Youth-first policy likely on N.Z. cricket tour

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 28

Youth-first policy likely on N.Z. cricket tour

('By

D. J. CAMERON)

ADELAIDE. While the New Zealand cricketers went off to lick their third test wounds, the Australian selectors sat down to work out the ticklish problems of choosing 14 players for the tour of New Zealand in February and March.

Even if the Australians seem certain to finish the test series two up against New Zealand, the choice of the team for the tour is regarded among high Australian officials as being of the utmost importance. Looking beyond the crest of the wave that Australia is riding at the moment, they foresee that within the next 15 months several of their old hands, notably K. R. Stackpole, K. D. Walters, and the captain, I. M. Chappell, may retire, and that some of the bowlers who performed well against New Zealand might be less successful against England. CONGDON’S WARNING They may also have taken note, if not in fear and trembling, of the comment

yesterday by B. E. Congdon that in New Zealand there will be a “different ball game” than the present one in Australia.

Congdon’s estimate is based on the marked difference in the conditions. The Australian bowlers will get less bounce on the pitches, the Australian batsmen could have problems with the ball moving in the air and off the seam, and the smaller grounds might reduce the Australians’ superiority in the field.

BATTING CORE The hard core of the Australian batting will obviously be the Chappell brothers, K. D. Walters, and I. Davis, and, even if his recent form is patchy and his square-on technique questionable, Stackpole seems assured to remain the senior opening batsman. Now that A. P. Sheahan is not available, the choice of A. Woodcock, the South Australian right-hander, for the third test, gives him priority for a tour place. In the background are the highly experienced older players, I. Redpath, G. Watson, and R. Edwards, but Australia seems to be fostering a youth-first policy, and these three may be overlooked.

BOWLING TALENT The Australians have a wide variety of bowling talent, although they lack anyone of extreme speed.

A. Hurst, the right-armer, and G. Dymock, the leftarmer of the third test side, are worthy of further encouragement, and M. H. Walker should be chosen if he is fit.

THREE SPINNERS? G. Gilmour, who played in the first and second tests, seems to suffer from such an amount of injury that he must be regarded as a risk. With Walters and G. S. Chappell able to bowl medium pace most skilfully, the Australians should require only three new-ball bowlers. This would leave openings for three spinners and A. A. Mallett, the off-spinner, is a certainty, even if he might be bowling too quickly at the moment.

K. J. O’Keeffe’s runs and wickets in the third test should carry him into the team ahead of T. J. Jenner and M. Francke. The outsider in the spinning field might be R. Bright, the Victorian orthodox leftarm spinner, a talented 20-year-old who is one of a rare breed in Australia, but the type of bowler likely to develop well in New Zealand.

WICKETKEEPER R. W. Marsh is the obvious choice as a wicket-keeper, and his hard-hitting batting should make him a warm favourite with New Zealand’s crowds. With only 14 players, the Australians might not be able to afford two full-time wicket-keepers, which might rule out R. Robinson, the highly-promising Victorian.

Marsh will bear most of the load, and evidently I. M. Chappell fancies himself as a spare-time ’keeper, which is not surprising considering his astonishing all-round ability. As an alternative, the Australians could take Edwards, a very useful wicket-keeper, an expert fielder and a batsman able to open the innings. Young Davis might also be considered as an occasional opener; his technique is rather sounder than that of some of the others. Thus the Australian team which will be named tonight might well be: I. M. Chappell, Stackpole, Woodcock, G. S. Chappell, Walters, Davis, Edwards, Marsh, O’Keeffe, Walker, Bright, Mallett, Hurst, and Dymock. Mr F, J. Bryant, the highly popular manager of the two previous Australian B sides in New Zealand, will manage the team.