Tour Players Have Disappointed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 11

Tour Players Have Disappointed

QNE of the reasons for the extraordinary modest returns of most of New Zealand’s leading batsmen in the Plunket Shield matches so far has been the number of close finishes. There have been a g-'od many occasions when batsmen have lost their wickets in a hectic pursuit of qui k runs: and the averages say nothing of that. Nevertheless, a disappointing feature of the competition has been the lack of success of the players who last year went on th tour of India, Pakistan and England. After every tour, hopes are held that even if the results could have been better, a nucleus of experienced internationals has been raised. It seemed that such would be the case this time. But the batting figures have been poor. In England last year, New Zealand’s most accomplish-' ed-looking batsman was B. W. Sinclair, and he has been in fine form this summer. In shield games—and he has had only three so far —he has scored 203 runs at an average of 67.7. B. E. Congdon, however, as had one half-century in eight innings. Congdon played some splendid innings overseas, against better bowling than Plunket Shield cricket can usually provide. V. Pollard, who batted wonderfully well in the tests against England, started the shield series badly, but has scored half-cento twice in his last four innings and so may be approaching his

best form. But 216 runs in eight innings is not an outstanding performance. A. E. Dick has made 81 in three innings, and nearly all T. W. Jarvis's runs were made in the recent match with Northern Districts. In this game he scored 73 and 78; in his five earlier innings, a total of 40. R. W. Morgan, an acquisitive sort of batsman, full of confidence, has a top score of 45, and only 138 runs in seven innings. B. R. Taylor made half his 162 runs in one innings, but is averaging 30. In his last Plunket Shield season, B. Sutcliffe, sadly, has failed consistently, although his form on tour compared well with that of any of the others. With J. R. Reid, J. T. Ward anri G T. Dowline out of

the game, temporarily or permanently, and G. E. Vivian unable to win a place in the Auckland team, the return from the tour would seem, at present, to be most unsatisfactory. The bowling side of the ledger, however, is a little more encouraging. R. C. Motz has been most effective, and B. Yuile, who did not often bowl well overseas, has been having a good season. R. O. Collinge has only 10 wickets—six of them in one innings— but F. J. Cameron has again been very steady and Taylor reasonably successful.

Although he had one sensational spell—four for 13 against Northern Districts, Pollard’s bowling has been disappointing. Not many distinctive performances have come from other candidates for this year’s New Zealand team. W. P. Bradburn had a fine double against Auckland, M. J. F. Shrimpton and G. P. Bilby have acquitted themselves well and B. F. Hastings, after a disastrous start, batted well against Wellington and Central Districts. The consistent success of N. Puna's off-spin bowling has been a feature of the series, and if J. T. Sparling can find the time to play for New Zealand—which seems unlikely—his form has earned him a place. Little of the representative season remains now before the selection of the test team to meet England has to be made. For the sake of the selectors, and the selection, it is to be hoped that the last matches do not serve to add further confusion to an already clouded situation.