PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 143, 15 December 1930, Page 13

PLUNKET SHIELD

WELLINGTON CANDIDATES

(By "Not Out.") This season's Plunket Shield matches will be followed with more than usual interest in view of the fact that form displayed in the games will have a bearing upon the selection of the New Zealand cricket team for England. All four major cricket associations will have their elevens in the field during 'the Christmas-New Year holiday period, the fixtures being: —Auckland v. Canterbury, at Christchureh; Wellington^ v. Otago, at Wellington; Auckland v. Otago, at Dunedin; and Wellington v. Catnerbury, at Christchureh. The Auck-land-Canterbury and Wellington-Otago matches are to be commenced on Christmas Day, and the other matches on New Year's Day. For these matches the Auckland and Otago teams have been announced, and the players to represent Wellington and Otago were to be chosen to-day. Although the selection of the team for England will not necessarily be confined to players taking part in these matches, it means a big thing to the- candidates for next year's tour to find favour with the selectors for the first important representative matches of the season. On that account Wellington's eleven for the match with Otago is being keenly awaited. HELPING COUNTRY PLAYERS. In one way Wellington has an advantage over the other provinces, as it has a much larger field from which to choose its representatives, Hawkes Bay, AVairarapa, Manawatu, Rangitikei, Wanganui, Taranaki, Nelson, and Marlborough all coming under the wing of the Wellington. Cricket Association so far as Plunket Shield cricket is concerned. From time to time players in these country districts have, proved themselves worthy representatives of Wellington, and, in some cases, of New Zealand. Wellington gives those players their chance and is always keen to do so. This, however, has its disadvantages, in that the inclusion, of country players in. Wellington's representative team deprives some town players cf oportnnities of promotion to big cricket. During the past few seasons the country districts have shown that between them they could field a strong eleven, one that would possibly be a tough proposition in Plnnket Shield cricket, and it is a pity that some means could, not be devised whereby the-eountry associations could combine in placing a team in. the field to play against the major associations. As matters stand it seems that the country districts will claim, some places in Wellingon's Plunket Shield team, again this season. For this encouragement of the country players the Wellington Cricket Association is to be commended, and it is doing the right thing unde-r existing conditions. But it is unfortunate that it means cutting out players from the town competition in which the general standard of performance is as high as, if not higher than,' that in the other three main, centres. Of course, there are occasions when other centres give country players a chance in. Shield cricket, but those major associations have nothing like Wellington's big field. PRELIMINARY SELECTION. la the recent Town-Country match in Wellington several of the country players performed well enough to catch the eye of tbe Wellington selector (Mr. W. S. Briee). as probables for the Plunket Shield team. The Town • team for that match, however, was not up to full strength. It was decided by the selector that T. C. Lowry (Eangitikei), D. Cameron (Bangitikei), N. Gallichan (Maniawatu), H. B. Massey (Wairarapa), and A. Newman (Nelson) were good enough to be placed in the first twenty players offering for tho Plunket Shield team. The Toirn players favoured by the selector were:—W. Airey, E. D. Blundell, B. Crook, C. S. Dempster, H. Foley, M. Henderson, W. Hepburn, A. M. Hollings, K. C. James, J. R. Lama son, H. M. M'Giir, E. G. M'Leod, J. Newman, J. Standidge, and F. E. Warnes. After that selection was made Hollings notified that, he was not available. The selector's next business is to reduce that number to twelve or thirteen for the match-es with Otago and Canterbury, anil the task, by no means easy, was to be completed to-day. WHO WILL BE CHOSEN? Most of the places in Wellington's team can be filled without much hard thinking, but there are certain positions Which present difficulties and for which there are plenty of candidates. Lowry, of course, is a certainty, and he ■will cafptain the side. C. S. Dempster is just .as sure of a place, but in finding a partner for him as an opening batsman some hard thinking is necessary. Those offering' in the selector's list are Cameron, Foley, Hepburn, and Airey, but it is doubtful whether one of them, will appeal to the selector strongly enough at tho present time to be included in the team fpr the first matc-h. However, if they are passed over it, will mean that on© of tho reliable batsmen usually placed lower on the list will have to be promoted to No. 3 position. Lamason, James, M'Girr, and M'Leod must all be sure of places, all being good batsmen and capable of assisting in other departments. James, of course, would go in for wicket-keep-ing alone, and M'Leod as a fine allrounder. Crook must also be given an excellent chance as an all-rounder, while the side would not bo complete wittiout J. Newman and Blundell as bow&ers. As a fast left-hander Henderson still comes into the reckoning, but A. Newman, a medium-paced lefthander, is also entitled to serious consideration, and it will eome^as no surprise to find the Newman brothers both ineJuded. Reverting to all-rounders, Massey and Galliehan are two others whi) have strong claims to inclusion in. the aide, but if the latter gains a plaice he will have to improve his fieKling. Nfeither Standidge norAVarnes are trp to Plunket Shield standard, but both haw) plenty of cricket ahead of them if they continue to develop. Summed up, it seems likely that Wellington's team to meet Otago will come from the following players:—T. C. X/owry (captain), C. S. Dempster, J. B. Lamaao.n, K. C. James, R. Crook, E. G. M-'Leod, H. M. M'Girr, A. and J. Ne-wmati, B. D. Blundell, H. B. Massey, D. Cameron, N. Grallichan, H. Foley, and W. Hepburn.