ENGLAND AND "THE ASHES"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 36, 11 August 1936, Page 8

ENGLAND AND "THE ASHES"

■ • .—«~ Cricket has teen at a somewhat low ebb in England during the last few years, and rib very high expectations were entertained of the possibility of selecting a team which would have a good chance of recovering "the Ashes" in the comingi tour of Australia in the southern season. Selection of the team is now complete but for one man, and the general comment is that the best has been made of the material available, described by the cricket writer in "The Times" as "what I seemed to be precious poor earlier in the season." Australian critics in Sydney agree that the English selectors have "done a splendid job." The attack is considered "most impressive" and the. whole as "better balanced than , was Jardine's four years ago." As this side of Jardine's. in 1932-33 recovered "the Ashes" by winning four out of the five Test matches, the opinion in Australia of the M.C.C. tourists this year is not in the direction of an under-esti-mate. Bradman thinks the Australians are up against a "strong proposition." On paper and on performance the Learn certainly looks an all-round side with batting and' bowling well proportioned. The bats include Fish lock, who heads the averages in England so far this season, Leyland, Hammond, Hardstaff, and Worthington, who are also in the first ten, Fagg, Holmes, Allen, Robins, and Barnett. Among the bowlers are' Verity, who has taken already at Home this season 166 wickets for an average of 12.10; Copson, who is third in the averages, Fames, Voce, Robins, and Sims. One or two1 other members of the team are good change bowlers, and will help to give the attack variety. Though Larwood, the hero of die last tour of Australia, and recognised then as the finest fast bowler in the world, will not be with the team, in Allen, Copson, Fames, and Voce there will be the velocity in bowling which is apt to prove so effective on Australian wickets. Much depends in cricket on captainship, which in this case" falls to G. 0. Allen,- of Middlesex, who has still to prove himself in that capacity. As the tour includes New Zealand, interest | in this country will be enhanced accordingly.. ;