Many pace bowling contenders but quality is lean

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 36

Many pace bowling contenders but quality is lean

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Last summer, Richard Hadlee took 45 Shell Series wickets for Canterbury at 14.2 runs each and headed the national list. Glenn Bateman had 17 at 19 runs each, and these were the only Canterbury bowlers, with a minimum of 10 wickets, in the first 22 in the averages for the series. This summer, Hadlee will be able to play two matches, at most, and Bateman has withdrawn from the squad because he is not available for early, minor matches. Perhaps the selectors’ view, that they are not interested in players who are not able to play in all the games, will be modified in Bateman's case. Whatever the official view, Canterbury will be struggling to find enough bowling to get other sides out. This is especially so in the seam section. Steve McNally, the Riccarton left-arm bowler, has been a regular

choice for the last two seasons. He is ■ struggling so far this season, failing to take a wicket on the first four days, but he is handicapped by a rugby injury. When he is fully fit, he may begin to bowl with the control and venom he showed when the Rothman’s tournament was last held in Christchurch.

Every season, hopes are expressed that Harvey King of Timaru will be available. Every season, they have been dashed. He has not been seen at first-class level since 1977-78.

Craig Thiele, - the burly East-Shirley opening bowler, was injured before the Shell Series matches began last season, and took no part in the competition. •He has made a promising start to the present season, and he must stand a very good

chance of playing for Canterbury throughout the series. He has great strength, and if there is a lot still to learn, he should be of great value in the weeks ahead.

One of the selectors, Dayle Hadlee, might find his way back into the team this season. He bowled with great success in the 1979-80 series, but was then struck again by injury. Hadlee entered firstclass cricket in 1966-67, but he is not yet 35 years old, and his first-round bowling in the senior competition hinted that he might be back to full form this summer.

He confessed on Saturday that if he was pleased with his opening spell against Burnside-West, he was not happy with his later bowling, when the ground was wet. It was in such conditions that he suffered his most recent injury, and he is chary of bowling on wet, turf at present. “It is simply a psychological thing,” he said, “and I will get over it.”

Canterbury has other seam bowling candidates with some experience in representative cricket. Bob Carter,

the Northamptonshire profes-

sional, came into the Canterbury team only for the Shell Cup final against Wellington. He is likely to be a regular player this time, with a fair share of the bowling to do, especially after Richard Hadlee leaves for Australia. Last summer, Carter was

the Lion “player of the season," scoring 445 runs for Sydenham and taking 58 wickets. There are plenty of other candidates: Steve Bateman

played once last year, regularly two seasons before; and Tony Farrant had one match for Canterbury last season. Les Watson continues to take wickets in club cricket; he was good enough for a representative place in 1978-' 79. In the same club team,

Ross McNally impressed in the opening round with his pace and accuracy. On the first three days of the season, his tally was seven wickets for 65. Then there are the parttime bowlers likely to be in the Canterbury team — Paul McEwan. David Dempsey, Rod Latham. The number of bowling candidates is large. Whether a combination of quality can be found is another matter.