Cricket

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 24

Cricket

By "Not Out."

FESTIVAL DAYS

PLUNKET SHIELD CONTEST

WELLINGTON'S PART

With Auckland and Canterbury visiting Wellington in flic course of their participation in this season's Plunket Shield contest, and tho engagements ■with the local representatives taking place during the Christmas-New Year holiday .period, there will be something akin to a cricket festival hero. And while the Shield matches locally are in progress there will be other matches for the trophy elsewhere, so that as from Saturday next, when the Shield series commence, cricket interest will be live throughout tho Dominion. The Christmas-New Year Plunket Shield programme is as follows:—1- * December 23, 20, 26, 27. —Wellington v. Auckland, at Wellington. Otago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. December 30, Jan. 1, 2, 3.—Wellington y. Canterbury, at Wellington. Otago y. Auckland, at Auckland. January 5, G, 8, 9.—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Auckland. In view of what had been indicated previously as to the Wellington, selector's intentions, the Wellington team to meet Auckland (and it will be subjected to little, if any, alteration, for the match with Canterbury) does not •occasion much surprise. Mr. Tucker is keen to form a solid foundation for the future, and he has made as much room as he deemed, fit for the more promising of the younger players. At the same time there is a good deal of experienced talent in the chosen side, and some of this, too, is still quite young. With the exception of Ell, the players selected all appeared for AVellington in representative matches last, season, and'in the main they are worthy of the honour conferred upon them this season. The electiori could have been to give it a greater appeal as a more dependable side, .but it is a good enough one to produce the goods probably.earlier than might be expected. It has fine possibilities all round, and, whatever the rosults of tho matches, the selector will be well satisfied if those whom he has chosen perform well. There is room among tho younger players for sorno stiffening by an experienced and reliable batsman, and it may be that Lamason is the player whom tho selector has in mind for this purpose. Massey would have been a very useful man in the team, and in the bowling department it is rather surprising to find Griffiths omitted in view of the very high opinion held of his capabilities -as a spin bowler. However, Mr. Tucker is taking a risk, and it may prove to be well worth, while. The team can be looked upon to contribute much to the good things which the cricket festival has in store. >