AUCKLAND'S VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 150, 21 December 1940, Page 15

AUCKLAND'S VISIT

MATCH WITH WELLINGTON

ATTRACTIVE SIDES

Close upon th.c conclusion today of the fifth series of senior championship cricket matches in Wellington comes the first of the interprovincial matches, of which Wellington has at least three, to take the place of the Plunket Shield games. On Wednesday the representatives of Auckland and Wellington are to be in action at the Basin Reserve, and there are good prospects of the event being the cricket attraction of the season.

Four days have been allotted for the match, and there is talent enough in the teams to make the days full of interest for cricket enthusiasts. Naturally the selections this season have suffered on account of the war. For that there can be no complaint whatsoever; indeed, it is a matter of great satisfaction that cricket is so largely represented in the Services. The chance comes for additional players to take rank as provincial representatives, and in this there is a special interest, particularly as it means the bringing out of some promising young players. The youthful representatives will have the backing of players of experience, and that will be all to the good, not only for the colts themselves but also for the teams. There should be some really fine holiday cricket as a wartime tonic.

Auckland is sending down an at-tractive-looking side" despite the fact that some of the well-known players are not available. That sterling campaigner, G. L. Weir, will be leading the side, and it is fortunate, too, that P. E. Whitelaw (now in the Army) is also in. the team, even though this fine batsman failed against Wellington last season. Pearson, whose stout performances Wellington has good cause' to remember, is coming again, as is V. Scott, who has also made some notable contributions to big cricket in this country.

Of interest, too, is the fact that Blandford and Burke, are in the Auckland side. They have, played in club cricket in Wellington, though Burke did not show up nearly so conspicuously as he has done in Auckland. Blandford, as a Wellington representative, won his way to New Zealand honours. Cleverley is another member of the side by no means new to Wellington cricket. In addition there are Burgess, Cleal, Harrison, Andrews, and Wiles. They have been doing well, and they make up a side which should turn on cricket of the right order. It was reported during the week that Wiles would be twelfth man, but it has since been announced that a decision as to who will act as twelfth man will not be made until the morning of the match.

As is the case with Auckland, there is any amount of variety in the Wellington side. Some of the players are amongst the most attractive and enterprising in the province,, and there are others whose promise is such that the opportunity in interprovincial cricket may be the means of bringing them right to the forefront of New Zealand cricket.

Play is to be commenced in this match on the afternoon of Christmas Day, and it will be resumed on subsequent days at 11 a.m. Simultaneously with this match there will be a meeting between Canterbury and Otago at Christchurch.