Two new test men

Press, 22 December 1978, Page 20

Two new test men

NZPA Sydney The New South Wales allrounder, Allan Border, will make his test debut for Australia in the third test against England starting in Melbourne on December 29. Border is one of two changes made by the test selectors after Australia’s second successive defeat by England. The Victorian leg-spinner, Jim Higgs, has been recalled after being dropped for the second test. Sacked to make way for Border and Higgs are the vice-captain, Gary Cosier, and the all-rounder, Phil (Carlson, both from Queensland. However, Carlson will I take Higgs’ place in the (team for the one-day international on Boxing Day. The test team is: Graham Gallop (Victoria, captain), John McLean (Queensland, vice-captain), Allan Border (New South Wales), Rick Darling (South Australia), Geoff Dymock (Queensland), Jim Higgs (Victoria), Rodney Hogg (South Australia), Kim Hughes (Western Australia), | Alan Hurst (Victoria), Peter Toohey (New South Wales), Grame Wood (Western Australia), Bruce Yardley (Western Australia). Border has forced his way into the team with a string (of good scores that have brought him 572 runs at an .average of 47.67, including 'centuries in successive in(nings. • Border, a full-time professional cricketer, was formerly a film librarian with British Petroleum. I For the last two winters Ihe has played league cricket lin England, representing , Gloucestershire in one firstclass match in 1977. i He has played 22 firsticlass matches, scoring 1374 runs at 37.14. His highest score was 135 against Western Australia in Perth last month. I Border is also a competent I left-arm slow bowler and a (sharp slips fieldsman. ! Border’s inclusion is the; 'only change to a batting line, up that has performed abysmally so far. Most will enter the ’third test desperately (seeking runs to hold their positions. Higgs earned his recall [with a fine performance to take six for 85 against New South Wales last week-end.