SHIELD CRICKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18601, 31 December 1920, Page 4

SHIELD CRICKET.

TO-MORROW’S AIATCH.

AUCKLANDERS ARRIVE. Members of the Auckland cricket . > team arrived in Christchurch from Wellington yesterday morning. They arc in good form and look forward to a keen' game for the Plunket shield. “We are • confident of successj” said the manager (Air j". 11, Watts), “ but we always look upon Canterbury as tbe hardest teanv to beat. Their defeat by:Wellington is not a criterion considering the state of the wicket. We brought our very best team, except for the fact . that! Rountree, the wicket-keeper, could nob make the trip ” Tho captain of the Auckland eleven, is N. C. Sneddon, of Ponsonby. He made 139 against Hawke’s Bay, and impressed tho spectators hy hisjjne .all- - round display. He made 76 for his side in the memorable match of 1912, when play went on to seven o'clock and Auckland won hy two wickets. - A. Anthony, now a member of the ' Parnell Club, is no stranger to Christchurch. He played for Riccarton some years ago, and has been improving . steadily ever since. His friends say that lie is the best all-round man in the Auckland team. He has the top batting average for club cricket and is bowling a puswling leg-break. • E, Horspool made 91 last year against Canterbury. He is not showing as gomi form this season, but is liable to maue •a big soor*. *v any time. , One of tbs outstanding men in the Auckland team is 8. G. Smith, the ex-Notts captain. He Holds the record for top score in Plunket Shield matches. 256 runs, against Canterbury. Smith Is a groat slow bowler, and a beawrit'ul bat. His contribution agairtst Hawke $ Boy was 91 L. G, Herons, Now Zealand repre sentativo for many years, has over 1000 runs m _ plunket Shield matches, and ia looking as fit as ever. Canterbury bowlers will bo glad to see him—in the pavilion. , R. Garrard is a slow break bowler a dating bat. and a, smart man m the outfield. With his brother. W- Garrard, he played against Canterbury , m.., 1918. W. Garrard will keep wickeUon Saturday. Hfe is tt sound Lett. c A. Sneddon, the captain’s brother, plaved his first representative game against Hawke’s Bay, and made JJn to marie the occasion. That .was a record. For two brothers to make centuries rin the- same innings was another record for big cricket. G... a., Sneddon is included for bis batting, but be has also a useful leg break, me-dium-paced. ' - , . -,r- f The fast bowler of the team is W. J. Coates. He can “ rock them in all afternoon. He played against (,«n----terburv in 1918 and 1919. . * A. S. Plaver, the “find” of Auckland cricket, was described yesterday a s “the best bowler sinco. Joe . Bennett.” Last year he took five Canterbury wickets for 45. . H. B. Lusk is well known to the Canterbury cricketing public. In oddition to being one of the in New Zealand he has developed his bowling, a ball with an off spin and swinging. . , R. Somerville is a dashing batsman and a splendid field. He went to Australia with the last Npw Zealand team, and did well. . ~ , The final selection of the Auckland eleven will not be made till to_tnorrow morning. , , CANTERBURY’S CHANCE. 1

The team to - represent Canterbury against Auckland will be selected from the following:— ' V R. C-. Blunt.. ‘ • , E. Brosnahan. A. Grant. J. Al’Ewih. W. R. Patrick. v D. Reese. D. W. Rees*, it. Read. D. M. Sandman. H. M. Taylor. H. Watson. ’<■ “ F. Woods.

In cricketing circle*, yesterday the general view was that either Grant . or D. Reece will be. twelfth , man, but there wa» no definite information available. Slight criticism or. the inclusion of D. Reese (West Christchurch) is countered by the knowledge that his leadership has been a big' facto** in winning numerous important , matches for Canterbury. , ’ .: * Surprise is expressed at the dropping of Thomas, though it is recognised than his form this year, has not been very, good. Most people are glad to seer Woods’ name in. the list. His' batting seems to be improving with every knock. There is also satisfaction over the inclusion of H. Watson, Sydenham.. Watson has been doing well with both bat and ball, and he has the right temperament for shield matches.,' M’Ewin generally get* runs in shield matches. His slow breaks have proved effective in recent dub games, and he will strengthen Canterbury’s attack. D. W. Reese made a good 100 against East Christchurch two or three Saturdays ago, and his bowling is coming on. Read is a certainty after his display against Wellington, and Blunt is another valuable all-round man. Taylor’s * present form as wicket-keeper is nob up to last year’s ' standard, He lins still to get -properly acquainted with Blunt and Sandman’s deliveries. “ It’s a better team than the one which lost to Wellington,” said a club representative, “ and there are very few complaints. Take my word, it’s going to be a stiff game.” J ,’