PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 21896, 6 December 1934, Page 13

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO TEAM SELECTED ■ The Otago team which leaves Dunedin on December 20 to play a two-day match against Canterbury at Christchurch and to meet Wellington in the first Plunket Shield match on December 24, 25, 26, and 27 at Wellington, was ohosen by the selectors (Messrs W. Butler, J. M'Mullan, and R. C. Torrance) last night. , . , ' , , The twelve players to make the tour have been selected as follows; — F. T/ Badcock (Colts). V. G. Cavanagh (Dunedin). J. B. Clark (Old Boys). T. Chettleburgh ; (Grange). G. R. Dickinson (Old Boys). J.- A. Dunning (Carisbrook A). C. J. Elmes (Grange)., V. J. Leader (Old Boys). D. .A. B. Moloney (Carisbrook A). C. Saxton (Colts). L. Smith (Colts).

K. Uttley (University). The team, on paper, looks a very solid combination indeed, and it is one which should give an excellent account of itself in the Shield matches. Of the twelve chosen, Saxton and Smith are the only ones who have not previously represented the province in Plunket Shield matches. Langsford Smith, a product of the Albion Club and now playing with the Colts, received his grounding as a bowler from the old New Zealand representative player, Jim Clark-Baker. Smith is a left-hand alow bowler'with a big off-break, and besides achieving considerable success with the ball in club matches this season, has shown himself to be a sound batsman who can be depended on generally ' for a useful contribution. Smith appears to have the right temperament for big cricket, and is not .afraid to tempt the batsmen to have a lash at him. Under conditions suited to his howling he may quite well prove very successful. In any case, he is young and a promising all-rounder, and his selection is a good one. C. Saxton left the Otago Boys’ High School only at the end of last year, but gaining a place in the Old Boys* eleven he soon settled down to give a good account of himself as a forceful batsman and very keen field. He has shown his worth, as an opening batsman for the. Colts this season, and among his best scores were 813 against Kaikorai and 67 against the Grange. Saxton is a hard-hitting batsman with a good range of strokes, and he, too, appears to have the right temperament for big cricket. • _ . V. J. Leader experienced a somewhat lean season last year, but. in club games this season has shown a return to the form that gained him selection in the 1932-33 season. Leader has great defence, and is just the type of player required when a side is up against it. He finished fourth on the Otago batting averages in 1932-33, with an average of, 31.00 and a highest score of 40 against Canterbury. Perhaps the fact that George Dickinson. is able to travel will afford cricketing enthusiasts greater cause for satisfaction that any other, since it is many years since he has accompanied . an Otago team on tour, and his possibilities as a match-winning force are recognised by all followers of the game. If a lively wicket happened to be encountered in Wellington he and Dunning are likely to cause the batsmen a great deal of discomfort, and with a side including also Badccok and Elmes (the left-hander) there should be no _ fears concerning the Otago attack. Dickinson, Dunning, and Elmes have all been in fine form with the ball in the club games, and Elmes in particular has been bowling better than for some seasons past. Although D. A. 11. Moloney has been transferred to .Wellington! tiie rules of

the Plunket Shield competition provide for his still being able to play for Otago, and his choice, of course, was a certainty, the same applying to Tom Chettleburgh and Vic. Kavanagh, both of whom have proved themselves in Shield cricket in the past. Chettleburgh indeed has developed into one of Otago’s best all-rounders, and on occasion is liable to prove more than useful as a change bowler. He has been batting exceptionally well this season, and has strengthened his offside play considerably. Chettleburgh is a punishing bat, and rarely wastes much time in going for the bowling. Ken Uttley finished second to Ced. Elmes in the Otago averages last season, Elmes having an average of 47,00, Uttley’s being 38.33. Uttley has shown fine form in club games, and will, it is hoped, continue in rungetting mood for the Shield games. The standard of wicketkeeping in Otago is not a particularly high one at the present time, but J. B. Clark, the Old Boys’ ’keeper, is promising, and, being also a good batsman, has merited inclusion in the team, which will be captained by Badcock, under .whose capable leadership Otago won the Plunket Shield a couple of years ago. The one or two notable - omissions from the team include A. R. Knight and R. 0. Talbot. Knight has had a run of small scores in the club games, though previously he has usually proved himself in representative games. Talbot, however, has made two particularly good scores, although a little earlier he struck a lean patch. Nevertheless, the side appears to be just about as representative a one as could be chosen, and with a strong attack and every member of the_ selected twelve useful as batsmen, it is one which should worthily uphold the prestige of the province.