CHRISTMAS CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 305, 24 December 1931, Page 6

CHRISTMAS CRICKET.

Canterbury Meet the Otago Side. PLUNKET SHIELD GAME. To-morrow will see the commencement of the Canterbury-Otago Plunket Shield match at Lancaster Park, and enthusiasts will have a chance to watch

the side that won the trophy in such fine style last year. Otago suffered a severe defeat at Canterbury’s hands in 1930-31. mainly owing to the deadly accuracy of the Canterbury attack on a sodden, sticky wicket, which gave the bowlers every help. Otago made 71 in each of their innings. Though

they won comfortably, the Canterbury men found it very hard to score, and the match was a triumph for the bowlers. Indications are that the match will be played under different conditions this year. With the hard, fast and true wicket at the Oval/ rain in the meantime is the only thing that can militate against a game of bright batting. The Canterbury men won a name last year for their enterprising play, and with such batsmen as Blunt and Badeock in the visiting side, the Otago display should be attractive. The teams are:— Canterbury. M. L. Page (St Albans). R. C. Burns (H.S. Old Boys). J. T. Burrows (H.S. Old Boys). I. B. Cromb (Lancaster Park). I. M. Hamilton (Timaru Old Boys). J. L. Kerr (West Christchurch). S. G. Lester (Old Collegians). W. E. Merritt (H.S. Old Boys). J. L. Powell (H.S. Old Boys). A. W. Roberts (Riccarton). R. O. Talbot (Old Collegians). F. Bellamy (Sydenham), 12th man. Otago. J. A. Dunning (Carisbrook), captain. R. C. Blunt (Carisbrook). D. A. R. Moloney (Carisbrook). D. Smith (Carisbrook). F. T. Badcock (Christian Brothers). R. W. Coupland (Dunedin). Reg. Cherry (Dunedin). A. Knight (Grange). C. Elmes (Grange). W. Hawkesworth (University). W. A. Priest (University). J. M’Haffie (University). Umpires:—Messrs J. Forrester and H. E. Lawrence. Strong Otago Team. The fact that the Otago side has no “ tail ” is one of the best features of its batting strength, but the earlier batsmen should make sufficient runs to relieve the tail-enders of undue responsibility. Knight and Cherry may be expected to open, and both are players whose form has earned them their places (says a Dunedin cricket writer). Blunt and Moloney will probably follow, and Smith, a young batsman well worthy of a trial, should find a place well up in the list. Badcock, on recent displays, should entertain the northern crowds. Priest has for so long been a consistent batsman that his selection will cause no surprise, and his sound batting knowledge should enable him to make runs against the best northern bowlers. Hawksworth was an obvious choice for the position of ’keeper, and his knowledge of his position has improved since he last played for the province. The only selection which will probably have provoked any serious criticism is that of M’Haffie. He is a player who has all the qualifications of a first-class, allround cricketer, but his performances have so far fallen below expectations. Auckland v. Wellington. In Wellington to-morrow, at the Basin Reserve, the Auckland and Wellington elevens will begin a four-day Plunket Shield match. The teams are : Auckland—R. Rowntree, A. N. Matheson, A. J. Postles, G. L. Weir (captain), P. E. Whitelaw, S. C. Hay, H. G. Vivian, A. W. M’Coy, T. Lyon, H. D. Gillespie, D. Cleverley and R. E. Fra ter. Wellington—C. S. Dempster, W. Hepburn, W. Dustin, T. C. Lowry, K. C. James, H. M’Girr, H. N. Lambert, 11. B. Massey, J. Newman, B. Griffiths, R. Crook and A. J. Lamason (twelfth man).

Canterbury go north at New Year and play Wellington on January 1,2, 4 and 5, and Auckland, at Auckland, on January 8,9, 11 and 12.