ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1928, Page 4

ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR

THE CAPTAINCY QUESTION

Alr AI. A. Noble discussing the prospects of the English cricket team to visit Australia this year says other things being equal the advantage; of local conditions and environment may be slightly on our side, although these do not matter nearly as much as many people imagine. They are the inevitable tilings that have to be faced with every series of tests, and, so far as my experience goes, I should say that it i.; far more difficult for Australian batsmen to reproduce their best form in England, than it is for the Englishmen to succeed in Australia, where there is more light, a clearer atmosphere, and harder, better, and truer wickets than they arc accustomed to in .the home of the game. One of the dominating influences in the Tests will he the captaincies. If we knew definitely on whose shoulders those paramount responsibilities were to he placed, we might bo in a better position to hazard a guess at the outcome of the series. In England it looks as if the choice will probably lie among Gilligan, Chapman, Carr and Jardine, any ono of whom is capable of leading his men to victory. (Chapman has been appointed to captain the English eleven, and AYhite is vioecaptain). A'ot I venture to say that none of these is, as yet, so great, commanding, or capable as some of England’s captains of bygone days. On this side our choice will probably fall on Richardson, AVoodfull or Kippnx. Again all good men, with limitations, for the highest honour. For my own part, the man 1 would like to see leading Australia in the

field is Johnny Taylor, whom I regard as easily the most capable skipper in the game in this country to-day. Unfortunately 1 be is a doubtful quantity, even as a mendier of the team, because, until recently at all events, be has. been suffering from the after-effects of war service. ITe is a man who knows bow to u,se bis bowlers with discretion. He never overworks them and be understands the value of contrasts. His placing of the field, too, is invariably skilful, and, of course, in addition to these qualities of generalship, bis force- { ful batting, bis wonderful fielding, and fleetness of foot on the boundary are in themselves qualities that Australia can not do without. Failing Taylor, 1 would prefer to see J AVoodful in command because be lias j already displayed a good deal of the I temperament that makes for leadership and liecause lie possesses personality, keenness, enthusiasm and that supreme quality of being great oil big occasions. He has also had more cx'perienee jth-a.il either Richardson or Kippax, neither of whom, because of the ineptitude of the lust Test team selectors, was allowed to complete bis cricket education in England.