TEST TEAM CHANGED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 9

TEST TEAM CHANGED

F. R. Brown Included

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ; (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. England’s cricket selectors have dropped three players for the second test, which will begin at Lord’s on Thursday. The players dropped are R. T. Simpson, P. B. H. May, and R. Tattersalj. F. R. Brown, who is the chairman of selectors, W. Watson, and G. A. R. Lock will replace them in the final twelve from whom the team will be chosen. Also included is J. B. Statham, who was not selected for the first test. Brown will make English cricket history by being the first chairman to play in a test match during his term of office. Brown, who captained England | against Australia in 1950-51 and against South Africa in 1951, said he would be “delighted” to play under Len Hutton if selected for the final eleven. He said: “The question of the cap- | taincy does riot arise. Len has already been appointed fof the match, and there will never be any suggestion of going back on that decision if I am in the eleven. I shall do all I can To help Len, but he will be in complete charge, both on and off the field. “The only thing that matters is that we all pull together and do our utmost to win the match.”

Before the test series against South Africa Brqwn announced that the 1951 season would be his last in test cricket. It is believed that he changed I his mind as a result of pressure from I other members of the selectors’ committee —Messrs N. W. D. Yardley, R. E. S. Wyatt, L. E. *G. Ames, and Hutton. Reuter says the inclusion of Brown will strengthen England’s team in several ways. In spite of his build, he is as good as any all-rounder in Englarid, a punishing batsman; nimble in the field, and can bowl skilfully, either medium pace or with leg breaks and googlies.

There are doubts as to whether Lock’s split finger which caused him to withdraw from the first test will be healed sufficiently for him to play. However, a final decision will be made on Tuesday night He will see a specialist tomorrow.

Reuter says England’s team has been chosen to attack, in spite of the continued absence of the fast bowler, Fred Trueman. Watson, the Yorkshire left-hander, recently returned to form, and he played a fine innings of 61 against Australia yesterday. The correspondent says the bowling has been strengthened at the expense of the batting. In the selection of the final XI, either Statham or Wardle will be omitted, but the weather between now and Thursday wilLplay a big part in the decision, thexorrespondent says. “Having found the Australians are not the same formidable team as in past years, England should enter the second test with hopes that, given ordinary luck, they should win.” ages of England’s team are:— Hutton, 37; Brown, 42; Bailey, 29* Compton, 35; Bedser, 34; Evans, 32; Watson, 33; Graveney, 26; Lock, 23; Wardle, 30; Statham, 23; Kenyon, 29; Milton, 25.