WANGANUI’S POST-WAR CRICKET SEASON

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 October 1946, Page 8

WANGANUI’S POST-WAR CRICKET SEASON

THE PROSPECTS PROMISE WELL

(By “CARISBROOK.”)

With a large number of players now returned from service with the armed forces, prospects for the coming cricket season in Wanganui appear brighter than for some considerable time.

Wickets are already being prepared and teams have held their initial practices. The scheme which the Wanganui Cricket Association has decided upon this season—that of obtaining coaching from leading lights in the game from other centres, for the instruction of local coaches—appears to be an excellent one, and should, if it works out as anticipated, considerably improve the standard of cricket in Wanganui, and give the young players a valuable insight Zito the glories of the game.

To appreciate cricket one. has to be an enthusiast, a student of the game. That is true of all sports, of course, in varying degrees, depending upon the nature jind ramifications of the sport. In aricket there is much, much more ih the game than just bowling a ball down to try and hit wickets while the batsman tries to keep the ball away, and hit it afar off and so make runs. In fact it can well be said that cricket is a truly tacticians’ game, in which turf, light, the placing of the field, the selection of batsmen and very many psychological factors are so interwoven as to test the brainest of captains. With the English team in Australia, the “Ashes” at stake, there will be some reflex perhaps of enthusiasm across the Tasman to the playing fields of Wanganui. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS It is doubtful whether the Technical Old Boys eleven—last years' senior grade champions—will have the same batting strength as that which won them the 1944-45 premiership. McPhail and Bergerson, two of their main attack men will not be taking the field this season and subsequently the bowling will probably be on a lower plane than last year also. However, with several younger players included in this season's eleven, the fielding of the team is sure to be of a higher standard. J. Metekingi, a useful bat and Wanganui representative has left the district, and another leading player who has represented Wanganui who will not take the field in the Technical team is H. Whiting, also a useful man with the bat.

There are three players who will be making their appearance in the team who were not there last season. These are K. Grant, returned from service overseas; D. Ahern, a wicket-keeper; and D. Ngailevu, who last season played in the Technical College first eleven, where he showed great promise as a batsman.

The Technical Old Boys attack this season will comprise of K. Thomas (last year's captain), G. McDougal (left-hand spin bowler and Wanganui representative last season), A. G. Davidson (a representative all round player, who played against Wellington last year), J. Ibbertson (a promoted junior with an attractive fast delivery), and R. Brown (also a lefthander and Wanganui representative).

The team which will take the field to endeavour to retain the championship for the 1946-47 season will include the following: G. McDougal, R. Brown, D. Deere, J. Barnett, A. G. Davidson, D. Blick (a useful addition to the team), J. Ibbertson, H. F. Benefield (last year’s wicket-keeper), N. Ahern (transferred from United Old Boys), and R. Thomas. WANGANUI CLUB On paper, at least, it. appears as if the Wanganui club will take a lot of beating this season. Their attack will be considerably strengthened from what it was last season and also, with the inclusion of several newcomers to the club, the batting of the eleven will be of a higher standard. The mainstay of the Wanganui attack will be H. B. Cave, who last year played in the Plunket Shield team. He will be supported in the main by J. S. D. Tizard, and W. A. Priest (last year’s team captain). E. K. Hunt, who was one of the most successful batsmen playing under the Wanganui Cricket Association last year, and top scorer for the club, will be the star bat in this season’s eleven. W. A. Priest, also a proven bat in the past, will also be sure to make his weight felt as will J. Glover and T. O. Cave, both of whom are in the top group of cricketers in this district. The team will be well balanced as regards youth and experience and consequently the fielding should reach a high standard. Of last season’s players K. Millward and K. Connor have dropped out but their places will be taken by several players who will, no doubt, be valuable additions to the team. G. Russell, slow left hand bowler, who last year played in the Wanganui Collegiate School's first XI will bring the age average down and with a little experience in senior company, will develop into a first class cricketer. J. Caradus, an Otago senior representative last, season will add to the strength of the batting, and L. Miller, ex-Taranaki and Country representative, who, besides being a useful batsman, can deliver a good left handed medium ball. The fourth addition will be M. Nettleton who has hi the past represented Auckland. It can be seen from these additions to the team that its formidability will be greatly increased to what, it was last season. On paper, at the beginning of the season, Wanganui seem to be the most likely prospect for senior honours for the season. Those of last year’s eleven who will again be included in the Wanganui team will be:—E K. Hunt. H. B. Cave. T. O. Cave, J. S. D. Tizard, W. A. Priest, J. Glover, L. C. N. West, and E. Cameron.

UNITED OLD BOYS United Old Boys seem to have a regular strength right throughout their team. Although there are few changes from the eleven which was playing for the club in the later stages of last season, the changes that have taken place provide for the inclusion of several young players who will tend to improve the standard of fielding considerably. E. Gee. for many years a stalwart, of the club, has retired from active cricket this season, and also M. Morris and N. Ahern have left the club.

Returned from overseas is G H. F. Newman, an all-rounder who the season before last climbed to the top of

the representative batting ladder in Wanganui cricket. With his attack, which is also of a high standard, Newman will make his return felt in the United team. Together svith R. I. Sewell and W. Dyhrberg, Newman will constitute the three leading batsmen of the eleven this season, and J. H. Felts, H. F. Lowe, Sewell and Newman will be the core of the attack, which, with the assistance, to a lesser degree, of others, will compare favourably with that of other senior clubs.

Those senior players who will constitute the United Old Boys' eleven this season will be the following:— H. F. Lowe, L. N. Condliffe, L. Vasta, R. I. Sewell, G. H. F. Newman. W. Dyhrberg, C. Robertson, J. H. Felts, D. McCawe, Morrison. White (from Christchurch), and Wilson (also a newcomer). MARIST CLUB In spite of the fact that three of last season’s leading players have left the club, including the captain, H. Cuming, the Marist eleven looks to be fairly strong. S. Crafar, E. Neale, B. Greener, T. Saunders and W. L. BellBooth, who played last year, will again be playing, and together with the new members of the eleven, several of whom have good cricket records to their credit, the team should develop into quite a formidable combination.

J. O’Sullivan, an ex-St. Patrick’s Old Boys player from Wellington, playing for the first time in Wanganui, promises to be a good medium pace bowler. Likewise, J. K. Conway, a former Marlborough representative, and who has also played in the Trentham Army team, has a good delivery of a medium pace, with which he obtains an attractive turn, both on and off. * The star player in the team this season, however, will -be the newcomer to New Zealand cricket, H. J. Dyson. In the practices, Dyson has displayed a high standard of cricket, both with the bat and with the ball. Coming from England, he played in the Oxford University eleven, and will, judging on form shown in practices, be one of the most versatile cricketers playing in the Wanganui competition this season. Another newcomer to the club, G. Williams, who has played in Australia and also in Auckland, will be a help with the bowling. His batting, too, will improve when he gets back to the game following a spell. What with the new players, the bowling of the Marist eleven should be considered strong, but the weakness, as far as can be judged at this early date, will be the batting. W. L. Bell-Booth will again be tbe most likely contender for the position behind the wickets. S. Nimmo, who played good cricket in Wanganui last season, has suffered an injury to his foot which will keep him off the field for some time to come, but will be a useful man when he does take on the game again. Another new man in the team will be Lillicrap, from Palmerston North, in which centre he played for United Old Boys last season. TECHNICAL COLLEGE With only one member having left school during tn e winter, tfie i--c..m--cal College first eleven will be tically the same as tnat whicn participated in the Wanganui senior competition last season. The strongest feature of the Technical team tnis season win be the attack, the standard ot bowling in the school at the present time being high. Both G. Hipango and L. Kyau are useful bowlers, both having a delivery of medium pace accompanied by oft spins. R. Webby is another who wili oe sure to take wickets, his leg spin googlies markmg him one of tne best bowlers in the scnool. R. Cording and B. Jones are the fast bowlers oi the team. There will be plenty of variety in the attack with these players in form. The batting performances of the players, however, is not all it might oe. R. Nelson, who will captain ihe team again, is a staunch leit-handed | bat, and L. Davies is another player who will probably shoulder a lot of responsibility. B. Jones is a player who, when in form, will knock up big scores. He hits out very well on occasions and is apt to score freely when once his eye is set. The position behind the wickets will naturally go again to L. Davies who last season acquitted himself very well there.

The nine places which are definitely filled in this season’s team are as follows: R. Nelson (captahy B. Jones, N. Christensen, L. Davies, G. Hipango. L. Kydd, R. Cording, R. Webby, and J. Mutimer. There are three contenders for the remaining two places in R. Wood, M. Paul, and T. Valleley. As is always the case with young teams, the fielding of the team will be ol a very high standard.