SHIELD AVERAGES TAKEN AS GUIDE TO SELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18063, 25 January 1927, Page 14

SHIELD AVERAGES TAKEN AS GUIDE TO SELECTION.

GOOD SPIN BOWLER IS BADLY NEEDED. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, January 25. The New Zealand cricket team tor the English tour was practically picking itself on the season's Plunket Shield averages up to the Wellington-Auck-land game as the leading nine batsmen in order were: James, Hiddleston, Lowry, Badcock (Wellington), Page (Canterbury), Worker (Wellington). Dacre (Auckland), Blunt (Otago), Mills I (Auckland). As the Dominion selectors were at New Plymouth for the Hawke Cup match, Taranaki v. Hawke’s Bay and witnessed Worker’s failure it is hard to I see how that player can be selected after his Eden Park experiences, says an Auckland critic. Assuming that Badcock’s claims will be considered • (the writer knows of no reason why I thev should not be, as he is said to have definitely settled in the Dominion : and has been nominated for the team' , there would then be five places to fill, i For these the most likely candidates ! arc Dickinson (Otago L Oliver (Canterbury), Henderson and Brice (Wellington', Allcott, Gillespie and Rowntree (Auckland). The last-named has kept wickets magnificently ‘ in the Shield <final in the last few days and there is no doubt that the discipline of j David Hunter, (the famous Yorkshire keeper) would be invaluable on the home tour but how is he to scrape in with Lowry and James available (they “kept” on the last tour of Australia). Much boosting of Kortlang has been done in Wellington but Saturday’s was his first success in the last four Plunket Shield knocks. There are the makings ot the full complement of tourteen in the above lists without recourse being had to the younger brigade such ns Crawford (Canterbury), Ilollings (Wellington) and Matheson (Auckland'. Whether any of the country bowlers (Clarke and Cole, Taranaki or Mitchell. Hawke’s Bay) can be accommodated depends on their ability to displace in the selector’s opinion recognised trundlers. A good spin bowler (and Mitchell is said to fill the bill) is, however, sadly required.