A SOLID SIDE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 10

A SOLID SIDE

Plenty of Batting Power

TEAM WITHOUT TAIL Is Bowling Strong Enough? (Notes by “Burwood.") But little fault can be found with the team which the selectors have chosen to represent the Dominion on the second visit to England. It is clear that allrounders have been preferred, and such men as Talbot (Canterbury) and Matheson (Auckland) should serve the team well in all departments. Of the fourteen players chosen to make the tour, Lowry, Janies, Mills, Blunt, Dempster, Page, Allcott, and Merritt were members of the New Zealand team which made the initial tour to England in 1927. One would- have liked to see a bowler of Blundell’s ability in the team, as he would have been very serviceable when the full-dress Test match is played at Lord’s in June. Blundell, however, is a weak batsman, and the selectors have preferred to pin their faith to allrounders, in order that there might be as little tail to the side as possible. In this laudable aim they have been signally successful, as there is not a weak batsman in the team,'and the side will take digging out down to the last man. Allcott has been selected as the lefthander, and he certainly has been bowling well (his season. He did not enjoy the best of health in England in 1927, when he scored 753 runs at an average of 27.88, and captured 37 wickets for 1026 runs, at an average of 27.72. It is to be hoped that the popular Aucklander will reveal his true form on English playing fields this year. Following the instructions of the New Zealand Cricket Council, the selectors have paid special attention to fielding ability, and this year’s team should go far to remove the reproach that New Zealanders cannot field.

On the whole the selectors have done their work well, and all that remains is to cheer the team on its way, and to wish it every success in its mission to place the Dominion definitely upon the cricket map. Experienced Players. ■T. C. Lowry (Rangitikei).—One of the most experienced players in the game. After terms at the Napier High School and Christ’s College, he proceeded to Cambridge University, and succeeded so well that he was appointed to lead the Light Blue side, and has been described as one of the ablest leaders Cambridge has ever had. While at the university, he was selected to tour Australia and New Zealand with the M.C.C. team under A. C. MacLaren in the 1922-1923 season, and did well on that tour as batsman and reserve wicketkeeper to J. F. Maclean (Worcestershire). While at Cambridge University, Lowry also played with the Somerset eleven in the county championship. Returning to the Dominion, he was selected to accompany the New Zealand team on its tour of Australia in the 1925-26 season. Becoming captain of the New Zealand team for the English tour in 1927, he has led the national side ever since, and is admitted to be the most astute leader the Dominion has ever possessed. A sound batsman, Lowry can either force the pace or sit on the splice, and it would not be at all surprising to find him the ablest batsman on the side in English this year. A first-class wicketkeeper, Lowry is a brilliant fieldsman close in to the wicket, and is a bowler who knows where he is going to pitch the ball. He is certain to lead the side again. J. E. Mills (Auckland). —A stylish left-handed batsman who has fashioned his style on that of S. G. Smith, of Auckland. Mills is the acme of grace, and is an adept at the hook shot, as he proved at the Basin Reserve in the second Test mateh in January last, when he assisted Dempster to put on 276 for the first wicket against the M.C.C. team in New Zealand’s first innings, in which he scored 117 and Dempster 136. Mills scored five centuries on the English tour in 1927, hitting up 188 against Martineau’s eleven 10-1 against Civil Service, 103 against Surrey, 100 against Derbyshire and 152 against Leveson-Gower’s eleven. C. S. Dempster (Wellington).—As in 1927, this batsman has strangely lost his form, but he was such a prolific rungetter in England in 1927 that the selectors could not leave him out. In England four years ago, he headed the batting averages with 2231 runs at an average of 54.41, scoring six centuries. Dempster turned professional a year ago, and was appointed coach to the Wellington Cricket Association. It is thought that too much play during the winter months has caused him to become stale, and the rest on the homeward voyage should restore him to vigour for the English tour. Able All-Rounders. R. C. Blunt (Otago).—One of the best all-round players the Dominion has produced. In the 1926-27 season, Blunt scored three, centuries in succession in Test matches’ against the Victorian team, and, proceeding to England with the New Zealand team, hit up 119 in the opening match of the tour. In England, he came second in the batting averages, aggregating 2066 runs at an average of 50.39, and capturing 94 wickets for 2306 runs, an average of 23.46. So highly was he thought of at Home that he was singled out by “Wisden” as one of the outstanding cricketers of the year. K. C. James (Wellington).—The Blackham of the team, who was declared by English critics in 1927 to be the equal of Oldfield or Strudwick. James has developed his batting this season, and has an average in club matches of 74.40 an innings, having aggregated 372 runs for five times out.

M, L. Page (Canterbury).—A dashing batsman, fast-moving fieldsman, and useful change bowler. He has led the Canterbury side to victory this season in all three of the Plunket Shield games played, and had a big hand in his team's success. In England in 1927 Page aggregated 1379 runs, at an average of 32.06, and captured 39 wickets for 759 runs, an average of 19.46. '* C. F. W. Allcott (Auckland).—Another able all-rounder. Left-handed bowler and batsman, he is liable to come off in either department of the game. With the New Zealand team in Australia in the 1925-26 season Allcott scored centuries both against Victoria and New South Wales, and on the English tour in 1927 he aggregated 753 runs, an average of 27.88 an innings, and secured 37 wickets for 1026 runs, an average of 27.72. Captain of the Auckland eleven, he has done well in the Shield games this season, hitting up 65 against Canterbury and 114 agninst Otngo. One of the most popular players in the game in this country. A Googly Specialist.

W. E. Merritt (Canterbury).—The googly specialist of the team, who, as a lad still in his ’teens, proved the star bowler on the English tour in 1927, in which he captured 173 wickets for 3341 runs, at an average of 19.31. He was in deadly form for Canterbury against Otago in the Shield match last week, when he took four wickets for 14 runs and six wickets for 23 runs. Quite a good batsman, and a very useful fieldsman. J. L. Kerr (Canterbury).—A promising colt, who learnt his cricket in Wanganui, this resolute youngster hit up 29 and 73 for Canterbury against Auckland at Christmas time. He is very highly thought of by competent judges, who expect him to develop into a first-flight performer. .... R. 0. Talbot (Canterbury).—An ideal cricketer of good physique, this player can send down a good, fast ball, and can put the runs on at a rapid pace. A fastmoving fieldsman, he should prove one of the most useful men -on the side. G. L. Weir (Auckland). —New Zealand’s most reliable batsman this season. His scores in recent Shield games include 134 against Canterbury. 12 and 30 not out against Otago, and 122 against Wellington. H. G. Vivian (Auckland).-—A brilliant

young left-handed batsman, who hit up 37 and 81 against Canterbury this season, and 24 against Wellington. Like Kerr, he is expected to develop into a star performer. He can also take a turn at the bowling crease. A. M. Matheson (Auckland). —Another youthful player of fine physique, who can bowl a dangerous fast ball, and keep going, and who is not afraid to go for the bowling. His performances in Shield matches this season include 14 and 94 against Canterbury, and 54 against Wellington. With the ball, he took three for 26 against Otago, and four for 53 against Wellington. A tireless fieldsman, with a good return and a safe pair of hands.

I. B. Cromb (Canterbury).—Another able all-round player, who has won his place by sheer merit. He has had much to do with Canterbury's victory in the Plunket Shield competition this season. He scored 0 and 15 against Auckland, 58 and 35 against Wellington,, and 59 and 69 against Otago, while with the ball he took two for 66 agr.inst Auckland. one for 61 and five for 62 against Wellington, and one for 8 and two for 21 against Otago, '