PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21827, 14 December 1932, Page 8

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The Otago eleven as selected to do battle against Wellington at the Basin Reserve during the Christmas vacation, contains few surprises, and the selectors appear to have chosen what should develop into a good all round side. The only doubtful quantity is the team’s bowling strength, and it seems to me that a bowler of the fastish type would have strengthened this department. In view of past experience, and in the light of the somewhat belated declaration of our “express merchant ” of his inability to travel, I am at a loss, to understand why the selectors did not give the opportunity to . either Silver, of Albion, or Cusack, of Christian Brothers Old Boys, to prove his worth against Hawke’s Bay. These players have several good performances to their credit in local club games this season, and either of them, as n result of a little extra coaching from Badcock during the progress of the pr out series of Plunket Shield games, v.ould probably place the Otago selectors in the happy position of not having to depend on a player, who, strange to say. always finds it convenient to take part in Shield games being played at Carisbrook, or to travel north to represent New Zealand against visiting teams from overseas. To my mind it is high time encouragement was given to one of our younger promising bowlers with sufficient Otago blood in his veins to be willing to travel to represent his province on foreign turf. If it is necessary to make any changes in the constitution of the team' to play Auckland in Dunedin at New Year, I trust that a young player of promise will he given his chance. Even if he failed to get a wicket, the benefit accruing from the experience gained would prove more than useful in future encounters. —I am, etc., Travel or Not at All. Dunedin, December 12.