Youth Emphasised In Plunket Shield XI

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 3

Youth Emphasised In Plunket Shield XI

The accent has been placed on youth for Canterbury’s final and crucial Plunket Shield match of the season, against Otago on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

C. L. Bull, captain of this year’s Brabin and Rothman’s tournament teams, and of the Canterbury Kiwis under-21 team in Australia, has been chosen to make his debut at the age of 19.

He replaces I. R. Hartland as an opening batsman. Another 19-year-old, R. M. Geatry, who played for Canterbury with some success last season, displaces B. G. Hadlee. Taylor Returns B. R. Taylor, who was injured at Wellington, comes back in place of P. A. Sharp and returns Canterbury’s pace attack to its full strength. The team must be the

youngest to represent Canterbury. R. C. Motz, just turned 26, is the oldest, and the average age is 22. Bull, who has had some experience in the slips, may remedy Canterbury’s drastic shortcomings there and, overall, the fielding is probably improved a little by the changes. With Auckland taking a grip on the game against Wellington, Canterbury needs at least a first innings win against Otago to win the Plunket Shield in successive seasons for the first time. The interest being maintained to the end of the season will be augmented by the placing in the field of such a young side by Canterbury. The team, in probable batting order, is:— C. L. Bull, M. L. Ryan, K. Thomson, B. F. Hastings (captain), J. W. Burtt, R. M. Gearry, B. R. Taylor, R. C. Motz, G. A.’ Bartlett, J. M. Mclntyre, G. W. Henry. The twelfth man is P. A. Sharp.

Near To Defeat A shadow Plunket Shield side, different in only four places from the side eventually chosen for the Otago match, came close to defeat at the hands of Ashburton yesterday. Ashburton made 224 for six declared (R. G. Hortin 83 not out) and at stumps, W. McD. Anderson’s XI was 186 for nine. Taylor made 46 and C. R. Nicholson took four for 42. The Canterbury team to compete in the Rothman’s under 23 tournament at Dunedin next week has also been announced. It is:—

Bull (captain), M. A. Clements, A. R. Hounsell, W. R. Barbarel (Old Boys), R. W. Anderson (Christchurch Boys’ High School), R. C. Merrin (North Canterbury), B. P. Isherwood, B. Sampson (Ashburton), N. W. Wilder, R. C. Bromley, M. G. Lester (Old Collegians), P. A. Stubbings (Riccarton). Gearry was not available.