CRICKET EXTENSIVE TRIALS PRECEDE TOUR OF ENGLAND

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1948, Page 6

CRICKET EXTENSIVE TRIALS PRECEDE TOUR OF ENGLAND

In an effort to locate the cricketers to represent New Zealand in England next, year, the following list of trial fixtures has been drawn up by the New Zealand Cricket AssociaDecember 27, 28 and 29.—-North Island (northern section) Possibles v. Probables, at Hamilton. January 1, 3 and 4. —North Island (southern section) Possibles v. Probables, at Palmerston North. February 5, 7 and B.—North Island Major v. Minor Associations, at Wellington. , t January 1, 3 and 4.—Buller, West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough v. Ashburton, South Canterbury, North Otago and Southland, at Christchurch. , February 4, 5 and 7. —South Island Major v. Minor Associations, at Christchurch. February 10. 11 and 12.—New Zealand v. Tlie Rest, at Christchurch. Selectors will also keep a watchful eye on Plunket Shield and Hawke Cup matches. Plunket Shield matches will be: — December 22 to 29.—Wellington v. Auckland, at. Wellington; Otago v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. December 31 to January 4. —Wellington v. Canterbury, at. Wellington; Otago v. Auckland, at Auckland. January 7 to 11.—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Auckland. January 14 to 18. —Otago v. Wellington, at Dunedin.

K. C Preston May be Answer to Lindwall (From Reuter's SportingCorrespondent) LONDON (By Airmail). Kenneth Charles Preston is the name of a cricketer who may be an English player of the future to be England’s answer to Lindwall, Johnston and Miller, the trio of Australian pace bowlers who wrecked such havoc in the ranks of England this summer.

Preston, aged 23, is in his first season as professional with Essex, and the only note about him was that he .was a promising medium fast bowler, an excellent fielder and a hard hitting batsman. Preston, according to critics who have watched him this year, is just the type of player who will develop into the pace bowler England so badly needs. His easy, rhythmic approach to the wicket is followed by a fluent action as he delivers the ball and unlike so many bowlers this year who have sent down inswingers, Preston can make the ball go away late in flight. Should his promise be fulfilled it will be strange that once again Essex has provided an England shock bowler. Going back down the years the names of Kortright Buckingham and Douglas come to mind, but more recently it was Nichols- and the late Kenneth Farnes whose nace often helped England. Has the Eastern County developed another? It is a question that time will answer.