Hutton To Captain M.C.C. On Tour Of Australia

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27407, 21 July 1954, Page 12

Hutton To Captain M.C.C. On Tour Of Australia

CRICKET

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, July 19. The controversy and speculation which has arisen in recent weeks over the captaincy of the M.C.C. team to tour Australia and New Zealand this winter, was settled tonight with the announcement that Len Hutton, Yorkshire’s 38-year-old professional batsman, has been appointed to the post. In giving the news the, M.C.C. said that it had received a reassuring medi-

cal report on Hutton’s condition, but that in common with all other players chosen, he would be subject to a final medical examination before the team sailed on September 15. Hutton captained England in 15 consecutive until ill-health caused him to withdraw from the second test against Pakistan at Nottingham. Neuritis and physical strain, a legacy of the strenuous West Indies tour last winter, induced him to rest from the game for nearly a month, and he returned to cricket only last Saturday for Yorkshire’s match with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

In the circumstances, Hutton informed the selectors that he did not wish to be considered for the third test again Pakistan which will begin at Manchester on Thursday. Hutton will be leading Yorkshire against Combined Services while England plays again under the captaincy of the 25-year-old Sussex amateur, D. S. Sheppard, who interrupted his theological studies at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, to step into the breach in the second test, and he was thought to be the only rival to Hutton for the leadership of the M.C.C. team. But the M.C.C. has turned again to the man who led England’s successful fight for the Ashes last summer to take charge of their defence in Australia.

Hutton, who will be making his third trip to Australia, holds the record for the highest score ever made in test

cricket with his 364 in the fifth test again Australia at the Oval in 1938. On that occasion he batted for 13 hours 20 minutes—-the longest innings in the history of the game. Hutton said tonight: “I am relieved to know the M.C.C. selectors thought I am the right type of fellow to take the England team to Australia' Physically I know I can stand up to it.” Hutton was sipping a glass of beer alongside his county captain, Norman Yardley, in their Nottingham hotel. Yardley, a member of the selection committee, was the first to congratulate him when they returned to the hotel from the county game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, and were tdld the news. Before the last series with Australia began in England* Hutton predicted an English victory. This time he was more cautious. “The forthcoming series will probably see the introduction of some good Australian youngsters, and as the Aussies are always a hard team to beat in their own country I imagine the series will be very even. “One never knows what they will produce in the way of new bowlers. “Against that you have to remember that a lot of teams play better away from home and that might easily apply to us this time,” said Hutton.

PLUNKET SHIELD COMPETITION Proposal To Admit Sixth Team CANTERBURY’S VIEWS ON REMITS Canterbury delegates to the halfyearly meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council on July 29 are to have a free hand in voting on the proposal that a sixth team be admitted to the Plunket Shield competition, but most speakers at a meeting of the association’s management committee last evening favoured the scheme. The meeting decided to support the suggestion that Plunket Shield matches be reduced to three days, but that the playing time each day be increased by half an hour. Discussing the proposal that a team from Northland, Waikato, King Country, Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay, to be called Northern Districts, be admitted to the shield contest, Mr I. A. Baxter said there should be either six teams in the competition, or four. It gave a workable draw and eliminated byes on holiday dates which brought the best gates. Four teams might solve some problems, but Central Districts could not be eliminated, with its good record, so he supported -the entry of a sixth team.

Before the meeting was a South Canterbury remit that the shield be contested by the four major associations, one representing North Island minor associations, and a sixth from South Island minor associations. Mr W. J. A. Brittenden said that might be suitable from the point of view of administration, but geographically the idea of Waikato was right. Onethird of New Zealand’s population was in the Auckland district. “This would give 15 matches, rathen a staggering increase on the six of a few years ago,” said the chairman (Mr T. A. Tucker). Taking up the bye did not necessarily get them out of their difficulties, and he was inclined to think that the standard of play would be watered down. If and Marlborough were regarded as South Island teams—they are at present in the Central Districts area—the South Island minor associations could field a fairly strong side, said Mr W. E. Mappiebeck. Ultimately the competition might be run in two localised sections, with the winners meeting in a final, said Mr Brittenden.

A sixth team, and a reduction of matches to three days, gave only 45 playing days compared with the present 40 said Mr J. G. Leggat. The committee was rather “on a limb.” The council meeting might reject the sixth district proposal but approve three-day matches, and Canterbury might not want three-day games under the present arrangements. He thought that a sixth team, if admitted, should come from the North Island: South Canterbury’s proposal was trying to thrust on Central Districts the other North Island minor associations. Five rounds of three-day matches could be played, mostly in the holiday period The draw could be improved, the hour#, of play increased. Canterbury’s views about home matches would be pressed strongly, with the support of illuminating figures, said Mr Tucker.

Discussing a Wellington remit that after the start of play in shield matches only the bowlers’ approaches be covered in the event of rain, Mr Leggat said that last year Canterbury had favoured uncovered pitches. It seemed unfair to give the bowlers a firm foothold. He could not see the slightest merit in a fast bowler being allowed to go “full bore” on a rain-damaged pitch, to butcher batsmen, and make a sort of Roman holiday. Such «onditions should bring out spin bowlers. On his suggestion, the meeting agreed to support the proposal for pitches to be left uncovered during matches, if that applied to bowlers’ approaches as well.

The meeting decided also to oppose the Manawatu remit that Central Districts be affiliated as a major association.