AUCKLAND CRITIC REVIEWS POSITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18015, 27 November 1926, Page 9

AUCKLAND CRITIC REVIEWS POSITION.

HE GIVES NAMES OF ELEVEN CERTAINTIES. The “ Stax’s ” Auckland correspondent sends the following comment on players who may or may not be selected for the New Zealand team:— The latest available data of the form of our players in big cricket is provided by the performances of the team in Australia last year. The batsmen who were then successful (excluding Patrick, who has withdrawn from play outside of club games) were:—Oliver, Dacre, Blunt, Allcott, Crawford, Lowry and Worker in that order Blunt and Cunningham were the outstanding bowlers, with Allcott a qualified success in attack in that he frequently pegged down the best batsmen when they scored freely off the others, and came through with a moderate average. It may be assumed that these seven will be invited to go to England. Players who were selected for the Australian trip, but were unable to get away included Hiddleston, Dempster, Rowntree and Dickinson, who are still in the forefront of the game. This gives us practically eleven certainties. Two other first-class all rounders who might have been considered had they

(Two Aucklanders.)

not notified the selectors early that they would be unable to make the trip were Shepherd and Snedden So that on last year’s form the play practically selects thirteen of the fourteen men required. The Other Candidates.

Of those who are knocking at the door the all-rounders include Bernau, Collins and M’Girr (Wellington), Player, Cooper, Smith and Garrard (Auckland), and to a less degree of bowling strength M'Leod (Wellington) and Mills and Gillespie (Auckland), while Ailoo and Blamires (Otago) are also on the list under this head. The players whose qualifications are confined to batting and fielding are Lambert (Wellington), Zimmerman (Otago), Gerrard (Auckland) and Cox and Woods (Canterbury) ; while the straight-out bowling candidates are Brice and Henderson (Wellington) and Douglas (Otago) As a plain, blunt follower of the game, I should nominate Bernau straight off for fourteenth man on the

list of thirteen sorted out by last season’s play, and then examine that list for its strength and its weaknesses. What the Team Needs. Its outstanding strength is batting in that eleven of the fourteen are capable of making a century in the best clasd of cricket; I exclude Rowntree, Dickinson and Cunningham, though I recognise that either of the first two of these is good for over a score of runs at any time. But the batting has a weakness—there are only two lefthanders. Worker and Allcott. Fielding is satisfactory. Wicket-keeping ditto. Rowntree is ahead of anyone else at present playing in New Zealand, and is the orly keeper who stands all the time right up to the wicket to fast stuff, while Lowry is a good reserve keeper, a good bat and a good field. Bowling is satisfactory for special matches, with Dickinson (fast, right), Cunningham (medium, right), Allcott (medium, left), Bernau (medium-fast, left) and Blunt (slow, right), for the main attack, and Dacre (medium, Wt). Snedden (slow-medium, right) and Hiddlen i slow-medium, right) for reserves. It is obvious that, for a tour, another good bowler (preferably one who is also a good left-handed bat) would be a considerable strength to the team; if he were a good left-hand spin bowler, so much the better. S. G Smith, on his form three or four years ago, would be the very man. The Outsiders. This, of course, is presuming a vacancy, and. again being blunt, I think that, of the fourteen mentioned players, those who have yet to fully demonstrate their fitness for places are:—Lowry (because of lack of firstclass practice at. Napier'. Shepherd and Snedden The form of the latter two is sometimes patchy, and when good improving colts are waiting for a place the selectors cannot afford to overlook patchiness on the part of the seasoned players Again being blunt, the performances last season of Neale, Newman, Scholium and Galiichan, in Hawke Cup matches, considering the class of the cricket, do not give them any special claim to consideration. The decision of the council to play a rpecial match by a Wellington team against an eleven from the minor counties is a good one, provided the Wellington team includes the best Wellington batsmen and Badcock, Brice and M'Girr as bowlers. On the play of the last two or three years the bowling of these three in rep. matches in the heavy atmosphere and breezy conditions in Wellington, has been the best test of batting form that a visiting batsman can get. Incidentally, it has been the real secret of Wellington’s success in home matches—particularly Badcock's accuracy.

DUNEDIN CLAIMANTS FOR NEW ZEALAND TOURING SIDE.

(Special to the “ Star”) DUNEDIN, November 28. Blunt and Dickinson will undoubtedly be amongst the first men selected for the New Zealand cricket team for the English tour, but there seems to be an impression that whatever happens Otago will have to be satisfied with no further representation. There are two others who must be given something more than a sporting chance, however. They are Galland and Shepherd. Galland is the best field in the Dominion, and besides that is a useful bowler, a fine wicketkeeper, and a forceful batsman of a type that will be needed, judging by the statement* recently made by the new Auckland coach. There is no need to emphasise the qualities of Shepherd. They are known throughout the Dominion. At his best, there is no other batsman quite like him. A W. Alloo’s chances must be discounted for the nonce, but he is always a possibility. Though C. W. Rattray was not sue cessful in securing the services of a competent coach for Otago while in England, it is understood he has an important report to present to the association at its next meeting.