LOCAL SELECTOR'S VIEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 12

LOCAL SELECTOR'S VIEWS

"It is an excellent team," remarked Mr. K. H. Tucker, the Wellington and ex-New Zealand cricket -selector, when asked for his opinion on the selection, of the New Zealand side. "The ony fault is in the omission of Kortlang, who would be especially valuable as anchor man. He is the only batsman in this country who can keep a side together. With a man liko'Kortlang holding one end up it is going to assist the other fellows. The team is composed of a good lot of young fellows, but in the matter of batting you must have one end plugged up. Then it is easy to make rims at the other end. The team, however, should makn /r ton of runs, and they are a good fielding side. We have nothing to fear as regards the fielding, thero being just one or two who are only fair in that department.

"The young fellow down. South, Merritt, would have to prove himself an extraordinarily good bowler the first ti7ue to conyjnee me that he was good enough fo.r the tour. Looking at the selection, of the last Australian team, thero were Kippax, Kelleway, and others who have shown years of form and who could not gain a place. A player has to show something. In the case of Merritt, he played in one match against a beaten team, and I think it is a big gamble putting him in the New Zealand team. It is to be hoped that ho proves the goods. A bowler whom I have a lot of timo.^or is Bead, of Canterbury. It seems to me that the team has no realty effective bowlers for a wicket that is worn.

"I think the team will win more matches than it loses. Of course, they have no show against the big counties."