FIRST CRICKET TEST

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25516, 9 June 1948, Page 5

FIRST CRICKET TEST

ENGLAND’S CHANCES AT TRENT BRIDGE

LITTLE RELIANCE ON BOWLERS (Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.)

LONDON, June 7. England’s team *for the first test match with the Australians at Trent Eridge, beginning on Thursday, contains no surprises. It is recognised that the Trent Bridge wicket is a “feather bed,” and is not* usually susceptible to spin bowlers, and the theory is that if it does not look favourable on the morning of the match Laker will be dropped in favour of Barnett, so that England may rely on batting strength. England, it is felt, must rely on a big score to avoid defeat in the first test and, if necessary • play to force a draw. The policy will then be to go all out for a victory at Lord’s, Manchester, and Leeds, where reasonable assistance can be expected for the medium-fast swing and spin bowling which is England’s only attacking strength. With England’s bowling strength for Trent Bridge admittedly weak, it is not thought that they will be able to dismiss the Australians twice.

It is expected that Edrich and Bedser will open the bowling, followed by Young, Yardley, and possibly Barnett, to maintain a good length run-saving attack. Wright and Compton may be used to go after the wiexets witnout too much thought to runs given away. “Yardley’s qualities as a cricketer/’ says the “Manchester Guardian,” “have been preferred to those of Robins as a forceful leader and tactician. This is a doubtful gamble against so astute a captain as Bradman, and with an England side which, apart from Wright, possesses no positive matchwinning bowler. For Yardley is not a shrewd schemer, and he is unlikely to make a moderate attack into a good one, either by a close study of the Australian batsmen or by the setting of attacking fields, in which there are not a few elements of subterfuge. Robins is.” There is some regret that Pollard and George Pope are not included, but it is agreed that it is too early yet for Malcolm Hilton to be selected for England. It is observed that Hilton, who incidentally has also said he would prefer not to be chosen, should first have been seen in at least a doien county games.