CRICKET SELECTION PROBLEMS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 11

CRICKET SELECTION PROBLEMS

/CANTERBURY’S team for its final Plunket Shield match, against Otago next Thursday, will probably be announced today and whatever the outcome of Wellington’s game with Auckland — which finishes on Monday— Canterbury should set its sights on nothing less than outright victory. Canterbury’s batting has been so indifferent this season that the selector (Mr W. McD. Anderson) must still be in considerable difficulties, particularly in his choice of opening batsmen. M. L. Ryan has emerged as a player of proper Plunket Shield standard, but I. R. Hartland has had a lean sea-

son—llB runs in eight innings. B. G. Hadlee has done little better at number three, or lower—l 36 in six completed innings. There are one or two youngsters, such as C. L. Bull, who might conceivably take Hartland’s place, or Hadlee could be asked to open the innings and a place made lower in the list for R. M. Gearry. Whether it is preferable to retain the original selection in batting in the hope that the players will justify themselves (is there a law of averages to lean on here?) or to put in new players for the one, vital match, is debatable. The success of J. W. Burtt at New Plymouth has almost

certainly cost D. L. Gallop a chance of regaining his place and form, and with B. R. Taylor fit again, it appears that J. W. Kiddey’s presence in the squad will remain no more than a form of insurance.

P. A. Sharp will find it hard to retain his place too, with R. C. Motz, G. A. Bartlett, Taylor, J. M. Mclntyre, Burtt and Ryan in the team.

If changes are to be made —and at this stage such a policy could be dangerous—the most likely developments would be the inclusion of Gearry for Hadlee, with Taylor coming in and Sharp dropping out. Whatever happens, Canterbury is unlikely to go into the field properly equipped with good fieldsmen in the positions behind the wicket. That weakness could well have cost Canterbury earlier games. Much more success in this direction will be needed if Canterbury is to beat Otago.