A NEW FAST BOWLER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 12

A NEW FAST BOWLER

(By "Not Out")

The selection for the final Test indicates that the Australian selectors are continuing an experimental policy, especially with regard to the bowling, in.-view of next season's engagements with England. The new bowler to be brought an for the final Test is Nash, the Tasmanian speed merchant, who is considered to have pace almost as fast as that of Gilbert. He takes the place of jThurlow (Queensland). ■ Fingleton, a fine batsman who has been opening for New South Wales, is being given I chance to play in a Test after having filled the position of twelfth man, and he changes places with Rigg. Ironmonger,, regarded aB Australia's greatest left-hanc* bowler since Jack Saunders, is recalled in place of Hunt. The fifth Test. ■ will . complete the couth Africans' engagements in Australia, except for a return match with west Australia, which will be played after the team has visited New Zealand. At the conclusion of the fifth Test the Springboks will proceed to Sydney, leaving there on the 19th February for Auckland. Arrangements have been made for the final Test to be commenced a day earlier than scheduled in order to make it easier for the tourists to reach Sydney in time to catch the steamer for New Zealand. The match will commence next "Wednesday. The following was published in' Melbourne last week regarding Nash's claims .to inclusion in Australia's Test team:—Tasmanians regard the im-. pressive success achieved by Laurie Nash, the Launceston fast bowler,' against the South Africans, particularly following on some striking performances in club and North and South cricket, as emphasising his claims for consideration in the selection in the fifth Test match team against South "Africa, in Melbourne.: ..

The South Africans freely acknowledged after the game at Hobart that Nash was the fastest bowler they had encountered in Australia, with the possible exception of Gilbert, the Queensland aborigine. There has been.no finer bowling performance -by a Tasnianianin big cricket "than 'Nash's seven for 50 ,in South Africa's., first innings at Hobart, when he secured the wickets of the real batsmen of the side. Other performances this season by Nash have been two for 84, two for 102, and two for 70 against Victoria, and one for 68, two for 45, and'two for 87 against South Africa. But for missed chances, his figures in these big games would have been vastly improved, and- it is unanimously conceded that Nash was never in better form than at present.

He is a good "all-rounder,, with' a capacity for brilliancy in any part of the field, and is a batsman likely to make runs, as proved by some excellent performances in. big cricket. Last season he scored 110 against Victoria, 53 and 41 against the_ West Indies, and 59 against Victoria. This year, principally because of the great amount of bowling he has had to do, he has not been quite; so consistent with the bat, but scored an. excellent 84. against Victoria in Xaunceston recently. He has been a prolific ■ scorer in club games, his last innings against Launceston producing the record score of 241 not out, made in a short afternoon's.cricket.

The excellent all-round qualifications of this 21-year-old youth were regarded by Tasmanian cricket authorities as ample justification for the claim that, with Australia seeking promising material and experimenting: at ■ 'the moment with new bowlers, Nash should be given some consideration by the selectors for the final Test game against South Africa. As a matter of fact, a recommendation went forward from the N.T.C.A. urging Nash's claims N upon the selectors.