Selection Of N.Z. Team Explained

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 5

Selection Of N.Z. Team Explained

(New Zealand Press Association)

April 28. Form and technique displayed during the season on New Zealand wickets did not enter in considerations when selecting the New Zealand cricket team for South Africa, the convener of the selection panel. Mr Gordon Leggat. said in Auckland today. "We studied everything from the viewpoint of who was most likely to succeed under South African conditions as we know them from past experience, and against what we know of the likely opposition," said Mr Leggat.

This aspect dominated the whole approach to the problem, he said. "It was not a question of taking young cricketers or experienced ones tor their own sake but of picking those we thought were most likely to prove successful in conditions over there which are recognised because of the country’s geography as being most arduous.” Mr Leggat emphasised that the team would not leave New Zealand with any definite instructions from the New Zealand council or the selectors on the type of game it was to play. Mr Leggat declined to discuss Individual selections. With the exception of B. Sutcliffe, who had said three times last season that he would not be available, every player In first-class cricket last season, and three who were not. had been considered as available, he said. , t

A. Dick, of Otago, had been chosen as second string wicketke Although be was only a second string in his club and had kept for his province onlyin emergency, his batting ability compared with the batting ability of other candidates and hadweighed heavily in his favour. "You can rest assured that

the task of giving him practice as a ’keeper will not be overlooked from now on. We believe he will be most successful,” Mr Leggat said.