M.C.C. V. NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 27, 1 February 1923, Page 8

M.C.C. V. NEW ZEALAND

TO COMMENCE TO-MORROW.

A cricket event of greater importance than probably any which have taken place in New Zealand during the past sixteen years is set down to commence at the Baein Reserve to-morrow, :when the New Zealand representatives will engage in. their third and final Test with the .M.C.C. team, under the .captaincy of A. 0. MacLaren. Since the dbllapse o£ the New Zealand team against the visitors in the first Test at Wellington earlier in the tour, the poor opinion of the strength of New Zealand .'cricket, as compared with that of the visitors, has taken a very decided turn, until now there is a strong impressfon that in the final Test tiie M.C.C. side will be set their hardest task to avoid a termination to their unbeaten run of successes.

The team which represented New Zealand in. the second Test, played at Christchurch, brought out the quality of cricket in this country in something like its true light, and honours of the game were just as much with them as with the visitors. Since then the Wellington representatives, several of whom are on the New Zealand side, have also more correctly represented the position of cricket here, although they were handicapped by unfavourable weather conditions. The effVct has been to bring about a display of great interest in the third Test, and also to attach considerable importance to the fixture, the extent of which has been shown by the manner in which the exclusion of Brice from the team was received—almost on a par with the experience when E. Roberts was excluded from one of the Test teams against the Sprinbok footballers. Interest has also been quickened by the somewhat sensational event -which, followed the announcement of the New Zealand team —the resignation of N. C. Snedden as player and selector, -which has enabled Brice to find a place among those players who are to participate in the deciding Test. The changes that have been made in the New Zealand team, as well as the performances registered in the second Test and tin the recent M.U.C.-Wellington match, indicate that the third Test will be agre.at match—provided, of course, that the weather conditions are suitable.

The New Zealand team is strong in batting, although the opinion is held that it is not at its greatest strength on account of Hiddleston or Dempster not. .being included, and the bowling is, if anything, a little stronger than was anticipated. Most of the players were in Wellington this morning, and a number ndulged in practice at the Basin Reserve. The M.C.C. side will be composed of the best eleven available. Should MacLaren be fit for play, it will be at full strength, but it will not be until' to-, morrow that the eleven will he known. In view of the third Test some of the visitors were not called upon .to make the trip to Nelson this week.

The wicket on which the match is to be played was in excellent condition today, and, without any interference from the weather, it should play exceedingly well. It has been subjected to a long period of cai'eful preparation. Play is to commence at 11 a.m. each day. The adjournments will be as follow:—Lunch, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; tea, 4 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.; stumps will be drawn at 6 p.m. ■ each day. The New Zealand team is as follows: D. C. Collins (Wellington), E. H. L. Bernau (Hawkes Bay, ex-Wellington), H. Lambert ,'(Taranaki), C. Dacre (Auckland), H. M. M*Girr (Wellington), D. E. Garrard (Auckland), .A. Cats (Wellington), R. C. Blunt (Canterbury), J. Shepherd (Otago),D. M'Beath (Otago), and W S. 'Brice (Wellington), with C. S. Dempster (Wellington) as twelfth man.

A telegram from Christchurch states that D. C. Collins has been appointed captain of the New Zealand team in succession to N. C. Snedden. The message also confirms the selection of Brice and Dempster iri place of Snedden and Hiddleston (who was chosen as twelfth man in the team first announced). Messrs. J. R. Gardner and J. Rodgers, of the Wellington Umpires 1 Association, have been appointed to act as umpires in the match.