A CANTERBURY SIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 296, 14 December 1931, Page 7

A CANTERBURY SIDE.

Prospects for Inter provincial Cricket. SELECTION FORECAST. With Christmas drawing near, the thoughts of the cricket enthusiasts of Christchurch are turning towards the Plunket Shield, and to the problem of whether or not Canterbury can successfully defend the trophy which was so well won last year. On Christmas Day Canterbury play Otago on the Oval at Lancaster Park, and then go north to meet the strong sides of Wellington and Auckland.

It is improbable that there will be any notable changes in the Canterbury side. The sole selector, Mr H. B. Whitta, has spent some three or four years in building up the team, and his policy of giving the younger men a chance has been amply justified. No member of the side last year failed to justify his inclusion, and the form in club games this season does not indicate that there is anyone to displace the winning eleven of last season. Though Jacobs and I. M. Hamilton are resident in Timaru, they are available for the Canterbury side, and if their form is as high as usual, they can be looked upon as certainties for selection. The only member who will not be available is Dorreen, who is now resident in the North Island. Dorreen did splendid work behind the stumps, and was the outstanding wicketkeeper last season, but as there is a good man to step into the breach, his loss will not be irreparable. The Canterbury batting should be very strong, especially as two of the best players have English experience. The batsmen who come into mind-when a representative side is being considered are Roberts, Kerr, Talbot, Lester, Cromb, I. M. Hamilton, Page, Jacobs, Crawford, Dunster, Grose and Allen. Doubtful Bowler. The bowling will again be the department to trouble Mr Whitta most. The first thing is the selection of a good stock bowler, with steady length and sufficient sting, who can work hard all day and keep the runs down, even if he gets no great bag of wickets. Burrows, of Old Boys, seems the man. The only other bowler who can be considered for this particular purpose is Reg Read, and on club form it would appear that Read, while still a fine bowler, has to give pride of place to Burrows.

Merritt will, of course, be the slow bowler of the side, and it appears that the rest gif the attack will, as it did last year, depend upon, the all rounders of the team. Luckily there are plenty of them, and their standard is high. Lester, Cromb, Talbot, Page and Roberts can all bowl well on occasions. The fact that Cromb developed into one of the best trundlers in the New Zealand touring side augurs well for Canterbury. Talbot can bowl steadily when it is required, and Page, Roberts and Lester can be useful as changes. R. C. Burns of Old Boys will probably be the wicketkeeper. He has been keeping well for some years, and this year has been safe and fast behind the stumps. His association with Merritt in club games is an asset. A sound selection would be as follows :

M. L. Page (St Albans), captain. A. W. Roberts (Riccarton). J. L. Kerr (West Christchurch). S. G. Lester (Old Collegians). R. O. Talbot (Old Collegians). W. E. Merritt (Old Boys). J. T. Burrows (Old Boys). I. B. Cromb (Lancaster Park). R. C. Burns (Old Boys). I. M. Hamilton (Timaru). J. Jacobs (Timaru). C. G. Cr%wford (St Albans), twelfth man. In the event of any of the above not being available, Grose, Dunster, J. Powell, and Allen might be considered. The Otago side should not present any great difficulty, but in Wellington and Auckland the opposition will be strong indeed. Still, Canterbury won last season and showed great fighting qualities in doing so, so the prospects of retaining the Shield are at least reasonable. The Otago side to play here at Christmas is a strong one, but the absence of Dickinson will be felt. TO MEET CANTERBURY. Otago Plunket Shield Team Selected. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 14. The Otago Plunket Shield team to play Canterbury and Auckland is as follows:—Blunt, Badcock, Coupland, Cherry, Dunning (captain), Elmes, Hawksworth, Knight, M’Haffie, Moloney, Priest and D. Smith. Dickinson is not available. WELLINGTON TEAM. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 14. The Wellington team to play Auckland in the Plunket Shield match at Wellington during the Christmas holidays is Lowry, Dempster, James, M’Girr, Lambert, Hepburn, Dustin, Henderson, Massey, Newman, Griffiths, with Lamason twelfth man.