Problem Of Selecting Whangarei's Cricket Representatives

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1936, Page 2

Problem Of Selecting Whangarei's Cricket Representatives

The reason lies in the fact that the difficulties which have faced Mr. 11. E. G. Smith are fully recognised. Chief among these has been the inexcusably poor form shown by players in the senior A grade, limited as it is to four teams. Two clubs in particular, have had to rely, almost entirely, upon one player in each instance, and form has been so erratic that only half a dozen have stood out as candidates for the Whangarei first eleven. These are:. Weir and Lawrie (batsmen); Weir, Dunn and Masters as bowlers, and Smith (wicketkeeper).

Even then, Masters had only come to light on one occasion, but it can be safely predicted that this was not a flash in the pan. Dunn’s wicketgetting ability : this season and memories of seven for 21 in the memorable shield match a couple of years ago, when Clyde Mcßeath’s team won the shield for Whangarei, practically guaranteed him a place. Rodney are even more likely to profit by wides and things than were Old Beys, but herein, to a degree, lies Dunn’s success as sf bowler. His is a variety attack. Lawrie, unfortunately, will not be appearing at Matakana, a ground which does not have very happy associations for this brilliant batsman. This is to be deplored, for Lawrie, should he strike the form which he has been revealing consistently in club matches this season, is a batsman quite able to change the complexion of any game. He and Weir are in a class of their own among local batsmen. Weir’s figures this year have been. 3, 45, 97 not out and 40, giving

him an average of 61.6. He is also jin fine form with the ball, and has a better control of it than any other Whangarei trundler.

A Whangarei -representative team, without the leadership of Wilson, will seem quite strange to the Rodney Wilson, as a batsman, has very fine performances to his credit against the old rivals, especially when his side has felt the shoe pinching. However, Wilson and another veteran in the person of Nisbet, who have been stalwarts of the Whangarei Club, as of the representative team, so far have lost touch this season.

Flower probably earned his place by his punishing match-winning . effort against Services and his fou,r for 32 in the first innings. He is the oldest member, of what is the youngest team Whangarei has fielded in recent years, and no doubt his experience will play a part in the framing of Whangarei’s tactics. McKay has probably been ,

brought Into the team as Weir’s

opening partner. While he has the right temperament for big cricket, there are some who consider that

his fellow Nomad, Agnew, a more solid bat, but less alert in the slips,

should have been preferred. Collins has shown good stroke-mak-ing form, except on the leg side, and will require to watch the fast bowlers carefully.

Smith, who for the past couple of seasons, has played second fiddle to McKay, has got his chance behind the wicket. He is very smart, especially in stumping chances, but when snicks fly off the bat, his gloves are not as sound as those of his predecessor. f With the seniors showing such disappointing form, Mr. Smith has had to turn his eyes to the B grade, in which few of the games have been played on the Reclamation. ■lt was not surprising to see Fyfe in the team, despite his failure in the shield match last year. He is a batsman usually worth quite .a few runs, and he and Collins at point and cover respectively, are certain to cut off many runs.

So far as Burch is concerned.

the old question arises whether a really slow leg break bowler of his category is dangerous on the ronevete, f . The Rodney batsmen have a disconcerting habit of using their feet to get to the pitch of a slow ball, and nullify orthodox placing of the field. If Burch could only combine a little more pace with his accuracy of length and ability to turn the ball either way. after the O’Reilly manner, ho would collect a hatful of wickets even on hard pitches. Cole-, who is a fine all-rounder with the Albion Club, has no doubt won his place largely on figures, including his nine for 19 against the weak Combined Services B team recently. It is very doubtful, however, whether he would be a success as a bowler in the A grade. As a batsman he has a pleasing style.

REVIEW OF THE TEAM TO PLAY RODNEY ON SATURDAY

Few With Form In Senior A Grade

THE announcement of Whangarei’s first representative cricket team this season has been received with surprisingly little comment, either appreciative or critical. This is not to say that

little interest has been taken in the match with Rodney on Saturday or the very important trial which the game actually eon*stitutes in view r of the piecing together of the North Auckland team for the provincial trials.

Batten,, who had. a successful couple of days against Rodney last year, might have been preferred

to either Williams or Cole. 1 However, Williams, proved that he is in form by his knocks against Nomads in the last series of games. It will be interesting to see how things go with the new l.b.w. rule, which will be utilised for the first time in Northern cricket at Matakana. It is bound to assist the spin bowlers. It is obvious that Mr. Smith has not been afraid to experiment in announcing a team for a match upon which nothing, so far as the associations are concerned, hinges.