senior games, taking 479 wickets at a cost of about 17 runs each. If Dayle Hadlee finds the fitness to continue his cricket career his presence on the selection panel should not be an embarrassment to the association. Hadlee last appeared for Canterbury in 1979-80, but he is only 34 and he has it in him to show in club cricket that he is still a candidate for representative selection. The meeting on May 25 will be conducted without a secretary. The association’s secretary since 1977, Mr Jack Power, has resigned and the chairman of the association’s management committee (Mr Alby Duckmanton) said yesterday that the position was to be advertised. The association has had another disappointment. John Wright, the New Zealand opening batsman, will be playing for Northern Districts next season. Proposals designed to have him return to Christchurch have failed. Mr Duckmanton said that Wright preferred to live in the north.