Plunket Shield Prospects

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 897, 14 February 1930, Page 7

Plunket Shield Prospects

Auckland Needs Outright Win

KEENNESS IN WELLINGTON

From Our Resident Reports

WELLINGTON. Thursday. Fifteen Wellington cricket players have been put into training for the 1 ] final match for the Piunket Shield j ' which opens against Auckland at the i Basin Reserve. Wellington, next Fri- j day. It is as yet a little early to make J anything like a reliable forecast as to j the personnel of the Wellington team, j • but present indications are that it will j consist of T. C. Lowry fcaptain), H. B. Massey, C. S. Dempster. TI. M. McGirr. Iv. C. James. A. M. Hollings, W. F. Airey, H. Foley. M. Henderson, E. A. McLeod and R. H. C. Mackenzie or W. A. Baker, one of the last two probably j having to content himself with being j twelfth man. Others who have been selected to go into training are D. ! Camercn. of Rangitikei. S. Ward and E. D. Blundell, the latter being a Cambridge Blue, who has now taken up his permanent residence in Wellington. With only one more match to play. Wellington is in the lead under the new method of scoring, having I*J points to Auckland s Irk Canterbury has two points, and Otago, the fourth province, competing in Shield fixtures, has scored nothing, having been beaten outright in each of its three matches. Nothing but an outright win will save the shield for Auckland as, should that province win only on the first innings. Wellington would still be two points ahead on the total. “BEST OF SEASON" It is expected that the match will be one of the best of the season, as both > provinces have strong elevens repre- ■ senting them. Auckland is looked on in Wellington this season as being \ stronger than ever, but Wellington also is likely to field its best team for the occasion. One sad defection will be j the loss of Badcock, who is now per- j manently a resident in Dunedin as coach to the Otago Association. The Englishman has been one of the most valuable players ever possessed by Wellington, and is probably the best all-rounder in New Zealand at the present time, being a vigorous and dashing batsman, a good stock bowler, and the finest field at cover in the Dominion. It may be that Mackenzie will fail ■ to find a place in the team and that “Wiri” Baker will be the selector’s I choice. Mackenzie rather offended the cricket authorities by refusing to apply for leave to make the trip to Dunedin for the match against Otago, whereas Baker went and did very well. On the other hand, both men may be pushed out to give a place to Denis Blundell, who comes from the Homeland with a great reputation, though so far he has failed to live up to it. It is hoped by some people, however, that he will make good at the nets during the period of training, and that the form he reveals then will place him in the team against Auckland. Blundell certainly bowls a fine ball, and there is

ample evidence in his deliveries of the very fine grounding he has recei\ cd from Patsy Hendren and Faulkner, the South African, whose school he attended. STRONG BATTING SIDE Of the batsmen selected, Dempster and Hollings are at present in fine form, while there are at least eight others in the side who are capable of putting up substantial scores against the best bowling Auckland can brine down to Wellington. In fact of the eleven players forecast as the probable team, it might safely be contended that there are eleven good batsmen, if not great wielders of the willow. The probable inclusion of Massey in the final selection will strength* n the bowling, and help to replace Baucock. while it will certainly help the fielding as Massey is re Table in the slips and a good batsman. With Massey. McGirr. Henderson and McLeod as the main strings, and Lowry as a possible change in an emergency. Wellington may be said to be well equipped with bowlers. Whatever happens so far as the final result is concerned. it is certain that those who see the match will be treated to some very thrilling cricket. Both captains are prepared to take chances, and should the need arise they will give the necessary instructions to go foi the bowling or to “dig in.” whichever is most needed, and when that occurs followers of the game may look out for great