OTAGO SELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 13

OTAGO SELECTIONS

TEAM .FOR WELLINGTON

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") DUJSTEDIN, This Day. The inability of Shepherd, Dickinson, and M'Mullau. to take part in the first Plunket Shield engagement between Otago and Wellington at Wellington next week has made the task of the Otago selectors a lighter one than, it would have been otherwise, arid there should be little cavilling over the names of the twelve players selected for the trip, though one or two of them may be regarded as a bit lucky to have earned selection in view of their performances this season. i Arthur Aloo is the right man for the position o£ captain. He has represented Otago over a long period of years, and though he is approaching the veteran stage, by New Zealand standards he is still a first-class cricketer —a sound batsman and a splendid length' bowler who can keep his end going all the afternoon if the need arises. More than that, however, Alloo is possessed of very shrewd judgment. Otago's biggest acquisition for the Shield matches is undoubtedly: the advent as coach of T. Badcock, who will probably find AVellington conditions- to his liking. He has- been batting very attractively in clnb matches, with, some decidedly useful scores to his credit, and last Saturday bowled in his best form, taking throe wickets for 29 runs. He is certainly one of the real all-rounders o£ the 'team. Blunt, of course/ must have been one vi the iii-ht'men clioseii,and lie has done well this season, both with the bat aiid the ball. Ho ■ was .certainly a bit lucky in mnking his score of S5 last batimlay, but ho showed signs of his very best form, and most Duuedm followers of the game will be anticipating a big crop ot runs from Blunt during the Shield mutches. He still knows how to spinthe ball most effectively, and on a Wellington wicket to suit him he is likely to bowl well. . .. . . Keg. Cherry is well known an Plunket Shield cricket, and has done well tor Otago in the past. It is a fact worthy of mention that for two or three seasons Cherry was playing cricket in Southland. He was not considered good enough for a place in the Otago team, and yet as soon as he returns to Dunedm he finds a position in 'the Shield team. Cavanagh is well .known as a first-class player in Ug cricket, and he has some very good batting performances to, bis credit in,Plunket Shield matches. Duiuiins is..likely to be one o£ the stalwarts of the attack, and lie showed that lie can plug away all the afternoon when Otago .net" the Englishmen last season. Dminm" bowls, .a fast medium ball, and though'rather lacking in variety is very dangerous on a wicket that suits him. He has improved as a batsman, and goo things are looked for from lura- both with bat and ball in the coming games. He did well when playing for Auckland and lias also played first-class cricket at Home in Dimedin. He .is• looked'upon as one of the strong contenders for a place m the New Zealand team for England; _ ■ G Klmes is one o£ the most promising of Otago's younger all-rounders, and has represented Otago for - two or *«»«*; sons back. So far he has batted ■ ralliei disappointingly/but his left-hand, mediumpace bowling' will certainly be needed ra Wellington. He has been among the wiK during the- past two or three weeks, and the experience of the last two 01 three years should, now be beginmng to. bear fruit. He knows how to make the ball, swerve, and has a particularly wicket-keeper may have given the selectors thought, for, although Galland does not play there 111 club Barnes, he is undoubtedly one o£ the be»t 'keepers Otago has had. Preference ha* been shown for youth however, and Hawkswovth, who found a place last season, again goes in. The Carisbrook player is a most promising man behind the stumps, and a fair.bat. _ Leminhas won his place for his bowling, and he is one member ot the attack who is likely to introduce fireworks into the game, if he' gets a wicket that is assisting him in any way at all. .Leinm is faster than medium pace, and gets a lot of nip off the wicket. He has been bowling in good style in club matches, and was included in the Otago side in several games last season. He is another who has improved as a batsman under the tutelage of Badcock as coach. Moloney is one of-the most promising colts in the province. Last season was his first in representative games. He is an all-rounder and a, -stylish and attractive batsman, who has made some good scores this season. He is a useful change bowler, and his slow deliveries are likely to get the best of them tied up with a "wrong 'un" in his repertoire. He is likely to be among the bowlers utilised by, Alloo il! conditions! are suitable for him. Knight and IX Smith are both a trifle lucky to bo included in the selected twelve on their performances thin season. Kni"ht, however, has a temperament for big cricket. Ho is by no means old as cricketers go. but has represented Otago for ii ttoo;l i»»"ber of years. Smith is an ex-pupil of tho Geelong Grammar Schoo , and it is known that Badcock.has a high. opinion of his capabilities. Ho is but a youngster, and one of great possibilities. L. Giles, of Old Boys, is one ot those unlucky in not being considered! and.B. W Co'apland, the. ex-Southland player, is another whose presence might; have strengthened the bowling. He is a consistent right-hand medium-pace bowler, who has done well in the two games he has played since coming to Dimedin. The side is a sound batting one on paper, but the bowling is such as may make it necessary for the skipper, Alloo, to change it about a good deal.