CRICKET COMMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 146, 12 February 1932, Page 6

CRICKET COMMENTS

"Cover Point".)

THE N.Z. TEAM IS INTEREST IN THE GAME FALLING AWAY LOCALLY? GOOD BOWLING AVERAGES

(Notes by

Review of the recent series of matches in the local Cricket Association's competitions would give some support to the opinion that the standard of batting is deteriorating instead of improving as the season advances. In the series which commenced last Saturday, two teams secured outright wins on the first day of the match, the scores compiled by all four teams being under the hundred mark. On the other hand some fine bowling performances have been put up of- late, and this to a large extent accounted for the poor gcores registered by batsmen last Saturday. Although compiling only 96 runs in the first innings, High School were not required to visit the crease a second time against Ngongotaha, having 14 runs to spare after disposing of their opponents twice. In this match, Keane (High School) was bowling at the top of his form and finished the day with nine wickets to his credit at the expense of only 26 runs. He was also the largest contributor to the High School total, scoring 29 runs. Accurate trundling also distinguished Alexander and Hampson, who each took five wickets for 21 runs in the first and second Ngongotaha innings respectively. Ngongotaha also have a good bowler in Ellis, who took five wickets f or 29 runs.

Players Lack Interest A regrettable feature of the Mamaku versus Old Boys' fixture was that both teams were below their usual strength and were playing short. It is to be hoped that the apparent lack of interest is not accounted for by the fact.that the Bay of Plenty representatives have now been chosen. Mamaku could collect only 30 runs in their first innings, and had it not been for F. Reed, who did not bat in the first innings, their second innings total would have been just as small. Reed's performance was seven wickets for 37 runs and 29 runs in his only innings. Spedding has considerably strengthened the Old Boys' side and bowled well against Mamaku in bagging four wickets for 12 runs. He is also a reliable batsnlan, and made the second highest score for his team. Another good all-rounder in the Old Boys' team is Heley, six Mamaku wickets falling to his lot. He also knocked up 29 runs, the teams' highest individual total. Deadly Bowling City failed to reproduce their batting form of the previous Saturday and against Albion, scored only 90 runs. The chief reason for this was the outstanding performance of E. Sutherland as a bowler. His deliveries were practically unplayable and only two runs could be scored off the 7.5 overs which he sent down. At the expense of these two runs he bagged five wickets. For Albion, Burton struck batting form and gave his side a good start by compiling 56 runs. Although lacking fireworks his score was the result of correct cricket. New Zealand Team The team which the New Zealand selectors, Messrs. H. V. Whitter, N. C. Sneddon, F. Williams and T.

Cobcroft, have chosen to represent the Dominion in the first test match against the South African cricketers at Christchurch on February 27, 29 and March 1, is a particularly well balanced side and includes two players who have been knocking at the representative doors for some time. The team selected is as follows: — M. L. Page (Canterbury), C. S. Dempster (Wellington), R. C. Blunt (Otago) , G. L. Weir (Auckland), A. W. Robbrts (Canterbury), K. C. James (Wellington), F. T. Badcock (Otago), D. C. Cleverley (Auckland), I. B. Cromb (Canterbury), J. Newman (Nelson). The twelfth man has not yet been selected. "Notable absentees from the team are T. C. Lowry, and H. G. Vivian both unfortunately being unavailable. The Captaincy In the absence of Lowry, the captaincy of the team will probably devolve upon Page, of Canterbury, who while not possessing the same qualifications for leadership as Lowry, is nevertheless / admirably suited to handle the responsible task. Page was vice-captain of the New Zealand team on the last English tour. He is a reliable batsman, has scored ovei 1500 runs in Plunket Shielcl cricket and can also tie up the best of bats.men with his bowling deliveries. C. S. Dempster requires no introduction to followers of the game anc without him a Dominion team woulc not be complete. This season he seems to be batting better than ever and may reasonably be expected tc ! make the visiting fieldsmen step live- ! ]yJ. L. Kerr will probably open the innings with Dempster, and if he can reproduce his form of late, the first wicket partnership should be a valuable one. New "Blood" Included Two players to receive their eaps for the first time are D. Cleverley (Auckland) and J. Newman (Nel-

son). Both are bowlers, the Aucklauder being the speed merchant and Newman a medium pace spin bowler It is pleasing to see that the selectors at last recognised the value of Newman as a bowler and his inclusion should considerably st^engthen the weakest spot in New Zealand cricket to-day. Other bowlers on the side are Cromb and Badcock and with the assistance of such .change bowlers as Weir, Blunt and Page, the attack should be capable of making the South Africans fight hard for their runs. j. * Although he has already represented New Zealand it was considered by capable cricket critics that A. W. Roberts should have been included in the last team to tour the Old Country, and this has been borne out further by his fine batting form in shield cricket this season. K. C. James secures the position as wicket-keeper and the controversy which has arisen in past years as to the capabalities of James and Rountree (Auckland), has now been silenced by the latter's retirement from representative cricket. The ban placed upon Merritt by the New Zealand Cricket Council on account of his engagement by an English Cricket Glub during the winter months, has taken effect for the first time and the selectors were obliged to exclude him from their selection. This action unfortunately leaves the team without a slow bowler, but the firm stand taken is undoubtedly justified.