AN OFT-PICKED TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 26, 31 January 1930, Page 10

AN OFT-PICKED TEAM

INTERESTING VIEWS

"Over here great things have been happening in the cricket world during the past couple of weeks," writes an Australian cricketer to one of New Zealand's representatives. "The team for England has been chosen thousands of times since the season commenced, but some of those enthusiastic selectors have had their views rudely upset since the trial match. Players who took part in that trial naturally came most into prominence, but others who did not take part and were not considered are now definitely pressing their claims. V. Richardson, a'Beckett, Hurwood, Ohilvers, Thurlow, and Love arc all now well in the limelight, and one or two of these players* are sure todisplace some of those who were regarded as certainties. My selection might interest you and perhaps others who 'follow cricket closely. Here it'is: Richardson (captain ),,Woddfu!l (vice-captain), Kippax, Jackson, Ponsford, and Bradman (all batsmen); Oldfield and Davidson (wieketkeepers); Grimmett (slow bowler), .Hurwood (medium pace bowler), Hornibrook (left-hand bowler), Wall or Thurlow (fast bowler), M'Cabo and a'Beckett or Whitfield (all rounders), and Blackie (medium pace bowler) or Chilvers (slow bowler) for the sixteenth position. Ryder might be chosen by the selectors in place of Richardson, Ellis, Walker, or Love in place of Davidon, and Fairfax for tho place I give to \ 'Beckett or Whitfield. "I choose Richardson without hesitation, as I consider he is the only capable captain in Australia > to-day, in addition to being the finest and gamest fieldsman in the world. He is a wonderful inspiration to any team in the field and would make a wonderful difference to the team if selected. Ryder V right out of form, but apart from that he is an indifferent bowler and a very poor field, and I never did like him as a captain; The great thing in his favour is that be is a game lighter when things are going wrong and had % good year last year, but he is getting M and is certainly declining. Howaver, much depends on the innings ho plays against New South Wales. If he does well he will go in and Vie. Richardson will go out. (Ryder carried his bat for, 100 at Sydney on Wednesday.) SECOND WIOKETKEE* ER. "Woodfull, ' Kippax, Bradman, and Jackson are undisputed and umst go in. M'Cabe is in excellent form, and has a batting average of just on 70 in firstclass matches this season without getting a century; so you can see he has been most consistent, He is also a useful bowler and a good field. Oldfield will getthe wicketkeeping selection, but he hae tdto seen his best

Davidson, I consider, is the best 'k#»er iii Australia. The only thing is »at the choice of second wicketkeeper does not always go to the best man. It is sometimes a consolation selection to another State that has not got much representation in the team. That is why the position might go to Ellis, of Victoria, or Walker, of South Australia. There are some here who consider Love a better 'keeper than Davidson, but Love is not so sure as Davidson, and is not so nimble. He is, however, a better batsman and that might help him. Ponsford is a long way from being the old Pon*ford. He has regained somo of his old form and is sure to go, but I think we have seeu his best efforts. THE BOWLERS. "Oxenham did well in the trial match with bat and ball, and has since rested on his reputation. Ho and Hornibrook declined an invitation to tour to Adelaide, Melbourno, and Sydney with the Queensland team, and the opportunity was given to Hurwood, who made the most of it by taking wickets in every match. He impressed in each game he played, and finished up by getting ten wickets in the game against New South Wales —four for 00- in tho first innings, and six (out of eight) for 140 in New South Wales' huge second innings. He is the find of the season, and impresses me more than any other bowler I have seen for years. He flights the ball well, and can swerve both inwards and outwards with cither a new or an old ball. I tip him to come back from England with the bowling average, and regard him as a very highclass bowler indeed. • "Hornibrook is tho only left-hander available (excepting Ironmonger, who is. too old); so he will go. Grimmett also must go, although this will be his last trip. Chilvers will fill the bill after this trip is over, although it is quite on the cards he might squeeze into this team at the last moment. Blackie, although old, has earned his place, but now that Hurwood has come to light, it is quite probable that a second slow bowler will be taken and Blackie excluded. If Chilvers goes he will be a huge success, as there is no keener cricketer playing the game. He is tho most accurate slow bowler I know, pitching dow,n very few loose ones. He has a very sharp break, and gets in a fast, straight ball when least expected. He is also a great field, and a solid bat. Wall is the big disappointment, and has done very little this season. He is a poor field, and cannot bat. All the same, I think he is about the best of the fast bowlers available, although Thurlow (Queensland) gives promise of making a good bowler if tutored a little. Alexander is too erratic and: wild. OTHER CLAIMANTS. "For the other positions a'Beckett, Whitfield, and Fairfax all have strong claims, and my choice would- go to a'Beckett as being the best bowler of the three. It is going to be hard luck for two of the three, but it seems that only one of them will go. I give Whitfield second preference, but I think Fairfax will get the selection on account of Test match experience last season. ■ ■ ' "Others with claims are Marks, Allsopp, and Rigg. Marks started off well, and had good prospects (being a; lefthander), but faded away. Allsopp and Rigg aro both good bats and good fields, and could fill the position with credit, but to put them in means to leave out other batsmen, and there is no one you could displace as batsmen. Their turn will come later. The only weak point in the team is the fast bowling; otherwise, we can look forward confidently to the team's doings. [ feel they will bring back tho Ashes."