MANAWATU TEAM TO PLAY RANGITIKEI HAS ITS CRITICS

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 December 1950, Page 3

MANAWATU TEAM TO PLAY RANGITIKEI HAS ITS CRITICS

Main sporting attractions In Marton over the holiday period will be the New Year race meeting and the Hawke Cup elimination cricket match between Rangitikei and Manawatu on January 1,2 and 3. Rangitikei’s prqspects of winning the match have dwindled somewhat due to two of the more prominent players in the district being unavailable—S. Finney and H. Purcell, Finney is easily the best all-rounder in at the moment and always reaps a harvest of wickets with his left hand spinners. He is also a batsman well above the average. Purcell, who is camp commandant of the Waiouru military camp, is a former Wellington player and has played Plunket Shield cricket. His experience would undoubtedly have been of considerable advantage to Rangitikei. Manawatu's team selected for the match has not altogether found favour with some critics. One writer has gone so far as to say that the Manawatu team must surely rate as one of the weakest bowling sides ever put into the field. It contains, on the other hand a surfeit of opening batsmen. “It represents,” says the writer, “ a sharp contrast between mature and immature players, while colts recognised as such have been given a swift kick in the pants by being completely ignored." The writer describes the selector (Mr “Red" Norris “as being rather like a man who tries to take a cold plunge without getting his feet wet. He has endeavoured to infuse a strong injection of young blood into an apathetic patient without being certain of his qualities or even whether his transfusion was of the right blood group." The two teams which share the wooden spoon position in the senior championship between them provide six of the 12 Manawatu players selected, while the two teams which share the leadership provide only one between them. High School, whose fate as a team worthy of senior status has hung in the balance over the past two seasons, have been called upon to provide four players—D. Donald, B. McLeod, L. Scott and W. Pollitt —in the Manawatu side, surely, says the writer, too high a proportion of places in relation to the extent of the team's improvement in form this season. The Manawatu team contains five recognised opening batsmen —H. Rice —(Horowhenua), D. Bowden, who played for Central Districts against Wellington, Donald, C. McVicar and I. Campbell. McVicar leads the season's averages in Palmerston North with 62.1 runs per innings, his scores including 81 not out and 97. Campbell is the next highest scorer with an average of 47.7 runs. His scores read 34, 18, 8,1, 129 not out. The inclusion of Donald is difficult to Understand, comments the sports writer. While admitting that he is regarded as one of the most promising opening batsmen in the district, the writer suggests that Donald would benefit from a period of grooming in a coltS’ team. Too rapid promotion to the premier side may be detrimental to his cricket career, adds the critic. The inclusion of Scott was probably earned as an all-rounder. He recently made 126 in a club game. In club cricket he has taken nine wickets for 117 runs. Prior to last' season, Scott was a slow bowler of considerable promise, but although he has succeeded in taking quite a few wickets since then, he has not developed as expected. Bruce McLeod has compelled attention with his recent outstanding performance taking seven Horowhenua wicke'.s for 10 runs. To dare he has taken 18 wickets for 164 runs. McLeod is able to make the ball swing very considerably. Dick Wilde has scored the second highest average of the season to date with 49 runs. He is a free-hitting batsmen who is not afraid to use his feet. That immaculate fieldsman and neat batsman, Bill Pollitt, has not had a very good season to date, his average being 22.2 runs. It is in the bowling, however, that the Manawatu team appears to be so weak. It is probable that lan Campbell will be required to open the attack down wind, with McLeod bowling into the wind, and the Bob Adcock will relieve Campbell and Scott relieve McLeod. The only variation likely would be to bring in McVicar, who bowls slow off breaks. “It may well be argued that against Rangitikei, no great variety of bowling will be needed" states the critic. “There is a tendency here to take Rangitikei cheaply. On the other hand, Manawatu has the need to build up a strong combination. Mr Norris cannot hope to strengthen his. potential attack if he does not include likely bowlers in his team," concludes the writer.