SECOND TEST

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 69, 14 December 1928, Page 9

SECOND TEST

THE ENGLISH TEAM WICKET AND WEATHER GOOD ® (Rec. December 13, 9.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 13. The English team for the second test match is the same as that at Brisbane, with the exception that Geary is included. Therefore one man has to be dropped, and bis name will be announced before the match begins tomorrow. Leyland is again twelfth man. All the Englishmen are fit and ready for the fray. The Australian team will finally be chosen on the ground. The question who will be twelfth man is exercising the selectors’ minds. They are getting all sorts of advice from press writers, anonymous correspondents and well-meaning people. The wicket is reported to be perfect and the weather at present is settled. The sole topic of conversation in Sydney is cricket. Large crowds are arriving from other States to see the match. The majority are hoping against hope that the Australians will make amends for the Brisbane debacle.

[England’s team at Brisbane consisted of Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Mead, Ham’mond, Jardine, Hendren, Chapman, Tate, Larwood, White and Duckworth.]

CLEM HILL ON THE CHANCES (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. December 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 13. Clem Hill, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “If Australia wins the toss I consider the team’s chances are even. If England wins the toss it will be 7 to 4in her favour. I welcome the inclusion of Nothling, as the side needed the introduction of youth. I have no doubt a’Beckett will be the next youngster chosen. Australia’s chances will be better when it also considers Bettington’s claims. It is surprising to find Andrews dropped. When the first test team was chosen I declared it was the weakest fielding side Australia had ever had. The team for Sydney is even weaker. Much will depend on the opening batsmen combating Larwood and Tate. If they sit tight and put body behind the full force of the bat the English attack can be thwarted. Larwood has done wonders, but he is in no way unplayable.” Hill recommends Ryder or Richardson to open with Woodfull. AN UPHILL FIGHT AUSTRALIA’S CHANCES NOT BRIGHT (Notes by “Burwood.”) The Australian selectors, in choosing the team for the second Test, match, have shown a lamentable lack of vision in not including a fast bowler to replace Gregory. It was not their fault that Kelleway notified that he was unable to play in the second Test, though one would have expected the Sydney man to have been dropped, after slipping the Australian eleven up at Brisbane, on account of a disability which was put down as ptomaine poisoning. The Australian selectors, in choosing Gregory for the first Test, were riding for a fall, as it was doubtful whether his crocked knee would stand the strain. In selecting Kelleway for the second Test, they were also trusting to a rotten reed, and it was good luck for Australia that Kelleway had the good sense to notify that he was unfit for play. To take the field with only Ironmonger, Grimmett, Nothling, and Blackie as bowlers, appears suicidal on Australia s part, and one cannot see England being beaten in the second Test. It is no credit to the ■ Australian selectors that Nothling, the Queenslander, who did so well against the Englishmen in the Queensland match, and for the Australian eleven at Sydney, has managed to get a place in the second Test game. In 1926 the Australians were warned that young players would have to be brought forward to replace the veterans, who were bound to drop out of the team, but with ostrich-like stubbornness, the selectors stuck to the old brigade. The onlv young player on the Australian side is Bradman, and be appears to be the onlv man who can move smartly in the ’field. Ryder, Woodfull, Ponsford, Hendry, Ironmonger, and Blackie are all slowmoving fieldsmen, though Victor Richardson should add a touch of agility to this department. It would pay Australia to entrust the selection of Test teams to such experienced men as Clem Hill. Hugh Trumble, and M. A. Noble. The Australian selectors made a sorry mess of things in 1926. and they appear to be doing even worse this season. Though Australian supporters are confident that their men will turn the -fables on the Englishmen in the second Test, it is extremely difficult to know on what they nre building their hopes.- In eiery department of the game the Englishmen appear to be better equipped, and Australia will not have a ghost of a in the present series until they bum, in some young virile blood such as n Beckett Jackson, and Nicholls. Oxenham, of Queensland, would be a. much wiser choice than Blackie who is not likely to prove a successful bowler on a List wicket and who is not nearly such a useful batsman as the Queenslander. On paper the second Test looks a good thing for the Englishmen, who are much better equipned in all departments of the game. The inclusion of Geary will strengthen the already strong attack the Englishmen possess.

UMPIRES FOR SATURDAY Following arc the umpires appointed for to F monow g in the senior club ehampwnfshin •—Hutt v. Institute, at Hutt, D. Jit Kenzie and C. Webb; University v. Petone at, Petone, L. T. Cobcroft, and V». A. Cate* Midland v. Old Boys, Basin Reserve, A Francis and S. A. Smith; Wellington V. Kilbirnie, at Kilbirnie, W. Toomath and L. T. Lambert. , . , , , In lower grade matches started last Saturday the umpires are the same as appointed for that date. WELLINGTON CLUB. Following Is the Wellington Club senior team to-morrow: —Airey, Burton. Cousins, Hiddleston, Hyder, Jennings, O’Connor, Robertson, Westbrook, Whitwell, Whyte. WELLINGTON COLLEGE TEAM. The following will represent Wellington College against Walrarapa High School at Masterton to-morrow: —B. A. I'aotz (cap tain) V H? Du Chateau (vice-captain), J. R. s’tevehs, J. B. Stephenson, E. T. H. Robinson, A. R. Cramond, 11. C. Bolt. C. C Middlebrook, G. 11. Davies. A. G. Wiron. J L Griffiths, R. C. Masters (twelfth man). Jlr. F. Joplin will travel with the team. The same eleven will also play against Wanganui Collegiate School on Wednesday and Thursday next on the College grounds, the match starting at 11 o’clock each day. Messrs. Bevan and Toomath will be the umpires.