A SPECIAL MATCH

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1935, Page 11

A SPECIAL MATCH

INTER-ISLAND CRICKET MANY PLAYERS AVAILABLE The decision of the New Zealand Cricket Council to hold an inter-island match this season will be welcomed because the absence of a visiting overseas team caused lepresentative matches so far as the major associations were concerned to be confined to the Plunket Shield series, and also because it is generally recognised that New Zealand cricketers' do not get enough match play apart from their weekly club competitions. Local enthusiasts have special cause to feel pleased since the. season her© threatened to close with ■no ■ special attractions . other than the Shield match against Otago and the special two-day game with Auckland. ', • Suggestions made earlier in the season with tho object of augmenting tho Plunket Shield programme met with an obstacle in the form of doubts as to whether sufficient players would be available to make the extra matohee worth while, but according to tfee lists of names sent in to the Cricket Coun-. cil from each of the major associations the selectors will have a practically unlimited- choice for tho inter-island game. INCLUSION OF COACHES. The council received forty-one names, and as these did not include the- two professionals Townsend (Auckland) and Badcock (Otago), there could have been few of the leading players who were not available. Though_ the coaches' names were not sent in, it is possible that both will be picked. Not only would their presence make the match more attractivo to the public, but also it would enable some valuable lessons to be given on the field" 01 play to the younger players. In this regard it is probable that youth will be well served in the selection, and Wallace and Sale (Auckland) ami Ell and Tricklebank (Wellington) are four who may be expected to be given a chance. Ell and Sale, o£ course, have given performances which would justify their inclusion, while the other two have also displayed ability past the promising stage. PLAYERS AVAILABLE. Tho following names were submitted to the council: — Auckland.—H. G. Vivian, P. E. Whitelaw, J. E. Mills, D. B. Edmonds, A W. McCoy, M. Wallace, J. Cowie, E. G.- Bush, G. L. Weir, A. M. Matheson, V. S. Sale. Wellington.—ls. D. Blundell, J. Ell, E. W. Tindill, W. Tricklebank, C. Parsloe, 5. B. Lamason, W. Eainbird, E. A. Whyte, E. Morgan, S. Ward, B. Griffiths, E. G. McLeod. Canterbury.—C. J. Oliver, C. G. Crawford, I. B. Cromb, M. Graham, W. A. Hadlee, S. Andrews, F. M. Bellamy, M. L. Page, A. W. Eoberts. Otago.—G. E. Dickinson, J. A. "Dunning, V. G. Cavanagh, F. Chettloburgh, K\ Uttloy, L. Smith, C. Saxton, V. Leader, Moloney. Of Hie "North Islanders nained_ the following would probably constitute the strongest eleven: Whitelaw, Mills, Vivian, Ell,' Woir, Tindill, Lamason, Sale, Wallaco (or Ward) Cowio, and Blundell.- Tf, .however, the Auckland coach is to be included and special consideration given to colts, the final selection of Messrs N. C. Rnedden and A. Duncan may be something like tho following: Whitelaw, Tindill, Vivian, 1311. Townsend, Lamason, Sale, Wallace, Tricklebank, Cowip, and Blundell. POSITION OF MOLONEY. .Ono possible alteration in the above selection may be brought about by the inclusion of Moloney the former Otago player who has been meeting, with such success in local /club matches, particularly as the side does not include a straight-out slow bowler. Moloney, however, has been nominated by Otago for the South Island team, but it is, conceivable that, his residence in -Wellington" will result in his being considered 'as a North Island candidate. The strongest candidates for tho South Island team appear to be Bellamy, Cromb, Hadlee, Page, Andrews, Eoberts, Uttley, Dunning, Dickinson, and Saxton, with Badcock a certainty if he is considered available. Allen and Kerr arc apparently not available, and consequently another opening partner will have ,to be found for Bellamy, in addition to a wicketkeeper. Page appears to be the lOßical choice as captain -of thn South Island team, while the leadership of the northerners will probably lie between Vivian and Blundell. The Aucklandcr's captaincy, particularly in tho recent Shield match against Wellington, has been the subject of praise and he may be preferred. PREVIOUS MATCHES. Tho first inter-island match . was played at Wellington in ■ 1904. The South Island won by one wicket and ono run, scoring'l6B and'lßs against the North Island's 196 and 156. For the North Island, Mason made 36 and 26, and Mahoney 54 and 31. K. M. Ollivier scored 48 and 22. H. Graham, the famous Victorian playor, who was coaching in Otago,' scored 10 and 60, S. Galloway 17 and 63 not out, and S. Orchard 37. \ Tho next match was played at Christchurch in March, 1922. The North Island won by five wickets. E. C. Blunt scored 50 for the South Island, W. E. Patrick 39 nnd 32, E. Arnoil, of Nel-. son 37 and 52, and D. McK. Sandman 37.' For iho North Island, J. >S. Hiddlcston scored 16 and 68, N. C. Snedden 32 and 37, C. F. Allcott 40, and Barclay 67. •