CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

A POPULAR CHOICE. BEST SIDE SELECTED. j “A rattling good side,” is tile general opinion in Auckland of the New Zealand cricket team which has been selected to tour England. Men who know cricket are convinced that the selectors have done their work thoroughly, and it will, he a big disappointment to them if the tourists do not i perlomi well in the Old Country. The •selectors, the critics assume, set- out to : pick a team of all rounders, and in ! this, they believe, they have been cm- J iii''?)t .*v succosiful. Every man in the team can make runs, the fielding I should lie good, and the howling is cer- I ta-inly not weak. j “The team is the best that could ' have been chosen,” said Mr H. Dun- I can, the Parnell captain and one of ! the three Auckland selectors, warmlv. I He was particularly pleased to see ■ Mathesen in the side, and mentioned J that when Ted Bowle.v visited Auckland I with the M. 0.0. team last season the j piofessiona 1 hiul expressed amazement, at the improvement shown by the - University fast howler. Rowley had voiced the opinion that Matheson would .perform well on English wickets, and Mr Duncan believed that what lie lacked in pace lie would make up tor with his swerve .and speed off the liteh. He was a great trier when icwling and was also a fine slip fieldsmin and a batsmen who could make ■uns on occasions.

“J regard Talbot ns the MeGirr of the team.” continued Mr Duncan. “He has plenty of confidence and as a vorv 11 Refill man for- the side. Cromb is another player who has plenty of confidence and' is a fine slip fieldsman.

M ith such good slip fieldsmen as Oronib. Weir, Matheson and' Vivian in the side our plovers should not drop catches as did the New Zealand team in 1927. Everv man can hat and it will he a difficult matter deciding who is to go in last.” Referring to Olevcrley, Mr Duncan said that he was still young and could he looked upon ns certain to improve. Tf the team had been selected a year later the Aucklander would probably have made a holder hid for selection.

'j PLENTY OF YOUTH t A former Auckland representative player; who-preferred to remain anonymous, said that he was glad -to see that plenty of youth had been infused into the: side. Before tire selection was announced he had picked Id players, and ot these 13 had obtained a place in the team. Me had preferred ' iAeiv'ifisoir -to Talbot, and also loonkidered Rusties worthy of a place, lie Was delighted to see Vivian in the side, • as lie felt' sure that, with the experience he-would get on the tour, lie would lie u decided act|uisi’iion to New Zealand cricket in the future. “I also believe that Vivian will take wickets. In the game against Wellington he had the -batsmen guessing during the few “overs tluft-he howled.” he said. Although Delhpster had not shown class this season, lie believed tluft lie would' coffie ’into his 'own again in England,. The players who he expected to be the chief successes of the tour were Mills, Weir, Vivian, Cromb, Page and Dempster.