AN OTAGO OPINION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 23

AN OTAGO OPINION

While the team as announced perhaps contains some "surprise" selections, it may be expected to mould itself into a side that will reflect credit on the Dominion (states the "Otago Daily Times" in commenting upon the New Zealand cricket selection). It is a. sound batting combination—possibly stronger in this department than in bowling or fielding. Of the 14 players three are left-handers —Vivian, Carson, and Donnelly—and there is no very 1 marked tapering-off as the "tail" is reached. Four of the players—Page, Vivian, Kerr, and Weir—were members of Lowry's team which toured England in 1931. Three members of the side bat and field in glasses—Kerr, Hadlee, and Moloney. J. A. Dunning, the only Otago player to secure inclusion, has given fine service to his province in many Plun-

ket Shield matches. He . has just entered his thirty-fourth year. A medium-paced bowler with an off break, he is accurate and tireless, and has taken no fewer than 109 wickets in Shield games—a feat probably not accomplished by more than half a dozen other-players. He is' a moderately good forcing batsman, being more than useful as a tail-ender, and while.his highest score in' Shield matches is 46, he has on numerous occasions, made valuable scores of round about 30 to\vards" the close of an innings. ■ He first played in Dunedin in the 1923-24 season, and then spent some three years in . England, during which period, he played for Oxford University, without obtaining his "blue."! On ■•his return to New Zealand he played'in,;Auckland in.the. 1928-29 season"'and 'became 'a: member of the provincial- : side. .'Since then he has continuously represented Otago. in the Plunket/Shield series.'; He played for New Zealand against Jardine's team in Auckland in 1933—the occasion on which Hammond made his record score of 336 (not out)' against a Dominion j side. . •'■'■' : ;;■' .', . .