SELECTORS HAVE DIFFICULT TASK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19270, 6 January 1931, Page 3

SELECTORS HAVE DIFFICULT TASK.

CHOOSING NEW ZEALAND ELEVEN WILL BE HARD. Now that four of the six games in the Plunket Shield series are over, it is even more apparent that before that the task of the New Zealand cricket selectors in choosing the team to tour England this season will be difficult. The Shield matches have brought many aspects to light, and none of them point to a clear, open way for the selectors. It may seem paradoxical to state that the- play has revealed a wealth of talent to choose from and yet leaves those responsible for picking the team in a hard position, but that is the case. First and foremost, there is abundant batting talent. Canterbury cricket enthusiasts have not seen Otago play yet, but it is apparent that even from the Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury sides a very high class batting side could be selected. From i the reports, it seems that Blunt is the only Otago man who will have any claim for selection. Lemin has shown good form with the ball, but not sufficient to win him a place. Dearth of Bowlers. The great dearth is in good class stock bowlers. There are many men who have bowled well in the Shield games, yet most of them are in the all rounder class, and the stock bowlers have not, as a whole, impressed as being up to international standard. The pair who have shown to best advantage on Lancaster Park are Cleverley and Blundell. Cleverley is the nearest approach (bar Dickinson, who has failed to show form so far this season), to an express bowler in the country, and he proved against Canterbury that there is plenty of sting in his deliveries, even though his length is not above criticism, and, also, he has shown that he can send down over after over without going to pieces. Blundell, .on the other hand, does not develop the same pace, i but he is far more accurate, and sends them down on the spot for a long while without letting up in accuracy, and he works them across the wicket in a way that spells disaster for the man who “nibbles” at an off ball. The way he bowled Kerr in both innings of the Wellington match shows that he has the ability to turn on the danger ous ball when he wills. With the exception of Merritt, who can be written off as a certainty after his accurate trundling against Wellington, all the other bowlers of the required class are all rounders. Blunt the other googly expert, is primarily a batsman. Warwick Armstrong described him, before the last English tour, as “a man to ‘keep up your sleeve’ as far as bowling is concerned.” In any case, Blunt's batting capabilities, especially as he is in form this year, cannot be overlooked. The team will depend on Merritt and Blunt, on the English pitches, which are more adapted for slow bowling, for a 'lot of wickets. The Batsmen. There are many batsmen to be considered. First, there is the certainty of Lowry being captain of the side. Many hold that Page is as good a skipper, but Lowry has had even more experience than Page, especially in England. On the last tour he showed what an asset his leadership was, Dempster has not been in his best form so far in Shield games, but he must be selected as an opening bat. lie is an ideal man for such a tour, and cannot but return to form. Hamilton, of Canterbury, is a good left hander, but the choice falls on those enterprising Auck landers, Mills and the youthful Vivian, as the left-handers for the tour. Good All-rounders. There are several good all-rounders in the Canterbury eleven who have qualified for selection. Roberts and Kerr have performances as batsmen alone, and of the two Kerr impresses as the better bat, £ven though he failed in both innings against Wellington. His performances during the season have been above reproach, and he is a splendid type to send to England, making runs soundly and with beautiful cricket. Roberts, a great man when set, is never safe till he has been in at least half an hour. Talbot, with, his Shield performances, has advanced a strong claim to a place in the side. A great bat, he tends to score rapidly and has any amount of enterprise, though he has shown this season that he can play well on the defensive when his side requires it. He has also bowled steadily for Canterbury in both Shield matches, and is a splendid field in an}' position. Though his batting in the Auckland match was not impressive, Cromb’s run.-making against Wellington showed that he can collect them in fine style, safe yet enterprising, against the best of bowling Also, he has bowled with much improved length and accuracy, and taken a good many wickets. In the Wellington second innings he took five wickets in no uncertain style. One of his greatest assets is his fielding. Close to the batsman, he is one of the best that could be seen anywhere. He has brought off some marvellous catches, and is also absolutely reliable in the deep field It is going to be hard to keep him out of the team. James seems to be the wicket-keeper. The only other in New Zealand is Dorreen, and while the Canterbury man has flashes of wonderful speed, it is likely that James’s proved batting ability will swing the scale in his favour M’Girr has batted wonderfully in the Shield games, but his years are against him. He looked his age wher* in the outfield on Friday. M’Girr’s performances entitle him to a place, but it must be remembered that there is a long, hard tour ahead. Of the left-hand bowlers, Newman gave proof that he can take wickets when he strikes form, but Canterbtiry showed that he can be handled easily when he is not right at concert pitch. Allcott has all his old accuracy, but not all his old sting, and though a good batsman, it is doubtful whether his inclusion would compensate for the omission of Kerr or Cromb. Whether these two left-handers will find a place between them will depend largely on their showing in the Wellington-Auck-land match. In that respect, the Canterbury men are at a disadvantage, for the team will be picked before they play Otago. On form to date, the following selection is suggested:— Lowry (captain), Dempster, James Blundell (Wellington). Page, Talbot, Merritt, Kerr, Cromb (Canterbury). Mills, Vivian, Weir, Cleverley (Auckland). Blunt (Otago). That selection includes six batsmen pure and simple, a wicketkeeper, two stock bowlers, a slow bowler, and four all rounders. Any eleven of them would make a good fielding team.