AUCKLAND WANTS ROWNTREE IN N.Z. TEAM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18085, 19 February 1927, Page 2

AUCKLAND WANTS ROWNTREE IN N.Z. TEAM.

SCHEME TO RAISE FUND AND MAKE OFFER TO CRICKET COUNCIL(SpeciaI to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND. February, 19. In some quarters in Auckland inquiries have been made as to the probable success of an effort to have R. W. Rowntree, of Auckland, sent with the New Zealand cricket team by private subscription. A number of offers of subscriptions to this end have been made, and a prominent player and administrator has been asked to make inquiries of the New Zealand Council about the probability of Rowntree being accepted for the team on such terms, or in the alternative to press for his inclusion, either as fifteenth man or in place of Bad cock in the possible event of that player being dropped. A “ Star ” inquirer was informed that there would be little difficulty in getting about £2OO by private subscription to support the inclusion of Rowntree as an extra man. The cost per man for the tour is estimated at about £SOO. Precedents Quoted. One member of the Auckland Association who was consulted about the probability of success in such a proposal was not optimistic'. He recalled the Kelleway affair in connection with the Australian eleven, and the New Zealand Rugby football parallels of H. E. Nichols and Don Wright, when similar offers were turned down by the controlling body. On the other hand, another member informed the pressman that he had a distinct recollection of a New Zealand precedent in cricket. It was in connection with the 1913-14 New Zealand team which toured Australia under the captaincy of Dan Reese, and included C. Boxshall (then about 50 years of age.) as wicket-keeper and W. R. Patrick (one of the present New Zealand selectors). At the time Tom Carlton was in Christchurch, and he was included in the team at the last minute as the result of money being raised by private subscription to send him with the team on the tour. He was played in matches in the place of one of the men originally selected for the team.

Rowntree’s Record. What has been said in Auckland and elsewhere about the value of a good wicket-keeper was emphasised by no less an authority than Hugh Trumble, the international Australian bowler, when interviewed in Wellington on Tuesday. He declared that the extra sting given to the attack by the presence of a good man behind the stumps was invaluable, and also that another factor was the number of runs saved by his restraining influence on the opposing batsmen. Rowntree’s ability is generally recognised throughout the Dominion, and his record for the Plunket Shield games this year is worth setting out in detail. It is: v. Canterbury—

First innings. 128: byes 0; Gregory, c Rowntree b Alcott 0; Cox, c Rowntree b Plaver 0; Page, st Rowntree b Bowley 30.

Second innings, 257; byes 2. v. Otago— First innings, 33; byes, 1. Second innings, 216: byes, 3; Knight, c Rowntree b Bowlev 29; Cherrv, c Rowntree b Player 3. V. Wellington— First innings, 182; byes. 4; Worker, c Rowntree b Matheson S; Bad cock, c Rowntree b Bowley 6; Rollings, st Rowntree b Bowley 0. Second innings, 323; byes, 15; Hiddleston, c Rowntree b Alcott 2; Worker, c Rowntree b Matheson 1; James, c Rowntree b Matheson.

Total for six innings—1442 runs, 25 byes, caught 9, stumped 2. Out of 60 wickets he has obtained 11 for the bowlers.

Saved 150 Runs. Much has been made in Wellington and elsewhere of the obvious part played by Bowley in the recent defeat of Wellington by Auckland, but there does not seem to be in Wellington an adequate recognition of the part played by Rowntree. Bearing in mind Mr H. Trumble’s remarks about the runs a good wicket-keeper maj ? save, let one compare the batting performances in that game of the players that fell to Rowntree with their averages for all Plunket Shield games. It is, of course, only conjectural in its conclusion, but it is wonderfully illuminating about Rowntree’s part in the game. The analysis shows:— V. Auckland—Worker 4.5, Shield average 30.5, drop 26.0; Badcock 41.5, Shield average 51.0, drop 9.5; Hollings 0.5, Shield average 19.5, drop 19.0: Hiddleston 14.5. Shield average 51.8, drop 37.3; James 15.5, Shield average 63.5, drop 48.0; total 76.5, Shield average 216.3, drop 139.8. The byes in the two Auckland innings ran to 38. as against 19 debited against Rowntree in the game. From that and the above table it will be seen that in the two innings he saved Auckland something approximating 150 runs. Surely he was one of the greatest factors of the game in the Atftkland success.