CRICKET NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 16

CRICKET NOTES.

REPRESENTATIVE SELECTION.

COLTS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED.

FIRST TEST MATCH ON FRIDAY.

Tito lot of tho Auckland selectors thi: fphson does not, appear to bo a particularly happy one. Twenty players have now been selected for representative practice, and it is riot going to bo an easy task tc fino that- lot down to tlio dozen who will jnako tlio Southern tour. Rowntree, ol course, will bo wickctkoeper, and Bowley, Player, Allcott, Gillespie, G. L. Weir, Mills, Postles and Cooper aro certainties. It 'is tlio thrco remaining places that will givo tho selectors food ior thought. At least, ono more bowler is required, and it appears as though tho choice lies between Hoy, of Ponsonby, and McCoy imd Goodsir, of Paniell. Two batsmen could then bo found to fill tho remaining two places. Thcro aro two very promising players who havo not been chosen to practise, but who would probably dc equally as well as any attending tho nets ut present. They aro Geo and Whitelaw, both of University. A F. Weir is having a run of bad luck, but he should certainly be in tlio representative practice. Whitelaw and Geo have toured with Mr. E. C. Beale's teams, and have both dono fairly well. Last season W hitelaw played for tho Auckland representatives against Manawatu, and gavo a very lino e.\hibition with tho bat. Three Promising Colts. For 50! 11 o reason or other tho Auckland selectors do not fed disposed to cricouragt) colts. In Whitelaw, P>ush and Pearson there aro three promising young cricketers, all worthy of being placed ill represenativo practice. But the selectors prefer to stick to veterans and other phi vers not so good or so promising as tiie trio mentioned. It i.s only necessary to quote the case fit Canterbury to realise what benefit is derived from encouraging young players. Arthur Sims, I he lata E. E. Crawslmw. the late 11. I;. llickmott, arid M. E. Page all represented their province while still pupils at tlio Boys' High School, while W. E. Merritt gained his cap and also a place in tho New Zealand team immediately after leaving school. Arthur Sims turned out to be one of the finest b,it3 Now Zealand has known. Craws-haw and llickmott had their careers cut short in the war. llickmott gavo promise of being one of tho greatest all-round players tho Dominion has produced. Pago and Mcrritt were outstanding successes with tho Xcw Zealand team at Homo last year. These aro the names of players from hut ono school. R. C. Blunt got into the Canterbury team soon after leaving Christ's College, and amongst others too numerous to mention C. Oliver, C. G. Crawford, A. Cox and A. W. Roberts were all in the representative team while still in their teons. Who, therefore, can deny Canterbury's policy ha 3 boon a sound one? Mixed With Experience. With experienced players like 'Bowlev, Rowntree, Allcott, Mills, Player, and Gillespie in tho team surely it would not be too big-a burden for the touring party to include one or more of tlio colts! Moreover, tho question arises—• Would they be a burden? Probably not. The policy adopted bv Mr. E. Q. Beale in the selection of his touring teams appears to be tho sounder one. Ho invariably has a liberal sprinkling of colts in bis parties, with just or.e or two seasoned players to hold the teams together. The long run of successes obtained by his teams has fully justified his action. By making 131 for Eden against United Suburbs last Saturday A. J. Postles became top-scorer for the season so far. The previous highest score was that of G. L. Weir, who scored 130 not out for Eden against Grafton. The only other centuries so far aro those obtained by Dunning (103) for University against Y.M.C.A., and McLeod (123) fcr l'onBonby against Grafton. Tho first test match between England find Australia, commencing in Brisbane ou Friday nc.\t, is being looked forward to with keen interest by all followers of cricket iu the Dominion. Tho balance of minion favours England's chances, though tho result is not by any means looked Upon as a. foregone conclusion. The small scoring on a wet wicket in the earlier part of the match between tho tourists and Queensland tends to obscure tiic result of tho first test match. Succe33 ol 0. E. Nothling, The success achieved by 0. E. Xnthling "with |he ball for Queensland against the Englishmen must enhance his prospects of inclusion in ono of tho remaining four test matches. Ho took three wickets for 61 in the match at Sydney for tlio Australian eleven against England, and his five for 78 for Queensland (an average that would havo been considerably better but for bad catching) must further bring hinr into tho limelight as a test possibility. Nothling can also make runs, and, as he is a good field, his claims n? an all-rounder must bo equal to those of one or two of the "big twelve" chosen for the test commencing on Friday. I'. W. Rowntreo, tho Grafton wickotkeopor, is not having too pleasant a time this season. Quo evening at tho nets he v.as struck on the kneo with a fast ball and tho injury developed into "water." In the match between Grafton and Ponsonby on Saturday Guiney attempted to back-cut a ball hard and struck Rowntreo across tho thumb, necessitating h hold up of play for u few minutes. Goodwin, of Grafton, is a better bowler than ho is generally given credit for. He 3nixes hi.; deliveries well, with an occasional bull which turns sharply from the off. Against Ponsonby on Saturday he bowled very steadily'and there i.s 'little doubt his captain erred in spelling him too long. Langridge's First Bowl. .7. Langridgo had his first turn at the howling crenso this season against Ponsonby on Saturday, but failed to get a. wicket, gaining no assistance from the prevailing condition:;. Allcott is one of the most unlucky howlers in Aucklan I. .Scarcely a match passes without, at least two chances going alleging off his deliveries. Had .McLeod been dismissed with tho total at 36 when lie spooned an easy catch off tho left-hander and again off the same bowler when tho board read 60, Ponsonby's prospects of winning would havo heen verv remote judging upon tho failure of the batsmen ,who followed. University's chances of winning the senior championship this «ea?on have do teriorated somewhat as a result of its rather feeble batting display j n both innings against Parnell. 'Dunning, who Started off tho season :-o v eil, has slumped rather badly, and he will have to show improvement to get into the representative team. , Tlio Auckland. Cricket Association decided at a recent meeting to play all &■*.]„ matches on Saturday. December 22. Tt,« senior teams will be greatly depleted w;fh both the representative team and Mr. C. Bealo's touring team away. Other players will have started their holidays so 'it will occasion no surprise to hear of the association rescinding its decision, at least so far as tho first-grade competition is concerned. U.S., Napier, writes :--rv,,j|d V r,., SP tti e n cricket argument. 1, j. Gregorv, tho Australian cric,;eipr. ;t or lefthand batsman?— Gregory bowls right hand and bats left hand.—Athletic Editor.