ENGLISH COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1931, Page 5

ENGLISH COMMENT

ENGLISH COMMENT. NEW ZEALAND TEAM. LONDON, February 3. ‘‘Polaris” ot the “Star” (London), makes the following comments on the New Zealand team:—

Though the policy of giving promising colts a chance is to be commended, it is doubtful if the New Zealand touring side will offer ver.v formidable ojnposition to our strongest counties. Why E. 1). Blundell, the Cambridge blue of 1928 and 1929, was not chosen is a mystery. There really is not enough howling on the side, and there is no one of liiiindcH’s pace whose howling has made any great mark in big matches. Merritt, Allcott and Blunt we know all . good. Most likel,v Allcott will do better than in 1927, when nc played under handicap- of injury. There is no evidence that Merritt or Blunt has improved, but they were very good value then. Tom Lowry and ‘‘Guriy” Rage are useful changes—no more than tha t.

Not one of the new men has greatly distinguished himself in the howling line, unless in matches of which wc have not yet heard—and big matches in New Zealand are not- plentiful. CHOSEN ON CLUB FORM. Because of that fact more weight is given to club form in Now Zealand than here or in Australia, where a man is tested before big crowds and against first-class bowlers before he has even a look-in for a touring side. Of the six colts in the New Zealand team, only R. O. Talbot and A. M. Mathyson were known in first-class cricket when the last team came over.

Talbot is not quite a youth, for he first played for Canterbury in 1922-23, and made a century in his first game for the province. He fell aw:tv later, and was dropped, but has come again. His bowling has some pace, but has never been reckoned of much nr,-mint. 0. L Weir first played for Auckland four seasons ago; he is undoubtedly a. fine bat, but only a moderate change bowler.

Mntheson showed promising allround form for the same province in 102 G-27. but, like Talbot for Canterbury, fell away later. He has pace; it can hardly be said that he has as yet done anything to justify the idea that lie is even half as good a bowler as Blundell, FIND OF THE SEASON! J. L. Kerr and 1. B. Crumb were new in the Canterbury side last season, Kerr a stylish and forcible hat, Cronin good with both bat and ball. Vivian, only eighteen, is a find of this season, and must he counted lucky to get a big chance thus early. But Merritt was a mere boy in 192?, and the selectors have not forgotten that, one assumes Weir is the only one of these six who has done anything substantial in firstclass games; club fornt must have been the chief consideration in the case of must of the others.