CHOICE OF PLAYERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 15

CHOICE OF PLAYERS

MATCH WITH AUCKLAND

WELLINGTON TEAM

The selection of the Wellington team to meet Auckland in the representative cricket match at the Basin Reserve, commencing on Christmas Day, has created no little surprise. Almost a clean sweep of last season's representatives has been made by the new selector (J. R. Lamason), though there are several of the Wellington Plunket Shield players of 1939-40 who are not available this season.

Only two town players—the selector and D. S. Wilson—retain their places in the Wellington provincial side, and T. L. Pritchard, of Manawatu, is the other player to be brought into, the side from last season's selection. As a fast bowler Pritchard was bound to hold his place, his performances last season putting him at the top. Wilson, well up in the batting but not so successful with the ball in the last Shield series, is a most serviceable allrounder, and there did not appear to be much doubt "about his being included in the team to meet Auckland. Lamason has not been a great success in Shield cricket, and last season averaged only 11 per innings and took a few wickets at fairly high cost. However, he" occasionally does big things, and he has the confidence and experience.

With the inclusion of M. P. Donnelly, .W. E. Norris, and T. Downes, as well at Pritchard, the Country has representation comparable with that of years ago when it was usual to find three or four players from the country districts in Wellington's Plunket Shield side. Donnelly is home again in Taranaki after having served Canterbury well, and a place for him in Wellington's side was in no doubt. Downes has been knocking at the door on previous occasions, and his claims received further backing by reason of his good performance with the ball in the recent Town-Country match. Norris receives the post of 'keeper, a position for which Mooney was, it seemed, being developed. Mooney, though not so impressive this season, is gaining valuable experience. The wicket-keeper who has been most, impressive this season is D. Heenan, and it is surprising that he was not called upon for the match with Auckland. He has the backing of experience as an Otago representative. . I Of fourteen town players invited |by the selector to attend representative ' practices five are included in the team —P. D. Wilson, D. S. Wilson, T. Russ, !N. Burnette, and J. Rabone. _ With I them is the selector (who captains the side), H. W. Osborn (who has shown himself to be a consistent batsman during the past few seasons), and H. Lubransky (chosen as twelfth man). It is stated that a number of players were not available. E. G. McLeod and V. H. dv Chateau were known to be two of them. The range of talent, however, could not have been depleted so considerably as to make the choice of town players so far from expectations. There are Hepburn, Thomas, O'Neill, Rice, Ashenden, Whyte, and others who have been showing up amongst the best • performers in this season's cricket. Can it be that they were all not available? Whatever team is chosen to represent Wellington, there is merit in it. The field of selection Is wide and not lacking in quality. But in this case it does seem that the choice could have been more attractive, though it certainly does offer the prospect of seeing what a strong, sprinkling 01 new blood can do in facing strong opposition. There is a great chance for some of the newcomers to make a name for themselves.