THE THIRD TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1938, Page 7

THE THIRD TEST

SOME SURPRISES. IN ENGLISH SELECTION. (Recd This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 3. England’s team for the third cricket Test against Australia, which is to commence at Manchester on Friday, with Saturday, Monday and Tuesday also allotted to it, will be selected from the following:—W. R. Hammond (Gloucestershire) captain, H. Verity (Yorkshire), L. Hutton (Yorkshire), E. Paynter (Lancashire), D. C. S. Compton (Middlesex), W. J. Edrich (Middlesex), —' Nichols, . D. V. P. Wright (Kent), J. Hardstaff (Nottinghamshire), C. J. Barnett (Gloucestershire), Goddard, Gibb (Cambridge University), Smailes. The composition of the thirteen selected suggests that either Hardstaff or Edrich will be twelfth and one bowler dropped. Gibb, who is replacing Ames as wicketkeeper, is a bespectacled Cambridge University player. He is 24 years of age. He is a splendid bat. The choice of Nichols is a surprise. He has been in and out of Test teams for so> many years that his re-inclusion at the age of 37 suggests that the committee despairs of younger talent. Goddard, who is also 37 years of age, is presumably included to keep down the runs. Fames, who was bowled to the point of exhaustion in the first and second Tests, must be considered unfortunate to have been dropped. HAMMOND’S CONDITION. MAKING SPLENDID PROGRESS. (Recd This. Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. Sir Pelham (“Plum") Warner states that Hammond is making splendid progress towards recovery, and is certain to play. Hammond is still undergoing treatment for his leg. ENGLISH AVERAGES. HAMMOND HEADS BATTING. (Recd This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 3. The following are the leading English averages:—

BATTING. Runs. Average. Hammond 1724 82.09 Edrich 1367 68.35 Dempster 912 65.14 Paynter .. 1329 63.28 Hutton ... 1091 60.61 Gibb . . .. 1090 60.55 Geary 544 60.44 Thompson 797 56.92 Compton 1135 56.75 Valentine u44 53.66 Ames 732 52.28 HardstafT is fifteenth on the list with G17 runs for an average of 47.46. BOWLING. Wickets. Average. Bowes 48 11.91 Leyland .... 33 15.63 Woodhead 31 16.35 Butler 39 16.61 Mayer 49 16.61 Verity 77 17.10 Pollard .... ■ 91 17.38 Clay 33 18.51