COWDREY, KNOTT OUT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 24

COWDREY, KNOTT OUT

R. W. Taylor, of Derbyshire, will play his first test match for England, at Lancaster Park today. And the Yorkshire leftarm spinner, D. Wilson, has also been included in England’s twelve. Those chosen are: R. Illingworth (captain), J. H. Edrich, B. W. Luckhurst, K. W. R. Fletcher, J. H.

Hampshire, B. L. D’Oliveira, Taylor, Wilson, P. Lever, K. Shuttleworth, D. L. Underwood, R. G. D. Willis. The twelfth men for the two teams will be announced this morning. The New Zealand 12 are: G. T. Dowling (captain), B. A. G. Murray, G. M. Turner, B. E. Congdon, R. W. Morgan, M. J, F. Shrimpton, V. Pollard, K. J. Wadsworth, R. O. Collinge, R. S. Cunis, M. G. Webb, H. J. Howarth. Omitted from the England team are M. C. Cowdrey and A. P. E. Knott. There will be disappointment that these two Kent players will not be seen. Even if Cowdrey has had an unrewarding tour, there is still magic in his name, while Knott is the finest wicket-keeper in the world. I “I think Knott is a little tired;

he has had a lot of cricket. But if we did not have a second wicketkeeper of such high quality, Knott would have been fit to play,” said the M.C.C. manager (Mr D. Clark), when announcing the team. “There is no background of any sort to Knott’s omission,” said Mr Clark. “He has been top-class in every way. “So has Taylor, although he has played in only five first-class games, and one of those was rained off before he kept wicket. But Knott has been left out only to give him a rest.” Mr Clark said it was inevitable, after building up to a climax in Australia over a period of four months and a half that the English players should be a little tired. It was difficult to regenerate all the en-

thusiasm one would like to see. But the New Zealand tour was not an anti-climax. It was far better for New Zealand see an M.C.C. team after an Australian tour when interest had been built up, than after, say, a visit to India, which also presented financial problem* Mr Clark said that suggestions over the years’ that the M.C.C. should visit New Zealand before going to Australia would probably not find favour with the New Zealand authorities, for in October and November the

pitches were not really ready. But he thought the twin tours of England in which New Zealand engaged were of value, for they gave New Zealand players two or three tours, and with them, invaluable experience.