BIG CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 644, 23 December 1932, Page 7

BIG CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH TO-MORROW. Auckland Team Arrives. GAME MAT BE ONE OF HIGH SCORING. The Auckland representative cricketers arrived in Christchurch this morning. and were to practise this afternoon at Lancaster Park in preparation for the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury to-morrow. The players had a good journey down and all are fit and well. With defeats registered against them bj r Canterbury in the two previous seasons’ clashes, they are all out to take the honours back on this occasion. Any prediction as to the result of the game would be risky. On paper the sides are about even, with Canterbury slightly stronger in batting to off- | set what may be a more steady Auck- | land attack. Where Canterbury is concerned, a tremendous lot depends upon the wicket. On a fast wicket, which allows the bowlers to nip off the pitch, the Aucklanders might find it hard to make any great number of runs, for Cromb and Merritt, with conditions helping them, are liable to go through any side. Lester, if he holds a length, is another trundler liable to take wickets on a lively pitch. On a dead wicket Merritt’s slows lose a lot of their sting, and Cromb becomes the only bowler in the Canterbury Side who is really dangerous, and only then if he happens to strike top form. Formidable Attack. Auckland are without Allcott and Cleverley, two who have done yeoman service for their province in the past, but in Vivian, Matheson and Weir they have the nucleus of an attack that must be counted formidable under any conditions, and there are others who may prove very troublesome. It is likely that the game will be one of high scoring. Further, the runs should be made in attractive manner, for on both sides there are experienced and accomplished batsmen who can score without taking all day to do it. In that connection the mind leaps to Dacre, who has so many hurricane dis-plaj-s to his credit, but the Auckland coach has not been up to form this season, and may not be among the heavy scorers. It may well be that he is suffering from staleness after so much play continuously during three seasons. Mills, Postles and Weir make a solid batting contingent to open the Auckland innings, and then there is Vivian, in great form this season, to take instant advantage if the edge is worn off the bowling. There are also some newcomers in the side who might well make an impressive entry into Plunket Shield cricket. Canterbury’s Batting. Canterbury’s bowling success may be a doubtful quantity, but it is probable that the batting will be well up to the standard of the previous two seasons. Hamilton, Page, Talbot, Roberts and Cromb have some fine performances to their credit this season already, and, while Kerr and Lester have not been at their zenith to date, they are both experienced batsmen, and likely to collect runs in respectable quantities. Merritt and Bellamy are both men from whom useful scores may reasonably be expected. Whichever way the game goes, the prospects for an attractive match over Christmas are indeed bright. There should be no lack of highlights in the game. Last year’s results were: — Otago v. Canterbury—Canterbury won by three wickets. Auckland v. Wellington—Wellington won by six wickets. Auckland v. Canterbury—Canterbury won by eight wickets. Auckland v. Otago—Otago won by 107 runs. Wellington v. Canterbury—Wellington won by 277 runs on the first innings. Otago v. Wellington—Wellington won by two wickets.