FIRST CRICKET TEST TODAY

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1946, Page 7

FIRST CRICKET TEST TODAY

AUSTRALIA'S SLIGHTLY STRONGER BATTING SIDE Received .Thursday, Midnight. BMSBANE, Nov. 28. Although England 's cleven to meet Australia in the lirst Test will uot bc ehoscn untii tomorrow morning, cricket writers agree that Australia will field a slightly stronger batting side. liutton, the star English batsman. who has been sullering from a chill, will be iit to play. Gibbs' seieetion as wickctkeeper for England caused a surprisc as he has been unimpressive behiud the stumps in Australia and in scven wickets has scored only 118 ruus at an average of 19.(5(5. Gibbs, however, has some impressivc batting liguros in big cricket and is quite capable of rising to the occasion in the test whicli starts tomorrow. Evans is a good keeper but no batsman. Thc batting strength of Australia has no doubt in fluenced Hammond and his eo-sclcctors in. picking Gibb. The Sydney Sun 's cricket writcr, U S. Wliitington, says: "Both Australia and England have the tremendously strong and long batting lineup neces sary to take full advantage of winning the toss in a six-day match. Givcn a good start either side is capable againsl the available bowling of batting toi at least the first two days and amassing an unbeatable if not a victorious seorc and making one innings do the work oi two. For this reason the prediction? regarding the result of the first Test are as ditficult as trying to foretell whether Hammond will make more runs than Bradman or Hutton more than Miller. On the fifth and sixth day the wicket is almost sure to help the spin bowlers. "Despite the recent performances of McCool, I believe that Wright bccause of his additional speed from the wicket is the bowler most likclv to take full advantage of such conditions. The Australians on the other hand play spinners better than do the Englislnnen. " A special forecast says the weather should be mainlv fine on Friday and Saturday, and although there will be seattered clouds, rain is not likclv. From Mondav onwards the weather is expected to be verv warm. The M.C.O. selectors have named thc following 13 from whom thc first Test XI will be finally selected prior to thc opening of play tomorrow: — Hutton. Compton, Hammond, Washbrook, Yardey, Ikin, Edrich, Gibb, vSmith, Hardstaff, Voce, Bedser and Wright.