Cricket AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 12

Cricket AUSTRALIAN TEAM

• Side To Tour South Africa (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 4. Ten of the Australian cricketers who toured New Zealand are included in the team to visit South Africa later this year. The team of 15, announced at Melbourne last night, has drawn criticism for the omission of the batsmen Ken Mackay and Norman O’Neill, and the speed bowler Ray Lindwall, but it has w’on praise for its youthful aspect The team is: Ron Archer, aged 23, right-arm medium-fast bowler and batsman Richie Benaud, 26, right-arm leg spinner and batsman. Peter Burge, 24, right-arm batsman and reserve wicketkeeper. Jim Burke, 27, right-hand opening batsman and change off-spin-ner. lan Craig, 21, ’ right-hand batsman. Alan Davidson, 26, left-arm pace and spin bowler and batsman. John Drennan, 24, right-arm fast bowler. Les Favell, 26, right-hand opening batsman. Wally Grout, 30, wicketkeeper and right-hand batsman. Neil Harvey, 28, left-hand batsman. Barry Jarman, 21, wicketkeeper and right-hand batsman. Lindsay Kline, 22, left-arm offspinner. lan Meekly, 22, left-arm fast bowler and right-hand batsman. Colin McDonald, 28, right-hand opening batsman. Bob Simpson, 21, right-hand opening batsman and change spin bowler. Captain Later The captain and vice-captain will be announced next week. The average age of the team is 24, believed to be the lowest average ever for an Australian side to play an official test series abroad. A younger team was sent to New Zealand, but the tests there were unofficial. In spite of the omission of 38-year-old Lindwall, the selectors have relied on speed and not spin. lan Johnson and many newspaper critics said O’Neill should not have been passed over in view of his century in the third unofficial test against New Zealand, but the former Australian captain Lindsay Hassett supported the selection of Simpson over O’Neill. Hassett said Simpson had shown better control.

The “Sydney Telegraph’’ writer, Dick Whitington, said the selectors had made two potentially costly mistakes—“ There can be no satisfactory explanation for the omission of O’Neill and Mackay.” Mackay topped the Australian batting averages in England last year. z