CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

THE TEST MATCH. Coniincuting on me personnel oi the English lost itleveu a sporting writer says:—The 'English selectors nave at last realised, dike the Australians, that youth must be served, and a team averaging twenty-six yearn oi age lias been selected, and, wonder of wonders the selection is generally appioved. Sutcliffe the steady Buleepsinhji worthy of being a nephew ot Ranjitsinhji, and Hammond, the artist, form a very formidable trio of batsmen, and they will oive abundant confidence to tlu youngsters. Nichol, Bakewell, and Arnold, Jardine, the ' new captain, is a tall powerful man. He has played in important test cricket and this season scored well against New Zealand. The bowling will be in tlie hands of I.arWood (fast),' Voce (leit-hander), Peebles and Robins (googlie), with Hammond as a very useful change. It is doubtful if atiy of the English teams in the five tests last season were as strong in howling as the present side. Ames of Kent, the wicketkeeper, is very little inferior to Duckworth, but lie is a good batsman also, one who makes, his 1000 runs per season. Altogether the selectors have benefited by the errors of last season and the team selected is a decided compliment to the New Zealanders who evidently have impressed the Home critics. 1 Of the older players, H. Sutcliffe (36) is mainly, a defensive batsman. He watches the ball closely and bis favourite stroke is a square cut. K. S. Buleepsinhji (26) has been seen in Christchurch. His special qualities are his wonderful eyesight and supple \\lists. W. R. Hammond (28), a powerful stylish bat, is also a deceptive bowler. H. Larwood, of Notts (twenty-six). Standing offiv oft 7-)in and weighing only lOst 81b, lie is the fast bowler of England: Originally a miner, he is of powerful physique. His cricket career started in 1925, for y Notts, and he played in the following year for England. He is a hurricane hitter and a better'batsman than usually credited. J. A. R, Peebles, of Middlesex, is a Scot by birth, and twenty-three years old. Warner brought him to London and he was tried in the Gentlemen v. Players match and also went to South Africa before he was really tried in county cricket. He had a good season in 1929 arid then went to Oxford for one year and then found himself included in the test series. He is a tall lad who bowls googlies without change of action, as Bradman admits. R. W. Robins, also of Middlesex, is a year older than Peebles. He is a googlv bowler also, but is faster and his flight is not so deceptive and his length hot so perfect. However, on his day, he is irrostible and England was up fortunate in only having Robins in one test last season.

W. Voce has probably got into the team because of his vast improvement in batting, otherwise Verity ,of Yorkshire, might have won the position as left-hand howler. Vc-oo is a ra cut find oy Notts. A year or so ago he was a fast left-hander with a swerve but was persuaded to ciiange to slou-spiliner. In the winter he went to South Africa

with the M.C.C. team and was moderately successful in the tests. He is not yet twenty-two years of age.

A. H. Bakewell, the brilliant Northants lad, of twenty-two, made a century against New Zealand on Saturday last, and is expected to be Sutcliffe’s partner in opening the innings. doubt his quickness of foot enabled him to deal effectively with Merritt and Blunt, and evidently the selectors hate made quickfciotedness a necessity ‘ in their batsmen to deal with out attack.

J. Arnold (twenty-three) n.,> came in Mi the'Halits XI last season, and was a pronounced success, cun ng out to; of the averages. He has the right temperament, plays good cricket with a full repertoire of strokes, and ; et can play a waiting game if required. M. Niche 1 (twenty-five), an exDiirliam lad, lias only had two seasons with 'Worcestershire and yet he has sc *■ d 3000 runs.. Against Kants fast season lie made 262 not out. He is considered to be a good batsman on any kind of wicket, so his chance oi selection' depends' on the atmospheric Conditions.

MAILEY’S QUERY. SYDNEY. June 25. Arthur Msiley, .writing in the “Sun," describes England’s test match team against New' Zealand as “a fine side.” He says: —“lt will be interesting to see what will happen. Should New Zealand win, it may be that the selectors will then fall back on the old campaigners like Woolley, Herdren, Hobbs. Parker and Tate, or they might oersevere with' the youngsters. The English selectors have apparently said good-bye to the business of collecting spare parts for test cricket ”