Another Richardson for Cricket Tests?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 6

Another Richardson for Cricket Tests?

“V. Y. ” in the Limelight DOUBLE CENTURY AGAINST M.C.C. Memories of a keen, forceful personality on the cricket lields of New Zealand are revived by the news of V. Y. Richardson’s tremendous score against an All England eleven at Adelaide. It is only some seven pr eight months ago that Richardson was in Auckland as leader of a pre-Test team which visited New’ Zealand Six feet in height, alert and muscular, and a well-dressed, debonair figure off the field, Richardson commanded at-

tention and not a little speculative curiosity wherever he went. He possessed that elusive quality known as personality to a degree whicfa impressed itself on the memory to a greater extent than was the case with more famous players in the touring party, such as W. M. Woodful 1. W. Ponsford, W. A. Oldfield and C. V. Grimmett. The opinion is widely held in Australia that the captaincy of the Australian Eleven in the coming Tests lies between Richardson and Woodfull. The Victorian has the advantage of previous Test match experience against England. On the last Australian tour of England he was the team’s sheet anchor in batting, being consistently steady and reliable even when the more brilliant Macartney was having his off days. As against that, however, the famous “stonewaller” has to prove himself as a leader, and from all accounts this quiet minister’s son has not shown any special desire to place himself at the head of affairs in his own inter-State team, although his selection to lead Australia in the recent trial match at Melbourne was significant. Many good judges considered that Richardson was unlucky to be passed over when the last Australian team to tour England was selected, and his bespectacled namesake (now in West Australia) gained one of the very few places which went to players hailing from outside the older States of New South Wales and Victoria. Richardson’s selection to lead the team which toured New Zealand last summer w&s regarded in the light of a well-earned tribute to a fine, if unlucky, player. It was no small compliment with more experienced international players in the team. Even Bert Oldfield has said that one of his greatest ambitions in cricket is to lead and Australian Test eleven before he retires.