CRICKET TEAM FOR FINAL TEST

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27733, 10 August 1955, Page 6

CRICKET TEAM FOR FINAL TEST

England Makes Seven Changes (NX Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 8. With the test series level at two matches each. England has dropped seyen of the side.beaten in the.fourth test for the fifth test against South Africa starting at the Oval on Saturday.

Only the captain, Peter May, Denis Compton, Tony Lock and Brian Statham have been retained, Graveney, Bailey, Wardle, McIntyre (wicketkeeper). Loader, Insole and Lowson were replaced by Cowdrey, Clove, Ikin, Laker, Dick Spooner (wicketicepeer). Tyson and Watson. Close, Ikin, Lake. Watson and Spooner will make their first appearances in the test series this season. England’s team will be: P. May (captain), M. Cowdrey,’ D. C. S. Compton. D. B. Close. J. Ikin. J. Laker. G. A. R. Lock, R. Spooner (wicketkeeper), B. Statham, F. Tyson, W. Watson. The selectors received news tonight that Tyson has again bruised his left heel. If he is not fit by Friday. Trueman will probably be asked to take his place. Perhaps the biggest surprise among the sweeping changes is the omission of the Essex all-rounder, Trevor Bailey, whose dour play has been such a consistent feature of England’s cricket in recent years. But the recall of the young Yorkshireman. Brian Close, to fill the all-round position, will be welcomed in many! Quarters, for the left-handed opening batsman .and right-arm off-spin bowler has shown fine form in the last few weeks. Three Spin Bowlers The preference for Close, who last played for England on the Australian tour of 1950-51, means that the side will include three spin bowlers and only two pace men. The other spinners are Lock and Laker. Statham and Tyron provide the speed. There are four recognised lefthanded batsmen in the team—lkin, Close, Watson and Spooner. All have experience of opening England's biggest problem this season. The “Daily Express” said Bailey had been dropped because the selectors considered him “too negative” for this deciding test. “The South Africans admit, like the Australian*, that Bailey is their special •pain in the neck’. They are happy at nis removal," the paper added. The “Daily Mail” said the England selectors had made some of the most controversial decisions for years in their choice of the team. The omission of Bailey—England’s batting prop and a first change bowler—was a major surprise.

WORK OF N.Z. COUNCIL

COMPLAINT OF LACK OF INFORMATION WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION CRITICAL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 9. Dissatisfaction with “the lack of information on several important matters” at the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council held recently in Christchurch was expressed at a meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association last night. Members agreed that associations were kept in the dark about matters that concerned cricket as a whole. It was decided to ask the New Zealand Cricket Council for the exact terms for the tour of India and Pakistan—whether a guarantee of £lO,OOO was given, the payment to be made to the New Zealand players, the expected cost of tne tour of New Zealand by the West Indies team, and the proposed basis of distribution of the profits of this tour, if any The decision was made after the presentation of a long report by the delegate, Mr C. L. Randall, on the half-yearly meeting of the council. • Among other matters he reported on was the proposal for a reorganisation or toe New Zealand Council, which had been supported by Auckland, Wellington, Cen tral Districts, and Otago. It was regrettable that little publicity had been given to this matter, which was of national interest, he said. He had a feeling that toe matter might be stalled off. Mr J. McLellan said he was amazed to hear now that there appeared to be no guarantee of £lO,OOO for the tour of India and Pakistan after they had been led to believe that those were the terms offered. “We, along with Auckland, Otago, and Central Districts, are entitled to know what is going on. We are all part of New Zealand cricket,” he said. "All we have heard from Mr Randalls report emphasises the need for reorganisation of the New Zealand Council. We have our part to play, and we expect to play it, but we should have knowledge of v.l at is going on at a higher level.” he Mid.