FOR AUSTRALIA.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16627, 24 October 1925, Page 7

FOR AUSTRALIA.

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TEAM. The selectors have announced New Zealand’s team to visit Australia. Tho side is well balanced, and if the players are able to adopt themselves to the hard wickets they ought to do well, even in the matches against tho Sheffield Shield States. The fourteen men chosen are perhaps the best available, although one or two improvements might have -been made Ear instance, there are two left-hand bowlers, Mcßeth and Allcott. Both arc somewhat similar in style ,and it seems a waste of a man to send the pair. Allcott is the better bat of the two, but then Mcßeth is the superior bowler. Then there is the choice of wicketkeeper. There is no doubt that Rountree is the best man in New Zealand to-day, but there are two colts— James (Wellington) and Boon (Canterbury)—who are not far behind him They are also better bats then the veteran ,aud have the best of theii cricketing days in front of them. Otherwise nc one can find fault with the choice. Dickinson should do well on the hard wickets if he is backed up by good slip fielding, as he has speed and stamina. The tour will also be a golden opportunity for others of the younger brigade—Dempster, Crawford and Blunt. It is pleasing to see that the team includes only two men who can be classed as veterans —Patrick and Rowntree—with Hiddleston, Alloo, and Mcßeth getting on that way.

Patrick was a member of D. Reece’s team which toured Australia in 1913. The selected fourteen are:— C. Allcott (Auckland), left-hand medium paced howler and fair batsman. “A. W. Alloo (Otago), a solid batsman, and the bowler of a slow medium off-break. C. G. Crawford (Canterbury), one of the most promising bats amongst the New Zealand colts. W. Cunningham (Canterbury), a young medium-paced bowler, but a poor bat. C. I lucre (Auckland), a dashing batsman and a brilliant field. S. Dempster (Wellington), one of the most' successful batsmen in big cricket last season; a young player, and a brilliant field. G. Dickinson (Otago), anothei young player. He is New Zealand’s express bowler. He is a hard-hitter with the bat, and a safe man in the field." J. S. Hiddleston (Wellington), a nlaver who has eclipsed all others in Plunket Shield contests, but has been disappointing in Test matches. He is a fine bat, and a useful change bowler. D. Mcßeth (Canterbury), probably the best bowler in New Zealand, but a poor bat. C. Olliver (Canterbury), a reliable batsman and a fine field. W. R. Patrick (Canterbury), the shrewdest cricketer in New Zealand today. A pretty batsman, once lie gets going, and a useful change bowler. P. W. Rowntree (Auckland), New Zealand’s best wicket-keeper. R. dc R. Worker (Otoga), the most successful batsman in New Zealand last year. A left-hander, and a good opening batsman.