N.Z. ELEVEN ON SUNDAY

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 19

N.Z. ELEVEN ON SUNDAY

(New Zealand Press Association > AUCKLAND. New Zealand’s team for the first cricket test against England will be announced on Sunday, the same day as the President’s XI will be chosen.

Announcing this yesterday, the chairman of the national selection panel, Mr Waiter Hadlee, said that this meant the test selection would have to be based on Plunket Shield performances only. “It would be preferable if we could have used the President’s game as a trial for some of the test candidates, but this is impossible,” he said. “However, we can only choose the XI. Once the batsmen get out in the middle it’s all over to them.” Mr Hadlee said the captain would be named concurrently with the team. In the last few years, when John Reid had led the side, his appointment as captain had been made in advance. No Predictions Mr Hadlee was not prepared to venture any predictions of the outcome of the

test series but thought New Zealand chances had improved considerably with the news that Ken Barrington. Fred Titmus and Boh Barber were among those not com-i ing on to New Zealand. He was disappointed at the, standard of batting in the Plunket Shield matches, although he conceded that a couple of pitches had been right against the batsmen. There have been many instances of batsmen getting to 40 and 50 and then getting out “We hope we can pick the men who will rise above this mediocrity in the test and go on to better things." he said. The test team had to as--1 semble in Christchurch on Wednesday. February 23. and the President’s game did not finish until February 22. so it is necessary to choose both ■ teams at once.