ROWNTREE LEFT OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 1

ROWNTREE LEFT OUT

Auckland’s Shield Team MATCH WITH WELLINGTON J> W. KOWXTREE, whose absence from the Auckland {S team in its match with England last week-end caused a 1 sensation in cricket circles, has been omitted from the Auckland team to play Wellington at Wellington next week in the match which will decide the resting place of ihe Plunket Shield —emblem of New Zealand inter-provincial cricket supremacy—for the ensuing year.

The Auckland Cricket Association's representative selection committee, Messrs. N. C. Snedden, W. J. Smeeton and E. C. Beale, has announced the selection of the following 12 players to make the trip South: —• C. F. W. Allcott (Grafton). A. H. Anthony (Parnell). S. A. R. Badeley (Hamilton). W. L. Elliott (Y.M.C.A.). H. D. Gillespie (Eden). H. Hunt (Ponsonby). A. M. Matheson (University), A. W. McCoy (Parnell). J. E. Mills (Eden). G. L. Weir (Eden). A. F. Wensley (Parnell). P. E. Whitelaw (Parnell). Mr. J. H. Wyatts will act as manager of the team. It will be noted that Hunt, o? Ponsonby, is now the wicketkeeper. Today, the selectors received word that he was available, and he will take the place of W. R. Garrard as wicketkeeper. Hunt is a promising ’keeper, who has done good work for Y.M.C.A. and Ponsonby in the past few years, but it could not be contended that he is in Rowntree’s class. Players are requested to see the secretary of the association for details of the trip smd are also requested to advise the secretary without delay if they are not available. The team will leave Auckland by the Limited on Wednesday evening, February 19. C. G. Finlayson (Ponsonby). who performed so ably in the M.C.C. match, was not available for selection. With the exception of Kownfree and Finlayson, the side is undoubtedly the strongest which could be put in the field. But by passing over Rowntree, who was available for selection, Auckland has probably driven the first nail into its own coffin. One member of the English team who has seen Rowntree in action on many occasions, stated that had Rowntree been behind the Auckland stumps in the M.C.C. game, Worthington, who scored a century, would have been dismissed before he reached double figures. He gave what would have been a chance for a wicketkeeper of Rowntree’s calibre. *

CHANCES WEAKENED ■ > ' Auckland has not succeeded in defeating Wellington at Wellington in. a Shield game since the 1912-1 S s( nson, and if she is to hold the Plunbcet Shield this year she must do so. Auckland's prospects -were bright, especially as the Wellingtonians ’’hill be without the services of F. T. liiadcock. who ranks as probably ihe finest all-round cricketer in the I>ominion at the present time. Auckland may be able to wl in without Rowntree. It »o, the lb victory will be all the sweetnr; * but one cannot help feeiing thbt she has jeopardised her ovlen chances of success by omittfbo the finest wicketkeeper in Ntw Zealand. If, as the statement lo the JPres* yesterday made clear, Rowntree’ fe explanation of the regrettable misunderstanding during the M.C.C. game has been accepted by the management committee of the Auckland C ticket Association, then there will be many supporters of the game who willl contend that Rowntree should havo been included in the team for WelVitigton. —TWELFTH 31 AN. WELLINGTON S TEAM} I*ress Association WELLINGTON, The Wellington Plunket Shield team to play Auckland on Fridfiy Is:—. Lowry, Dempster, Foley. 0 lamer on. Hollingrs, James, McLeod. McGimr. Massey, Gallictiau, Henderson., GISBORNE MATail The Poverty Bay Cricket Association has accepted the dates propof ied by the Auckland Cricket Associate it for the match at Gisborne against Poverty Bar on February 28 and March 1.

Wensley, the Auckland coaiph, will be included in the local side. As players able to obtain the necesnury leave must be in the hands of ttfe> country committee before noon on f.fonday for selection by the Auckland nele:tors, it is necessary that they shoukd immediately advise Mr. J. H. Miller, at the Y.M.C.A., who is organising for the country committee.