CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24799, 13 February 1946, Page 8

CRICKET

AUSTRALIAN TEAM TO TOUR N.Z.

W. A. BROWN APPOINTED CAPTAIN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 53 p.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. 12. The Australian cricket team to tour New Zealand is as follows: W. A. Brown (Queensland). C. McCool (Queensland). D. Tallon (Queensland). S. G. Barnes (New South Wales). R. Lindwall (New' South Wales). W. J. O’Reilly (New South Wales). E. Toshack (New South Wales). I. Johnson (Victoria). L. Hassett (Victoria). K. Meuleman (Victoria). K. Miller (Victoria). R. Dooland (South Australia). R. A. Hamence (South Australia). Brown has oeen appointed captain, with O’Reilly vice-captain. The selectors will be Brown, O’Reilly, and Hassett. The team will leave Sydney on February 26 by Royal New Zealand Air Force Aircraft for Auckland, where the first match will begin on March 1. “The Australian team chosen for New Zealand reflects the selectors’ anxiety to find bowlers capable of dismissing England in next season’s tests.” comments the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” cricket writer. "With Grimmett, FleetwoodSmith, and McCormick out of big cricket, O’Reilly is the only pre-war test bowler left. Lindwall, Toshack, Dooland, McCool, and Johnson have been chosen for experience. In addition. Australia needs new all-rounders to succeed men like Chipperfield, McCabe, and Waite. Three are included as all-rounders—Miller, a fast bowler and forcing batsman; McCool, a slow bowler and sound bat; and Johnson. a slow bowler and useful bat.

“The team is strong in batting, varied in bowling, and first-class in fielding. As batsmen the team has Brown. Meuleman, Barnes. Hassett. Hainence, Miller. Tallon, Johnson, and McCool. The bowlers are Miller and Lindwall; Toshack, left-hand slow-medium; and O’Reilly, Dooland. McCool. and Johnson, right-hand slow. “Lindwall, though mainly a bowler, is by no means a bad batsman, having scored a century against Queensland. Tallon is wicketkeeper-batsman, with the understanding that, if he needs a rest, Barnes can act for a game or two. “Unlucky to miss selection are: W. Alley, New South Wales, and W. Morris, Queensland, both young and both- very successful this season. Either might have been chosen before Hamence, who, although good, has not been in form this season. G. E. Tribe, Victoria, might have gained a place as a left-hand spin bowler instead of one of the four right-hand spin bowlers.”

COMMENT ON THE TEAM

SOME NOTABLE PLAYERS The inability of D. G. Bradman to make the trip will disappoint many, but the Australian Board of Control has paid a compliment to New Zealand cricket by the general all-round strength of the team selected. The players best known to the cricketing public are O’Reilly, Brown, Tallon. Barnes, Hassett, and Miller. No less competent an authority than “Wisden,” criticism is usually very conservative, has said of O’Reilly that he is "emphatically one of the greatest bowlers* of all time.” His record in test matches has been one of consistent and outstanding success. He is now 40 years of age, but in inter-state matches in Australia this season has shown that he must still be reckoned among the best bowlers in the world. Brown also has a distinguished record in test matches, and was one of "Wisden’s” "Five Cricketers of the Year” in 1939. His batting is particularly attractive and his fielding outstanding. Barnes has had a wonderful season in Australia, and New Zealand crowds should enjoy his free and enterprising batting. He was a member of the last Australian team to visit England. Ilassett also went to England m 1938, and, with Miller, was a member of the successful Australian services team in England last season. Tallon is an accomplished batsmen and an excellent wicketkeeper. He is the joint holder of the world's record for the number of batsmen dismissed in one game by a wicketkeeper. Playing for Queensland against New South Wales in the season before the war. Tallon caught nine batsmen and stumped three. Miller, when playing in England last season, established himself as an outstanding batsman. He made several centuries -in the first-class games and his stylish batting received much favourable comment. He is also a useful bowler. Of the lesser known members of the side, Lindwall, in particular, will be watched with interest. A fast bowler, his pace is said to be greater than that of E. L. McCormick or T. Wall, Australia’s most recent fast bowlers in test matches. McCool, Johnson, and Dooland are all-rounders of real ability, and Hamence has been a consistent performer in Sheffield Shield cricket for some years. The slow left-hand bowling of Toshack has made a very good impression among Australian critics this season, and Meuleman, a young player, has been batting excellently in the representative matches. The inclusion of the younger players was to be expected. With the resumption of test matches between England and Australia next season, the Australian selectors must have welcomed the opportunity of testing out young players in international cricket. But the presence in the side of batsmen such as Brown, Barnes. Hassett, Miller, Tallon. and Hamence, and of bowlers like O’Reilly, Lindwall, and Toshack, makes the team a really first-class one, and one which. In helping to raise the standard of the game in New Zealand, should provide cricketlovers with an opportunity of enjoying cricket of a calibre seen in this country all too seldom.

TRAMWAY TOURNAMENT CHRISTCHURCH DRAWS WITH AUCKLAND (P.A.) DUNEDIN, February 12. The Tramways cricket tournament was continued in Dunedin to-day, when matches were played between Wellington and Dunedin, and Christchurch and Auckland, at Logan Park, on fast wickets. Wellington batted first in the match against Dunedin, and ran up the good total of 256 for the loss of eight wickets. J. Waldon was top scorer with 64 not out, and other good scores were those of D. Beaton 49, J. Gilbert 30, and A. Bennett 22 not out. L. Prendergast secured the best bowling figures for Dunedin, taking four wickets l3 runs. J. Dixon, H. Patterson, L. Facoory, and L. Keach each took one wicket. Dunedin’s innings realised only 60. of which H. Paterson made 19. L. Elliott and M. Beaton made short work of the batsmen. Elliott taking six wickets for 3 runs, and Beaton four for 6. Wellington won by 196 runs. Auckland compiled 166 runs in the first Innings against Christchurch, top scorers being B. Wright 54, T. Dias 45, and J. Preston 22. Bowling for Christchurch. H. Davis took five for 38, and G. Browne four for 57. At stumps Christchurch had made 149 for nine wickets, the principal scorers being L. Smith 32 and R. Roulston 23. Bowling for Auckland R. Hook took five for 68. and J. Remington four for 43. The match was drawn. The position of the four teams is now: Wellington. 7 points: Dunedin, 6: Auck<and. 4; Christchurch. 3. To-morrow Dunedin will play Auckland and Christchurch will play Wellington. MATCH FOR BLUE STAR SHIELD Christchurch Taxis will defend the Blue Star Shield in a two-day match against Wellington Taxis, which will begin at Hagley Park at 10.30 a.m. to-day. The teams will be selected from the following players:— Christchurch.—H. Lawrence (captalh), Neate. Jones. Stokes. Fuller, Purcell, Watson, Warr. Woods, Stammers, A. Lawrence. and Goodwin.

Wellington.—Hoult (captain), Graham, Jeffrey, Austin, Nickless, Weavers, Jacobs, Udall, Leek, Gomall, Morgan, and Judge. CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION The following is the draw for the eighth round of matches on February 16 and 23, 1946; First Grade.—LP v. Syd, at LP 1; OC v. TOB, at H 3; Ric v. West, at Hl; OB v. WOB, at H2: East v. StA, at H 4. Second Grade A.—LP v. SBOB, at LP 2; Syd v. East, at SI; OB v. StA, at H 6; West v. OC, at H 5. Second Grade B —CC v. StATC, at Cl; Stß v. 08, at HCI; Syd v. BHS, at S2; TOB v. Ric, at HC2. Second Grade C.—SBOB v. StA, at Elm; TOB v. Syd, at Ens rd 1; OB v. WOB, at HC3; East v. West, at LP3. Third Grade A.—First day: East v. TOB, at LP4; Syd v. WOB, at S 3; West v Ric, at HCS; StA v. LP, at HC4. Second day: East v. Ric, at HC4; StA v. West, at HCS; WOB v. TOB, at Ens rd 2; Syd v. LP, at LP4.

Third Grade B.—First day; BHS v CC B, at Stvn rd 1; CC C v. StAn, at StAn 1; Syd v Pap Tech, at Lfds. rd.; WHS v. OC, at C 4: West v. Stß, at Stß 1; OB v. StATC, at HC6; C.C. A v TOB, at Ens rd 2; Line Coll bye. Second day; StATC v. CC A, at C2; OC v West, at HCB; BHS v WHS, at Stvn rd 1; StAn v. 08, at StAn 1; Syd v. CC B. at S 3; Stß v. Pap Tech, at Lgds rd; Line Col! v. CC C, at C 3; TOB bye.

Fourth Grade—First day: StAn v. CC C. at StA: Stß A v TOB A, at Ens rd J;

CC-A v. TOB B, at C2; BHS A v. East, at Stvn rd 3; WOB v. Stß B, at Stß 2; BHS B v CC B, at C 3. Second day: StAn v. CC B, at StAn 2; CC A v. TOB A. at Ens rd. 3; BHS A v. Stß A. at Stvn rd 3; WOB v. TOB B, at C 4; East v. BHS B. at LPS; CC C v. Stß B, at Stß 7. The following is the positions of teams at the conclusion of the seventh round:— First Grade.—Syd 39, LP 34, Ric 31, East 30, WOB 26, OC 21, OB 18, StA 18, West 16, TOB 5. Second Grade A- —Syd 41, SBOB 36, East 24, CC 23, LP’2O, OB 19, West 17. StA 10. Second Grade B.—Syd 50, BHS 30, CC 19. TOB 18, OB 17. Ric 15. StATC 10. St B 9. SBOB 1. Second Grade C.—Syd 41. WOB 32, StA 29, West 27, East 27, OB 22, TOB 18. SBOB 12 Third and fourth grade points will be advertised in Friday’s papers. —Advt.