FOURTH CRICKET TEST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 28 January 1929, Page 11

FOURTH CRICKET TEST

BEGINS THIS

"A TRAGIC OMISSION"

'Die fourth cricket Test between England and Australia is to bo played at Adelaide, commencing next Friday. The Englishmen are at present engaged in a match with South Australia, and iv tho details of Saturday's play it is worthy of noto that tliu only South Australian to shapo really well against the tourists was Vie. Eichardson. The latest performance of this flue player endorses the opinions previously expressed that tho Australian selectors have erred in omitting Eichardson from the team for the fourth Tost, especially as tho match is to bo played on Richardson's homo ground.

With regard to the choice of players to rcproscnt Australia in tho fourth Test, tho selectors have come in for much advorso criticism. "Tho selection cannot bo regarded other than with dismay by anyouo who had hopes of constructive work or tho fostering of young players likely to regain our prestige on English wickets," is the way in which one prominent Australian journal sums up. It is considered that tho selectors have missed a golden opportunity of reconstructing the Australian Eleven by adhering to practically tho same team for the fourth Test as that which lost the Ashes. Tho Only change is that Victor Richardson has been dropped and A. Jackson included in tho twelve selected. JACKSON'S INCLUSION. No one will cavil at tho selection of Jackson. In this instance tho claims of youth have not been ignored. Jackson has been a prolific scorer in interState cricket since he gained a permanont place two seasons ago, in the absence of Now South Wales members of tho last Australian Eleven. In that year he had a habit of failing in the first innings and more than redeeming himself in tho second. Last season, after an indifferent beginning, ho was deputed to open for his State, and, in his first match in this position, achieved the signal honour of making a century in each innings of the game in Sydney against South Australia. Jackson, with 162 and 90, nearly accomplished a similar foat in the recent match between N.S.W. and South Australia at Adelaide. Ho struck his best form at the right time. A stylist, a master of nearly every stroke on either side of the wicket, his one weakness has been a penchant for nibbling at off deliveries, early in his innings, when the bowlers are nipping from the pitch. Had ho been able to restrain this tendency to flick at fresh bowling, his placo in all five Test matches. this season would have been assured.

KICHARDSON'S OMISSION. One cannot believe, however, that tho substitution of Jackson for Richardson will strengthen tho side. Tho omission of the South Australian captain, bocause, as an opening batsman, ho has several times failed to score heavily, is tragic, particularly considering tho match is to be played on his homo ground. Richardson's services in tho field cannot bo fulfilled by any among the chosen twelve. Another most surprising feature of the selection is the retention of bowlers who have failed to dismiss tho Englishmen for even a moderate total, and in the third Test could not take advantage of a wicket on which, according to a concensus of expert opinion, tho visitors should have been doomed to utter collapse. The Australian attack will again coinpriso a'Beckett, Oxenham, Grimmett, and Blackio, reinforced by the up and down bowling of Hendry and Ryder,'that is, unless Andrews, for his fielding, is to displace ono of his superiors as a batsman. How favoured aro tho "veterans!" It is a badly balanced attack, and ono cannot conceive that Australia will rely on it for the tour of England in 1930.

"ADMISSION OF POVERTY." Tho only interpretation ono cau placo on the selectors' work is that they think, there are no other bowlers in tho Commonwealth, and none at all with Australian Eleven potentialities. It is an admission of poverty not shared by those with any flicker of optimism. Why Wall, the best of our fast mediuin-pacod bowlers, particularly after his startling success in Adelaide recently, should have,been overlooked, will always remain a mystery. The capture of the wickets of Bradinan, T. J. Andrews, and Kippax for 14 runs is an effort unsurpassed by an Australian in this season's first-class cricket. Moreover, tho match will be played on his homo ground, but this consideration does no,t come within the selectors' range of vision. Their practice has been to display the new talent on grounds of other States, as evidenced by tho treatment of Nothling, Ironmonger, Oxenham, and Eichardson.

Even as a fielding side tho cloven is far removed from Test match standard in individual prowess, as well as in team understanding. Several important position will be inadequately filled, whoever is decided upon as twelfth man.