OXFORD SCORE SLOWLY ON LIFELESS WICKET AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 7

OXFORD SCORE SLOWLY ON LIFELESS WICKET AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec 1.20 a.m. LONDON, May 25. Hadlee lost the toss to Oxford University, at Oxford, this morning. Hofmeyer and Boobyer began very quietly, scoring only 12 runs in the first half-hour. Then Cave, who was keeping a precise length, bowled Boobyer, and Oxford was one wicket down for 12 runs. Hayes and Reid also bowled in the first half-hour, and they found little 'life in the wicket.

Oxford University, who recently beat Yorkshire for the first time in 53 years —and then went down before Lancashire —has selected a good team to meet the New Zealanders. Their most prominent players are the South African and captain, C. B. van Ryneveld, an all-rounder; A. A. Kardar, an Indian test cricketer; P. A. Whitcombe, a medium-fast right-hander who some think may play for England this year; and D. B. Carr, who played for MCC against the New Zealanders at Lord’s. The remaining members of the team are: B. Bobbyer, G. H. Chesterton, M. B. Hofmeyer, J. A. Law, K. Wiley, M. H. Wrigley. The New Zealand team is: W. A. Hadlee, M. W. Wallace. T. B. Burtt, H. B. Cave, M. P. Donnelly, J. A. Hayes, F. H. L. Mooney, J. Reid, V. J. Scott, F. B. Smith. The twelfth man is G. C. Cresswell. B. Sutcliffe is having his first rest since the tour started.

The match is being played on the Parks Ground, a pleasant spot which makes up for having no stands by providing a background of trees of which there are reputedly 127 varieties. The wicket, which was flooded yesterday, has a sand and gravel bottom. It has dried out, and appears spongy. It has an old grass surface devoid of spring growth, and may suit the seamers on the first day and the spinners thereafter.