Strongest Team Should Be Chosen For Cricket Test Against Australians

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27296, 24 January 1950, Page 8

Strongest Team Should Be Chosen For Cricket Test Against Australians

By the Sports Editor

Sports Commentary

Because the result might well influence the interchange of visits between the two countries, the New Zealand cricket team to play Australia in March should be the strongest side available. * The Australian team which has been selected for the tour of the Dominion does not include many Test players, since most of the leading Australian cricketers are at present in South Africa, but with the wealth of cricketing talent that Australia possesses, the side is a good second eleven and one that should prove hard to beat. The New Zealand Cricket Council, too, will be fully alive to the desirability of proving that the excellent showing of the New Zealand team in England is consistent with the general standard of play in the Dominion.

Otago supporters are confident that two at least of the side which represented the province in Plunket Shield matches will feature in the one unofficial test to be played against the Australians. Several players with consistently good performances choose themselves, and those who appear to be certainties are W. A. Hadlee (captain, of Canterbury). V. J. Scott (Auckland), B. Sutcliffe (Otago). W. M. Wallace (Auckland), J. R. Reid (Wellington), G. F. Cresswell (Wellington), F. H. L. Mooney (Wellington), and T. B. Burtt (Canterbury), comprising five recognised batsmen, two bowlers and the wicket-keeper. If J. A. Cowie (Auckland) is available, he may well provide the fast attack, with G. W. F. Overton (Otago), the most successful wicket taker in the recent Plunket Shield series, giving excellent support. Apart from his ability to bowl in-swingers and obtain movement from the wicket, Overton can bowl for long spells, showing improvement as the day progresses.

A right-hand spin bowler is necessary to complete the attack, and, as neither G. 0. Rabone (Wellington) nor C. C. Burke (Auckland) has performed with much success, A. M. Moir (Otago) might well be the player selected unless the selectors prefer another recognised all-rounder. Moir conforms more to the Australian type of slow bowler, bowling faster and with a lower trajectory than most slow bowlers, and in fact is almost of medium pace. His performance against Canterbury was full of merit, this being his first Plunket Shield game, while this is his first year as a bowler of this type. A team which would meet with general satisfaction and one containing players with good performances would be:—B. Sutcliffe, V. J. Scott, W. M. Wallace, W. A. Hadlee, J. R. Reid, F. H. L. Mooney, A. M. Moir, T. B. Burtt, J, A. Cowie, G. W. F. Overton and G. F. Cresswell. If Cowie is not available, then A. R. Mac Gibbon (Canterbury) might be included. Otherwise, he would be twelfth man. Transfer To Dunedin The South Canterbury and South Island Rugby wing three-quarter, J. Taylor, should be seen in Otago Rugby in the coming season. Taylor, who is in the employ of the Railways Department, was transferred to Dunedin some time ago, and it is understood that he will join the Dunedin Football Club. Taylor will be well remembered by Otago Rugby patrons for the brilliant runaway try he scored for South Canterbury in the Ranfurly Shield match against Otago at Carisbrook in 1948 after covering about three-quarters of the length of the field. He took part in the All Black trials in 1948. Masport Cup Otago speedboat enthusiasts will have a keen interest in the meeting of two New Zealand speedboats credited with more than 70 miles per hour in races for the Moult Trophy and Masport Cup which will probably be held on February 25 and March 4 respectively at Wellington. Both trophies are held by Redhead, of Wellington. Redhead's principal opponent is expected to be the Auckland hydro-plane Barracuda, owned by Mr L. Griffin, which is now being tried out with a new 750 horse-power Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine. With power in reserve. Barracuda recently reached 60 miles per hour on a trial run. Formerly powered with a 300 horse-power Hispano-Suiza engine, she reached 72 miles per hour. Redhead’s Australia and New Zealand record is 82.6 miles per hour. Both craft are single step hydroplanes. Redhead is powered with a’looo horse-power Allison aeroplane engine.

Cricketer’s Reappearance The reappearance of W. M. Uttley in senior cricket in Oamaru last Saturday, caused a stir among the cricket enthusiasts of that town. In a noncompetition match played between the leading team, Albion, and Oamaru A, Uttley was called upon to open the Oamaru innings much to the delight of both teams. His stay at the wickets was short, however, as he was dismissed after scoring a single. Mr Uttley has taken a very active part in cricket in North Otago, and until a few years ago was an esthusiastic member of the Oamaru Club. He is however, better known to many people in the cricketing world as the former coach of the Waitaki Boys High School first eleven, which has had a fine record in inter-school cricket. He gave up this position when he retired from the teaching staff of the Waitaki Boys’ High School towards the end of the 1949 school year. Since his retirement his interest has not waned and he is still a member of the North Otago Cricket Association Executive. Croquet Championships

The Otago Croquet Championships will be held at Logan Park, commencing on February 9, and will be under the management of Mrs F. Gibson and Mrs B. Rhodes, who made such a successful job of the organisation of the South Island championships which concluded last week. The form of the Otago players in the recent tournament was good enough to suggest that there should be some excellent displays at the forthcoming provincial meeting. After the championships, an event of importance to croquet players will be the visit of Mr Arthur Ross, New Zealand Council referee and official coach, who will visit Dunedin to give group and individual coaching to members of the various clubs. He will be in the city for about 10 days. Albion-YMCA First Win

The Albion-YMCA cricket eleven recorded its first win of the season when the combined team defeated North East Valley outright last Saturday. Albion-YMCA has for many seasons past performed well below expectations prior to Christmas but in the new year period has turned on cricket more in keeping with the standard of its players. The Watson brothers were undoubtedly AlbionYMCA's most successful player's and it is pleasing to see these two keen students of the game meeting with success. E. Watson scored 82 and captured six wickets on the first day while his younger brother with slow spinners accounted for four North East Valley batsmen in their second innings. In addition, he followed up his first innings of 62 by scoring a good 21. not out, in his second visit to the crease. Brilliant Woman Sprinter The brilliant young sprinter, Marjorie Jackson, set an Australian 220yds record of 24.75ec in winning the Australian title at Adelaide on January 2. She beat Shirley Strickland by four yards, with Ann Shanley another yard away third, writes Frank Tierney in the 'Sunday Herald. The previous record of 24.95ec was set by Joyce King at Sydney in January, 1948. Miss Jackson now enjoys an enviable reputation in Australian and. perhaps, world athletics. At this carnival she has equalled Fanny Blankers-Koen's world record of 10.8 see for the 100 yards, and made an Australian record for 220 yards.

Educational Value Of British Empire Games Sports bodies throughout the Dominion will be pleased to_ learn that opportunities to capitalise on the educational value of the leading performances at the Empire Games will not be lost. Three officers of the Physical welfare Brandi will be present at Ardmore, the Papakura athletic training track, and the Olympic swimming pool throughout the preliminary training period of the Games for the sole purpose of filming performances which are considered of instructional value, for discussing mutual problems with overseas coaches and officials, and for gaining first-hand knowledge of national recreational campaigns which are either sponsored or assisted by overseas Governments. Films taken by the Department’s camera-man under the best technical advice will later be catalogued into instructional “ loops ” and copies will be made available at cost to all interested sports clubs and associations throughout New Zealand. Mr J. C. Bcllwood, one of the three physical welfare officers assigned to the task, is president of the Otago Track and Field Coaching Panel. Loss To Softball The Otago Softball Association and the Logan Park Club in particular will suffer a loss by the, departure of W. Hill to take up a teaching position in Winton. Prior to joining Logan Park, Hill was .a member of the Training College Club with whom he developed his pitching ability to such a degree that he became first choice for this position in recent Otago teams. After his impressive display in the recent Otago-Southland Jefferies Cup challenge, it was surprising that he was not requested to attend the final trials for the selection of the South Island team which are to be conducted in Timaru next week. Hill has .notified that he will be available if required, for the return Otago Southland match to be played in Invercargill on February 11.