SPORTS TOPICS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 185, 19 May 1938, Page 3

SPORTS TOPICS

ENGLAND’S TEST TEAM. I • ' jCALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS. (“By Flagpole.’’) To-night— Amateur Boxing Tournament at Rakaia. Saturday— Bugby football competitions. Alen’s hockey competitions. Ladies’ hockey competitions. Basketball competitions. Men’s golf on Ashburton links Ashburton Hunt Club’s opening meeting at String fellow's Corner. From a cricketing point of view, Lord Tennyson was the main tourist on the Empress of Britain, the largest passenger boat to enter the Auckland harbour. One time a captain of England, and still in the game, having just led a team in an Indian tour, his opinions are worth consideration.

In 16 he named as being likely to represent England in the First Test, the players led by Allen in Australia predominated, newcomers whom, he included being Hutton, Edrich, G. Pope and Gover. While recognising the great strength of Australia, lie holds high hopes of England winning the rubber.

While the great vessel slowly moved up the harbour Lord Tennyson chatted on the game. He said there were some good youngsters coming along in England who should develop into England players, with proper tuition, but were hardly in that class just yet, so future fights for the Ashes, if not the imminent ones, will hardly be one-sided. For opening batsmen he selected Hutton, of Yorkshire and the Middlesex player Edrich. The former did splendidly for his country. Twenty-one years old, his play has shown great improvement in recent years. Edrich opens for Middlesex and last season—bis first complete one for some time—he topped the 2000 mark.

“He did splendidly for me in India, and is a fine outfield," said Lord Tennyson. “It is time we got two like him and Hutton to take the places of the immortal Hobbs and Sutcliffe." First wicket down would be Har9staff then Wally Hammond—“brilliant and reliable.” Wicketkeeper Ames, an excellent batsman would be next, with Barnett probably sixth.

“He is too much of a dasher to open with," is Lord Tennyson’s view. “Worthington did well for my team in India and is a magnificent field down the gully, and Wyatt had a good season last year." Still, Lord Tennyson was inclined to Barnett.

George Pope “another of my side in India, I consider one of the best allrounders in England. He has done well with bat and ball for Derbyshire."

To Allen he gives eighth place though he did not play regularly last summer. Failing him, he selects Bill Voce, who also did not have a full summer. Robins and Verity, with Fames or Cover, would complete the team. The batting would be good up to seventh, and there would be six bowlers, with a strong fielding side. Last year’s county figures of the probable eleven from Lord Tennyson’s fifteen may interest. They are:

Batting: Hutton, 2888 runs, average 56.62; Edricli, 2154, 44.87; Hardstaff, 2540, 57.72; Hammond, 3252,65.04; Barnett, 2489, 40.89; Wyatt, 2625. 53.37; Worthington, 1774, 41.25; G. Pope, 1318, 35.62; Allen, 161, 28,85; Voce, 442, 31.25; Robins, 1076, 29.08; Verity, 335, 14.66; Cover, 290, 11.60. Fames did not bat frequently. Bowling: Verity, 202 wickets, average 15.68; Cover,'2ol, 18.98; Pope, 92, 20.84 ; Robins, 97, 20.41; Fames 55, 21.94; Vo<?e 75, 23.74; Allen 15, 31.73.

Assuming Worthington, Wyatt, Voce and either Fames or Cover be omitted from the fifteen, it should be, as Lord Tennyson predicts, a good side. World Title. Mike Jacobs has announced that Joe Louis and Max Sclimeling will meet on June 22 on a site yet to be settled. He has .cabled to Sclimeling that lie must arrive in the United States prepared to start training at least 40 days before the match or forfeit the bout, in which case Max Baer will be substituted. “I am worried over all this war scare in Europe,” said Jacobs. “I don’t want Sclimeling to arrive here too late to train properly and leave me holding the bag.”

Mrs Hopman reached the final of the Wimbledon mixed doubles on her previous visit to .Britain, when her partner was her husband. She lias improved her singles game and her good form in reaching the semi-final of the Australian championship probably influenced her selection at the expense of Miss Hartigan. Miss Joan Hartigan intends going to England all the same, although not selected. The position is therefore an intriguing one lor Miss Hartigan played very successfully in England in 1935, reaching the scuni-final of the singles at Wimbledon after defeating Miss Round. It is quite possible that Miss Hartigan will do better than some of those at least who have been preferred to her.