CRICKET Captaincy: “Controversial As The Common Market”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 17

CRICKET Captaincy: “Controversial As The Common Market”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) LONDON, June 19. The very mention of the M.C.C. captaincy for the Australian tour and the possibility of the Rev. David Sheppard taking it had become in cricketing circles as controversial a topic as the Common Market, says “The Times” cricket correspondent.

It has aroused loud feelings in quiet people. “Sheppard’s return to first class cricket on Wednesday is the newt step now in the Australian development scheme “He begins in the parks at Oxford which has. for the time being, become a rehabilitation centre for batsmen out of form, and it will be good to hear of him playing well there. Early For Sheppard "Less than three weeks later, during the third test at Headingley, the captain for Australia will be chosen which could be inconveniently early, as it gives Sheppard precious little time in which to establish his own form. “There are those who think that, because he is returning to trip game only temporarily. Sheppard is not entitled to the honour and that to give it to him would be unfair to others. "This seems to me to be seeing things from the WTong angle. The captaincy to Aus-

tralia. when ft comes round, is the most important paying appointment the M.C.C. have to make.

Ge To Best Man “To a great extent the goodwill and success of the tour depends upon it, so it should go to whoever will do it best "Whether this is Sheppard. Dexter. Cowdrey or anyone else is another matter. “The essence of the matter is surely this: The Australian tour, more than any other, is the end in itself, and if there is someone good enough to come and claim a place in the side, in spite of having been out of the game for some time, we should be only too grateful.

Taxing Business “In Sheppard's case I would go so far as to say that if the selectors believe he is the man they want as captain, or even possibly as vicecaptain. they should not be too much influenced by his scores during the coming week.

“Leadership in Australia is a taxing business. It aged May on the last tour and U aged Hutton before that. “With modem publicity being what it is the job becomes even more arduous. “And we are fortunate now in having a choice of several men who could Mil away in September with a good chance of making a success of the job.”