CRICKETERS OF YEAR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 142, 12 March 1937, Page 11

CRICKETERS OF YEAR

Selection by “Wisden’s”

Million, March 10. W. Copson (Derbyshire),* 'l'. S. Worthington (Derbyshire). A. R. Gover (Surrey). C. .1. Barnett (Gloucestershire) and V. M. .Merchant (India) have been designated the live cricketers of the year, based on performances in 1936. in "Wisden’s Almanack.”

Copsou, right-hand fast bowler, will visit New Zealand this month with the English Test team which leaves Australia on Saturday. In first-class cricket at Home last year be took ICO wickets at. 13.34 runs each In Australia he was second in the bowling averages tor firstj class matches, taking 20 wickets at 23.35 runs each.

'Worthington, also a member of the English team in Australia, visited New Zealand in 1020-30 with the English team under A. IL IL Gilligan. Last year he made 1734 runs at an average of 41.3 in county cricket in England, but: has not been very successful on the present tour of Australia, his aggregate being 300 and his average 21.0. Gover is another fast bowler who last year took- 200 wickets in first-class cricket, in England—the first time this has been accomplished by a fast bowler since 1807. Barnett is one of the opening batsmen of the" present English team. In England last year he made 2008 runs at an average of 38.14, with seven centuries, and in Australia he lias made 1376 runs —the highest aggregate—at 55.04, being secund in the averages to W. R. Hammond.

Merchant was easily tile most successful batsman of the Indian team which visited England last year. He made 1745 runs at an average of 51.32, with centuries against Somerset, Lancashire .and England.