Washbrook Sees A Need For Opening Batsmen

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30451, 27 May 1964, Page 15

Washbrook Sees A Need For Opening Batsmen

(Speciallu written for "The Prew - t>u

C. WASHBROOK,

the former test opening batsman]

\VITH the season now on ’ a good, firm footing, the England selectors— Messrs R. W. V. Robins, D. ,T. Insole, A. V. Bedser, and W. Watson—will be getting down to the intensive search for players capable of re- . gaining the Ashes for England. The days of having special test trials as such are over. As a former test selector myself, I agree that such trials have now outlived their usefulness—if, in fact, they ever had any. Instead, the selectors will be using such matches as M.C.C. v. Yorkshire and M.C.C. v. Surrey as a-“shop I window” to look at England probables in the rarefied, atmosphere of Lord’s. It is, undoubtedly, a satisfactory and fair way of testing a player’s ability and if a close watch is kept on the names of those playing for the M.C.C. in these early games, a fair idea of who is in the running for an England place could be ascertained. The selectors will, this year, have a big problem on their hands. It is a problem that has remained unsolved for years: that of the opening pair of batsmen. G. Pullar, J. H. Edrich, M. J. Stewart, the Rev. D. S.

Sheppard, M. C. Cowdrey, P- E. Richardson, J. B. Bolus, and D. B. Close have all filled the position in a variety of combinations in the last few years.

I personally would like to see a left and a righthanded batsman used for this difficult task. The obvious advantage of this is that it has an unsettling effect on the opening bowlers, who have constantly to change the line of attack as the batsmen change ends. Taking the three lefthanded batsmen from the

above list —Pullar, Edrich, Richardson—l would bank on the experience of either Pullar or Richardson rather than Edrich, who has yet really to prove himself in test cricket Of the righthanded batsmen. I would prefer either Stewart or Bolus. In my view Bolus is inclined to play too many flashing strokes to be a consistent No. 1. Stewart seems a sounder batsman and is, of course, a brilliant man in the field. The chief challenge on last year’s performances could come from G. Boycott, the young Yorkshire batsman, who won the award of the Best Young Cricketer of the Year in 1963. Boycott is a player who is prepared to graft and give intensive concentration to his task and these are the first qualities required in the build-up of a good opening batsman. I realise that current form as the first test approaches must be the final guide, and the players who are getting the runs must receive recognition. I am hoping that these players who do so use different stances. The Australian team, on the other hand, is well into its county campaign—and its second match of the tour

(against Worcester) met with a lot of severe criticism. However, what many people failed, to realise is that the tourists, like the ' English, players, have been short of practice on turf. Indeed, I cannot remember a cricket season in England that has started in such adverse weather. It is small wonder that the Australians may need some settle down time. I think this will apply to most English counties, too. However, R. B. Simpson, the captain, must have been impressed with the performance at Worcester of T. R. Veivers, the off-spin bowler, who has so quickly adapted himself to English conditions. He could prove a great asset to his team on pitches responsive to spin. I was very impressed by his bowling round the wicket, which so many Commonwealth cricketers who tour England are unable to do. Their own covered wickets do not provide any opportunities to exploit this line of attack. Veivers used flight and variation of pace with great skill. Another pleasing feature of this match was the return of L. J. Coldwell to first-class cricket for Worcester. His six for 53 was in itself a fine performance and I find it a little hard to believe that almost 12 months ago I saw him leave the field of play at Old Trafford with a spinal injury that looked at the time as if it would mean the end of his career. New Hockey Selector Mrs Mary McGregor is in her first year as a Canterbury senior women’s hockey selector, but has considerable experience in the sport. She was a member of the Rawhiti club throughout her playing' career and was in the senior team for three or four seasons, finishing about 10 years ago. However, before her retirement, she appeared for Canterbury B on several occasions as a centre-forward and played for the Canterbury A team on two occasions as a goalkeeper. Mrs McGregor is now Canterbury’s leading umpire—she has an A grading—and . is also the local umpires' examiner. She is a sister of last year’s Canterbury B left-half, A. Rouse, who was also the reserve half for the Canterbury K Cup team. Consistent

A hole-in-one is a memorable event in the life of any golfer—and of many golfers Who do not achieve the feat personally. But K. McVinnie of the Tai Tapu club recently Scored a. hole-in-one in a week-end which brought him spectacular success at a particular hole. This was the third at Tai Tapu, and it is 120 yards long. McVinnie had two rounds during the week-end, so played the hole four times. His scores, in succession, were 2,1, 3, and 2.