Auckland may struggle

Press, 27 December 1982, Page 18

Auckland may struggle

PA Auckland Glen Turner, the formidable Otago and Worcestershire batsman, may have a damp return to New Zealand first-class cricket in the Shell Trophy match against Auckland, starting at Eden Park today.

The Auckland climate turned sour yesterday morning, and a mixture of light and; heavy rain showers doused Eden Park. The rain lifted later, but thick cloud still shrouded Auckland when the Otago team arrived last evening.

The south-westerly wind predicted for today could cause the temperature to drop but should provide better conditions for cricket. There will be dampness in

the atmosphere this morning, so the captain who wins the toss — Turner or John Reid — may prefer to bowl first.

Until a week ago Auckland looked likely to enter the game as. a firm favourite, for its players had had a comprehensive build-up of club, trial and. representative matches.

However, a dashing twoday win over Northland was followed last week by a humbling three-day loss to Australian Capital Territory during which the Auckland batting, supposedly the team’s strong point, crumbled.

If the pitch has any life, Auckland’s batting may again struggle against the speed of Brendon Bracewell

and Richard Webb, the pinpoint seam bowling of Bruce Abernethy, and the spin of Stephen Boock and Carl Dickel. The Auckland attack offers less variety, consisting of the medium-fast bowlers, Gary Troup, Martin Snedden, Warren Stott and Tom Hellaby, and the off-spinner, John Bracewell, who will be playing against his old teammates. Bill Flowler, the Auckland left-arm. spinner, seems almost certain to be twelfth man. Whether this rather stereotyped Auckland bowling will be sharp enough to cut through the top Otago batting of Turner, lan Rutherford (who usually prospers at Eden Park) and the Blair brothers will be one of the key points of the match.