Ruthless Changes To Strengthen Test Side

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 15

Ruthless Changes To Strengthen Test Side

. ISpecially written for the N.Z.P.A. by RICHIE BENAVD] LONDON, July 19. Yesterday will be recalled in English cricket as the day the axe fell.

In one of the most ruthless pieces of cricket selection, in England since the war F. S. Trueman and G. Cowdrey—with more than 130 test matches against their collective names—were placed under the selectors’ guillotine.

Flavell and Gifford, hailed as world beaters four short weeks ago, also fell similarly to a hatchet wielded by the selectors (Robins, Insole, Bedser, Watson, and Dexter) as they tried to come up with a team that could get England back on to a level footing with Australia.

They have done it. They may have been ruthless, but . they are also knowledgeable.

Watch out Australia. This is the best side England has put in the field in this year’s fight for the ashes. The team is: G. Boycott, J. H. Edrich, E. R. Dexter, M. J. K. Smith, K. R. Barrington, P,' Parfitt, J. Parks, F. Titmus, J. Mortimore, T. Cartwright, J. Price, F. Rumsey.

Smith for Taylor and more important Rumsey and Price for Trueman and Flavell is an attacking gesture, though I’m afraid it might be just one match too late.- It represents a last-ditch effort by the England selectors to salvage something from the wreckage of Leeds. In that third test won by Australia Trueman gave evidence that he was washed up as a fast bowler. Today’s team announcement is the sequel to this. I regret the premature demise of a great fast bowler, but his form did not warrant selection nor did Flavell’s, and the latter’s ankle injiiry would certainly have debarred him in any case. Cartwright Next If the selectors are consistent in their plans they will eventually leave. out Cartwright from the final 11. Playing both . Rumsey and Price as' well as Dexter in the fast, attack and leaving six batsmen in the side. Make no mistake, this is a side that will shake Australia far more than anything that has been put in the field so far this year by the same selectors. It has bite In the attack —not the placid opening appearance of the other three sides as they have taken the field, but bite in the form of Rumsey and Price, the two most hostile fast bowlers in England today.

From an Australian point of view I have been hoping that neither of these two would be .selected this year for it was quite obvious to me watching that they were streets ahead of anything else in the country. I have written this in Australia and in England but I think the England selectors' may have realised it far too late.

The selection of Mortimore for Gifford is a direct result of the way in which Titmus, a similar type of off-spinner, tied up our batsmen in the recent Leeds test.

Titmus turned' in phenomenal figures, bowling with great accuracy, and spinning the ball a little as .well as disturbing our batsmen with the ball he floats away to th.e slips. It is a real new-look attack with three new bowlers in the side and there is no doubt in my mind that it will be more effective than the previous one. Out Of Form

The selectors issued a statement that the reason for the dropping, of Trueman and Cowdrey is that they have been out of form. Trueman has been out of form all through the series,' even when he took the five. wickets at Lords .in the second test match.

There is then no better reason for dropping him than the one given and sad as it is that he will miss Is 300 wickets, .1 am sure he will either go to South Africa or play next year against the New Zealanders to claim the required number.

The selection of Smith for Taylor is . really one of Smith for Cowdrey, for Cowdrey was the original choice for the Leeds test and then had to withdraw at the last minute.

It is the first time Cowdrey and Trueman have been dropped from an England side since becoming permanent members and gives some indication that the selectors were

prepared to tie absolutely ruthless tn their quest for the right combination to try to level the series. Strong Batting Lino This they certainly have done and Simpson and his men are going to find the going tough when the game starts on Thursday. It is a strong England batting order with Edrich and Boycott to open and Dexter to go in at three. Barrington, Smith and Parfitt with Parks to follow makes a good middle order and the tail is strengthened by the addition of Mortimore, who is quite a useful performer with the bat. Smith, already chosen as skipper of the M.C.C. side to go to South Africa later in the year, will play under Dexter though he will probably captain the latter during the tour. His selection is a good one, for he is the man in form in English cricket at the moment.