Canterbury’s cricketers on trial

Press, 21 November 1987, Page 96

Canterbury’s cricketers on trial

By

JOHN COFFEY

The “Dominion-Sunday Times” Trophy is at stake, David Stead’s benefit fund is the worthy cause, but Shell Series selection is the ultimate goal for the other 21 participants in the Canter-bury-Wellington cricket match at Hagley Oval tomorrow.

The Canterbury selectors, perhaps more than their Wellington counterparts, have chosen a lineup which bears a distinct experimental appearance. Max Bremner, the topscorer for Town against Country last week-end, has emerged as a distinct threat to Rod Latham for a specialist batting position in the full provincial team, to be announced on December 1. The absence of Latham from recent trials has not gone unnoticed. Bremner would do his cause considerable good if he performs creditably tomorrow against a Wellington attack which includes the Middlesex professional, Angus Fraser, a national under-20 representative, Jonathon Millmow, and the experienced Steve Maguiness and Grant Cederwall.

Similarly, Bill Lawrence will extend his challenge for first-class recognition if he can trouble the likes of Bruce Edgar and Robert Vance with his medium-fast deliveries. Lawrence fully deserves a chance in higher company after his fiery deeds in the Town-Country encounter.

Stu Roberts, who had use of the new ball throughout Canterbury’s

Shell campaign last summer, has again been rested. Opposing batsmen have taken an average of 4.68 runs from each of Roberts’ 81.4 overs in club cricket this season.

Tomorrow’s game is also vital to the other medium-pacers, Andrew Hintz and Chris Flanagan. Injury cost Hintz most of last representative season, while the left-armer, Flanagan, is being strongly challenged by Steve McNally. Particular interest will also be taken in Lee Germon’s wicket-keeping display. An outstanding junior career will inevitably be his path to topclass cricket; tomorrow he has an opportunity to accelerate that process. While David Boyle and Paul McEwan have consolidated their bids for the No. 3 and No. 4 roles in the Canterbury batting order, there is no certainty as to the identities of those who will precede or follow them.

David Dempsey has finned in favour as captain and one opening batsman. Justin Boyle comes up against his former province tomorrow as Dempsey’s partner; Bremner and David Hartshorn fill the middle order. Among those on the outside look-

ing in after doing moderately well in ealier trials are Blair Hartland and Mark Priest.

The Wellington representatives most under their selectors’ microscope are Fraser, whose 44 wickets for Middlesex in the last county championship cost 32.27 runs each, Graham Burnett, an opener who topped the Wellington second XI averages last season, and lan Ormiston, an off-spin-ning all-rounder and younger brother of the former Wellington batsman, Ross Ormiston.

Wellington has suffered more than Canterbury from national duty, and the non-availability of Jeremy Coney, but is sure to be a difficult opponent to overcome.

The long-serving Stead will not be the only person to “benefit” during the day at Hagley Oval.

Before leaving for Australia with the New Zealand team, Richard Hadlee donated the prize for a raffle. It is the bat he used to score an unbeaten 70 runs in taking Nottinghamshire from a seemingly hopeless plight to victory in the Natwest knockout final at Lord’s in September.