NOTES ON THE TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 5

NOTES ON THE TEAM

[By Substitute.] With the twelfth man yet to be announced, only three players who took part iu the second test have not been included in the Australian side lor the third test, which commences _ to-mor-row, these being Ironmonger, Nothling, and Ponsl'ord (whose injury makes him unavailable). The selectors have evidently made an efiort to strengthen the attack, and it may be taken as almost certain that the Victot ian, E. a’Bcckett, will be included in the side In fact, to the writer it looks as if the Queciishnder L E. Oxenhani, will be the twelfth man. He is a brother of the all-rounder R. K. Oxenhani, who was here with the Australian team last season, and who was among those selected for the first test of the present series, but who eventually nuisliecl as twelfth man. L. E. Oxenhani is over forty years of age, and is a useful batsman, but it is difficult to see that any of the others will be dropped for him. ~ . . A’Beckett is a medium-pace bowlei who comes very fast off the wicket and possesses dash, energy, and stamina, lie will not lose the runs in the held (hat Ironmonger did, for he is a good fieldsman and a very fair bat. in a recent Sheffield Shield match with Queensland he bowled very inipiessively, and finished up with three wickets for 29 runs, while he made 32. Last season for Victoria he had a batting average of 3U.50, while his eight wickets cost 35.75 runs apiece. A’Beckett should certainly lend variety to the Australian attack, lor it is the opinion of M. A. Noble that ho is somewhat similar to Maurice late, bejug almost us last, and U hu should Inippcn to come off he will certainly add to the interest of the forthcoming test. Blackic lias been retained in the team, which was only to be expected, lor in the recent test he impressed as much as anyone At first the wicket was too slow ‘for him. but when it became faster he bowled finely, and had most of the batsmen playing him carefully, according to one Australian writei. Grimmeit, Blackic, and a’Bcckctt a ill probably be called upon to bear the brunt of the attack, with Hendry as the principal change, and Ryder, Andrews, and Bradman able to take a hand if absolute necessity demands it. All have bowled in Sheffield Shield cricket, and in test games Ryder has collected eight wickets at an average cost of 56.25 runs, while Andrews has but one wicket to his credit in lest games. Bradman played in the first test, but did not meet with much success. Ho is a young player, however, and a brilliant' field, and his reinclusion will be popular. He did well tor New South Wales and an Australian eleven against England in matches prior to the tests. Andrews has not taken part in any matches of the present series, but lie is a player possessed of the_ proper test match temperament, and is a brilliant fielder. Ho has taken part in thirteen test games, in which he batted nineteen times, bis highest score being 94 and his average 28.47. On paper the Australian team looks a strong batting side, and, as much will depend on the result of this lest, it will bo followed with great interest by cricket followers.