M.C.C. Bringing 13 BARBER TO MISS TOUR OF N.Z.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 3

M.C.C. Bringing 13 BARBER TO MISS TOUR OF N.Z.

(N.Z. Prtss Association—Copyright) SYDNEY. The two prolific run-getters in the M.C.C. team —R. W. Barber and K. F. Barrington—will not be seen in New Zealand this season. These two, plus the brilliant off-spin bowler, F. J. Titmus, and the fast bowler, J. D. F. Larter, will return to England after the fifth test against Australia, which starts in Melbourne on Friday.

Only 13 players will travel to New Zealand for the programme comprising three fourday test matches and a three-day game against a President’s XI.

Originally, the M.C.C. had intended to take 14 players and Barber was scheduled to play in New Zealand, said Mr S. C. Griffith, the team manager. EXPECTING BABY But Barber had been given permission to accompany his wife on the journey back to England. Mrs Barber, who is expecting a baby in April, has been with her husband in Australia since just before Christmas. A doctor has said she should not make the return journey alone.

Mr Griffith said the other factors governing the selections for New Zealand had been that both Barrington and Titmus had toured a great deal in recent years and it was felt they should have a rest.

With five fast bowlers in the party it would not have been sensible to take them all to New Zealand and Larter had been excluded. BECOME STALE

Apart from Barber’s case, the three players returning were all predictable. Both Barrington and Titmus have become a little stale in recent weeks. They have played almost continuous cricket for several seasons now, at home and abroad. The two-month break before they start practising for the 1966 English season should enable them to return to their best form before the

test matches with the West Indies later this year. Larter has been unfortunate with injuries and the tour itinerary has not allowed those not in the test team to play much first-class cricket. Before the current game with New South Wales, Larter had only bowled 76.2 overs in first-class games.

The 13 players who will tour New Zealand are:—

M. J. K. Smith (captain), M. C. Cowdrey (vice-captain), G. Boycott, W. E. Russell, J. H. Edrich, P. H. Parfitt, B. R. Knight, J. M. Parks, J. T. Murray, D. A. Allen, D. J. Brown, I. J. Jones, K. Higgs.