Canterbury can haft dizzy descent

Press, 24 February 1984, Page 30

Canterbury can haft dizzy descent

By R. T. BRITTENDEN Canterbury cricket has had a dizzy descent since the Shell Trophy team won its first two matches. There have been first-innings losses to Wellington and Otago and outright defeat by Central Districts. Even these reverses have not cost Canterbury a chance of winning the competition, and today’s match at Lancaster Park with Otago presents both teams with the opportunity to go to the head of the table. At present Wellington and Auckland have each scored 40 points from six matches, Central Districts 36 from six, Canterbury 32 from five. Otago 24 from five, and

Northern Districts four from six. Maximum points for Otago would put it level with Auckland and Wellington; a similar Canterbury victory would give it a lead of eight over these sides. Two very interesting teams will be competing today. In Canterbury’s 12 there are five who have not played for Canterbury this season. Of these, three seem certain to be in the final 11. Anup Nathu and Ray Jones will almost certainly be the opening batsmen, and without Ken Taylor Canterbury would have only two seam bowlers. Every reasonable possibility seems to havf been

taken into account in the Canterbury selection. There are two wicket-keepers, a left-arm slow bowler and an off-break bowler. If Tony Blain plays, however, it is likely to be as a batsman, with Ash Hart keeping wicket. These two, and Andrew Nuttall, are most likely to provide the twelfth man. There will be particular interest in the reappearance, after five years, of Rod Fulton and in Taylor’s first match. If the pitch again gives seamers some help Canterbury might be at an advantage, with Taylor and Dayle Hadlee, in particular, with the accuracy and the right pace to make

the most of it. One of the best features of Canterbury’s cricket this season has been the batting of Paul McEwan, who scored a century against Wellington to go with three other half-century innings. Vaughan Brown has twice passed 50, and these twe will again be expected tc perform well. Otago has a strong batting side, but seems to be s little short of bowlers. Ker Rutherford, aged 18, is re garded as the best batsman Otago has produced since Glenn Turner. He scored 93 in Otago's earlier match with Canterbury this season. His brotl&F lan. who seems to

have been in first-class cricket for a lifetime, has been recalled. He is only 26, and he is likely to present Canterbury with some problems. Stu McCallum has scored a century this season and Bruce Blair and Richard Hoskin have very strong credentials. Otago’s batting does not end with them. Warren Lees is an accomplished player, there is the 18-year-old Simon Richards, a very vigorous young batsman. Garth Dawson, who has served Otago particularly well in the last few seasons. John Lindsay and Derek Walker, who made 113 against Central Districts. The pace bowling offßich-

ard Webb and Neil Mallender will be supported by Ken Rutherford, Bruce Blair, Walker (all medium pace) and Lindsay (off-spin). Webb took six for 20 when Canterbury played Otago last month, and Mallender, a professional with Northamptonshire, has been very impressive. The teams (one to be omitted from each) are — Canterbury: Cran Bull (captain). Fulton. Taylor. McEwan, Blain. Brown. Hadlee. Hart, Steve McNally. Nathu. Nuttall and Jones. Otago: Lees (captain). McCallum. Ken Rutherford. lan Rutherford. Hoskin. Blair, Dawson, Richards. Walker. Mallender. Webb and Lindsay.