STRONG SHIELD TEAM NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 134, 3 December 1938, Page 23

STRONG SHIELD TEAM NEEDED

TOWN-COUNTRY MATCH NO GUIDE

Little new light on Wellington's prospects in this season's Plunket Shield competition was afforded by the playing of the TownCountry match this week. Neither side was at full strength, and there was nothing very convincing about the performance of the vteams. There were, however, some commendable' individual showSngs to relieve a run of disappointing displays. The Country won, and well deserved its success on the run of play. However, of the main claimants to places in the Wellington Plunket Shield team too many were not taking part in the match, and for Wellington's best team the selector should not have to make a heavy call upon those who figured in this week's event.

One player who certainly enhanced his prospects was T. L. Pritchard, the Manawatu fast bowler. He had a most successful match, in which he took eleven wickets at small cost. Still, on last season's form, Pritchard's inclusion in the Plunket Shield team would appear to have been assured before his wicket-gathering effort in the Town-Country match. He did splendidly for Wellington last season, being one of the four Wellington bowlers in the first five places on the list of bowling averages for last season's ShieM matches.

iSiWr'.t to Pritchard the player to really unuress in the Town-Country match was J. A. Ongley, formerly of Manawatu and now playing for University in Wellington senior cricket. To his fine record of batting in club matches he added scores of 36 and 57 without losing his wicket in the TownCountry match. Norris (the Country captain) was another to acquit himself well.

It is not unlikely that the Wellington selector will continue with his policy of building up a side for the future, and in view of this Ongley may receive serious consideration. Some of the other young players, including some who were tried in representative cricket last year, have not fulfilled expectations? in fact, their promotion to representative cricket would appear to have been somewhat premature.

For success—and, after all, followers of the gam 6 like to see their team doing well—the Wellington Plunket Shield team must have the solid backing of experience. And there is no doubt that a solid team is available. One important thing is to have the right players .to give the side a good start. That means much towards establishing confidence. Players like Sheffield, Dustin, Ell, Hepburn, Tindill, McLeod, Wilson, Pritchard, Ashenden, and Blundell would go a long way towards doing that.

Wellington's Plunket Shield engagements are:—

December 24 to December 28. —v. Otago, at Wellington.

December 30 to January 3.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. February 3 to February 7.—v. Auckland, at Auckland.