TEST TEAM SAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1932, Page 5

TEST TEAM SAILS

FOR AUSTRALIA ENGLISH CRICKETERS LEAVE. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September . 17. On their departure for Australia, the English cricketers were farewell at St. Pancras fetation, London. The station was uncomfortably crowded. A number of the Indian cricketers, who are leaving for home to-morrow, were present. The Englishmen faced a battery of cameras on the boat deck of the Orontes, where they were greeted by the captain. There were vociferous cheers.

Jardine, the captain of the team, made a brief and hopeful speceh l'or the talkies. - ••

The ship finally slipped away from a practically deserted wharf. Every passing vessel ill the river, however, gave siren greetings. The, boys on. a ti’airiirig ship arid those 011 a warship, tnahned the yards and cheered the cricketers; Who will be accompanied to Gibraltar by LeVerSon Gower’s team, including Lord Terinysori. The players are iff high spirits. Two women presented Mr P. P, Warnor, who accompanied the team em. manager, with, a canister of ashes, inscribed! “to be returned intact!” They also gave sprigs of white heather to the team.

One player, Alien received a toy-lion bearing a card: “Keep the Lion’s Tail Wagginb!” Mr Warner said he was looking forward to meeting the Australian veterans, Clive Hill, Hugh Trumble, M. A. Noble and W. W. Armstrong.

Sutcliffe the Yorkshire man carried a brand new bat, belonging to the nine-year-old son of Lord Harewood and H.R.H. Princess Mary, which lie has undertaken to carry throughout the tour and to return to its owner autographed by all of the Test players. The team regretted the absence of Tate, the wag of the team, who is expected to join the Orontes at Toulon, in France, the voyage being expected to enable him to make a complete recovi ery. . Jardine, the captain, m a speech message says: “All of us deeply regret leaving without Duleepsinhji. We shall miss him at every turn.” Sutcliffe stated: “I too, regret that when I bat, I . shall not have my old partner, Jack Hobbs at- the other end. Tate says ,that. one hardly realises, that like Sutcliffe, one shall have been out to Australia under three skippers. Me stated he shall not feel, the .least/ bit older when he reaches Australa than he. did in - 1924,. ; > ” - ' The Mar.ylebone Club gave a dinner to tine cricket tourists at Lords, before they left. Tho captain Midi “we are a happy baj# of men of experience and enthusiasm,’ blended together, who will win, because we think that we can. “Warner, Jardine and Sutcliffe (as the senior professional) null select the teams in Australia.” Mr Warner says: “I honestly believe we have more than every chance of recovering the ashes.”

AFTER THE ASHES. CAPTAIN CONFIDENT. LONDON, September 17. At a dinner to l the M. 0.0. tourists at Lords, D. R. Jnrdir.e, the captain, said: “We are a happy band of men, with experience and enthusiasm blended together, who will win because we think we can.’’ Warner, Jardine and Sutcliffe (as the senior professionals) will select the teams for Australia. Warner says: “Honestly we believe that we have mone than every chance of recovering the Ashes.”

J. B. HOBBS FILLS NEW ROLE. WILL HE PLAY IN THE TESTS? (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 18. Hobbs, as usual avoids the Bay of Biscay, and travels overland to Toulon. He will fill the role of cricketing journalist, but the intriguing point is that all of his cricketing gear has gone ahead on the Orontes. He says that he may have a knock in India on the way home but already there is a lot of conjecture whether, if things are going adversely, he will don his flannels in some of the Tests.

If the truth be told, the Marylebone Club would be happier if Hobbs had not signed a newspaper contract, and had been free for selection, but if his services are needed, especially if the fifth Test decides the fate of the ashes, it- is understood that there will be ready permission for him to wield the bat instead of the pen.