Eleven Test Men Available For N.Z. Tour

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31215, 12 November 1966, Page 11

Eleven Test Men Available For N.Z. Tour

(Specially written tor "The Press" by

H. N. BAXTER)

’THE number of interx nationals still in first class cricket in Australia could make a competent team, complete in every aspect except for a wicketkeeper, to tour New Zealand in February and March. Internationals who have played test cricket and who are available at this stage are L. Favell (South Australia), P. Burge (Queensland), G. Coding, N. C. O'Neill, B. C. Booth, P. Philpott, D. Sincock (N.S.W.), J. Potter, A. Connoily (Victoria), L. Mayne and C. Guest (Western Australia). Sincock played for South Australia when he first represented Australia, and Guest was a member of the Victorian XI when chosen against the M.C.C. team in 1962-63. Other internationals on the scene are R. H. Sellers, from South Australia, who went to England as a leg spinner in 1964, and who is

now blossoming as a batsman, and a former New Zealander, W. R. Playle, who is doing well in the Western Australian XI. Burge has indicated that he will not play for Australia again, but would like to make the tour of New Zealand, if chosen. Favell, who first played for Australia in 1954-55 against Hutton's team, has captained South Australia for several years, and will lead the side again this year. He needs 607 runs to become the highest scorer for South Australia in first-class cricket. The New South Wales batsmen O’Neill and Booth have been scoring steadily in Sydney grade cricket,

and the all-rounder Philpott has scored a century. Potter is the Victorian captain this season, and he has a largely untried XI under him. Potter is a capable batsman, and a few good scores should see him in the New Zealand touring party.

Sincock has not done a great deal in Sydney grade cricket so far. In fact, he has taken some thrashings, and it looked doubtful, late in October, if he would be chosen for New South Wales for the first Sheffield Shield match.

Pushing him strongly for a place will be M. Pawley, of Sydney University, who was the most economical and successful spinner in Svdney grade cricket in 1964-65 and 1965-66. He is the traditional Australian over-the-wrist type, and may eventually provide the answer to a search for a legspinner to take R. Benaud’s place in the Australian test line-up. Mayne fell out of favour after doing well in the first few tests against the West Indians in 1965, but is now making a determined effort to get back into test cricket He has been bowling well in club matches in Western Australia.

Guest is now something of an unknown quantity. He may have lost some of his enthusiasm, and could find it hard to get back to the top. The same cannot be said of Corling, of Newcastle, who lost his test place after the 1964 tour, and has been trying hard

ever since to get it back. Each week-end he makes the trip to Sydney to play for Western Suburbs, and his place in the New South Wales eleven is a foregone conclusion. With W. Grout out of the international scene, and his understudy for so many years, B. Jarman, not available for a tour in the current season, two places suddenly appeared. There seemed to be no natural successor. The South African tour will decide whether it will be B. Taber (New South Wales) or G. Becker (Western Australia). That still does not answer the question about wicket-keepers for New Zealand. New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia all have newcomers, which must give Victoria’s R. Jordon a chance. As he is a more than useful batsman, it would not surprise if he became the number one ’keeper for New Zealand. A promising batsman with chances of gaining selection is the Western Australian, J. Inverarity, who is not available for the early matches of the tour of the eastern States this month because of university examinations. Inverarity scored heavily last year for Western Australia, and has made some good scores this season.

Two young South Australians, G. Farrell (23), a left-hand opener, and J. Kowalick (20), a fast bowler, are more promising young men. Farrell, in his first three matches in Adelaide grade cricket this year scored 246 in three innings, one not out, and Kowalick in two matches took 13 wickets. Kowalick, who has a smooth action, bowled eight of his 13 victims.