N.Z. CRICKET TEAM.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1927, Page 1

N.Z. CRICKET TEAM.

NOTES ON THE PLAYERS. C. Oliver.—One of the colts of the New Zealand team in Australia last season, Oliver Hid exceptionally well and headed the batting averages of the side. This year he lias been a little in-and-out in his hatting, hut his second knock in Dunedin showed that he is once more attaining his old form. 11. Al. M’Cirr.—M’Girr lias proved one of the best all-round cricketers Wellington lias produced, and although he is getting up a little in years, he is still able to send clown a fast ball and maintain his speed and accuracy longer Ilian the general run of howlers of his type. He is also capable of making a. lot of runs, though his batting this season lias not been no to bis best standard. TV. E. .Menittt. \ week or so Merritt’s name would not have been mentioned in regard to the selection of the New Zealand team, but his performance against Otago of • getting eight wickets for (>S brought him very much into the limelight, lit view of the fact that there is such a dearth, of slow howlers in the Dominion to-flay Merritt’s name in the chosen fourteen should not occasion surprise. M. L. Page.—Page is the best allround cricketer the Roys’ High School has turned out since the days of R. 0. llicknnitt. He lias represented Canterbury on several occasions, but this season has been easily his most consistent. and he has played himself into the New Zealand side with his very sound hatting. He lias also conic in for congratulation on his successful leading of the Canterbury colts to victory in Otago last week. Page heads the Canterbury averages with 111..'!. \\ . Cunningham.—('iiniiinghnin is sure to he the leading stock bowler oi the side. Against provincial and overseas teams he has invariably done well with exasperating luck in the way of dropped catches, especially in the slips. With good men in the slips Cunningham should obtain some good averages on the trip Home.

11. ('. Plunt.— Formerly of Canterbury. but now in Otago, blunt was one of the first certainties of the team. As in the ease of ]liddlestone. his performances are far too many to enumerate. He has been one of the leading batsmen in New Zealand for the past four or five .vein's. In Auslnilra last season he made Mb against Goulbourn. Blunt is also a very useful slow bowler of the googlv type, though at times his length is somewhat erratic

C. Daere. Daere is one of the most aggressive batsmen New Zealand has ever produced. He has n great variety of strokes and is sure to delight the English critics if he strikes his true form. Me has played for Yew Zealand several times before. Last, season he was a prolific scorer with the New Zealand team in Australia, finishing off with ills against the Northern Districts. This year he has very successfully lend the Auckland team to victory in the series of Plnnket Shield matches.

K C. James.—James was the only Wellington man to make the to Australia with the New Zealand team last season, acting as second wicketkeeper to Lowry. His only good knock was o*2 against Northern Districts m the last game of the tour. This season James has improved out of sight as a batsman, and has earned his place in the side for hatting alone. He is second to Lowry in the Wellington list with 63.5.

T. C. Lowry.—Lowrv has been freely spoken of as the possible captain of the team in view of the fact that he has had experience of skippering the Cambridge I’niversitv team at Home'. Apart from his wicket-keeping, he is well worth his place ns a batsman. He heads the Wellington averages with 64.2.

C. Aleott.—Perhaps the most useful all-rounder in the team, being a fine left-hand break bowler as well as a good left-hand bat. His batting during the tour of the New Zealand team in Australia last season was a revelation. the principal performance being bis partnership with Patrick in the game against New South Vales, when Patrick made 143 and Aleott 116. Aleott also made a century against Victoria. This season he has not shown quite the same form, hut he is sure to prove one of the mainstays of the side from an all-round point of view. •T. E. Mills.—The stylish Auckland left-hander has been batting very well this year, his average for Shield games bein'? 39,6'. He is regarded as one of

tlie most promising batsmen seen in Auckland for a long time, and there was much disappointment in that city when lie was not selected to go to Australia with the last New Zealand side. Mis selection was generally expected after his consistent performance this season. He is the type of young batsman who will probably benefit greatly as a result of the tour. F. T. Badcock.— Uadcock in ail Englishman who came to New Zealand four years ago as coach to the Wellington Cricket Association, a position that lie has Idled most satisfactorily, as is evidenced by the improvement- shown in Wellington cricket during that time. Badcock is a good all-round cricketer, with an intimate knowledge of the game and in Shield matches he has been most valuable to Wellington, both as a batsman and as a howler. His innings for 100 against Canterbury this year was a magnificent exhibition ol batting, one of the best ever seen at Eancnster Park. His knowledge of English conditions should he of great' assistance to the team.

C. S. Dempster.—On his performances this year Dempster is perhaps lucky to got into the team. At his best, however, he is one of the leading batsmen in the Dominion. A few months ago he left Wellington to reside in Wanganui, where he made some very high scores in club cricket : but in Shield games for Wellington this year he unite failed to produce his form, lie was selected to go with the New Zealand team to Australia last season, but was unable to make the trip. Bast year he was one of the most consistent batsmen in the Wellington team, and if he can strike his old form in England lie should ndove one ol the best bats of the side. M. Henderson. —Henderson has been selected as the pace howler of the loom. He lias represented Wellington for several seasons, and he has also represented New Zealond. He met with considerable success as a bowlet in Sidled games this season, his best performance being against Canterbury, when in the first innings he took lour wickets for 2!) runs. In the first innings of the Auckland game lie took six for 70. He is also a. fair performer with the bat.