First Cricket Test

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1936, Page 6

First Cricket Test

M.C.C. & N.Z. On Friday [Special to "Northern. Advocate/’] AUCKLAND, This Day. The first test of a series of four between New Zealand and. England commences on Friday at Dunedin. The New Zealand team is:—l. B. Cromb (captain), J. E. Mills, H. G. Vivian, G. L. Weir, W. E. Merritt, I. W. Roberts, L. A. R. Moloney, J. R. Lamason, S. C. Elmes, J. Cowie and C. K. Jackman. The five first mentioned players toured England in 1931, while the sixth player, Roberts, was very unlucky to be left behind. The remaining five represent New Zealand for the first time. It is now three years since New Zealand fielded a test team. Since then vacancies have unfortunately occurred. C. S. Dempster, the great opening bat, and K. C. James, the wic-

ket-keeper in many past tests, including three in England, are at present in England qualifying, by residence, for English county teams.

R. C. Blunt is also abroad —he was another star player in England in 192? and 1931. The retirement from cricket of M. L. Page has left New Zealand without an able captain, and he was also a brilliant slips‘field and forcing bat. The Wicket-Keeper. After the retirement of James it was generally felt that E. W. Tindill would be wicket-keeper. He is also a good bat, 'but somewhat slow. However, he is at present in England with the All Blacks, so New Zealand was forced to call on Jackman, of Canterbury, who stumped seven men at Wellington. - J. L. Kerr, who made 146 not out, and 71 for Canterbury against the M.C.C. team, is unavailable for the first test, while P. E. Whitelaw, who won the Bedpath Cup last year for the best batting performance in the Dominion, has struck a bad patch ' this season. Young Players. These depletions have necessitated the selection of young players, who have yet to prove their worth in big cricket. It is on their success or failure that New Zealand’s batting and bowling will ultimately depend. Both, on paper, are rather weak. Mervyn Wallace, the brilliant young Aucklander, whose fine doubles, with Glen Hook, at critical junctures saved Auckland against Canterbury, is a certainty for future tests. These start on January 17 at Wellington, February 28 at Eden Park and March 6 at Christchurch. Englishmen Good. Our opponents have played bright cricket since they left England and have succeeded in winning five of the nine first class games, losing two (New South Wales and Wellington) and drawing two. What appeared at the outset to be a moderate team has developed into an excellent combination, capable of extending our best. In Parks, Smith and Hardstaff they have three splendid batsmen, with capable support assured from Lang-;, ridge and Barber. The bowling is well varied. Sims has developed into one of England’s finest slow bowlers, and the two amateur fast bowlers, Read and Baxter, have met with no little success. Unfortunately, however, the tests have been limited to three days, and it is unlikely that the Englishmen will be beaten in that period now they have struck form. The M.C.C. Side. * The Marylebone XI. to play against New Zealand, will be selected from the following players:—Holmes, Read, Baxter, Human, Mitchell-Innes, Griffiths, Barber, Parks, Langridge, Sims, Smith, Hardstaff. If a fast wicket is likely, both Baxter and Read will be played, otherwise one will probably be dropped. The wicket is in exceptionally fine condition, promising, if fine weather continues, plenty pf runs. Lyttelton is still suffering from an injured arm.