AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN

TO TOUR NEW ZEALAND

STRONG AND WELL-BALANCED TEAM.

The Australian team chosen by --the Board of Control to tour the Dominion is a strong and well-balanced side, and admirably fitted for the task before it.. . Practically speaking, all the players are young, with their careers still before them, although they have already made their mark in the cricket arena. They have no doubt been chosen with the twofold object of being strong enough to win matohes, and at the same time develop as players for future use in bigger company. All the mon have at one time or another represented their States, . and 6omo of them have played against the Englishmen. ■' . • • • THE PLAYERS. - ; In Ellis', and Ratcliffe are two of the most promising wicketkeepers in this Commonwealth. The former fills this important post for Victoria; and is also a reliable batsman. Just before the holidays he scored a century for his, club (Prahran) j against RiQhmQndy Batoliffe is unfprtu- ! Nato in being op]sbsed to two able comkpetitors in Sydney.. He was, however, considered good enough to receive a tempting offer from the Melbourne Club to cross the border and play in. the South- j tern Stato. • He is a sound l<}ft-hand. bafaj man, and. was chosen for^-hie bat-ting alone to play against the A.I.F. team. . Vernon Ransford, the crack Victorian left-handed batsman, is well known to the New Zealand public. Ho was considered (well in the running for the Test'matches ■against the Englishmen. Although he opened with a score of 93 this 6uason against South Australia, he did not get a place owing to an accident. He is one of the best outfields Australia his produced, and ia reported to be as^ good as ever. In Test cricket his figures are: — InHings, 29; not out, .6; runs, 893; average, 38.82. - The two Wheatfielders amongst the tourists are A. J. Richardson and h. V. Pollow The former is a steady ■ batsman who scored J and lll.for his State versus tb,e present English team. He is .also a fair, leg break bowler. Pellew belongs to a. well-known Adelaide cricketing family, and learned his cricket at St, Peter*; College. In his first appearance this season for his State against Victoria he scored 69 and 53. His off "play is very strong, and he is a very fine 'icldsman. , ! ' A.I.F. REPRESENTATIVES. With the visitors are two members of the Australian Imperial Forces combination which toured the Old Country in the 1919 season, vis., C. B. Wills and- A.' U, Lampard, and both are Victorians. In thai team. the former had the highest aggregate, viz., 1652 runs with an. average, of. 40.30. Ho scored four centuries, 156, not out .v. Leicester, 130 v. Notts." 120 not out v. Worcester, and .127. v. Sussex. O.n his return ho played a fine, innings of 111 for the A.I.F. against Victoria. Ho is a, free and da»hing batsman, and drives well. He ■is also' a good outfield.

Lampard is an- all founder of great merit. Ho at one tiino gave promise as a wioketkeepor, but afterwards went in for' googly bowling-. He'»«i one of the most useful, men' with the Australian MjSitary team, notching 821 runs with an average of 25.65, and bagging 69 wickets for 23.57 apiece. This season he made a fine stand with Liddicut for Victoria against Doug* las/s team, tho partnership realising 142 runs, Lampard made 111 and Ijidilicutt 56. Lampard's leg glancing- was splendidly executed. -'•■ ' liddioutt has made the most of 4™ trial i in the Victorian team, as in addition to the above. score he . has put together _ a century at the expense of South Australia. He is a sound and reliable batsman and t, ■■ -medium- (pace - bowler,-- -.whovgenerally.-ase-ciires a.few wickets. \v. , ,-■■ ■ B ; A DANGEROUS BOWLER. "' H. Ironmonger is probably tho.. moat dangerous .bowler on tljo side. He .first played for Queensland] but aftorwarcV became a member of the' Melbourne Club. staff. He is a . medium pace left-bimder and on his day, niost difficult. In .the 1914-15 season ho.performed excellently in the big matches, securing 36 wiokcts.at an average of 18 rune. Ho is not much of a bat;- ■ ■-v ■ ■ . • -. •■-. .; Q. P, Asher, of the Sydney Club, is a useful all round player. .^-Last 3eason ho topped both batting and bowling averages fof his olub. He is a slow and tricky bowler, and a batsman of orthodox methods. '■;■'-. ■ Altogether the visitors are a strong com-, bjnation ,-and should provide some a'ttr&ctivo and interesting cricket for loyars of the great' summer pastime. ■ ■ . „ The Australian team is to leave Sydney 'on the 3rd February, arriviig at Wellington four,days later.-Tho first maUih,' to be played. against tho Wellington representatives, will occupy . three days—llth, 12th, and 14th February. The dates for the fixture, Australia v. Minor Associations, at Wellington, are Bth, 9th, and 10th March. The first teet to be played at Wellington will also occupy three days..