UP TO BIG TEST STANDARDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 63, 7 December 1937, Page 8

UP TO BIG TEST STANDARDS

Wallace and Cowie Impress in Australia FIGURES 0N THE TOUR If New Zealand cricketers were ' to be deemed eligible for selection in the Australian team to tonr EngJand, at least two of them seen in Sydney would be certainties. These are M. W. Wallace, the well-rounded right-hand batsman, and J. Cowie, the right-hand fast howler, whois not a seam-swing soloist. These men are well up to the hest England v. Australia Test standards," writes "Not Out," of the Sydney Eeferee. He added: "Now that Australians have seen the New Zealanders theii averages in the Old Country hecome more and more interesting. The batting table tells us that Wallace was the most successful run-getter on the big tour. He filled the bill most admirably in Sydney. "Wallace is very young. But he is a aatural high-grade batsman, easler ou his feet and in stance and less conStraincd in executing the strokes than most of the younger Australians. In the teehnicalities of the art he looked as good almost as C. S. Dempster was when he first played in Sydney. "On the Englis'h tour in 1931 Dempster scored 1778 runa at 59.26 an innings. He is so good a batsman now that were a world 's eleven being selected, he would probably be included. "Wallace should go as far as Dempster, provided that in matching his wits against those of the greatest bowlers, who are using' their ' brains,5 he ripens as Dempster has done. "New Zealand cricket wants Wallace. He captured the fancy of the best judges in Sydney. More like a top-notch Australian than an English batsman. He looks like becoming a strong impulse in the rise of New Zealand to its standards of some seasons back. He is a Real Fast Bowler. "The very high place held in bowling by J. Cowie, and the relative excellence of his figures in England are in keeping with the form shown in Sydney. Cowie is not so fast as some Australian contemporaries. But he looks a better fast bowler than any of them — including McCormick. He does not depend for deadliness wholly on the new ball. It undoubtedly helps him. But when the sheen disappears, he 13 still hostile. "Dplivering from a wide angle over jthe wicket, he brings his hand over the jtop of his head at times, and gives the |ball direction and kick that has the jqualities of an off-break. : "This was what happened when Stan McCabe had his leg stump flicked by a, ball that deceived him in pace offi the pitch. McCabe might have been a little bit careless in watching for the pace. •He shaped to guide it gently forward to 'the on-side, biit the ball was through !him in a flash, as it seemingly came 'from the oif, though it probably was nothing more than the angle of the dejlivery. I "Cowie gave one an imprassion all jthe time that he knew exactly what he jwas aiming at and had the ability to 'bowl accordingly.