AUCKLAND HAS GOOD SIDE FOR SHIELD FINAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18056, 17 January 1927, Page 1

AUCKLAND HAS GOOD SIDE FOR SHIELD FINAL.

STRONG IN BATTING, AND HAS VARIETY OF BOWLING TALENT. (Special to the “Star.") AUCKLAND, January 17 The following have been selected tc represent Auckland against Wellington in the final Plunket Shield match: C. F. W Alcott, A Anthonv, E. H Bowley, I. W. Cooper, C. C. Dacre (cap

tain). If. D. Gillespie, A. M. Matheson, J. K. Mills, A. S. Player, R. W. Rowntree. N. C. Sncdden, R. E. Fra ter (twelfth man). The unenviable task of K. 0. Beale, j N. ('. Snedden and G. Cummings in selecting the Auckland team to play Wellington in the final Plunket Shield match of the season, commencing at. Eden Park oil Friday, has been accomplished. The team is a solid combination which should be capable of fully extending the formidable Wellington side and, perhaps on its home ground, of beating it. It would be impossible for any three good judges of the game such as the three Auckland selectors are, to choose an eleven men that would give satisfaction to everyone, but few will be able to find fault with the present team. Nine members of the. team which met with so much success on the southern tour were considered certainties. As was expected, R. E. Frater (now reserve), J. P. Gerrard and 11. Wilson were not selected. Two places left in the eleven have been tilled by A. Anthony and N. <’.. Snedden. Their selection should strengthen the team, although Anthony’s inclusion is somewhat surprising. However, he is one of the few batsmen to score a century in club cricket this season, and seems to have the happy knack of rising to the occasion in big cricket. He and Snedden were the two most successful bowlers for Auckland against Wrllington last year. Anthony mav classed as a veteran, though maybe his cricketing days are far from being finished. Sneddon’s selection is considered wise. He has had plenty of experience in big cricket, is a fine batsman and a useful change bowler As captain of Auckland he did not use himself as a bowler enough and without the weight of captaincy on his shoulders may prove more successful. While Sncdden’s choice may be. justified the exclusion of V. C. Butler (Eden) is a mystery. He had been bowling well in club cricket and making big scores on Beale’s tour. Against North Shore (Auckland champions) on Saturday he celebrated his return from Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast by compiling 97. Anthony, on the other hand had two knocks against North Shore B (who beat Parnell), the ex-Canterbury man being caught for 17 in the first innings and bowled for 13 in the second. At the bowling crease he failed to take a wicket in Shore’s second innings of 175 for five wickets (declared). Auckland's Plunket team is strong in batting. Til this department it is not far behind Wellington and it contains practically the cream of bowling talent in Auckland. Alcott, Player, Bowley, Cooper, Snedden, Dacre, Anthony and Matheson arc. all men capable of taking good wickets, and they will certainly provide Dacre with plentiful opportunities for his policy of rapid bowling changes.