Defending the Ashes “PATSY” HENDREN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 483, 12 October 1928, Page 6

Defending the Ashes

“PATSY” HENDREN

Personnel and Prospects of the Test Teams

(Written Specially for THE SUN By “PATSY” HENDREN , Middlesex and England.) NO. I.—THE STRENGTH OF ENGLISH CRICKET

England retain the “ashes” so surprisingly regained when the Australians were here last? That is the all-absorbing topic in cricket, and in contributing my opinion to the multitude of voices that are raised on this subject, I want to go thoroughly into the matter. It seems, therefore, that I must start at the beginning and first discuss the present condition of the game and the players. I am certain that English cricket is decidedly on the upward grade. All over the country there are signs that the counties are finding young men of outstanding promise who, when equipped with big match experience, will worthily take* their place in the front rank. FINDING BOWLERS For instance, we have long been without players of real pace in bowling. To-day we have one or two who are equal to some of the giants of the past. I need not enlarge upon the work of L-ar-wood. His f>ace and skill are wellknown. There is also young Nichols, of Essex. He is developing into a fast bowler of conspicuous merit. Frankly, he is not yet ready for the big games, and he will, in the meantime, need very careful nursing so that his strength is not used up too quickly. We are also finding spin bowlers of the good old type. This is particularly pleasing in view of test matches. It may sound strange, but to my mind this type of bowling is of the greatest importance. All the other countries against whom we play are, more or less, used to fast bowling and they nearly always have men who can, at least, play safely against this method of attack, but when they are up against men who turn the ball in an unusual way, they are riot so sure. Spinbowlers can win matches for England, and we have young players coming along who can do this. Why have we suddenly taken this change for the better? It has, to a certain extent, come quickly, and I think it is due to a change in method. There is now a distinct effort to coach young players. When a promising youth is found he is taken in hand and shown the right way to make good. There is the new policy of trying to find and build up all-rounders. That, too, is a step in the right direction. In these days when long innings are becoming so common, the man who can bowl as well as bat is likely to earn and keep his place better than the specialist in one direction only. This, I think, is especially so with batsmen. There is, of course, always room for the exceptionally good bat, but the majority of places will, in the future, I believe, be filled by all-rounders. It is not my intention in this article to discuss the personal side of the coming tour in Australia. That will come later, but in looking at the condition of the game to-day it naturally follows that this will have some bearing upon the team. I am not a sceptic. I don’t believe in meeting trouble halfway, and I am sufficiently patriotic to hope that we shall beat the Australians when we meet them on their own pitches. But if we do I am almost cer-

tain that it will be with the majority of the men who beat them in England! A SERIOUS PROBLEM As was bound to be, there are players in the English team who have not been to Australia before. That was inevitable: We may win or we may not. I refuse to fall into the trap of definitely forecasting, but I will say this, and with a good deal of emphasis, we shall be a good deal stronger when tho Australians visit England next time than durnig the coming tourl Probably the most serious problem that we have in England at the present time is fielding. I am hopeful that we shall have a sufficiently powerful and varied attack to worry the Australians, and I am very certain we shall have play-

ers who can bat all day and get plenty of runs. But in regard to fielding, I a m apprehensive. In the past we have lost Test games because our slip fielding was not good enough to make our fast bowlers as effective as they should have been. To-day we have men who can field close in and take anything that is possible, but deeper it is different I need not go too deeply into this matter. We ’ all know that Australia and their fast bowlers have been more dangerous in modern times because they have had men close in who could take every chance. There is a possibility that our fast men this time, instead of losing confidence and hope through catches being missed off them, , will be equally effective. It is not close in where we are weak, but in the outfield. We know full well

that hundreds of runs can be thrown i away by inadequate speed and inaccuracy in throwing in from the outfield. This side of the team did, I am sure, create difficulties for the selectors. The whole trouble lies in the fact that we do not pay enough attention to this phase of fielding, invariably it is left to chance. If we find a good man for the outfield it is because he has, himself, cultivated the position. Even here there are signs of improvement, and no doubt when . the Australians next visit England, this want will be satisfied. English cricket is going the right way. We have plenty of raw material that will make good. 'Whether we have men who will make Test match players only time can prove, but I feel certain that we have some who will attain the highest pinnacle. My mind turns to Worthington, of Derbyshire, and O’Connor, of Essex, among the professionals. These two players are of outstanding promise, and when they have had that experience which teaches every player how to make the most use of his capabilities, without at the same time wearing himself out, they will be great cricketers. Among the amateurs I have a great regard for A. M. Crawley, the Oxford captain. His batting is really sound and he has, above all, the natural knack of fielding well in the outfield. These men, I fancy, are the cornerstones of a future English eleven. We may want them next summer against the South Africans. We shall certainly need them when next the Australians appear in this country.— Copyright.

I (Article No. 2 will deal with “Australian Form.'')