THE NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TEAM.

NZ Truth, Issue 88, 23 February 1907, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TEAM.

: There will always be—as m fopt/ball—a difficulty in -picking a New 'Zealand cricket team, inasmuch as the players are 'so scattered about /that it is impossible to ascertain vthe exact form of the men. In cricket moreover so few 'matches ; are J played : and this difficulty .is further j increased.' The wicketkeeper ; of 'the team would undoubtedly have been Arnold Williams had that, player been available. He is just as clever as BoxshnU with the gloves, and is 1 moreover not ."o fond/". of appealing,! besides which lie is ,'in his best bat- ! ■ting vein this yea.iV-.nd : that mea-ns • he has no "superior m the .colons,. Hel is. nroreover,' a forcing, batsman.: aud' j. we liave -too f«w of that class at pre- ; sent.. The. bowling is m the hani^s of .j the men who have for several years : past iionc nearly all the worlc for New Zealand teams, viz.. Callaway, j ■ Upham , Downes and Tucker.' "There ; are one or two other change bowlers, -such as Siedeberg. Tucker, Haddon, Umd Reese. But just now We look mi n ' vain. for a good slow trunr-llcr of the Robertson type to'hel" the former quartette- There is* however,- some'

good talent, which, if properly I handled, should result m the totals being kept well down. As to the baitting", Ja.ck Mahoney's scores against the Englishmen m the first Wellington match and later at Christchurch fairly carried him into the, team. He is a much steadier man than of yore. The selection of .Sales was unexpected here. Sierieberg is a reliable man and is- well worth his place. Jimmy Lawrence has batted up to his old form this season and lias exhibited plenty of confidence. Msny people would "prefer a rising youngster m hia place, however. The selection of Dan Reese is something m the nature of an experiment. He has not played much cricket m England for the last season or two and did nothing m the late match for his province against the visitors. Of course, if- at his best, Reese would be an early choice. But is he at his best? Boxshall is an expert wicket-keeper and has often got runs when most required. His • riiethods behind the sticks are not palatable, at any rate to Wellington crowds, and it would be just as well— if Williams cannot play m the second test match— that another choice be made for the game here. Coberoft' has been battin- and fielding well this season and many thought he would strike a place. Summed up . the team is a good one, but wanting m aggressiye batsmen, and with even luck should beat the Englishmen.