A VETERAN SIDE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 7

A VETERAN SIDE

AUCKLAND’S FIRST SHIELD TEAM CHOSEN NEW BLOOD WANTED The Auckland Cricket Association’s selectors, Messrs. E. C. Beale, X. C. Sneddon, and W. J. Smeeton, have chosen the following players to represent Auckland against Otago in the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park, starting next Tuesday:—A. Anthony (Parnell), S. A. R. Badeley (Hamilton), W. L. Elliott (Y.M.C.A.). D. R. Garrard (University). H. D. Gillespie • Eden), A. M. Matheson (University), J. E. Mills (Eden). R. W. Rowntree (Grafton). G. £. Weir (Eden), A. F. Wqnsley (Parnell). P. E. Whitelaw (Parnell). W. J. Smeeton (University) is twelfth man. Compared with last year’s team, the side chosen by* the selectors shows a falling off. Dunning, Allcott, and Bowley will be much missed. The fielding does not look to be very strong, Matliieson, Gillespie, and Badeley being about the best. Some

of the older players will have to improve considerably on their displays in recent club matches. The brunt of the bowling will probably fall on Mathieson and Wensley, with Garrard, Anthony, Weir, Mills, and Elliott as changes. Allcott’s inability to play confines the attack to a battery of ranging from slow to medium pace. BATTING FAIRLY STRONG The team looks to be stronger in batting than in any other department of play. Rowntree and Mathieson are the only two without some pretensions to run-getting. The other nine, are all liable to get runs. The selection is heavily in favour of the veterans, the whole eleven being farmer representatives, except Badeley, who has represented Waikato. At the same time, there are few promising colts in sight, although McCoy might have been given a place. Incidentally, Fletcher seems to have been unlucky not to have been picked in the original twenty. On the team looks to be one of the weakest that lias represented Auckland for several seasons, and new blood is sadly needed. There may be some changes between now and the M.C.C. visit, but as far as the present selection is concerned the selectors seem to have made the best of a bad job.—“ Twelfth Man.”