"GRAVE ERROR"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 8

"GRAVE ERROR"

IN M.C.C. TEAM-

OMISSION OF SUTCLIFFE

THE VIEWS Or C. C. pACKE,

Interviewed in Wellington 011 h' s return to New Zealand, the well-known New Zealand cricketer, (.'. C. Dacre, made Some interesting comments upon the prospects of the forthcoming visit to Australia of the English cricket team. Dacre has just completed another season with the Gloucestershire Club, hut owing to the wet weather experienced in England this year lie decided to leave a month before the season concluded.

He said that he had not met with any outstanding success in England, and had only played in about 10 matches. The wickets iiad proved very treacherous, and the scoring had been 'much lower than that of recent years. Dacre, wli# suffers from torn ligaments, does not intend to return to the Old Country, _11 his present intentions are to settle in JJevonpoj't and assist the North Shore Cricket Club in the ensuing cricket season. "The Marylebone selectors have chosen a, well-balanced side for Austrr .ia, ' he said, "but I do not think the standard is up to that of previous teams. I think that a grave error has been made in tie omission of Herbert Sutcliffe. He is still one of the outstanding players, and is scoring consistently well. His experience on Australian wickets would have been of decided advantage. Another mistake appears to be in leaving Larwood out. He is undoubtedly the best bowler in England, and as Australians do not appear to be as antagonistic to him as formerly, his fiery bowling would have been particularly successful on fast wickets."

M.C.C. Team Considered. "I think two players who should warrant selection are T. S. Wortliington (Derbyshire) and L. B. Fislilock (.Surrey). Wortliington is one of tlie most reliable bats of the side, while he is quite a useful medium change bowler. He has secured quite a number of wickets this season and should be particularly adaptable to Australian pitches. Fislilock should attract Australians with his refreshing style of batting, and as the team appear to be weak in opening batsmen, he may develop into a No. 1 man. The captain, G. O. Allen, has been responsible for some first-rate performances, and should be quite capable of holding his side together. The Gloucestershire representative, C. J. Barnett, is one of the most punishing batsmen of the team, and should score a lot of runs. Hammond, of course, is the star of the side, and a lot will naturally depend on whether he strikes his best form. His consistently good scoring performances recently have brought him into the limelight, and there is no need tp expect him to fail."

"In my opinion the weakness of the team may be in bowling, and a lot will depend on whether Allen and Voce are equal to the task of dismissing Bradman and Co. Sims lias not been a success in England this year, but be must have impressed the selectors on his? previous visit to Australia. I have not seen Fames in action, and his selection was rather a surprise. Copson, the Derbyshire trundler, is not of good physique, and it is doubtful if he will suit the fast pitches of Sydney and other States.

"Incidentally, I met Dempster in our matches in England, and lie is showing really high-class form," said the exAucklander. "He is shouldering, the responsibility of captaining Lancashire with distinction, and his efforts with the bat have cieated favourable comment from English critics. K. C. James is also showing his usual aptitude behind the stumps for Northampton, while Roger Blunt is doing well for Nottingham."