THE CANTERBURY TEAM.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17297, 9 January 1928, Page 4

THE CANTERBURY TEAM.

(By “Cover-Point.)

In view of the match between Waikato and the touring Canterbury team, which commences at Seddon Park on Wednesday afternoon, the following notes on the visiting players may be of interest: — . M. L. Page (Old Boys, captain). “Curly,” as he is familiarly called, first came into prominence in 1920, when he was a member of the Christchurch Boys’ High School Ist Fifteen, which was considered the best team the school had turned out. Page played half-back in lhat team, but latterly occupied the position of fiveeighths, in which capacity he has in recent years represented both Canterbury and the South Island. . Some good innings for Canterbury in the two seasons preceding the New Zealand team's visit lo Englond brought liim under the notice of Ihe selectors, and he was ultimately chosen, proving one of the most successful batsmen, scoring 1381 runs at an average of 32.11, with a highest score of 140 not out against Worcester. He also made 134 against Cambridge University. Although not previously regarded as a bowler, he proved so successful when given a trial shot that at the end of ,\4e tour lie, had sent down 275 overs and taken 39 wickets for 24.4 runs apiece, lie has done rather poorly with the hat on Ihe present tour, but it is hoperl that ids 76 against Auckland on Saturday will break his run of ill-success. G. E. Evans (Riccarton). “Scrum” is another product of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, and, like bis captain, is an all-rounder, having represented Canterbury, the South Island and New Zealand at- Rugby, playing full-back. He is a slow right-hand leg-break bowler, and a sbiid batsman who is not afraid to punish the ball.

G. R. Gregory (East Christchurch) is a solid opening batsman, who appears to iiave a partiality for Auckland wickels, for he played a good innings there two years ago and had G 7 to his credit when lie was run out on Friday last. He uses his feet well.

I. M. Hamilton (Old Collegians) is one of the colts of the team, having gained representative honours last season for the first time. He is a lefthand batsman and a fine field in the slips. \y. Hayes (West Christchurch). “Chattlo” is approaching the veteran stage, for he first represented Canterbury in 1909. In those days lie was a dashing batsman and a brilliant cover-point, but a season or two ago bo put 'on the gloves as a slop-gap, and made such a success of his new job that he has again won his way into the representative team in that capacity. Just to make his calling and election sure he made a bright 74 in a club match shorlly before the representative team was selected. ,T. Jacobs (Old Boys is a young batsman who came into prominence two or three weeks ago by compiling a neat century, lie lias a wide range of

strokes, in which the late cut, tnc off-drive and the hook arc prominent. W. E. Merritt (Old Boys) is of.coprse a household word in cricket circles in New Zealand. Given an opportunity at the end of last season when Canterbury sent what was practically a colts’ team to Dunedin for the Otago match, he bowled so well and impressed the selectors so much that ho was ienludcd i ntbe New Zealand team for England, and triumphantly justified his selection by baking 172 wickets for 19.47 runs each. A, slow leg-break bowler, ho includes the wrong’un in his kit. He is a good batsman too.

J. Newman (West Christchurch), the Canterbury coach, is the wellknown Hampshire professional, who has done sterling service for his county as batsman and howler for nearly twenty years, in the last English season he made 1281 runs and took 105 wickets, scoring a double century (102 not out and' 102) against Surrey at the Oval. He made 112 in the Plunket Shield match against Otago, but was unable to play against Wellington owing to illness. He is a batsman of the orthodox English. professional type, and a steady accurate bowler, with a dangerous swinger which he does not produce too often. ,T. McEwin (East Christchurch). A slow leg-break bowler, who makes the most of his height. Although not generally regarded as a batsman, he h*as a good- defence, and when put to it can give good service in this department. D. G. Nixon (Old Boys) is another cricketer-footballer, who has represented Canterbury and the South Island at full-back. Tab and strong, ho bowls fast medium right-hand, and bats left-handed in vigorous fashion. R. Read (Linwood) is one of the small band of four present-day interprovincial players who have been playing representative cricket for over 20 years. W. S. Brice, the Wellington captain, first represented bis province in 1902, A. Anthony, originally of Canterbury, hut now of Auckland, and IL C. Torrance, of Otago, won their representative caps in 1905, and Read first played for Canterbury in 1904. He has been a member of the Canterbury Eleven off and on ever since, and last year he represented New Zealand for the first time against the Melbourne team. This'season ho captained the

Rest of New Zealand against Hie New Zealand learn in the Christchurch match. In his early days he was au aggressive bailsman and had many forceful first-wicket partnerships for his club with 11. A. Bishop, the exHawke’s Bay cricketer and footballer. So far as representative games are concerned, however, lie is now a bowler pure and simple, with a fine action and good length, and nips hack from the off. He is the third full-back in the team, having represented the Aierivalc Club and Canterbury in that position.

A. W. Roberts (Riccarton) is a

young player’ who came into prominence last season, when in his first representative match he made 70 runs against -the Melbourne team.. Usually a free batsman, he has not got going very well this season, and his play is somewhat cramped in consequence, lie is a’ change bowler.