Simpson's Average Falls-

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30293, 20 November 1963, Page 13

Simpson's Average Falls-

r FHE phenomenal run of 1 high scores interspersed by a four, and a nought and one (in the same match)—fay R. B. Simpson, the Australian opening batsman and possible captain in England next year, has roused the query, first suggested four seasons ago, that he may be another Bradman or Ponsford. Jn Sheffield Shield cricket in late 1969, Simpson scored 902 runs in three completed innings—a fantastic average of 300.66. And this season, only those three dismal scores have kept his average, from 857 runs, as low as 171.4. These figures would suggest that Simpson is the first Australian since that great pair to have an overwhelmingly insatiable appetite for runs. No Australian batsman since World War II has shown the determination or constant ap-

To 171.4 plication that her present opener does. Although his career for Australia started in 1957 and he has had 2! test matches, Simpson has yet to score a test century and the fact that he has three times been out in the 90's could suggest either a deficiency in his temperament or a lack of application. But judging by the number of scores over 200 he has registered this year, the lack of application would hardly be the answer. Although tried and tested in many innings as an opener, Simpson has shown a habit of becoming rattier disconcerted when faced by the fastest or most hostile of bowlers. The West Indian, W. W. Hall, usually gave the impression during a Simpson innings that he could take his wickeit at any time and not even a rattier thrilling attack on him by the New South Wales opener one late afternoon in the fifth test in 1961 dispelled that

feeling. When he was not opening in the first three tests of the 1961 tour of England, Simpson was a comparative failure and tn times of rather extreme stress—as when facing F. S. Trueman on a green pitch—has looked very uneasy. In the second test against England last season, W. J. O'Reilly said that Simpson's first innings was “one of the most slovenly-executed new-ball batting efforts I have ever seen in a test match,’’ and said that Simpson used up all of Australia’s luck.

But like the chameleon, Simpson changes colour and some of his innings—of those New Zealanders have seen at any rate—have been little masterpieces. In the 1959-60 season, he exploded New Zealand’s hopes for a win in the unofficial “test” ait Dunedin with a magnificent 129 not out and his 167

for R. A. Robert's Oommonweaith XI in 1962, was

overshadowed only because T. W. Graveney wes at his outstanding best at the other end.

But, starting with matches ot some importance and extending the scope tn take in. the lesser ones, Simpson has developed a rather ruthless streak in his betting. He is never yet uninteresting—no player with his strokes should be—but he tends now to place more than is worth on staying in. To some extent, this is probably done unconsciously and could have stemmed from the rather shabby treatment. he received not so many years ago from the Australian selectors. With the retirement ot R. N. Harvey, the only Australian with a comparable or greater number of strokes than Simpson is N. C. O'Neill. And Australian crowds, with the rather wearisome series they endured last season, need Simpson’s strokes more than they do his endurance qualities.

Simpson's slip-fielding is wonderfully assured and his leg-spin bowling has many exciting qualities, not the least of which is his “wrong-’un” which many players, including the West Indian, G. S. Sabers, find more difficult to pick than R. Benaud’s. But batting is his metier and this year is one of tremendous importance.

The South African bawling, when spearheaded by a fit P. M. Pollock, is extremely useful and a century will not be easy meat. Only one run by Simpson for the Australian XI is proof of that.

A century—simple feat? —to Simpson could herald the beginning of a remarkable remainder to his test career. But the failure to reach 100 could leave him remembered simply as a player who did not quite make it. Which would lie an insult to the brilliance, sometimes concealed, it is true:, of Simpson.