THE COMING CRICKET TESTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 17

THE COMING CRICKET TESTS

WOODFULL CONCERNED WITH BOWLING WEAKNESS A’BECKETT MAY SOLVE AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEM / (By W. M. Woodfull, Captain of the Victorian Eleven) ' , / Dominion’ Special Service. Like everybody else, W. M. Woodfull, the Australian Eleven batsman and Victorian Eleven captain, is concerned with the bowling weakness of the present day, and in the following article he suggests that E. a’Beekett, the young Victorian, may prove the most suitable man to share in the opening of the attackJn the coming Tests. He considers that Australia should have a team strong enough in all departments to make a bold bid for the “Ashes.”

Speculation Is already rife as to the personnel of the next English and Australian teams to meet towards the <-lo.se of this year. Consequently thousands of cricket enthusiasts in Australia are scanning the cables regularly to glean some information from the performances of English cricketers, oil the other side of the world, and already some of their ■great players have seemingly struck form. Selectors both in England and Australia must be swayed to a certain extent on form at the. moment, though the value of experience in these tests of supremacy cannot be overestimated. Because of these intervening months, .then, it would seem almost useless at this juncture to attempt to choose 17 players for Australia, or. say. 15 for England. Nevertheless. 13 players have been suggested in ••'file Cricketer Spring Annual, 1928,” to represent Hie Old Country, and the names may be of interest to readers This team consists of four amateurs in Chapman,

Jardiue, Jupp and Wyatt, and nine professionals in Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Tate, Larwood, Brown, Holmes, E. TyldOsley, and Hallows. It is undoubtedly strong in batting, especially when one considers the omission of such a name as Hendren, and furthermore, it should be a fine fielding combination. However, as “The Cricketer 1 ” puts it, “still another wicket-keeper has to be found,” while one or two more bowlers are essential. No slow bowler has been mentioned in the above list, principally because of the lack of uny pronounced success of Freeman in Australia on previous visits, and also because of Stevens's mediocre display in South Africa. Freeman is apparently still thh best slow bowler in England, and his performances at Home are wonderfully consistent. At any rate, English- selectors are almost certain to realise the need of at least one slow bowler in the side, though who that may be only time will tell. Strudwick’s retirement has given rise to much discussion as to his successor.

Brown, the Hampshire man; has been suggested in many quarters, and he is truly a versatile cricketer, well worthy of representing his country abroad, lie is not the regult.r ’keeper for Hampshire, but is recognised by many ot England’s best players as a capable successor Io the popular "JSt ruddy.” He is likewise a good batsman and a wonderful fieldsman, but it. is doubtless- his ’keeping which will come first into consideration. . Provided Darwood can reproduce his English form of England will be blest, with two opening bonders superior to any pair suitable Io open the attack for Australia. There seems to be some doubt as to whether Larwood, if he comes, will be able to stand up Io our conditions, owing to bis injured leg. In England, throughout the 1926 season, he was not bowled for long stretches against the Australians, but he stood up to bis work magnificently. This doubt

will have as much bearing on the result of the Test matches as any other factor, and it will be indeed hard luck if England is to be deprived of such a bowler almost at the opening of his career. There need be no worry as to Tate ou Australian wickets. •, He proved himself before, and will do so again, though it would be hardly fair to expect him to repeat those exceptional performances. Great bowler he still is, and Australians cun be sure he has not lost his cunning. e Australia’s Bowling. What: Of Australia and our Australian representatives? Much has been said already about the weakness in bowling, and there certainly is some query as to who will fill the hill to assist Gregory to open .the attack. That is a problem which must bo solved, and a’Beekett may be •' a possible solution, though there arc not. many suitable candidates for this important job. Whereas England has a distinct advantage over us in her opening bowlers, we should counterbalance this to some extent at least by such men as Grimmett and Blaekie to act as change bowlers. England has no slow bowler up to the standard of and it is quite possible that Mailey, the thorn in our enemy’s side on so many occasions, nuiy prove Himself indispensable. At least five regular bowlers arc necessary, for, in order to get the best results out of our stock bowlers, Grimmett and Blaekie, they must be used against the wind. Oxenham may be the man for this position, and on his previous form in Brisbane is quite a possibility. Strong Baiting. Batting is considered by most critics to be sufficiently strong to look after itself. That may be true, but too many young players may tend to upset the solidity of the side. Of the younger men, Bradman and Jackson have proved themselves of great utility with the bat, while Bradman would be a wplcorac assistance in the outfield work, ill which positions Australia find a weakness with Taylor not playing. Ou the other band, -both Ryder and Hendry have been batting with remarkable consistency, while tha*,claims of Ponsford, Kippax, and Oldfield are indisputable. Whatever selection is made a very strong leaning must be given to Andrews for his lidding alone. With our bowling diliiculties confronting us, the best cover point wo have must make a great difference to the fielding side. Andrews is the man for that task, ami there is.no-one in Australia comparable to him in firstclass cricket. Richardson, too, is a great help in the field, but unfortunately bis batting xvas not up to Test match standard last season. It is with some satisfaction that one notes the proposal to curtail the Sheffield Shield programme for the coming season Io one match instead of two against other States. EScn then a player representing Australia in till five Tests would be called upon to play 11 or 12 first-class mutches, or almost double the number in an ordinary year. English county teams frequently rest their representative players before a Test match, and there is no doubt as to the wisdom of that procedure. Hj s essential, tlierefore. that the authorities recognise this fact in arranging the State fixtures, for in su doing thej’ will help Aimlralia miileriiilly. Many players have been mentioned aboie. and it is obvious that all eaunot take their place in the side at one ami the siime time. Still, with our minds turned in the direction of our probable weaknesses, some of xvliich have been enumerated, we should be capable of getting together a team strong enough in all departments Io make a bold bid to regain the ashes.