Trimble To Lead Australian Team

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32209, 30 January 1970, Page 15

Trimble To Lead Australian Team

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE. The veteran Queensland batsman, S. Trimble, was yesterday selected to captain the Australian cricket team to tour New Zealand in February and March.

Trimble, aged 35, was chosen to lead the side ahead of the Western Australian vice-captain, J. Inverarity, and the Victorian vice-captain, G. Watson, who are both in the team and had been named, with Trimble, as likely captains.

Trimble has been captain of Queensland for three seasons and toured the West Indies with the Australian side in 19fi6, although he did not play in a test.

The 14-man squad, chosen by the selectors (Sir Donald Bradman. Messrs R. N. Harvey and J. Ryder) is: S. Trimble (Queensland), captain, aged 35, right-hand batsman. J. Inverarity (Western Australia), 26, right-hand batsman. D. Chadwick (Western Australia), 28, right-hand batsman.

G. Chappell (South Australia), 22, right-hand batsman and medium-paced bowler. G. Davies (New South Wales). 23. right-hand batsman and leg-spin bowler. T. Jenner (South Australia), 24, right-arm leg-spin-ner.

D. Lillee (Western Australia), 24. right-arm fast bowler. J. Maclean (Queensland), 24, wicket keeper and useful batsman. K. O’Keeffe (New South Wales). 20, right-arm legspinner.

D. Renneberg (New South Wales), 29, right-arm fast bowler. A. Steele (New South Wales), 27, right-hand batsman. A. Thomson (Victoria), 24, right-arm fast bowler. A. Turner (New South Wales), 19, left-hand opening batsman. G. Watson (Victoria), 23, right-hand batsman and medium-paced bowler. The selectors named Inverarity as vice-captain and Watson as the third touring selector. The selection of Steele climaxes a great come-back. After playing two matches for New South Wales last season and performing badly, his first-class career seemed finished.

However, he returned to the team three matches ago, and since then has scored two centuries, two half-centuries and a forty in six innings. Davies is the only member of the 1967 B side that

toured New Zealand to return in the present team. The tour programme is: February 30, 21, 23—v. Canterbury at Christchurch. February 24, 27, 28— v. Otago at Dunedin. March 2,3, a—v. Northern Districts at Hamilton. March 6,7, 9, 10-v. New Zealand at Auckland. March 12, 13, 14, 10—v. Now Zealand at Christchurch. ■ March 17, la, 19—v. Rew Zealand under 23 at Napier. March 21, 23, 24-v. Central Districts at New Plymouth. March 21, 30, 31, April 1— v. New Zealand at Wellington.