ROBINS AS ENGLAND'S CRICKET CAPTAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 137, 26 June 1937, Page 17

ROBINS AS ENGLAND'S CRICKET CAPTAIN

SUCCESSOR TO G. 0. ALLEN TEST .WITH NEW ZEALAND After the recent announcement of the retirement of G. O. B. Allen from international cricket, the appointment of R. W. V. Robins as captain of the English test team to meet the New Zealanders at Lord's on June 26, came as no surprise. For the third year in succession Robins is leading Middlesex. In . the first year Of his captaincy the county advanced . from tenth to third position in the county championship, and last year Middlesex did even better to rise to second place. Although this marked advance is not due entirely to Robins' leadership, there can be little doubt that his magnificent .fielding and dashing batting methods have proved a source of inspiration to his county. Some high authorities on the game assert that Robins is at times guilty of the most elementary mistakes in captaincy, while others allege that his methods are too daring. f,for test cricket. ' , Played Against Every Country A fine all-rounder, it is really at the bowling crease that Robins has made his name in Test cricket. He has represented" England on .various occasions from 1929 against every other cricket country. His achievements in that period are apperided: —

Against South ' Africa at Old Trafford in 1935, Robins scored 108," his only ceptijry in test cricketi Soceer Representative as Well Mention has been made of Robins as a batsman and fieldsman, but it is as a bowler that he has earned most fame. With a fairly low trajectory, Robins bowls a very slow ball. His eommand of length has greatly improved. His deceptive leg break and googly have proved- the downfall of the best players, Although inclined to take undue risks as a batsman, Robins in a crisis has often extricated Middlesex from a difficult position. Aged 31 this month, Robins has for 12 years figured in first-class cricket. While still at Highgate Robins appeared for his county. On going up to Cambridge, he gahied his "blue" for both soceer nnd cricket. Playing on the wing, Robins has also represented ' England at soceer. His uni^ersity career finished, Robins became a master at Stammer^ but lafer took a position with Sir Julien Cahn.- Besides vislting Australia, Robins recently toured America with Sir Julien Cabn's XI, taking nearly a hundred Avickets in all matches. Popularity and Sportsinansliip Cablegrams published on Tuesday indicate that all England welcomes the appointmept of Robins as .captain of- the English team to mefet New Zealand in the first test, at Lord's, on June 26, 28 and 29. . The Times critic said a more inspiring leader could not be imagined. Robins sets an example of energy which should make him an idea test captain. The hope was expressed that Robins would be captain against Australia in 1938. Mr. Howard Marshall, the wellknown cricket and Rugger authority, stated the choice of Robins as leader wou'ld be most popular, as the tests against New Zealand will be a pre- 1 paration for the sterner battle against j the Australians. '• A tribute to the sportsmanship of ! Robins is that he hesitated for some days before the acceptance of the captaincy, because he did not desire to j compete with his friend Allen if the i latter were in the running for the leadership. Yet he was self-sacrifie- ! ing enough to play in Australia under Allexf, who was a member of the

lvnaaiesex uounty XI captained by ' Robins himself. • I • j ~ — — y | SYDNEY PAPER'S COMMENT N.Z. WILL NOT TROUBLE I ENGLAND I The New Zealanders start their first Test against England at Lord's on Saturday, June 26. says "Not Out" in '. the Sydney Referee. Form does not suggest that they will seriously troublc the full strenglh of England. It was never thought they would do so. However, they may jmprove with the coming of warmer weather. The appointment of R. W. V. Robbins captain of England for the first Test, means that the New Zealanders will be against a very keen and clever leader, not held down to rule-of-thumb methods. We can imagine him endeavouring to get his side to rise to heights as fielders and to make the game as spicy as any idealist could desire. A crowd's cricketer, he is al- ' ways a pleasure to watch.

D. G. Bradman made hundreds in \ four successive Test matches against South Africa in 1931-32, his avei^age f being 201.50. | * & 4; | During his carce r from- 1905 to | 1934, J. B. Hobbs hclpeil to mahe 100 1 or more for the first wickct in first- : class cricket 166 timeE. , , \

Batting. Bowling. Runs. Av. Wkts. Av. 1936-37, v. Aust. 113 18.84 4 35.25 1936 v. India 76 38.00 9 22.66 1935, v. South | Africa 132 66.00 9 29.33 1933, v. West Indies 63 31.50 11 20.00 1932, v. India .... 51 25.50 3 32.00 1931, v. N.Z 12 12.00 '5 32.80 1930, v. Aust 70 35.00 10 33.80 1929) v. South Africa 4 2.00 5 15.80 Totals 521 27.42 56 26.89